How Abbott & Costello (and a Baseball Bit) Saved Universal (Ep. 56)

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey step up to the plate with the unbelievable true story of how a simple comedy sketch—Who’s on First—helped pull Universal Studios back from the brink of bankruptcy. Along the way, they cover the box office power of How to Train Your Dragon, a surprising coaster IP twist, and the last remaining piece of the Jaws ride hiding in plain sight.

• Abbott & Costello’s rise from burlesque to box office saviors

• How Who’s on First became a studio-saving sensation

• Fast & Furious coaster car reveal—and Orlando’s unexpected pivot

• The Dragon’s Father’s Day box office fire and epic synergy

• New Halloween Horror Nights house starring Jason Voorhees

• A mysterious old bathroom with Jaws-sized history

From the backlot to the ballfield, it’s one of the most unexpected—and most entertaining—episodes yet.

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