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Night Shift: Surprising secrets about the 80s cult comedy

What happens when you pair the cool charisma of Henry Winkler with the wild, scene-stealing energy of Michael Keaton? You get pure comedic gold!

Night Shift (1982) wasn’t just Ron Howard’s directorial debut — it was the beginning of a cult classic. Winkler and Keaton’s electric chemistry lights up the screen, Shelley Long brings her irresistible charm, and if you look closely, you might even spot a young Kevin Costner among the chaos….

But the real surprise? Shelley Long’s unforgettable ”magic in the kitchen” moment. Ready to dive into the secrets behind this iconic film? Let’s get started!

From morgue to mayhem

Released in 1982, Night Shift is a quirky comedy classic that introduced audiences to Michael Keaton’s unforgettable charm and showcased Ron Howard’s budding talent as a director.

Set in a New York City morgue, the film follows the unlikely partnership of Chuck Lumley (Henry Winkler), a mild-mannered night shift worker, and Bill Blazejowski (Michael Keaton), his eccentric and wildly ambitious new coworker.

When the two stumble upon an unconventional business opportunity — turning the morgue into a base for a high-end escort service — they find themselves in hilarious and unexpected situations.

What makes this movie stand out isn’t just the clever humor, but the amazing chemistry between the three leads. Each of their characters is incredibly likeable, making it all the more enjoyable to watch.

Callback after callback

Talking about Night Shift without mentioning Michael Keaton is impossible.

Not many people remember the wild and crazy young Michael Keaton, but Night Shift is a perfect snapshot of him in the 1980s — goofy, funny, and undeniably full of charm. The comedy movie was Keaton’s breakthrough role and first major starring part, and he was practically unknown at the time, having only appeared in a B-comedy and a CBS comedy series called Report to Murphy.

”I don’t how many times I had to go back in and audition,” he recalls. ”It was just callback after callback after callback.”

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In the end, Keaton managed to convince the writers and producers. With his fast-talking style, broad Irish face, thinning brown hair, and darting green eyes, Keaton was brilliant as Bill “Blaze” Blazejowski. His timing and energy were spot on – but another detail helped too:

“I came along just at the time when the changeover from television to film actors was becoming possible,” Keaton later reflected on his rise to stardom.

To really get into the groove of his character, Michael Keaton would crank up the volume and blast Bruce Springsteen, especially ”10th Avenue Freeze-Out” from the Born to Run album.

On opening day, he recalls, ”I purposely went to see it alone. I wanted to sit right there in the middle of the theater in the afternoon, and it was wonderful. I don’t know any other word to use, to tell you the truth.”

The man who helped Keaton steal the movie

Ron Howard really hit the jackpot when he cast Keaton for Night Shift.

In scene after scene, Keaton upstaged the more seasoned Henry Winkler, who was already a TV star known for his role as “The Fonz.” As critics raved about Keaton’s performance, the door to Hollywood swung wide open for him. But Keaton’s success — and his entire film career — might not have been launched if it weren’t for Henry Winkler’s subtle yet invaluable support.

“Henry was offered either part and he opted for the quieter one,” Ron Howard revealed in an interview with the Boston Globe.

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“Then he helped Michael steal the picture. He gave Michael a lot of choices. With some of the bits, he’d tell Michael, ‘I know (you’ll get laughs) if you take this routine one step further.’”

Henry Winkler chose to play the timid morgue director in Night Shift as a deliberate contrast to his iconic, tough-guy character, Fonzie. As he put it on Twitter, ”I thought I’d play Richie Cunningham for once.”

Henry Winkler didn’t like Keaton

t’s surprising that Henry Winkler and Michael Keaton never reunited for another film after Night Shift, given the undeniable chemistry between them. Their dynamic on-screen was hilarious, memorable, and perfectly balanced.

The reason behind their lack of future collaborations may lie in how their relationship began during the filming of Night Shift. When Henry first read with Michael, he wasn’t entirely sure about working with him. As he later reflected, according to Howard: ”The guy’s talented, but I don’t know if I’m comfortable working with him.”

