20 Things You Somehow Missed In Ghostbusters
Did you know the Ghostbusters had something called "the incontinence tube"?
When Ghostbusters released in 1984 it became a phenomenon. First devised as a vehicle for sketch comedian Dan Aykroyd and his friends, the team behind the film couldn't anticipate the legacy it would create. It connected with kids, spawned merchandise and television shows and the logo became instantly recognisable. If nothing else, the film remains one of the most quotable comedies of all time.
Director Ivan Reitman and writers Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis put a lot of love into Ghostbusters and in many ways it defines the careers of so many of its principal actors.
The original Ghostbusters is considered as close to a perfect film as you can get and its light-hearted tone makes it essentially the film version of soul food. Just warm, easy and comforting to watch over and over again. Still, as with any movie, there will be details you pick up on on repeat watches and others that you miss no matter how many times you see it.
From background Easter eggs and foreshadowing to cameos and overlooked gags, Ghostbusters has plenty of little touches that deserve a lot more love.
20. Slimer Has No Name
Perhaps the most surprising success of Ghostbusters was the fan reaction to the little green ghoul that haunted the Sedgwick Hotel. Forget the titans of 1980s comedy, Slimer had won the hearts of thousands. When the film span off into it's unanticipated children's television show, Slimer was a big part of it.
But the name itself is never uttered in the film. Ray refers to Slimer as an "ugly little spud" on tape, but in design and on set the creature was largely called "Onionhead". Dan Aykroyd would often say that Slimer's party hard attitude and love of excess was inspired by his late friend (and original casting choice for Peter Venkman) John Belushi.
Slimer became the official name by the time of The Real Ghostbusters cartoon and was used in the film's sequel.