Discuss: Your Favorite 'Safety Net' Films
Filed under: Fandom, Home Entertainment
After a marathon four-day weekend full of moving more stuff than you can ever imagine, I've finally settled into my new digs in Massapequa, Long Island. (I thought, hey -- if this town produced the Baldwin boys and Seinfeld, perhaps there's something special in the water, ya know?) While moving, my friend and I got to quoting Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (for some random reason), which lead us to discuss our favorite safety net films. What's a safety net film, you ask? Well, we've defined a safety net film to be a movie you'd totally watch on TV if you channel-surfed through ... but you'd still prefer to see what else is on.
You know those moments: You're surfing through the channels, stop briefly on a film like, say, Adventures in Babysitting, and while you'd totally be down for watching the rest, something inside propels you to continue surfing just in case there's something better on. But it's cool because you now have your safety net film if all else fails. Safety net films are weird; for me, they're movies like Don't Tell Mom or Babysitting or Airborne -- these random flicks that have mini-followings and fans, but rarely show up on any lists, and, if anything, are always briefly mentioned in a passing conversation. Safety net films usually come into play on a lazy Sunday afternoon when you'd rather surf the channels than commit to a DVD or two.
What are some of your favorite safety net films? And what was the last movie you used as a safety net while channel surfing?
[Special thanks to Aaron L. for naming them 'Safety Net Films']
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-05-2009 @ 5:20PM
Adrian said...
i mostly don't surf the channels that way, there is usually a hierarchy to it with me, first i'll flip through all, then I'll feel out what i'm in the mood to watch be it a sitcom, a movie, a game show, or even a specific genre like comedy, drama, horror, then i'll flip through the channels that have what it is i'm in the mood for, then the best one wins out! now for me, i guess the safety net feature comes in when theres a commercial on the channel i ultimately chose, then i'll switch over to choice number two, or three or four, a hierarchy
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5-05-2009 @ 5:22PM
Brian Rodden said...
Airborne rules!
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5-05-2009 @ 5:39PM
Mike said...
Erik
I grew up in Massapequa (AKA 'Matzah-Pizza' for the preponderance of Italians and Jews who made up the town's residents in the 60s-90s).
Make sure you try the 'All American' on Merrick Road for the closest think NY has to 'In-n-Out.'
M
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5-06-2009 @ 9:54AM
Erik Davis said...
Dude, I practically live at All-American -- but yeah, my lady grew up here so I'm pretty familiar with the territory. So far so good ...
5-05-2009 @ 6:01PM
Christian M. Howell said...
Disney's The Kid has been my latest. Another good one is Martian Child, a quirky yet heartfelt story of abandonment and the issues it causes.
Also, I'm watching one right now, Bye Bye Love.
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5-05-2009 @ 6:55PM
Nick said...
For a while Nancy Meyes filled this role. "I want something on while I'm vacuuming, well this is always an option." Faher of the Bride Part I & II, Somethings Gotta Give, The Holiday, and also both Meet the Parents movies.
There's something comforting in watching movies you have no interest in but are harmless, and you can leave them at any time.
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5-05-2009 @ 9:42PM
Adrienne said...
I've definitely folded laundry to Indecent Proposal on AMC more than once.
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5-06-2009 @ 1:04AM
Bill Carson said...
Airborne does rule! Ha, that's awesome that you named that... off the top of my head, I'd throw Bulletproof, Hackers, and Teen Wolf in there.
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5-06-2009 @ 12:03PM
Chelsea said...
Last safety net film I watched was At First Sight. Funny enough I can't recall what movie it was I thought was better to catch more of than At First Sight.
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5-06-2009 @ 4:35PM
Dan said...
Damn, I gotta give this some thought and come back to it, because I'm sure there's plenty. The funny thing is, a lotta times I start watching one and end up really digging it and it reminds me to ask myself why I don't have it on DVD. I have to commend you Erik, because this is a hilarious and awesome idea.
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