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Ron Howard reassured him that this discomfort was actually a good thing, as it mirrored the dynamic between their characters in the film — Chuck was certainly not comfortable with Bill. Over time, their initial unease faded, but that early tension added an authentic, off-balance texture to their onscreen relationship.

Big names that almost landed the iconic role

It’s said that both Kurt Russell and Mickey Rourke auditioned for the role of Bill Blazejowski. And according to Ron Howard, Michael Keaton wasn’t the first choice. They had also tried to recruit John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, and Bill Murray for the part, even reaching out to John Candy. However, none of them were interested, either because they felt the role was too small or decided not to pursue it.

”Lowell Ganz, one of the writers, had seen Michael work, and said to me, “Keaton is going to be a star for somebody, and he might as well be a star for us,”” Ron Howard shared.

Improvised scene

Throughout Night Shift, you can’t help but feel like Michael Keaton was just making things up as he went along — he’s got that natural comic genius that brings hilarious, spontaneous moments to life. One of the best improvised moments happens when a blind man asks Winkler and Keaton for spare change, and Keaton’s response? He writes the guy a check. Classic Keaton!

Did you spot Ron Howard in the movie?

Ron Howard clearly nailed his directorial debut, which raked in a solid $21,095,638 at the box office. But the former child actor couldn’t resist making a cameo of his own. If you look closely, you’ll spot Ron and his wife Cheryl sharing a smooch in front of Chuck’s (Henry Winkler) apartment building.

As for the subway scene, that’s Ron Howard himself playing the annoying saxophonist. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Ron Howard film without a cameo from his brother, Clint Howard, who plays the quirky character Jeffrey in the film.

Kevin Costner shows up

Night Shift is packed with familiar faces in some pretty early roles!

Kevin Costner makes a blink-and-you-miss-it appearance as a frat boy at the morgue party. It’s a non-speaking role, but you can spot him rocking a checkered shirt, a college cardigan tied around his waist, and a cup in hand — just hanging out while Michael Keaton does his thing, balancing a bottle on his head.

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And then there’s Shannen Doherty, making her first appearance in a feature film as a “Blue Bell” (kind of like a Girl Scout) in an elevator scene, delivering a single line. You wouldn’t have guessed it, but these little moments from future stars add some extra fun to this quirky classic.

The birthplace of an iconic song

Did you know Night Shift was the first place where we heard the classic tune “That’s What Friends Are For”? Originally recorded by Rod Stewart for the 1982 soundtrack, it went on to become a global hit when Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder joined forces in 1986. And not only did their version soar to #1 on the Billboard charts, but it also raised over $3 million for AIDS research.

Meanwhile, the film kicks off with the catchy Night Shift theme by Quarterflash and features classic jams like Van Halen’s “You Really Got Me” and a live version of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” by the Rolling Stones.

Shelley Long didn’t want to play a prostitute

For those who don’t remember or haven’t seen Night Shift, Shelley Long plays Belinda, a sweet but tough prostitute who lives next door to Chuck (Henry Winkler). When her pimp is killed, Belinda teams up with Chuck and Bill (Michael Keaton), who decide to help her by managing her business in a totally wild way.

Ron Howard had taken a liking to Shelley Long after her performance in Caveman (1981). However, when he wanted her for Night Shift (1982), she was off filming another movie in California. Despite this, Howard convinced her to take a short two-day break and come to Hollywood.

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During that time, the sweet-faced actress auditioned for the role of Belinda, the female lead, and was asked to return the following day to meet Henry Winkler. Although she was initially hesitant about playing a prostitute, Long took the time to do some research and ultimately accepted the role.

”She came to us dressed like a hooker, read with Henry and was terrific right away. Their scenes were already cooking, even on the videotape,” Ron said.

”The happiest, most wholesome hooker…”

In the early ’80s, comedies about prostitution were unexpectedly popular. Around the same time Night Shift was released, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas—a movie based on the Broadway musical — starring Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton, also hit theaters. The following summer, Tom Cruise became a star in Risky Business, where he turned his parents’ house into a brothel.

