Billy Bob's Filmography

THE BAD NEWS BEARS (2005)

Latest News
The DVD will be ready to make groovy stocking stuffers on December 13th.

Plot
Washed-up major leaguer-turned-exterminator Morris Buttermaker winds up playing cranky baseball coach to a little league team comprised of athletically untalented misfits. Much as he'd rather be gassing rats, Buttermaker needs the extra dough, so he takes on the dog-earred crew of uncoordinated, foul-mouthed kids and proceeds to lead them to ignoble defeat . . . at first. But then he brings on a talented 12-year-old pitcher (superbly played by Sammi Kraft) and a dirtbike rebel who can hit 'em out of the ballpark, and the Bears start to go from zeroes to heroes. Add the Oscar^®-nominated Greg Kinnear as the smug coach of the Bears' well-heeled rivals and Oscar^®-winner Marcia Gay Harden as Buttermaker's boss, a woman who does too much (don't ask about her homemade herbal oils) and the pressure is on. Will the Bears choke before they can clinch the championship?

What Billy Bob Gets To Do
He steps into some mighty big shoes . . . the sneakers of the late comic great Walter Matthau.  Fortunately, he also gets to show off his considerable baseball talents, particularly as a pitcher. (Between takes, we observed him he entertaining the kids with his pitching prowess, while they taught him amusing hand signals.)  He also gets to gas a lot of rats.

Backstory
Billy Bob reunites with the two writers behind BAD SANTA, Glenn Ficarra and Mark Requa. The producer is Billy Bob's producting partner, Geyer Kosinski.  The original BAD NEWS BEARS grossed some $32 million, a huge gross for a 1976 release.  It spawned two sequels:  THE BAD NEWS BEARS IN BREAKING TRAINING and THE BAD NEWS BEARS GO TO JAPAN.  Paramount Pictures is apparently remaking a number of its hits from the 1970s, with THE BAD NEWS BEARS headlining the roster.  The Paramount execs on the production are Donald De Line and Allison Brecker.

Most amusing to the Webchicks during our visit to the set was the fake leaves tied to the otherwise barren oak trees (it was December, after all) to simulate spring training season.  This oddity was pointed out to us by none other than the lovely Mariel Hemingway, who was visiting the set with her daughter.

At the cast and crew party on February 19th, Billy Bob played host to 38 astonished and delighted Planeteers, who found themselves treated to a lavish party with acres of tasty hors d'oeuvres, free-flowing beverages, delightful desserts, a bevy of excited kids from the cast, and--special treat!--an hour-long concert from Billy Bob and his band.  Acknowledging the cast crew between such songs (and Planeteer faves) as Island Avenue, The Desperate One, Smoking In Bed, Emily, and That Mountain, Billy Bob paid a special salute to his Planeteers, then conjured up a special surprise.  In the middle of a cover of Alice Cooper's classic I'm Eighteen, a shadowy, menacing figure emerged from backstage.  The spectre stepped into the spotlight to the screams of every adult in the audience:  'twas none other than Alice Cooper himself!!!!  For more details and pix, visit our special Billybobpalooza 2005 page.

Relevant Links
IMDb Link
View the trailer

Related Merchandise
Do we smell a bubblegum tie-in?  There was a ton of bubblegum on the set. How about some passes to Bo Peep's Gentlemen's Club? Even Hooter's gets product placement, along with San Fernando Valley's uniquitous Leslie's Pool Mart.