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Bonus Episode 36: Emmet Otter
Oh come, all ye LILYs!
‘Tis the season for a newsletter, this time from Host Molly. Host Matthew says ho ho ho, but his attention right now is mostly occupied by holiday romance movies. I texted him just now to ask if it was accurate to describe them as “Hallmark Christmas movies,” and with no delay, he replied:
“I mostly watch the Netflix ones, although sometimes they have good Lifetime ones on Hulu, and occasionally I will spring for a Hallmark subscription.” Well then! He also reports that he and WOTSL recently watched one called A Sprinkle of Christmas, about “a woman who opens a bakery but never seems to go to work.” They rated it “okay.” I am shocked.
Perplexingly, Producer Abby is also a Netflixmas fan. She and HOTPOTS even made a custom bingo game to play while watching! We played it together once a few years ago, when Matthew hosted a movie night to force me into watching one of these seasonal abominations. The bingo was awesome, but not awesome enough to make me watch another. Also nowhere near as awesome as the Spilled Milk Bingo thread on Reddit.
Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Bonus Episode
But I’m not a Scrooge about all holiday movies! My favorite of all time is The Muppet Christmas Carol. It wouldn’t be the holidays without Rizzo the Rat in a Dickensian tailcoat. In fact, it’s because of my lifelong love for the Muppets that I suggested we watch Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas and make a bonus episode about it. It has a runtime of 48 minutes, which turns out to be 45 minutes too long. Whoops! Producer Abby describes the episode like so:
As a special Christmas treat for our beloved subscribers, we’re talking about the classic(?) Un-Christmas Special that is Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas. We wonder – who are the heroes? who are the villains? who is a stoat? and who is a dog? – as we wander with these pitiful, gaslit characters of indeterminate age on their quest for a $12 piano. Even with help from hoodlum juice, wash jugs, Christmas branches, and toxic fathers, we unfortunately do not learn the true meaning of snake oil. But we do find a new favorite song.
As usual, you can get this and all other bonus episodes at magnumbonus.com (password: magnumbonum) or subscribe to the RSS feed at https://www.magnumbonus.com/feed/podcast/.
Matthew made more music
Both of Matthew’s bands have new releases! Early to the Airport released a two-song single about space robots called Operation Meteor. Meanwhile, Twilight Diners released two covers: Richard, the magnificent 1995 ballad by the Geraldine Fibbers, and Chris Isaak’s horny classic Wicked Game. Be sure to watch the latter’s legendary music video on YouTube, in which Matthew and Molly roll around on a beach – and… in the clouds? – looking miserable but so, so sexy.
Where we’ve been
We haven’t only been canoodling in the sand! We’ve also been canoodling in the studio. This week brings you episode 730, Lollipops, which I mostly remember for how disgusting the Blow Pops were. Man, it was embarrassing. On the other hand, if Matthew ever offers you one of his famous Sausage Sandwiches (the topic of episode 729), say yes yes YES.
Where we’re going
Next week, we’re celebrating 2026 with an episode on Flourless Chocolate Cake. You know the opening of “Auld Lang Syne” – the part that goes, “Shall auld acquaintance be forgot / and never brought to mind”? It’s about flourless chocolate cakes! These things haven’t been cool for a couple of decades, but they’re still delicious. Don’t forget about them.
On January 8 we’re talking about Passionfruit, which gives Matthew another opportunity to remind me that last July WOTSL made a delicious passionfruit pie and I didn’t get any.
On January 15, we explore the wide world of Hot Sandwiches, a journey I think was inspired by the aforementioned sausage sandwiches? And then this episode inspired another one – Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches – which you’ll hear in mid-March. Stay tuned!
What we’re into
Producer Abby: I’ve been barely listening to anything else but the new Lily Allen album, West End Girl. But now that it’s Christmas time, I’m enjoying the wintry, moody Andrew Bird album Hark!
A few of my recent favorite reads are I Who Have Never Known Men and Dear Monica Lewinsky (out next April). You can find all my book recs on my newsletter, the rolling ladder and I’m especially delighted with my version of a gift guide, in which I interview my 9 nieces and nephews to get their book recommendations.
A newsletter that doesn’t release often but never fails to elicit true LOLs is Jess Pan’s It’ll be Fun They Said and I thoroughly enjoyed the Jonas Brothers Christmas movie which completely understood the assignment. Lastly, I go through my favorite body lotion, Cactus Body Cream – Dulce de Cuerpo, too fast and need to restock!
Host Molly: It’s NBA season! I continue to be a Thunder fan, obviously! Ash and I have also been watching Murdaugh: Death in the Family, even though we’ve watched all the Murdaugh documentaries and know the whole story already. It’s so twisted. And Patricia Arquette is typically brilliant. Finally, for real, I adore The Muppet Christmas Carol.
I bought an inexpensive fountain pen, and I’m really enjoying it. I have a white Kaweco Classic Sport with a fine nib, and I particularly like how lightweight it is, with a nicely thick barrel. Love a thick-barreled pen.
Finally, have you listened yet to Jad Abumrad’s new podcast Fela Kuti: Fear No Man? Truly exceptional storytelling.