Shelley Long’s portrayal of Belinda, a prostitute who wins Chuck’s heart, was dubbed by critics as ”the happiest, most wholesome hooker you’ll ever see on screen” — with some even joking she could lead a Girl Scout troop.

The classic egg scene

Night Shift is full of little goofs, and one hilarious moment involves Shelley Long’s character, Belinda, making breakfast for Chuck. The scene where Chuck first sees Belinda cooking in her underwear is priceless – and Henry Winkler’s reaction is anything but Fonz-like!

After that, Belinda asks what kind of eggs he wants, and Chuck says scrambled. When she starts cooking, she’s clearly making fried eggs.

Somehow, though, when the eggs are done, she magically pours scrambled eggs onto their plates! It’s pretty obvious she switches it up as Chuck talks to her, but hey, who’s really looking at the eggs when Shelley Long is bringing all that charm?

Shannen Doherty’s character

Here’s another mistake from the film that only those who love details might have noticed: Shannen Doherty’s character is credited as a ”Bluebird,” but Chuck mistakenly calls her a “Bluebell” instead.

Guess he got his birds and flowers mixed up.

”Part of my anatomy he likes”

While her character Belinda was fine with it, Shelley Long wasn’t exactly thrilled to walk around in her underwear. “For me, when the cameras weren’t rolling, it was hard,” she admitted.

She also jokingly asked what her husband thought about her running around in her undies in Night Shift. “He didn’t have trouble with me running around in my skivvies— that’s a part of my anatomy he likes,” she said with a laugh.

The subway mistake

Many scenes in Night Shift were of course filmed in New York, but the morgue was actually built on a specially constructed set in Hollywood, California.

Many parts were shot around Times Square in Manhattan, New York City, like when Bill finds prospective clients outside theaters and when Chuck, Bill, and Belinda run away at the end.

However, there’s a little mistake that sneaked in during the Big Apple scenes.

In one part, Bill says, “this is my stop,” and gets off the subway while Chuck stays on. But if you pay close attention, the sign next to Bill says the train is the Times Square – Grand Central shuttle, which doesn’t make any stops in between.

This is a movie that couldn’t exist with any other cast. The chemistry between Henry Winkler, Shelley Long, and Michael Keaton is pure magic, bringing humor, heart, and unforgettable moments to life. Night Shift isn’t just a comedy — it’s a story of unlikely friendships, personal growth, and finding connection in the most unexpected places.

What’s your favorite moment from this 80s classic? Share this article with your friends and take a nostalgic trip back to one of the funniest films of its time!

 

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Elon Musk’s brutal four-word response to Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift had a rough Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Not only did her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, leave the game empty-handed — but the pop icon herself was also met with boos when she appeared on the big screens.

Taylor Swift’s reaction

With a fan base in the tens of millions and a reputation free from scandal, Taylor Swift has been one of the world’s most famous women in recent years. Yet, even she isn’t immune to being met with a chorus of boos.

During last night’s Super Bowl LIX, featuring the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, the superstar songstress seemed to be minding her own business when she became a target for the crowd. Swift – at Caesars Superdome, New Orleans to support boyfriend Travis Kelce of the Chiefs – looked to mouth “What is going on?” to friend and fellow artist Ice Spice.

Taylor Swift was born in West Reading, Pennsylvania, and a few years ago, she was spotted wearing a Philadelphia Eagles sweatshirt while strolling through New York City. However, she naturally shifted allegiance to the Kansas City Chiefs when she started dating superstar Travis Kelce.

The pro-Eagles crowd in New Orleans didn’t seem to have forgotten Swift’s past support for the Eagles before switching to the Chiefs. When the superstar singer appeared on the big screen, fans greeted her with loud boos.

Trump couldn’t resist

One person who couldn’t resist commenting on Taylor Swift’s chilly reception was Donald Trump, who was also at the game as the first sitting president in history to attend. Taking to his Truth Social platform, he couldn’t resist commenting on the situation, suggesting that his loyal MAGA supporters were less than kind.

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“The only one who had a tougher night than the Kansas City Chiefs was Taylor Swift. She got BOOED out of the stadium. MAGA is very unforgiving!” Trump wrote.

