🎙️ We binged the Godfather Trilogy and squeezed it all into this episode.
Felipe and Lesa break down why everyone loves Parts I & II, and give their take on what went wrong with Part III.
đź“š Interesting Facts
- Mario Puzo wrote The Godfather novel because he was broke and in debt; he had no connection to the mob and based the story entirely on research. The book hit #1 on the bestseller list and stayed for 67 weeks.
- Francis Ford Coppola only directed The Godfather because his company was about to go bankrupt and every other director turned it down. He rewrote the script and navigated early backlash from the Italian-American Civil Rights League.
- Godfather I won Best Picture and made more money than any film that year. Godfather II won six Oscars, including Best Picture, the first sequel ever to do so.
🎞️ Godfather I – Family, Power & Betrayal
- Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando / Robert De Niro) leads the Corleone family while in poor health. His children Sonny (James Caan), Fredo (John Cazale), Michael (Al Pacino), and Connie (Talia Shire) navigate family loyalty and modern mafia pressures.
- Michael, a WWII hero, initially avoids the family business, but circumstances force him in. Key moments: assassination attempts, Fredo’s mistakes, a Sicily escape & marriage to Appolonia, Sonny’s death at a toll booth, and Michael’s rise to Don.
- The iconic baptism scene cements Michael as Don Corleone and signals the shift to his new life.
🎞️ Godfather II – Past & Present Collide
- Michael’s reign as Don is challenged while the film alternates with young Vito’s rise from Ellis Island immigrant to neighborhood Don.
- Betrayal drives the story: Michael deals with Fredo’s mistakes, Senate hearings inspired by real-life Joseph Valachi investigations, and conflicts with Hyman Roth, based on Meyer Lansky.
🎞️ Godfather III – Legacy & Controversy
- Set 20 years later, Michael is older, wealthy, and still entangled in crime. New characters like Vincent Corleone (Andy Garcia) and Michael’s daughter (Sofia Coppola) shift family dynamics.
- Episode hosts discuss why Part III is considered weaker: Michael’s character inconsistencies, awkward casting, and clunky plot points.
- Bonus: the infamous gnocchi scene and controversial Sofia Coppola performance.
🎮 Game Time!
Play along with Felipe as he guesses the movie from these plot descriptions:
- “Woman travels to a new land and kills the first person she meets…” (Wizard of Oz)
- “An old woman tells a bunch of scientists about the time she shagged a homeless guy on a boat.” (Titanic)
- “A man seeks revenge against those who killed his dog.” (John Wick)
- “Husband watches his wife die, and his only son become disabled… then kidnapped.” (Finding Nemo)
- “Uncle kills brother and tries to kill nephew. Uncle’s goons kill Uncle.” (Lion King)
- “A monk recruits a teenager to commit an act of terrorism, and he ends up destroying a space station.” (Star Wars)
We’ll see you next week for more bingeing!Â
Felipe – @FelipeEsparzaComedian
Lesa – @LesainLA
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http://felipesworld.com🎨 Logo by Alex Major
🎵 Music by Isaak Wintringham
Felipe Esparza is a comedian and actor, known for his stand-up specials, “They’re Not Gonna Laugh at You”, “Translate This”, and his latest dual-release on Netflix, “Bad Decisions/Malas Decisiones” (2 different performances in two languages), his recurring appearances on Netflix’s “Gentefied”, NBC’s “Superstore” and Adultswim’s “The Eric Andre Show”, as well as winning “Last Comic Standing” (2010), and his popular podcast called “What’s Up Fool?”. Felipe continues to sell out live stand-up shows in comedy clubs and theaters around the country.
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