The Pelican Brief Cover
Podcast Mentions

The Pelican Brief

John Grisham

#1 •

Podcasts 12
Quotes 24
Bad Friends

The hosts referenced the title while discussing a conspiracythemed movie starring Julia Roberts, identifying it as The Pelican Brief.

"

It's one of those conspiracy blacks. You know that movie with Julia Roberts? Was that the movie? Oh, The Pelican Brief?

— Episode: Hut, Hut, Straight Up

Episode: Hut, Hut, Straight Up

The hosts referenced the title while discussing a conspiracythemed movie starring Julia Roberts, identifying it as The Pelican Brief.

"

It's one of those conspiracy blacks. You know that movie with Julia Roberts? Was that the movie? Oh, The Pelican Brief?

The Megyn Kelly Show

It was briefly mentioned as a hypothetical comparison to the situation at hand, referencing the events in the book that involve conspiracies and the Supreme Court.

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You know, you think you're going to take out a Supreme Court justice and you're going to get a decision to go the other way?

— Episode: Bombshell Leak Signals Roe Will Be Overt...

Episode: Bombshell Leak Signals Roe Will Be Overturned, wit...

It was briefly mentioned as a hypothetical comparison to the situation at hand, referencing the events in the book that involve conspiracies and the Supreme Court.

"

You know, you think you're going to take out a Supreme Court justice and you're going to get a decision to go the other way?

Office Ladies

It was mentioned as a book Michael Scott was planning to rent, but the lawyer seemed to think it was relevant to the lawsuit.

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I haven't actually seen it, but I have seen the firm and I am planning on renting the Pelican brief.

— Episode: The Deposition

Episode: The Deposition

It was mentioned as a book Michael Scott was planning to rent, but the lawyer seemed to think it was relevant to the lawsuit.

"

I haven't actually seen it, but I have seen the firm and I am planning on renting the Pelican brief.

Behind the Bastards

It was mentioned as a book that potentially led to the Bosnian genocide, although it was said in a joking context.

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We probably don't have the Bosnian genocide without the Pelican Brief obviously, right?

— Episode: Part One: The Bastards of Reality Televi...

Episode: Part One: The Bastards of Reality Television

It was mentioned as a book that potentially led to the Bosnian genocide, although it was said in a joking context.

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We probably don't have the Bosnian genocide without the Pelican Brief obviously, right?

Episode: It Could Happen Here Weekly 27

The book was mentioned in relation to another book that was being challenged, and it was implied that the two were similar in content.

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The Pelican Brief, basically identical.

Episode: Part One: The Golden Age of Terrorism

It was mentioned as a possible book that featured Carlos the Jackal, though it was not confirmed.

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Is he the one in the Pelican Brief?

Episode: Part One: The Bastards of Reality Television

It was mentioned in passing as a book that might have contributed to the Bosnian genocide, in a humorous and sarcastic way.

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We probably don't have the Bosnian genocide without the Pelican Brief obviously, right?

Episode: Part One: The Golden Age of Terrorism

It was mentioned as a possible book that Carlos the Jackal may have been featured in, although this was not confirmed.

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Is he the one in the Pelican Brief?

Episode: Part One: The Golden Age of Terrorism

It was mentioned as a possible book featuring Carlos the Jackal, although it was later clarified that he was featured in 'The Day of the Jackal'.

"

Is he the one in the Pelican Brief?

Revisionist History

The speaker mentioned that the plot of every John Grisham novel involves the subversion of institutional authority, and that "The Pelican Brief" ends with the richest man in the country being indicted along with his aides and lawyers.

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How does the Pelican Brief end? The richest man in the country is under indictment, as are his closest aides and all of his lawyers. The chief of staff to the president of the United States has resign...

— Episode: Taxonomy of the Modern Mystery Story

Episode: Taxonomy of the Modern Mystery Story

The speaker mentioned that the plot of every John Grisham novel involves the subversion of institutional authority, and that "The Pelican Brief" ends with the richest man in the country being indicted along with his aides and lawyers.

"

How does the Pelican Brief end? The richest man in the country is under indictment, as are his closest aides and all of his lawyers. The chief of staff to the president of the United States has resigned, and the president himself has wisely decided not to seek a second term.

How I Built This with Guy Raz

It was a book and movie Justin had seen before becoming a lawyer, and he imagined the life of a lawyer to be like the characters in the story, glamorous and exciting.

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Oh my goodness, you remember those John Grisham novels? Those movies? Pelican Brief I think is one of them. It just seems so glamorous and you're involved in like crimes and mysteries. And honestly, I...

