How Did This Get Made?

Escape from L.A. LIVE! w/ D’Arcy Carden & Dan Levy (HDTGM Matinee)

March 3, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The hosts and guests immediately struggle with consistently pronouncing the main character's name, Snake Plissken (often mispronounced as Pilskin or Plitzkin). 
  • The consensus among the panel is that *Escape from L.A. LIVE!* is a significantly worse film than its predecessor, *Escape from New York*, despite both sharing a similar plot structure. 
  • The discussion highlights the poor quality of the special effects in *Escape from L.A. LIVE!*, especially when compared to other major 1996 releases like *Jurassic Park*. 
  • The basketball challenge sequence in *Escape from L.A. LIVE!* is heavily criticized for its illogical staging, including surrounding gunmen failing to hit Snake Plissken while he performs. 
  • The hosts note that Kurt Russell, who has a writing credit on *Escape from L.A. LIVE!*, seemingly added the bizarre basketball sequence and the final 'Welcome to the human race' line. 
  • The discussion highlights Snake Plissken's consistently poor decision-making in *Escape from L.A. LIVE!*, such as crashing the submarine and being easily recognized everywhere he goes. 

Segments

Opening and Guest Introductions
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode of How Did This Get Made? focuses on John Carpenter’s Escape from L.A. LIVE! and features guests D’Arcy Carden and Dan Levy.
  • Summary: The episode opens with advertisements before Paul Scheer welcomes the audience live at Largo at the Coronet. Co-host Jason Mantzoukas is present, and the panel is rounded out by Dan Levy and D’Arcy Carden, standing in for June Diane. The film under discussion is the sequel featuring the return of Snake Plissken.
Plissken Name Pronunciation Debate
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(00:03:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Paul Scheer repeatedly mispronounces the lead character’s name as ‘Pilskin’ or ‘Plotnik,’ prompting immediate correction from Jason Mantzoukas.
  • Summary: Jason corrects Paul for saying ‘Pilskin’ instead of ‘Plissken,’ noting that Paul often mispronounces names, a habit he inherited from his father. This running gag establishes the difficulty the hosts have with the character’s actual name throughout the episode. The hosts joke about the importance of correct pronunciation for their credibility.
Initial Reactions to the Movie
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(00:05:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Dan Levy expresses a strong love-hate relationship with Escape from L.A. LIVE!, finding it confusing when watched with subtitles.
  • Summary: Dan Levy admits to watching the movie earlier that day with subtitles on, which made the action-heavy film confusing due to constant narration sounds. Paul Scheer anticipates his own strong negative reaction, which he humorously refers to as ‘fucking the movie’ in June Diane’s absence. The guests prepare to dive into the plot breakdown.
Plot Summary and Pants Discussion
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(00:08:05)
  • Key Takeaway: The plot of Escape from L.A. LIVE! is summarized as essentially the same as Escape from New York, with the only major difference being Snake Plissken’s forced wardrobe change.
  • Summary: The plot is quickly established as a near-identical remake set in Los Angeles instead of New York. The hosts focus on the minor detail that Snake Plissken was forced to change his iconic jacket and pants, though the vibe of the clothing remained similar. Paul expresses his initial supreme disappointment upon seeing the film in theaters years prior.
New York vs. LA Comparison
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(00:09:47)
  • Key Takeaway: The original Escape from New York is considered a classic cult film that holds up well, whereas Escape from L.A. LIVE! does not, even when viewed back-to-back.
  • Summary: One listener who watched both films consecutively found Escape from New York fantastic and holding up well, while Escape from L.A. LIVE! was deemed terrible. The ending of Escape from New York involves Snake retrieving a cassette tape that supposedly contains the secret to clean energy, which he then screws the government over by playing.
Kurt Russell’s Appearance and Appeal
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(00:15:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Kurt Russell’s physical appearance in both films is praised as incredibly hot, but watching Escape from L.A. LIVE! actively decreased the hosts’ desire to ‘fuck’ him.
  • Summary: The panel agrees that Kurt Russell looks fantastic and hasn’t aged, noting his muscular arms in the cape-like jacket. Paul Scheer confesses that while he wanted to ‘fuck’ Kurt Russell as a child, watching this sequel made him lose that desire. D’Arcy Carden counters that his voice has a ‘rapey kind of voice,’ which is immediately disputed by the others.
