Second Breakfast: November 2023
By Austin Johnson
Welcome back to Second Breakfast! This is my fourth month in a row of doing this and I’m going to change it up just like I always do. In honor of Thanksgiving, I want to build a Thanksgiving dinner table with some of my favorite characters from the films I watched in November. It’s called The Second Breakfast Thanksgiving Dinner.
I watched 31 films in November altogether and I broke them down into Rewatches and First Time Watches. Below the lists of films is my list of 9 characters who will join me for dinner making it an even 10 people enjoying the food and giving thanks to movies. Let’s feast!
Rewatches
The French Connection (1971)
Juice (1992)
Reality Bites (1994)
A Goofy Movie (1995)
Tommy Boy (1995)
Anastasia (1997)
Rounders (1998)
Snake Eyes (1998)
Lake Placid (1999)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
Old School (2003)
Mean Girls (2004)
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005)
ParaNorman (2012)
A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
First Time Watches
Brute Force (1947)
Pickpocket (1959)
Easy Rider (1969)
The Last Run (1971)
What’s Up, Doc? (1972)
The Last American Hero (1973)
The Seven-Ups (1973)
Hardcore (1979)
Chameleon Street (1989)
The Last Seduction (1994)
New Rose Hotel (1998)
For the Love of the Game (1999)
Game 6 (2005)
The Killer (2023)
The Table
Jack Nicholson as George Hanson - Easy Rider (1969)
Gene Hackman as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle - The French Connection (1971)
George C. Scott as Harry Garmes - The Last Run (1971)
Roy Scheider as Buddy Manucci - The Seven-Ups (1973)
Pauly Shore as Bobby Zimuruski - A Goofy Movie (1995)
Chris Farley as Tommy Callahan - Tommy Boy (1995)
Matt Damon as Mike McDermott - Rounders (1998)
Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Will Ferrell as Frank - Old School (2003)
I organized the characters that will join me for dinner chronologically, so first up is Jack Nicholson as George Hanson from Easy Rider. It was my first time with the film and I fell in love pretty quickly. Whenever Jack shows up, the film goes to a different level which is probably his best trait. The man is in the floor raiser hall of fame. His work as George Hanson would give him his first of twelve Oscar nominations. Hanson would be great at any kind of gathering because of his ability to talk, especially if he’s smoking weed for the first time. Solid vibes, unique perspective, and a bottle of Jim Beam in hand. Welcome to the Second Breakfast Thanksgiving Dinner, George Hanson.
Ahh yes, here’s another character who can drink all night. Gene Hackman’s work as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle always blows me away. The French Connection is one of my all-time favorite films and it really helped me out in November because my family had to move on the fly, so one random night of stressful packing turned into me watching Popeye and Cloudy closer than ever. Popeye would be annoying to some at a Thanksgiving dinner, but I would love to hear about some of his adventures as a detective in the wild 1960s and 70s New York City.
As I’ve gotten older, George C. Scott has become one of all time favorite actors. I watched The Last Run and Hardcore for the first time in November. He’s lights out in both, but I want Harry Garmes from The Last Run at the dinner table, so we can talk about some of his craziest runs and get a little car talk in. After some pie and drinks, I’m sure he would give everyone a tutorial on how to drift properly. He’s another guy who could drink all night and hopefully share his pack of Marlboro Reds.
I watched a good amount of 70s films in November and one of the films that stood out was The Seven-Ups which has an absolutely dynamite performance from Roy Scheider as Buddy Manucci. Buddy and Popeye would be looking at each other all day and night, thinking about how they know each other. Again, how can I not desire to hear detective stories from some dudes who know New York City like the back of their hand?
Let’s get some wild cards at this table! Pauly Shore as Bobby Zimuruski in A Goofy Movie is one of the first performances I ever fell in love with as a kid. It’s probably the film I’ve seen the most over the course of my life and Bobby has been a reliable source of laughter every time. I love the idea of him partaking in a Thanksgiving dinner because he would destroy the mac and cheese and constantly keep people wondering why there’s a cartoon at the table.
Right next to Bobby is Chris Farley as Tommy Callahan from Tommy Boy. My family and I moved in November and when we got to our new apartment, we didn’t have internet access. I was forced to turn to my personal collection, so I opened a box and the first film I saw was Tommy Boy. I threw it on and laughed my ass off just like I always have when watching one of the best comedies from the 90s. Tommy would be able to throw down some food and pound some beers with the crew. He only adds to the fun!
Next up is Matt Damon as Mike McDermott in Rounders. We did an episode on Rounders in November and I had an absolute field day talking about one of my favorite 90s films. It’s so fucking engaging and full of great performances. Mike McD is the focus and having him at a Thanksgiving dinner is essential because he would lead the way in playing games after the meal. I feel like I would get along with him really well even after he kicks everyone’s ass in a game of Texas Hold ‘Em.
You’re probably wondering where the food is coming from. Well, Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore is the answer. He could snap his fingers and give everyone an entire feast so we don’t have to worry about preparing a meal. The wisdom that Dumbledore brings is so necessary with this group. He would bring a little order to a very chaotic table.
