After we quoted half the movie at lunch again today, a friend pointed me to the complete screenplay of The Big Lebowski on the web. Truly a wonderful thing to have bookmarked in case of an emergency or dispute.
I also read on IMDB how badly the networks butchered the TV version. Apparently one of my favorite lines was replaced with “You see what happens when you have fun with a stranger in the Alps?” Simply atrocious.
Your friendly neighborhood production-slinger must weigh in on this. While I’d love for the networks to bear the blame on this crime against humanity, the fault ultimately lies with the Coen Bros. and the studio. Alternate takes of vile and profane language are generally recorded either in production or post-production, so that they can air on basic cable/broadcast tv and in airplanes. That’s all, bitches!