You ever seen a… screening of the greatest comedy to ever hit the skies? Well surely you’ve seen Airplane! - but not like this! We have clearance, Clarence, to screen a never-before-released edit of Airplane! straight from the vault of the legendary film’s co-writer & co-director, David Zucker!
Following the screening (assuming they don’t have the fish for dinner), David Zucker and Robert Hays (“Ted Striker,” himself!) will take the stage for a live discussion and Q&A to share behind-the-scenes stories, insights, and personal memories from working on this genre-defining comedy masterpiece.
So put down that glue, because SURELY this is the wrong week to miss experiencing Airplane! LIVE and on the big screen like never before!
Act quick: A limited number of “First Class” VIP tickets to attend a post-show photo opportunity with David Zucker and Robert Hays are now available for purchase!
David Zucker
Co-Director & Co-Writer of Airplane!
David Zucker is a legendary filmmaker and one of the creative minds behind some of the most influential comedy films in Hollywood history. Alongside his brother Jerry and collaborator Jim Abrahams, Zucker co-created the Kentucky Fried Theater and later co-wrote and co-directed the groundbreaking spoof Airplane!, which launched a new genre of parody filmmaking. Zucker's other hits include Top Secret!, Ruthless People, The Naked Gun series, BASEketball, and Scary Movie 3 & 4. He also produced more serious fare like A Walk in the Clouds and Phone Booth. His recent projects include new comedy screenplays and the release of his best-selling book, Surely You Can’t Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!, co-authored with Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams (St. Martin’s Press, 2024).
Robert Hays
“Ted Striker” – Star of Airplane!
Since making his feature film debut as “Ted Striker” in Airplane!, Robert Hays has starred in over fifteen motion pictures, five television series, numerous TV movies, and stage productions. Hays's film credits include Disney’s Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey and its sequel, Homeward Bound II, Robert Altman’s Dr. T and the Women, and Cat’s Eye, among others. He also appeared in Airplane II: The Sequel and starred in Take This Job and Shove It, Scandalous, and Utilities.On television, he’s had roles in Starman, That ‘70s Show, Touched by an Angel, Bette, Angie, and many others. Hays is also a producer and continues to act while enjoying life in Hawaii with his wife Gina and spending time with his singer-songwriter son, Jake.
Dan Pasternack is a producer, a programmer, a professor and a preservationist. While at IFC, he shepherded the development and production of the Peabody Award winning series Portlandia. He has written for Vulture, Emmy Magazine, McSweeney’s and Late Nighter; he was featured on the Vice TV series The Dark Side of Comedy and has moderated panels at many festivals including SXSW, Just for Laughs Montreal and at the National Comedy Center. Today, Pasternack teaches at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
The event will begin with a screening of a never-before-released edit of Airplane! curated by co-director and co-writer David Zucker. After the screening, as part of the moderated discussion and Q&A, Zucker will discuss the adjustments made to this updated edit of the film.