Last chair at the table goes to Will Ferrell as Frank the Tank from Old School. Can you imagine Frank and Tommy pounding beers together? Or Frank trying to convince Dumbledore and Popeye to go streaking? Would be the best thanksgiving ever!
I watched 31 films in November altogether and I broke them down into Rewatches and First Time Watches. Below the lists of films is my list of 9 characters who will join me for dinner making it an even 10 people enjoying the food and giving thanks to movies. Let’s feast!
Rewatches
The French Connection (1971)
Juice (1992)
Reality Bites (1994)
A Goofy Movie (1995)
Tommy Boy (1995)
Anastasia (1997)
Rounders (1998)
Snake Eyes (1998)
Lake Placid (1999)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)
Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
Old School (2003)
Mean Girls (2004)
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005)
ParaNorman (2012)
A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
First Time Watches
Brute Force (1947)
Pickpocket (1959)
Easy Rider (1969)
The Last Run (1971)
What’s Up, Doc? (1972)
The Last American Hero (1973)
The Seven-Ups (1973)
Hardcore (1979)
Chameleon Street (1989)
The Last Seduction (1994)
New Rose Hotel (1998)
For the Love of the Game (1999)
Game 6 (2005)
The Killer (2023)
The Table
Jack Nicholson as George Hanson - Easy Rider (1969)
Gene Hackman as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle - The French Connection (1971)
George C. Scott as Harry Garmes - The Last Run (1971)
Roy Scheider as Buddy Manucci - The Seven-Ups (1973)
Pauly Shore as Bobby Zimuruski - A Goofy Movie (1995)
Chris Farley as Tommy Callahan - Tommy Boy (1995)
Matt Damon as Mike McDermott - Rounders (1998)
Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)
Will Ferrell as Frank - Old School (2003)
I organized the characters that will join me for dinner chronologically, so first up is Jack Nicholson as George Hanson from Easy Rider. It was my first time with the film and I fell in love pretty quickly. Whenever Jack shows up, the film goes to a different level which is probably his best trait. The man is in the floor raiser hall of fame. His work as George Hanson would give him his first of twelve Oscar nominations. Hanson would be great at any kind of gathering because of his ability to talk, especially if he’s smoking weed for the first time. Solid vibes, unique perspective, and a bottle of Jim Beam in hand. Welcome to the Second Breakfast Thanksgiving Dinner, George Hanson.
Ahh yes, here’s another character who can drink all night. Gene Hackman’s work as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle always blows me away. The French Connection is one of my all-time favorite films and it really helped me out in November because my family had to move on the fly, so one random night of stressful packing turned into me watching Popeye and Cloudy closer than ever. Popeye would be annoying to some at a Thanksgiving dinner, but I would love to hear about some of his adventures as a detective in the wild 1960s and 70s New York City.
As I’ve gotten older, George C. Scott has become one of all time favorite actors. I watched The Last Run and Hardcore for the first time in November. He’s lights out in both, but I want Harry Garmes from The Last Run at the dinner table, so we can talk about some of his craziest runs and get a little car talk in. After some pie and drinks, I’m sure he would give everyone a tutorial on how to drift properly. He’s another guy who could drink all night and hopefully share his pack of Marlboro Reds.
I watched a good amount of 70s films in November and one of the films that stood out was The Seven-Ups which has an absolutely dynamite performance from Roy Scheider as Buddy Manucci. Buddy and Popeye would be looking at each other all day and night, thinking about how they know each other. Again, how can I not desire to hear detective stories from some dudes who know New York City like the back of their hand?
Let’s get some wild cards at this table! Pauly Shore as Bobby Zimuruski in A Goofy Movie is one of the first performances I ever fell in love with as a kid. It’s probably the film I’ve seen the most over the course of my life and Bobby has been a reliable source of laughter every time. I love the idea of him partaking in a Thanksgiving dinner because he would destroy the mac and cheese and constantly keep people wondering why there’s a cartoon at the table.
Right next to Bobby is Chris Farley as Tommy Callahan from Tommy Boy. My family and I moved in November and when we got to our new apartment, we didn’t have internet access. I was forced to turn to my personal collection, so I opened a box and the first film I saw was Tommy Boy. I threw it on and laughed my ass off just like I always have when watching one of the best comedies from the 90s. Tommy would be able to throw down some food and pound some beers with the crew. He only adds to the fun!
Next up is Matt Damon as Mike McDermott in Rounders. We did an episode on Rounders in November and I had an absolute field day talking about one of my favorite 90s films. It’s so fucking engaging and full of great performances. Mike McD is the focus and having him at a Thanksgiving dinner is essential because he would lead the way in playing games after the meal. I feel like I would get along with him really well even after he kicks everyone’s ass in a game of Texas Hold ‘Em.
You’re probably wondering where the food is coming from. Well, Richard Harris as Albus Dumbledore is the answer. He could snap his fingers and give everyone an entire feast so we don’t have to worry about preparing a meal. The wisdom that Dumbledore brings is so necessary with this group. He would bring a little order to a very chaotic table.
Last chair at the table goes to Will Ferrell as Frank the Tank from Old School. Can you imagine Frank and Tommy pounding beers together? Or Frank trying to convince Dumbledore and Popeye to go streaking? Would be the best thanksgiving ever!