Episode 4: ‘Lost in New York’
What a seemingly innocuous family holiday sequel tells us about the fraught state of New York City in the early 1990s.
We thought it would be fun to do a nice, light Christmas episode, focusing on one of the many beloved Gotham holiday movies. Just take it easy for an episode, right? Kinda phone it in?
So we settled on Chris Columbus and John Hughes’ 1992 smash Home Alone 2: Lost in New York – and ended up talking about Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump, “Broken Windows,” the Central Park Five, and 9/11, along with the film’s total geographical inconsistency and the spectacular tonal failure of its violence.
Our guests are “Close-Ups: New York Movies” author Mark Asch, Pitchfork senior editor Jillian Mapes, “You’re Wrong About” co-host Sarah Marshall, and freelance film writer Anya Stanley. Happy holidays!
Listen to the episode here.
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The teaser poster for 'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.'
The final poster for 'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.'
Kevin at the airport in 'Home Alone 2' (1992).
Kevin visits the World Trade Center.
The inspirational children's hospital.
Kevin and the Sticky Bandits at the film's Inscope Arch stand-in.
Kevin at 30 Rock, moments before his reunion with his mom.
Kevin meets Donald Trump at the Plaza Hotel.
The ad Donald Trump placed in four New York newspapers in response to the Central Park Jogger case.
The modified Milton Glaser design, as discussed in the show.
SHOW NOTES
Our field recording from Rockefeller Center was recorded on November 27, 2020.
Clips from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (Chris Columbus, 1992). Now streaming on Disney+.
Box office numbers via Box Office Mojo.
Mark Asch was interviewed on November 10, 2020. His book, Close-Ups: New York Movies, is a wonderful read, especially if you’re interested in the topics of this show. You can buy it here, and you can read an excerpt on Home Alone 2 here.
Jillian Mapes was interviewed on November 20, 2020. She is on Twitter @junosmapes. You can read her work on Pitchfork here, and her article on the geographic inaccuracies of Home Alone 2 here.
More information on the filming locations here.
For more on the silver bullet of tourism in New York City through the city’s recovery from the mid-‘70s financial meltdown, check out the essential book Branding New York: How a City in Crisis Was Sold to the World, which you can buy here.
We did not mention that Milton Glaser died over the summer – here’s a Gothamist obituary, as well as their coverage of the lawsuit Mike mentioned.
Anya Stanley was interviewed on November 10, 2020. She is on Twitter @bookishplinko. You can read her piece on the first Home Alone here.
Clips from: The Out-of-Towners (Arthur Hiller, 1970), Coming to America (John Landis, 1988), Crocodile Dundee (Peter Faiman, 1986), Big Business (Jim Abrams, 1988).
The Matt Damon quote comes from this interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
Matt Damon was played by Brendan McDonald, who you can follow on Twitter @ProducerMcD. He also produced “WTF with Marc Maron.”
The sound of Trump talking about the Central Park Five comes from this segment of “All In With Chris Hayes.” More on Trump and the CP5 ads here.
Sarah Marshall was interviewed on November 30, 2020. She is on Twitter at @Remember_Sarah, and you should be listening to her podcasts “You’re Wrong About” and “Why Are Dads?”
Music:
John Williams - Music from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
Eric Steuer - Bust That Rap Like Nobody’s Listenin’
The Insider - Right
Opening Theme:
Our opening theme features sound from the following films: Elf, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Scrooged, Serendipity, and The Night Before.