On the bill for the penultimate evening of the Tribeca Festival was Matthew Broderick and Judd Apatow, making it easy to assume that they’d stroll down The Cable Guy memory lane.
Directed by Ben Stiller and produced by Apatow, the 1996 film featured Jim Carrey, who was riding high from hits like Ace Ventura, Dumb & Dumber, and The Mask. For The Cable Guy, Carrey earned an astounding $20 million payday, reflecting his star power at the time. Broderick played the straight man opposite Carrey’s eccentric cable technician in what was intended to be a big tentpole release. However, unlike his previous successes, this film didn’t perform well domestically, making only $60 million.
Broderick’s Humble Payday
Reflecting on the project’s dynamics, Broderick humorously remarked about Carrey’s huge paycheck:I got a Swiss cheese sandwich,
he joked. Broderick echoed a sentiment of empathy towards Carrey, recognizing the inherent pressure of such a colossal salary:Nice as it is to make all that, it put a lot of pressure on him in a way… I was sympathetic to the pressure he must have put on himself.
Challenges On Set
Apatow shared an unforgettable moment involving Carrey’s relentless dedication:Jim went so hard at you every day…you said to me in between takes, ‘I don’t know how to react anymore! I’ve run out of reactions to this!’
Both actors endured a grueling night shoot for an Ichabod Crane scene, which unfortunately didn’t make the final cut. Apatow recalls:a torturous night shoot … involving Carrey chasing Broderick down… ended with lots of mud in their eyes.
The Queen Mary Incident
An even more memorable mishap occurred during a shoot at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. Due to scheduling issues, Broderick found himself waiting endlessly on set:You were so mad at me… You were like ‘don’t do that again’
Apatow recounted. This incident profoundly impacted Apatow’s approach to managing actors’ time:
Every time someone is not shooting for six hours, I think of the look in your eye that day and how scary it was. You don’t want Bueller made at you, he’ll cut you!
Early Feedback and Final Thoughts
Apatow also reminisced about early feedback from Bernie Brillstein on Carrey’s character:I said, ‘Waddya think?…‘Nooo! Is he going to talk like that the whole movie?’
Despite initial skepticism from some quarters, the film has endured over time as a cult favorite.
Ultimately,The Cable Guy‘s production was fraught with challenges, yet its legacy remains robust thanks to moments like these shared openly by its creators.
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