Exposition Dump and Earthquake Effects
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(00:23:47)
  • Key Takeaway: The opening narration of Escape from L.A. LIVE! is criticized for being an excessively dense exposition dump explaining the political shift to a lifetime presidency following a massive earthquake.
  • Summary: The opening sequence features a massive amount of exposition detailing the 9.6 magnitude earthquake in 2000, the subsequent constitutional amendment granting the president a lifetime term, and LA becoming an island for undesirables. The special effects used to depict the earthquake are noted as poor, often relying on simply shaking the camera, which contrasts sharply with the effects in Jurassic Park, released the same year.
Cuervo Jones and the Dove Incident
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(00:31:06)
  • Key Takeaway: The introduction of villain Cuervo Jones is marked by a failed romantic gesture involving a dove that clearly drops instead of flying, highlighting the film’s poor special effects.
  • Summary: The character Cuervo Jones is introduced while attempting to impress Rayanne (AJ Langer) by tossing a dove, which visibly falls to the ground, suggesting the dove effect was not virtual reality. The hosts note that Goldie Hawn was originally slated for the role of Utopia but was replaced by AJ Langer due to hospitalization, and Kate Hudson was considered for the part.
Peter Fonda’s Cameo and Environmental Fears
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(00:35:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Peter Fonda appears in a poorly executed drive-by shooting scene, and the film’s focus on UV rays and acid rain reflects the environmental anxieties prevalent in 1996.
  • Summary: Peter Fonda’s appearance in a leisurely drive-by shooting is deemed embarrassing by the panel, though they acknowledge he has been a ‘friend of the show’ via interview. The movie heavily features fears about the ozone layer and acid rain, which Snake Plissken seems immune to, even after falling into an acid rain-filled sewer.
Snake’s Implausible Fame and Plot Flaws
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(00:46:39)
  • Key Takeaway: The film fails to logically explain why Snake Plissken is universally famous, and the imposed virus (mono) is a weak motivator compared to the high-stakes adrenaline rush in Crank.
  • Summary: The hosts question why everyone in Los Angeles Island immediately recognizes Snake Plissken, given his supposed activities in Cleveland. Furthermore, the virus injected into Snake, which causes fatigue, is a poor narrative device as it actively hinders his ability to complete the mission, unlike the adrenaline-based ticking clock in Crank.
Balky from Perfect Strangers
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(00:50:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Jason’s acting inspiration stems from the character Balky from Perfect Strangers, not Bosom Buddies.
  • Summary: The character Balky Bartakamus from Perfect Strangers is cited as a major acting influence for one of the hosts. The show Perfect Strangers aired twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. One host even auditioned for a role as the foreign cousin in a Perfect Strangers-type show.
Valerie Galena’s Aggressive Flirting
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(00:52:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Valerie Galena’s immediate proposition to Snake Plissken, mentioning her breakup that very night, is perceived as overly aggressive or potentially dishonest.
  • Summary: Valerie Galena hits on Snake Plissken shortly after her boyfriend breaks up with her that same night. The hosts question the necessity of revealing the breakup timing, suggesting it might be an overly aggressive move to proposition a stranger. They ultimately decide not to slut-shame her actions.
Insanity of the Basketball Challenge
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(00:53:05)
  • Key Takeaway: The basketball challenge required Snake to make 10 points every 10 seconds while surrounded by gunmen who inexplicably failed to cause collateral damage.
  • Summary: Snake Plissken’s challenge required him to score 10 points on a full-size court, demanding significant cardio. Cuervo Jones commented on Snake tiring, despite the previous contestant being decapitated in front of him. The surrounding gunmen failed to hit Snake even when he was encircled, leading to the hosts questioning the scene’s logic.
Snake’s Immortality and Sickness
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(00:58:05)
  • Key Takeaway: Snake Plissken’s ability to casually surf a tsunami with a bullet in his leg contradicts the narrative that he is dying from a virus equivalent to the flu.
