Every Rom Com 33: Reality Bites

This week on Every Rom Com, Sophia and Jen take on the definitive Gen-X rom com as we discuss 1994’s “Reality Bites.” We’ll talk about Helen Childress, the 20-year old writer tasked with defining her generation; Ben Stiller, directing his first feature; and a cast of Gen-X icons led by Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke. We’ll discuss the advent of reality TV and how this movie satirized the genre before it took over our screens. We’ll also cover the hit soundtrack, the influential fashion, the history of the Big Gulp, and much much more as we talk about a favorite from our teenage years that still resonates today! 

0:00 -9:29 Introduction, Spring News, The Gen-X Post-College Experience

9:29-19:58 TRAILER, Basic Info, Interesting Facts, General Opinion

https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/03/reality-bites-captured-gen-x-25-years-later-helen-childress/583870/ 

https://uproxx.com/hitfix/20-years-later-an-oral-history-of-reality-bites/ 

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/75479/14-facts-about-reality-bites 

19:58-28:25 Cast & Crew In-Depth

28:25-33:55 “Reality Bites” As The Definitive Gen-X Rom Com

Tribeca Film Festival “Reality Bites” Reunion Panel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOLu7UQy4vg 

What Makes A Gen-X Rom Com? https://www.everyromcom.com/post/what-makes-a-gen-x-rom-com 

33:55-51:06 Graduation, Lelaina’s Speech, Character Intros, Graduation Dinner, Getting Ready Montage

51:06-1:02:02 Lelaina’s Job, Lelaina Meets Michael, Troy Moves In, Lelaina’s Documentary

Money In 1994 & Today: https://www.dollartimes.com/inflation/inflation.php?amount=400&year=1994 

Gregory Corso Poem “Marriage”: https://www.northiowa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/POETRY-MARRIAGE.pdf 

More Making Of Info: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jul/24/how-we-made-reality-bites-ethan-hawke-janeane-garofalovodka-freezer-my-sharona 

1:02:02-1:26:34 Fashion In The Movie, Lelaina And Michael’s First Date, Gen-X TV Culture, The Big Gulp, Troy’s Jealous

History Of The Big Gulp: 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/we-have-texas-to-thank-for-the-biggest-big-gulp-84453489/ 

The Big Gulp Today: https://www.7-eleven.com/big-gulp 

1:26:34-1:41:32 Vickie’’s AIDS Test, Lelaina Gets Fired, You & Me & 5 Bucks, Lelaina’s Job Hunt, Wienerschnitzel Scene

AIDS Statistics:

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5021a2.htm 

https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/gender/women/incidence.html 

https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/data-and-trends/global-statistics 

1:41:32-1:54:42 Lelaina In The Bell Jar, The Gas Card, Troy/Lelaina Fight, Sammy’s Coming Out, PFLAG

HIstory of PFLAG: https://pflag.org/our-story 

1:54:42 SPOILERS BEGIN

1:54:42-2:10:32 MIchael And Troy Showdown, The Documentary Release Party, The Real World And The Advent Of Reality TV

Commentary On “The Real World”: http://archive.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2011/03/06/mtvs_the_real_world_has_influenced_a_generation_of_reality_shows/ 

2:10:32-2:28:24 Lelaina And Troy Hook Up, Love Triangle At The Coffee House, Missing Each Other Montage, Troy Comes Back, Final Scenes

2:28:24-2:36:00 Would You Choose Troy Or Michael? Would You Choose Troy From “Reality Bites” Or Jesse From “Before Sunrise”?, The Soundtrack

https://www.vice.com/en/article/6wwg46/the-score-mapping-the-music-and-style-of-reality-bites  

2:36:00-2:42:52 Double Feature Recommendations