Buzz
Released in 1996, The Cable Guy was initially criticized and seen as a career misstep for Jim Carrey. However, it has since gained a cult following as a dark comedy, earning over $100 million and showcasing Carrey's versatility. Directed by Ben Stiller and co-produced by Judd Apatow, the film features Carrey as Chip Douglas, a manipulative cable repairman desperate for friendship, with Matthew Broderick as Steven M. Kovacs, his unwilling companion. On its 20th anniversary, here are some intriguing facts about The Cable Guy to explore before you sign off.
1. THE SCRIPT WAS PENNED BY A LOS ANGELES PROSECUTOR.
Lou Holtz Jr. (unrelated to the famous football coach) shared with Entertainment Weekly how he conceived The Cable Guy: "One night, while in my mother’s apartment building, I noticed a cable technician wandering the hallway. I wondered, 'Why is he here so late?'" Columbia Pictures purchased the script for $1 million, and Holtz revised it five times before finalization.
2. CHRIS FARLEY WAS INITIALLY SET TO PLAY THE LEAD ROLE.
Bernie Brillstein, Chris Farley's manager, thought Farley was perfect for the part. Holtz took time off from his job to travel to New York and discuss the film with Farley. Farley officially withdrew due to scheduling issues, but insiders revealed to The New York Times that Farley's exit coincided with Jim Carrey's interest in the role. Holtz mentioned that Carrey never sought a meeting with him.
3. JIM CARREY EARNED A GROUNDBREAKING $20 MILLION.
Carrey became the first actor to command such a high fee. His earnings reportedly accounted for half of the movie's entire budget.
4. JUDD APATOW FAILED TO SECURE OFFICIAL WRITING CREDIT.
Judd Apatow faced a "heated" Writers Guild arbitration dispute with Lou Holtz Jr. regarding scriptwriting credit. Holtz's original script was, as described by director Ben Stiller, "essentially a lighthearted buddy comedy." Apatow reworked the script to align with Carrey's vision, transforming it into a darker, "comedic take on classic stalker thrillers." Apatow noted that Holtz's version lacked physical comedy for Carrey. Carrey characterized the final film as "Hitchcock meets Jerry Lewis," blending Rosemary's Baby with The Odd Couple.
5. CARREY INSISTED ON A FATAL ENDING FOR HIS CHARACTER.
In an early draft by Apatow, Chip meets his demise by being impaled on a satellite dish. Apatow revealed, "Jim was adamant about dying at the movie's conclusion. We couldn’t convince everyone to agree. He believed his character should make a sacrificial death."
6. CARREY INVENTED THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS SPOOF.
Apatow and Stiller traveled to South Carolina to collaborate with Carrey during the filming of Ace Ventura 2: When Nature Calls (1995). During a bar visit, Carrey suggested mimicking the iconic Midnight Express (1978) scene, where his character presses against glass, scribbling "T*ts on glass" on a napkin.
7. LESLIE MANN AND APATOW FIRST MET DURING HER AUDITION.
Leslie Mann, who portrayed Robin Harris in the movie, auditioned alongside Apatow, who read Jim Carrey's part. The couple tied the knot in 1997.
8. BEN STILLER VIEWED THE MOVIE AS A HIGH-BUDGET REMAKE OF HIS DEFUNCT TV SHOW.
Stiller mentioned to Joel Murray, who played the "Basketball Player" in The Cable Guy, that the film felt like a $40 million version of an Ben Stiller Show sketch. He reunited with his former co-stars from the short-lived sketch series, including Andy Dick, Janeane Garofalo, Bob Odenkirk, and writer David Cross. Murray responded skeptically, "Yeah, okay."
9. THE STUNT COORDINATOR WAS DISMISSED FROM THE PROJECT.
During the stunt double's dunk, the backboard shattered, sending glass into his face and chest. The glass was intended to fall backward, but a pyrotechnic malfunction caused it to go the wrong way. Keith Gibbs, the basketball coordinator, recalled, "The guy was fired immediately. Ironically, I believe they used that take in the final scene."
10. CARREY STRUGGLED WITH BASKETBALL FROM THE START.
Gibbs spent several hours at Carrey's home teaching him basic basketball skills. Carrey admitted, "I’m Canadian; basketball isn’t my thing." They spent an entire hour just practicing right-hand layups. At one point, Carrey, in character, attempted a wild hook shot from 35 feet, which sailed over the hoop, backboard, fence, and even hit the guest house. He then celebrated as if he’d won a national championship.
11. MATTHEW BRODERICK FACED A CHALLENGE DURING THE MEDIEVAL TIMES SCENE.
Carrey was amazed that no one had previously used Medieval Times as a comedic setting. The venue in Buena Park, California, closed temporarily for filming. However, Broderick’s horse allergy posed a problem. He admitted, "I had to focus hard not to sneeze constantly. I enjoy fight scenes and physical comedy, but filming 16-hour days was exhausting."
12. A SCENE WAS REMOVED DUE TO CARREY'S DISTURBINGLY REALISTIC EVIL EXPRESSION.
Apatow shared with The Los Angeles Times a list of deleted scenes, such as one where Carrey staples Broderick's character and sews his buttocks into the shape of a TV, another where Carrey, posing as a firefighter, throws an ax at Broderick, and a third filmed in freezing rain at Griffith Park, where Carrey, dressed as the headless horseman, confronts Broderick, who retaliates by threatening him with a rock. The last scene was cut because Carrey's menacing gaze appeared too genuine. Another omitted scene featured Carrey mimicking The Terminator on Broderick's car, which failed to amuse test audiences.
13. LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S MANAGER WAS FURIOUS.
Apatow recounted, "Before filming began, I received a call from a friend managing Larry the Cable Guy. He warned, 'Judd, you can’t name this movie The Cable Guy—it’ll ruin his career! He’s worked tirelessly on this character.' Despite the concern, the title remained unchanged. Ironically, Larry the Cable Guy’s career has far surpassed the success of the movie The Cable Guy. If you compare the two, Larry undoubtedly comes out on top."
