I Picked The Wrong Week To Quit Yuban!

This week on Reel Beans, we’re cruising at 30,000 feet through one of the greatest parodies ever made — Airplane! (1980). We explore why its rapid-fire humor still lands, how parody is far more difficult than it looks, why serious actors made it even funnier, and how certain jokes hit differently today.

We also sip on Yuban coffee — the iconic store-bought brew that landed a cameo in the film itself. Nostalgic? Yes. Strong? Absolutely. Fancy? Not even close — and that’s exactly the point.

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✈️ Watch the Films

Airplane! (1980)
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/airplane

Zero Hour! (1957) (the film Airplane! directly spoofed)
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/zero-hour-1957

Airport (1970)
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/airport

Airport 1975 (1974)
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/airport-75

Saturday Night Fever (1977)
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/saturday-night-fever

From Here to Eternity (1953)
https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/from-here-to-eternity

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☕ Coffee Pairing: Yuban Coffee

In honor of Airplane!, we brewed Yuban — the coffee behind one of the film’s most famous domestic parodies. Walter never has a second cup at home? Well, let’s see how Yuban holds up today.

Buy Yuban Coffee:

• Official Yuban Website
  https://theyuban.com

• Yuban Traditional Medium Roast (43oz)
  https://www.shelhealth.com/products/yuban-traditional-medium-roast-ground-coffee-43-1-oz?variant=46711682171112

• Yuban Traditional Medium Roast K-Cup Pods (24 count)
  https://groceryeshop.us/products/yuban-k-cups-traditional-medium-roast-coffee-pods-24-count?variant=50043125530941

Upcoming Coffee for Next Episode:

• Stumptown Hair Bender Blend (for Desk Set episode)
  https://www.stumptowncoffee.com/products/hair-bender?variant=40006908936360

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📚 Sources Cited

• The Guardian — “Airplane! at 40: the best spoof comedy ever made?”
  https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jul/02/airplane-at-40-the-best-spoof-comedy-ever-made

• Library of Congress — Airplane! National Film Registry Essay
  https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/airplane-1980

• MyCoffeeBeans.net — Yuban Coffee History
  https://mycoffeebeans.net/yuban-coffee-history/

• The Brew Adventures — “Is pre-ground coffee that bad?”
  https://www.thebrewadventures.com

• The Spruce Eats — “How to store ground coffee and maintain flavor”
  https://www.thespruceeats.com

• Hermanos Coffee Roasters — Grinding coffee: burr grinders & brewing tips
  https://www.hermanoscoffeeroasters.com

• Thrillist — “We taste-tested every canned coffee brand so you don’t have to”
  https://www.thrillist.com

• Reddit: r/Coffee, r/Movies, r/CoffeeSnobs — community reflections on Yuban, parody, and nostalgia.

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🔔 Subscribe & Follow

Be sure to subscribe to Reel Beans wherever you get your podcasts, and follow along for more cozy coffee & film pairings:

🌐 https://reelbeans.com
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🎥 https://www.youtube.com/@reelbeans

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Next episode teaser:
We’re heading into the world of Desk Set — big computers, bigger egos, and Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy at their finest. Brew up some Hair Bender and join me next week!