In past decades, it wasn’t unusual for a TV or movie scene to use a bingo game as the backdrop or setting to develop a character or plot – usually in a retirement center or community hall. These days, themed nights and the digital game have given bingo a new lease of life.
The result is that our favorite game is now appearing in a fresh batch of movies, episodes, and documentaries! Let’s take a look at the new, the obscure and some of our old favorites.
The Simpsons
Unlike other casino games, bingo doesn’t feature front-and-center in movies and television, but its regular cameo appearances in the past five decades show just how embedded this entertaining game has become in contemporary culture. Nothing demonstrates this more than an appearance on everyone’s favorite TV show, The Simpsons. Some of our favorite episodes include pancakes and bingo in season 16, episode 20; a bingo and BBQ night in season 25, episode 14; and the hilarious scene in season 31 that features pensioners who have no idea what they’re doing at a bingo hall. Chaos follows as the caller repeatedly shouts to be heard, until a player asks what game they’re playing. When the frustrated caller yells “Bingo,” another player throws away his bingo card, thinking the round’s over!
Better Call Saul
Popular TV series Better Call Saul has steadily grown its following since it premiered on Netflix in 2015. Attorney Saul Goodman sets out to find new clients at a retirement center and ends up acting as caller in a bingo game. We don’t want to spoil anything, but episode 7 in the first season is a turning point for his life and character, and well worth a watch.
Big Momma’s House 2
The second instalment in the Big Momma’s House franchise was released in 2006. It included a memorable scene that showcased Martin Lawrence’s comedy skills to perfection, when a player yells “bingo!” even though he hasn’t won. While we know how seriously enthusiasts take the game, whether they choose to play bingo online or in a bingo hall, the side-splitting reactions of the other players show just how much the game means to aficionados.
Bad Grandpa
Released in 2013, Johnny Knoxville takes the lead as Irving Zisman in Bad Grandpa. One of the standout scenes in the movie involves Irving playing bingo while pushing other players’ patience to the limit. After a series of stunts that include drinking the dauber fluid, pandemonium breaks out in the hall, and the game degenerates into chaos and a laugh a minute.
King of the Bingo Game
If you’re a fan of the game, you’ll enjoy this offering. The 1999 short film (it’s only 26 minutes) is based on a short story by Ralph Ellison. It follows the struggles of Sonny, who visits Harlem’s bingo parlors in 1943. This movie is a tearjerker, so have the tissues ready as Sonny tries to win money and a major prize to provide for his family in Depression-era New York. (Unfortunately, we don’t recommend using bingo as a source of income, although you can have a lot of fun playing online bingo!)
Hotel Transylvania
If you thought monsters preferred to play slots, think again, because bingo’s their thing! Hotel Transylvania was nominated for a Golden Globe and features the voice of Adam Sandler. The 2012 animated comedy centers on Dracula’s castle – a high-end resort where monsters can enjoy their vacation time doing their version of what humans like to do. Included is a bingo hall of horrors replete with tiny skulls (instead of bingo balls) that whisper a letter and number to the caller, which is a huge bat that looks like a macabre version of an older female bingo player.
Bingo! The Documentary
This documentary has been enjoyed by bingo enthusiasts as well as those who are just interested in finding out more about the game. The 1999 doc features interviews with players, and sets out to explain why the hall version of the game is still so popular. It also explores whether players can enjoy a similar experience with online bingo games. The documentary was filmed at multiple locations around the US, as well as in the UK and Ireland, for a wide-ranging take on the game and some genuinely interesting insights.
Eyes Down! The Story of Bingo
This BBC TV documentary made in the UK starts out by exploring the loophole in gambling legislation that resulted in almost a quarter of Great Britain’s population getting involved in bingo in the 1960s. What had been an obscure parlor game, enjoyed at home or on a seaside vacation, was transformed into a multimillion-dollar business almost overnight. This is the story of how a game for the elderly eventually was taken up by younger generations who now enjoy online bingo and number in the billions.
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