  • Summary: The tsunami in Escape from L.A. LIVE! was deemed unimpressive, allowing Snake to surf it while injured and engage in small talk. The hosts note that the supposed fatal sickness Snake suffers from is later revealed to be merely the flu, which he apparently shakes off easily.
Snake’s Ineffective Infiltration
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(01:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Snake Plissken is portrayed as an ineffective operative in Escape from L.A. LIVE!, being immediately caught everywhere he goes despite his reputation.
  • Summary: The hosts criticize Snake for being immediately captured after crashing the submarine, noting everyone recognizes him. His attempts at stealth are nonexistent, leading to immediate confrontation with Cuervo Jones. Furthermore, his physical stature is mocked by characters noting he is shorter than expected.
Treadmill Scene and Night Shoots
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(01:01:01)
  • Key Takeaway: The scene where Snake is placed on a treadmill while Cuervo Jones addresses the world suggests the production was suffering from exhaustion due to 70 consecutive night shoots.
  • Summary: The placement of Snake on a treadmill during a critical moment is questioned as a random, drug-fueled addition to the script. The film was shot for 70 straight days, exclusively at night, which likely contributed to the erratic nature of the scenes. This grueling schedule may explain why actors seemed embarrassed by the material.
Pam Grier’s Character History
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(01:02:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Pam Grier’s character, Carla Stone, is Snake’s former partner from Cleveland, known as ‘Carjack Shirley’ or ‘Carjack Malone,’ referencing a lost backstory.
  • Summary: Snake recognizes Pam Grier’s voice because she was his former partner from Cleveland, a detail referencing the unmade Escape from Cleveland. The character’s name was Carjack Malone, who specialized in carjacking. The hosts joke that an Escape from Cleveland movie would be needed to fully understand the references.
Audience Interaction and Cuervo Jones
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(01:06:40)
  • Key Takeaway: An audience member dressed as Snake Plissken was brought on stage, leading to humorous exchanges where Jason was jokingly assigned the role of Cuervo Jones.
  • Summary: An audience member named Blake, dressed as Snake Plissken, was invited on stage, prompting jokes about his commitment to the costume. Jason was humorously told that his Halloween costume should be Cuervo Jones. The audience member’s question focused on whether Kurt Russell’s fame relied on his hair.
Snake’s Inability to Interact with Women
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(01:12:30)
  • Key Takeaway: A recurring pattern in the Escape films is that any conversation Snake has with a woman results in immediate, terrible consequences for her.
  • Summary: The audience member observed that every time Snake converses with a woman, someone is shot, he is poisoned, or the woman dies, mirroring the pattern in Escape from New York. This tendency to motivate the hero by killing potential love interests is noted as a reprehensible but common trope of 1996 filmmaking.
Snake’s Best Skill Assessment
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(01:13:53)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts unanimously agree that Snake Plissken is best at surfing, given his ability to casually ride a tsunami with a leg wound.
  • Summary: When asked to rank Snake’s skills—hang gliding, surfing, or basketball—the consensus favored surfing. This is supported by the scene where he maintains a casual conversation with Steve Buscemi while surfing the massive wave. The scene is further mocked for Buscemi’s overly surprised reaction to seeing him.
The Absurd Ending and Sequel Plans
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(01:15:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Snake’s final act of looking down the camera barrel and saying ‘Welcome to the human race’ is seen as a nonsensical conclusion that may have been Kurt Russell’s sole contribution to the script.
  • Summary: Snake finding cigarettes (cloves or American Spirits) and delivering the line ‘Welcome to the human race’ is deemed disconnected from the film’s plot. There were plans for sequels, Escape from Earth and Escape from Mars, suggesting a desire to continue the franchise indefinitely. The hosts suggest a ‘Cheers’ version of Snake settling down would be preferable.
Second Opinions and Final Verdict
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(01:18:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite its flaws, some five-star Amazon reviews praise Escape from L.A. LIVE! for its absurdity and action, with one reviewer later retracting their praise after rewatching the original.
  • Summary: One five-star review praised the film for immersing the viewer in its world and having a great twist, claiming to have watched it over 30 times. Another reviewer, who claimed to be an extra, detailed his on-screen death by Uzi fire. A third reviewer initially loved the film’s biting humor but retracted their five-star rating three months later after comparing it to the first movie.