In contrast, Trump was met with an overwhelming reception, as fans appeared thrilled to see the U.S. President attend a Super Bowl for the first time.

The popular yet controversial account End Wokeness highlighted the stark contrast between the reactions to Taylor Swift and Donald Trump at the Super Bowl.

In a tweet, they wrote: ”Taylor Swift got mercilessly booed. Trump got a hero’s welcome. Total culture shift.”

Elon’s brutal four-word response

The comment sparked a response from one of Donald Trump’s closest allies, billionaire Elon Musk, who also joined in on mocking Taylor Swift. Elon Musk couldn’t resist chiming in, replying with a simple yet impactful: ”Vibe shift is real.”

This wasn’t the first time Tesla founder Elon Musk has taken aim at the pop icon. When Taylor Swift finally made a political endorsement, supporting Kamala Harris, Musk shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Fine Taylor…you win… I will give you a child and guard your cats with my life,” in what appeared to be a jab at Swift, who had signed off her endorsement with “childless cat lady.

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Fans reveal why Taylor Swift was booed at the Super Bowl

She commands a fan base numbering in the tens of millions, has been one of the most famous women on the planet over the past two years, and has a reputation unblemished by scandal or defamation. Yet even Taylor Swift can find herself the subject of an en masse booing, apparently.

During last night’s Super Bowl LIX, featuring the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, the superstar songstress seemed to be minding her own business when she became a target for the crowd. Swift – at Caesars Superdome, New Orleans to support boyfriend Travis Kelce of the Chiefs – looked to mouth “What is going on?” to friend and fellow artist Ice Spice.

The unexpected booing began when the camera panned to Swift in her box, subsequently beaming her image on the big screen before the 75,000 strong crowd.

Needless to say, Swift was as taken aback as anyone, and the negative reaction has posed the question: just why did it happen in the first place?

Well, as is always the case these days, it wasn’t long before the incident was being debated on social media. Moreover, no sooner had the video of Swift being booed hit the internet, than did fans on X attempt to decipher exactly what was going on.

“Eagles fans are booing her. She’s originally from Philly area but obviously rooting for Travis and chiefs,” one person wrote.

Another added: “The booos are from eagles fans aka the opposite team she supports this is normal.”

It’s the Eagles fans,” a third said.

There were naturally still those who were bemused by the turn of events, with many people taking to X to share their reactions.

Why did she get booed?” one person asked. “I thought she was the sweetheart of America?

Booing taylor swift as if she’s playing on the field against ‘your’ team, even though she’s just sitting there looking pretty, is loser behavior,” said another.

“What I don’t understand is why people booed at Taylor Swift? Like she was doing literally nothing and she’s just there to show support to Travis Kelce and see the game, it’s not like they’re going to make a Gabriella-Troy scene in High School Musical 3,” a third wrote.

One person who wasn’t on the receiving end of any ire was Donald Trump, who reportedly became the first sitting president in US history to attend a Super Bowl.

When the camera panned to the POTUS – who only took his oath of office three weeks ago – cheers rang out around the stadium. “I thought it would be a good thing for the country to have the president at the game,” Trump had said in an interview.

In the game itself, the Eagles emerged triumphant over the Chiefs in a 40-22 victory, stopping the Chiefs from repeating the success they enjoyed last year.

Did you watch last night’s Super Bowl? What did you think to the crowd booing Taylor Swift? Let us know in the comments.

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Princess Diana’s bodyguard says 3 mistakes killed her

Three fatal security failures led to Princess Diana’s tragic death — at least, that’s what her former bodyguard, Ken Wharfe, claims.

It’s hard to believe that nearly 30 years have passed since Princess Diana’s tragic death. The world lost an icon, a humanitarian, and two young boys lost their mother. It’s impossible not to wonder what she would be like today — how she would look, what role she would have taken on, and how she might have continued to shape the world.

First meeting with Diana

Ken Wharfe, her former bodyguard who spent six years working closely with her, remembers her fondly. Reflecting on Diana’s impact, he praised her ”wicked sense of humor” and said he felt ”incredibly privileged” to have been part of her life.

