Bill Murray turns 57, but it just doesn't matter!

There are several rules in the Stuck in the 80s kingdom: Always turn up the radio when Men At Work in playing. You must roll your eyes and make the "gag me" gesture every time a celebrity story appears about Tom Cruise. And you must stop everything you're doing and plop yourself on the couch when a Bill Murray movie comes on TV.

Our favorite 80s god, Murray runs 57 years old today. (He doesn't look a day over 65 though, so he's got that going for him. Which is nice.) But unlike many of his 80s peers, Murray has a career that has steadily climbed since the late 70s and his start on Saturday Night Live.

Some of my favorite non-80s highlights:

Meatballs (1979): It's on cable nonstop these days. Watch it again and relive Hollywood comedies during a gentler, more peaceful era. "Even if every man woman and child joined hands together and prayed for us to win, it just wouldn't matter because all the really good looking girls would still go out with the guys from Mohawk because they've got all the money! It just doesn't matter!"

Groundhog Day (1993): Am I wrong here or is this is best movie ever? Seriously. "This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather."

Kingpin (1996): Possibly the most vile comedy ever conceived. Which is why I love it to death. "Believe me, as a bowler, I know that right about now, your bladder feels like an overstuffed vacuum cleaner bag and your butt is kinda like an about-to-explode bratwurst."

Wild Things (1998): Who says Murray can't shine in a bit part? "Did you enjoy being a guest of the state?"

Rushmore (1998): The beginning of the current era of Murray -- less slapstick, more dry material. But even more funny. "Here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it."

Lost in Translation (2003): How many times must this be said ... he should have won the Oscar. "For relaxing times, make it Suntory time."

Is Bill Murray's best work in the 80s or beyond? Now that have his best non-80s work to consider, it's time for the ultimate list befitting a man of his prestige.

I give you ... TOP 15 BILL MURRAY LINES OF THE 80s:

15. "Suck in the guts, guys, we're the Ghostbusters." (Ghostbusters 2, 1989)

14. "It's easy to be a holy man on top of a mountain." (The Razor's Edge, 1984)

13. "I think I need a root canal. I definitely need a long, slow root canal." (Little Shop of Horrors, 1986)

12. "We've been going about this all wrong, this Mr. Stay Puft's okay, he's a sailor, he's in New York, we get this guy laid we won't have any trouble." (Ghostbusters, 1984)

11. "We're all very different people. We're not Watusi, we're not Spartans, we're Americans. With a capital "A", huh? And you know what that means? Do you? That means that our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world." (Stripes, 1981)

10. "Correct me if I'm wrong Sandy, but if I kill all the golfers, they're gonna lock me up and throw away the key." (Caddyshack, 1980)

9. "He slimed me." (Ghostbusters, 1984)

8. "In my case, you know, I hate to advocate drugs or liquor, violence, insanity to anyone. But in my case it's worked." (Where The Buffalo Roam, 1980)

7. "So we finish the eighteenth and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, "Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know." And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness." So I got that goin' for me, which is nice." (Caddyshack, 1980)

6. "The bitch hit me with a toaster." (Scrooged, 1988)

5. "This chick is toast." (Ghostbusters, 1984)

4. "You've got a program featuring America's favorite old fart. Reading a book in front of a fireplace. Now, I have to kill all of you." (Scrooged, 1988)

3. "You slut." (Tootsie, 1982)

2. "Chicks dig me, because I rarely wear underwear and when I do it's usually something unusual." (Stripes, 1981)

1. "Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac... It's in the hole! It's in the hole! It's in the hole!" (Caddyshack, 1980)

Comments

[John Hays]

Another great bit part was in Ed Wood:

"Do you renounce Satan and all he stands for?"

Murray: "Sure!"

Just to add some trivia, Caddyshack originally did not have the Chevy/Bill scene, but they felt it was too good an opportunity to pass up to have these two guys who'd never worked on screen together before do something, especially since Murray was the replacement for Chevy on SNL. Oh, and rumors swirled about a Ghostbusters 3, but supposedly Murray would only do it if he could be a ghost, and of course that didn't fly, so no movie.

[malibu]

You beat me to it, John, that's exactly the quote I was going to use! LOVE Ed Wood and all he stood for!

[Marissa]

...and I'm watching "What About Bob?" OnDemand right this very moment. I'm telling ya, I'm psychic! (about the blogs). Steve, are you scared yet?
I used to quote from Caddyshack. I impressed all the drunkards back then. Wow!

[Spears]

You still impress us all.

[John Hays]

You know, thinking more about Ghostbusters, that really needs to be a podcast all by itself. Perhaps that and the sequel. There are SO many great quotes!

"I make it a rule never to get involved with possessed people. Actually, it's more of a guideline than a rule..."
"Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together - mass hysteria!"
"Back off, man. I'm a scientist." (That needs to be a t-shirt, if it isn't already)

::blush:: Gee whiz, Steve. Thanks!

[Marissa]

I was so flustered that I didn't even sign my post.
Thanks again, Steve. "I bet you've got a lot of nice ties."

[Big Tex]

The scene with Murray and Steve Martin in Little Shop of Horrors gets my vote for funniest movie scene of the 80's! Thanks for including it in your list. "CANDY BAR!!!"

[Spears]

Lemme guess, Marissa, you want me to tie you up with some of my ties?

[Marissa]

Just leave the toothpicks at home, Steve.

[Spears]

Ready for some accupuncture, Marissa? It's just like accupressure. (Breaking out the massage oil).

[Marissa]

The lid on the bottle might be loose. Use sparingly.

[Al]

Sweet Mother of Pearl. Get a room!

[grandllama]

Steve's got a girlfriend... Steve's got a girlfriend...

Yes, Your Honor, Steve has no......

eh, wouldn't do it to you buddy... keep up the good work.....

.... d*ck

[Spears]

I guess it's time for me to decide. Do I stand for goodness ... or badness?

[Marissa]

I say go for the badness ::wink:: I like to see a man of advancing years throwing caution to the wind. It's inspiring in a way.

[Spears]

My years are not advancing as fast as you might think, Marissa.

[Marissa]

Hmmm food for thought, Steve. I was born.... sing along, you know the words

[Spears]

"I was boooorn to love you ... I was booorn to lick your face ... I was born to rub you ... but you were born to rub me first."

What do you say we take this out on the patio?

[Marissa]

You're CRAZY!

[Bryan]

ah murray...Ghostbusters would be NOWHERE without him..and yet it's cause of him (and sony) that GB3 isn't being made...such a pity...

btw, if you are gonna do a podcast 'bout the boys in grey i can help in that department ;) Ghostbusters fan since 1987 at least (and i was born in '84!)

[John Hays]

Gotta hand it to ya Steve, nice job coming back to Murray while staying on the flirting vibe! Took me a sec, but I was like "Oh, yeah! That's a Murray bit!"

[Marissa]

...did you catch on that I threw in a little Groundhog's Day?