Daily Dirt: I’m clueless how Silverstone did not become a movie superstar

Published On: June 23, 2025

Saturday, June 21, 2025: Daily Dirt

Even while Friday’s 1980s movies aren’t quite on this list, they’re pretty damned close. Welcome to The Daily Dirt’s Vol. 1,320, which consists of three thoughts for today.

1. We wrap up our examination of the greatest comedy from the 1980s and 1990s today.

When I was assembling these two lists, what was my initial thought? Which of the top-rated movies—Today’s Clueless or Ferris Bueller’s Day Off from yesterday—would rank first overall? Give that some thought. Maybe on Sunday, I’ll have an answer for you.

Anyway, returning to the topic of discussion, below are my choices for the greatest comedy of the 1990s:

1. Clueless (1995):

Alicia Silverstone seemed destined for superstardom after this performance. To this day, I m not sure how that didn t happen. Nevertheless, Silverstone s role as a spoiled Beverly Hills teenager named Cher Horowitz is one of my all-time faves. In addition, Amy Heckerling, who directed this classic, was also at the helm of Fast Times At Ridgemont High.
2. Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery (1997):

Others had tried to come up with a parody of James Bond flicks. But Mike Myers found the winning formula by not just mocking 007, but the Swinging Sixties era that James Bond represented. I can remember laughing out loud in the theater at the premier of this movie. Remember some of Myers lines as the evil Fat Bastard? If you know, you know.
3. Sleepless In Seattle (1993):

The concept that ultimately put this film over the top? Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan do not meet until near the end of the film. To this day, the movie is among the most successful romantic comedies of all-time. If you ve seen it, I m sure you know why.
4. Jerry Maguire (1996):

The movie starred Tom Cruise, but Cuba Gooding Jr. won audience hearts. (Gooding s dad was a member of the 1970s soul group Main Ingredient, which had the monster hit Everybody Plays The Fool in 1972.)
5. A League Of Their Own (1992):

There s no crying in baseball, but plenty of laughter. And a few tears, too.
6. The Wedding Singer (1998):

Easily, Adam Sandler s finest film.
7. White Men Can t Jump (1992):

The on-court smack talk was tremendous. Possibly Woody Harrelson s finest moment on the silver screen.
8. There s Something About Mary (1998):

The chemistry between Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller was obvious and one of the film s highlights.
9. Tommy Boy (1995):

Kind of sad now. We ll never know what Chris Farley could have become.

(For No. 10, I simply couldn’t chose between these, so you got all four.)

10-tie. The Thing That You Do (1996):

Sure, Tom Hanks was the big-name star, but underlings like Tom Everett Scott and Steve Zahn stole the film. The soundtrack certainly helped, too.
10-tie. Wayne s World (1992):

Predictable but over-the-top hilarious.
10-tie. Dumb And Dumber (1994):

I love the description of the roles supplied by Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels: Imbecilic best friends. That s what they say about me and JRG.
10-tie. The Addams Family (1991):

Who else as Uncle Fester but Christopher Lloyd?

2. Were you aware of (Part 402)

Greenland is not permitted to join FIFA, the world governing body of soccer, because of its challenging weather conditions and the inability of grass being able to grow there.
A watermelon is 92 percent water. That s nothing when compared to cucumbers, which are 96 percent water.
Eating French fries decrease lifespan by 5 minutes per serving. Hey, no one is going to live forever.
Soft drinks decrease lifespan by 12 minutes per can. Even the diet version?
Each slice of pizza decreases lifespan by 7 minutes. So-o-o-o-o a large pizza is going to cut an hour off my life, right? Well, as long as it has mushrooms and pepperoni.

According to a Forbes.com analysis from earlier this year, the ten cities listed below are the most dangerous in the United States in terms of crime rate, safety index, and quality of life:

1. Cleveland, Ohio
2. Detroit, Mich.
3. Memphis, Tenn.
4. Baltimore, Md.
5. St. Louis
6. Oakland, Calif.
7. Albuquerque, N.M.
8. Birmingham, Ala.
9. New Orleans, La.
10. Milwaukee, Wis.

Steve’s Daily ThoughtMy biographical film, Dirt’s World, will be directed by Amy Heckerling. I’m considering having Brad Pitt play me. I look up Amy’s age and see that she is 71, which is the same age as me. This project might succeed, in my opinion. Any ideas?

Every day, Steve Eighinger contributes to Muddy River News. Shouldn’t Steve be in his 50s now if he loses seven minutes each time he eats a piece of pizza and five minutes for an order of fries?