Wharfe recalled that from the very first time he met Princess Diana, she showed just how down-to-earth she truly was.

”As I walked into the room, I was introduced, and Diana said, ‘I don’t envy you, Ken, looking after my kids. They can be a bloody nuisance,’” Wharfe told The Sun.

Right on cue, young William, who had been attempting to play the piano, spun around and objected, “No, we’re not a bloody nuisance!” Just as he spoke, Harry tumbled off a table.

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”Diana immediately got up and said, ‘Come here, both of you!’ before chasing them out of the room. I hadn’t even said a word yet,” Wharfe recalled.

She returned moments later, shaking her head.

”You see what I mean, Ken?”, she said.

That moment, he explained, changed everything.

”Suddenly, instead of talking to a royal, you were speaking to a parent, a young mother, someone you could truly relate to.”

And that, he said, was Diana in a nutshell—full of fun, laughter, and, at times, deep sadness.

A dangerous driver behind the wheel

Having served as her personal protection officer from 1987 to 1993, Wharfe insists that the People’s Princess might still be alive today if key decisions had been made differently.

One of the most critical mistakes, according to Wharfe, was who was driving the car that fateful August night in 1997.

Diana was traveling with her boyfriend, Egyptian film producer Dodi Fayed, as well as Ritz security chief Henri Paul, who was behind the wheel, and Dodi’s bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones — the crash’s sole survivor.

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Sadly, Paul had been drinking before getting behind the wheel and was driving at dangerously high speeds when the car slammed into the 13th pillar of the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris. Wharfe is convinced that Diana could have survived if someone else had been driving.

”The one thing that would have saved Diana’s life that night would have been if they’d kicked out the chauffeur and for Rees-Jones to have driven,” he stated.

“But he couldn’t do that because he couldn’t speak to Dodi Fayed — he told him what to do. And that’s a shame, because had Rees-Jones taken that command, had he taken that decision to boot out Henri Paul, you and I would not be having this discussion.”

A fatal attempt to outsmart the paparazzi

Diana and Dodi’s original plan was to travel a short distance from the Ritz Hotel to an apartment near the Champs-Elysées. Another critical mistake that night was the lack of planning and coordination — or rather, the complete lack of coordination— with the local police regarding the car journey.

Wharfe believes the tragedy could have been prevented entirely if Dodi and Diana’s security team had worked with local police instead of shutting them out and viewing the press as “the enemy.”

In an effort to evade the press, they devised a plan using decoy cars. A Range Rover was positioned at the front entrance of the Ritz with Dodi’s usual driver behind the wheel, while Diana and Dodi secretly exited through the back in a black armored Mercedes.

Henri Paul — who was four times over the legal drinking limit in France — had been called in from home to drive them. The high-speed chase that followed ended in disaster, with the Mercedes crashing at over 60 mph.

The lack of a security team

Perhaps the most avoidable mistake, according to Wharfe, was Diana’s decision to dismiss her Scotland Yard security team. After separating from Prince Charles in 1992, she eventually let go of her royal protection.

Wharfe recalls urging Diana to reconsider just weeks before she cut ties with them. ”She said, ‘You’ve always been great with advice. If there’s one piece of advice you’d give me, what would it be?’”

His response was clear: “I urge you, I urge you, not to lose the Scotland Yard security because we have given you that freedom, we’ve broken rules to allow you to have the normality that you crave for, and there’s no reason why that shouldn’t continue.”

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Despite his warning, Diana dismissed her entire security team just four weeks later. Wharfe firmly believes that had Queen Elizabeth insisted she keep them, Diana would have agreed.

”You cannot force security on somebody, they have to say ‘yes, I’ll take it’. But the fact that it wasn’t offered, this was her way of saying I want a new life.”

Diana’s death sent shockwaves across the globe, dominating headlines for weeks. While her funeral became a historic moment of mourning, the haunting images of her wrecked car remain etched in the minds of many.

More than two decades later, the debate over what could have saved Diana continues. But for Ken Wharfe, the answers are clear — three crucial decisions sealed her fate that night. Do you agree with him?

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