This message is brought to you by Pushkin Industries with the audiobook Douglas Adams,

The Ends of the Earth.

Explore the mind of the beloved science fiction writer who foresaw both the digital age and the political state with astounding clarity.

Available wherever you get audiobooks.

This is Fresh Air. I'm Terry Gross.

Finally, there's a sequel to the groundbreaking 1984 mockumentary,

This Is Spinal Tap. And the director and co-star Rob Reiner is here to tell us about that film and his life and career. This Is Spinal Tap was the most influential mockumentary that helped pave the way to movie and TV mockumentaries, including The Office and Parks and Recreation.

Spinal Tap satirized heavy metal bands and rock documentaries.

The band is known for its excesses, its loud volume, a bass player who stuffs his pants, incredibly sexist lyrics, as well as on and offstage mishaps.

In the new sequel, Spinal Tap 2, The End, continues, the band members return for a reunion concert.

As in the original film, the band is portrayed by Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer. Reiner repriezes his

role as the director of the documentary about the band. This time around, Paul McCartney and

Elton John make appearances as themselves. There's also a companion book. Rob Reiner has had a

remarkable life. The films he directed include Stand By Me,

The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, and Misery. His father, Carl Reiner,

created the 60s sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show. Rob Reiner was a star of the groundbreaking show

in the 70s, all in the family. Let's start with a scene from Spinal Tap 2.

The end continues. The premise of the film is that the band's former manager has died, and his

daughter inherited the band's contract. She discovers the contract calls for a final concert,

which is why the band reunites. She's also found a new road manager.

He's played by Chris Addison.

In this scene, he's giving advice to the band.

...