The Worst Biopic Ever Made: "Wired: The Short Life and Fast Times of John Belushi"

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LANGUAGE WARNING

John Belushi's death in 1982 sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry. By that point he was a certified comedy legend and the nature of his death raised controversy. In order to get to the truth of the matter, his widow hired Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward to investigate just how John died. Unfortunately for her, Woodward's investigation didn't exactly go the way she hoped. His book, Wired, was a brutal tell-all that delved heavily into the drug habits of John and his friends. The book spared immediate outrage from people like Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray, but rose to the time of the best seller charts. A producer named Edward S. Feldman bought the film rights, thinking he had just grabbed a surefire hit, but hit roadblock after every corner. Learn about the making of the film and how the movie almost killed the career of Michael Chiklis, before it even started.

Wired (1989) is a biographical drama that focuses on the life and tragic death of actor John Belushi. The film attempts to depict his rise to fame, his struggles with addiction, and his eventual overdose in 1982. However, it has been criticized for its portrayal of Belushi and for its sensationalized approach to his life. In this video, we compare scenes from Wired with real footage and interviews from Belushi's life, assessing how accurately the film represents his personality, career, and the events that led to his untimely death.

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Using archived interviews EZ Reviews the life and legacy of John Belushi as it pertains to Bob Woodward's depiction of his final days in his book and, later, film... Wired. In this multi-part documentary series, you'll find out about Belushi's life and work as we delve deep into the reception and creation of both versions of Woodward's divisive interpretation of Belushi's life. All in an attempt to reinterpret a convoluted narrative of Hollywood excess and bring to light the man, book, and film in a completely new and refreshing way.

John Belushi: A Life Re-Wried - Part 1 - "Eat a Bowl of F***" Chapters

• 0:00 This Clint Eastwood Line
• 0:20 Bill Murray Reflects on Belushi
• 0:50 Opening Titles/Belushi Interview
• 1:59 CORRECTION "In December *1981" / Belushi in Neighbors and Continental Divide
• 5:34 Belushi's NBC Passing Report
• 8:36 Belushi's Final Days and Passing
• 10:26 Investigation and Cathy Smith
• 11:48 Dan Aykroyd on Smith and Belushi's Passing
• 14:01 Belushi's Lost Roles
• 19:19 Aykroyd on Finding out about Belushi's Passing
• 20:57 Daniel Richler Interview about Cathy Smith's History
• 23:21 Bob Woodward and his book Wired
• 27:01 Harold Ramis on Belushi and Woodward
• 28:15 Aykroyd on Woodward and Wired
• 29:55 Woodward Defends Himself
• 32:54 Woodward's 1989 Film/End of Part 1

Using archived interviews EZ Reviews the life and legacy of John Belushi as it pertains to Bob Woodward's depiction of his final days in his book and, later, film... Wired. In this multi-part documentary series, you'll find out about Belushi's life and work as we delve deep into the reception and creation of both versions of Woodward's divisive interpretation of Belushi's life. All in an attempt to reinterpret a convoluted narrative of Hollywood excess and bring to light the man, book, and film in a completely new and refreshing way.

John Belushi: A Life Re-Wried - Part 2 - "Blackballed"

Chapters

• 0:00 a Conversation with Jon Favreau
• 0:24 Opening Titles / Chiklis Interview
• 1:24 Book to Movie Rights / Studio Reluctance
• 2:35 Michael Chiklis Casting
• 5:06 Pushback and Blacklisting of Production
• 9:15 Aykroyd Angry Interview about Film
• 14:34 Chiklis on Blacklisting
• 16:25 Siskel and Ebert Review 1989
• 20:33 Release and Reception
• 22:58 Chiklis on Blacklisting and Being Helped by Burt Reynolds
• 26:02 Chiklis as Curly Howard / The Commish / Fantastic Four / The Shield
• 27:01 Wrap up
• 27:30 Coming Soon preview
• 30:00 Special Message

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