— Episode: Halo Top Ice Cream: Justin Woolverton

Episode: Halo Top Ice Cream: Justin Woolverton

It was a book and movie Justin had seen before becoming a lawyer, and he imagined the life of a lawyer to be like the characters in the story, glamorous and exciting.

"

Oh my goodness, you remember those John Grisham novels? Those movies? Pelican Brief I think is one of them. It just seems so glamorous and you're involved in like crimes and mysteries. And honestly, I bought into that stuff.

Strict Scrutiny

The book was featured as a wild but fun movie pick during quarantine, detailing a law student's legal brief after two Supreme Court justices were assassinated, which held the key to solving the murders.

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The final Supreme Court goes to Hollywood tip for you in this quarantine time is kind of a fantasy SCOTUS tip. So I'm going to bring back this old chestnut from 1993 the Pelican brief which is based o...

— Episode: Build A Bridge

Episode: Build A Bridge

The book was featured as a wild but fun movie pick during quarantine, detailing a law student's legal brief after two Supreme Court justices were assassinated, which held the key to solving the murders.

"

The final Supreme Court goes to Hollywood tip for you in this quarantine time is kind of a fantasy SCOTUS tip. So I'm going to bring back this old chestnut from 1993 the Pelican brief which is based on the John Grisham novel of the same name.

It is wildly implausible but completely fun and it features a very young Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington and the plot is fantastic.

Two Supreme Court justices are assassinated and Tulane University law student Darby Shaw who's played by Julia Roberts writes a legal brief detailing her theory on why they were killed. Spoiler alert it involves pelicans.

The Rewatchables

The hosts highlighted the book as a suspenseful courtroom thriller worth revisiting, noting its strong legal premise and its role as the source material for the 1992 film. They suggested it could stand alongside other political thrillers and praised Grisham’s continued output. Overall, the discussion was positive, indicating it as a recommended read.

Highly Recommended

Episode: ‘No Way Out’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Se...

The hosts mentioned JohnGrisham's courtroom thriller as another title that could be revisited for its suspenseful storyline.

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The Pelican brief is when it comes back.

Episode: ‘The Pelican Brief’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan,...

The hosts discussed the 1992 novel as the source material for the film, noting its legalthriller premise and how it could have been swapped with other political thrillers.

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Pelican brief instead of all the president's men.

I think they stopped making Grisham movies with runaway jury, but he wrote like 15, 20 more books or whatever.

Episode: 'A Time to Kill' With Bill Simmons and Wesley Morr...

The Pelican Brief was praised as an incredible idea for both a movie and its original book.

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Like Pelican brief is like an incredible idea for a movie and a book.

The Bald and the Beautiful with Trixie and Katya

Trixie compared men's lying about sex to John Grisham's novel "The Pelican Brief" in that they create fantasies, not truths.

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They're not creating fantasies. They're John Grisham. It's the Pelican Brief. It's the firm. It's Tom Cruise and the firm.

— Episode: Nobody's Snowballing in This Economy wit...

Episode: Nobody's Snowballing in This Economy with Trixie a...

Trixie compared men's lying about sex to John Grisham's novel "The Pelican Brief" in that they create fantasies, not truths.

"

They're not creating fantasies. They're John Grisham. It's the Pelican Brief. It's the firm. It's Tom Cruise and the firm.

KSR

Podcast

KSR

The book was briefly referenced while the host listed John Grisham titles, noting its film adaptation starring Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington. No further commentary was given, indicating a casual mention rather than a recommendation.

Episode: 2026-02-05- KSR - Hour 2

This John Grisham book adaptation, featuring Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington, was mentioned during a list of his works.

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There was the Pelican brief. There you go. That's a Julia Roberts. I think that had Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington.

The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast

In the episode, the hosts identified the title as the John Grisham novel that featured Julia Roberts, briefly mentioning it by name. No further discussion or recommendation was provided.

Episode: Talking Dog

It was identified as the JohnGrisham novel that featured JuliaRoberts.

"

It's the Grisham one with Julia Roberts. The Pelican brief?

Pelican brief.

Lovett or Leave It

The Pelican Brief was discussed in the context of an actor who had roles in both it and Ghostbusters, and was used as a safe word by one of the podcast hosts.

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He has a wonderful turn in the Pelican Brief and he's Walter Peck.

— Episode: Leave the Mask, Take the Cannoli

Episode: Leave the Mask, Take the Cannoli

The Pelican Brief was discussed in the context of an actor who had roles in both it and Ghostbusters, and was used as a safe word by one of the podcast hosts.

"

He has a wonderful turn in the Pelican Brief and he's Walter Peck.

My safe word was Pelican Brief, which was also available. Great film. Fantastic film.

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