Host Matthew:
Music: De La Soul, Cabin in the Sky. A lovely and fun tribute to their beloved third member, Dave.
Book: Alison Cochrun, Every Step She Takes. HOTPOTS would love this book because it’s about walking the Camino de Santiago, and that guy is always walking somewhere.
TV: Taskmaster, the season with Jason Mantzoukas (Series 19). Free on YouTube!
Forever crying when Tiny Tim Crachit comes on screen,
Host Molly
View all episodes
By Spilled Milk Bonus ContentOh come, all ye LILYs!
‘Tis the season for a newsletter, this time from Host Molly. Host Matthew says ho ho ho, but his attention right now is mostly occupied by holiday romance movies. I texted him just now to ask if it was accurate to describe them as “Hallmark Christmas movies,” and with no delay, he replied:
“I mostly watch the Netflix ones, although sometimes they have good Lifetime ones on Hulu, and occasionally I will spring for a Hallmark subscription.” Well then! He also reports that he and WOTSL recently watched one called A Sprinkle of Christmas, about “a woman who opens a bakery but never seems to go to work.” They rated it “okay.” I am shocked.
Perplexingly, Producer Abby is also a Netflixmas fan. She and HOTPOTS even made a custom bingo game to play while watching! We played it together once a few years ago, when Matthew hosted a movie night to force me into watching one of these seasonal abominations. The bingo was awesome, but not awesome enough to make me watch another. Also nowhere near as awesome as the Spilled Milk Bingo thread on Reddit.
Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Bonus Episode
But I’m not a Scrooge about all holiday movies! My favorite of all time is The Muppet Christmas Carol. It wouldn’t be the holidays without Rizzo the Rat in a Dickensian tailcoat. In fact, it’s because of my lifelong love for the Muppets that I suggested we watch Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas and make a bonus episode about it. It has a runtime of 48 minutes, which turns out to be 45 minutes too long. Whoops! Producer Abby describes the episode like so:
As a special Christmas treat for our beloved subscribers, we’re talking about the classic(?) Un-Christmas Special that is Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas. We wonder – who are the heroes? who are the villains? who is a stoat? and who is a dog? – as we wander with these pitiful, gaslit characters of indeterminate age on their quest for a $12 piano. Even with help from hoodlum juice, wash jugs, Christmas branches, and toxic fathers, we unfortunately do not learn the true meaning of snake oil. But we do find a new favorite song.
As usual, you can get this and all other bonus episodes at magnumbonus.com (password: magnumbonum) or subscribe to the RSS feed at https://www.magnumbonus.com/feed/podcast/.
Matthew made more music
Both of Matthew’s bands have new releases! Early to the Airport released a two-song single about space robots called Operation Meteor. Meanwhile, Twilight Diners released two covers: Richard, the magnificent 1995 ballad by the Geraldine Fibbers, and Chris Isaak’s horny classic Wicked Game. Be sure to watch the latter’s legendary music video on YouTube, in which Matthew and Molly roll around on a beach – and… in the clouds? – looking miserable but so, so sexy.
Where we’ve been
We haven’t only been canoodling in the sand! We’ve also been canoodling in the studio. This week brings you episode 730, Lollipops, which I mostly remember for how disgusting the Blow Pops were. Man, it was embarrassing. On the other hand, if Matthew ever offers you one of his famous Sausage Sandwiches (the topic of episode 729), say yes yes YES.
Where we’re going
Next week, we’re celebrating 2026 with an episode on Flourless Chocolate Cake. You know the opening of “Auld Lang Syne” – the part that goes, “Shall auld acquaintance be forgot / and never brought to mind”? It’s about flourless chocolate cakes! These things haven’t been cool for a couple of decades, but they’re still delicious. Don’t forget about them.
On January 8 we’re talking about Passionfruit, which gives Matthew another opportunity to remind me that last July WOTSL made a delicious passionfruit pie and I didn’t get any.
On January 15, we explore the wide world of Hot Sandwiches, a journey I think was inspired by the aforementioned sausage sandwiches? And then this episode inspired another one – Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches – which you’ll hear in mid-March. Stay tuned!
What we’re into
Producer Abby: I’ve been barely listening to anything else but the new Lily Allen album, West End Girl. But now that it’s Christmas time, I’m enjoying the wintry, moody Andrew Bird album Hark!
A few of my recent favorite reads are I Who Have Never Known Men and Dear Monica Lewinsky (out next April). You can find all my book recs on my newsletter, the rolling ladder and I’m especially delighted with my version of a gift guide, in which I interview my 9 nieces and nephews to get their book recommendations.
A newsletter that doesn’t release often but never fails to elicit true LOLs is Jess Pan’s It’ll be Fun They Said and I thoroughly enjoyed the Jonas Brothers Christmas movie which completely understood the assignment. Lastly, I go through my favorite body lotion, Cactus Body Cream – Dulce de Cuerpo, too fast and need to restock!
Host Molly: It’s NBA season! I continue to be a Thunder fan, obviously! Ash and I have also been watching Murdaugh: Death in the Family, even though we’ve watched all the Murdaugh documentaries and know the whole story already. It’s so twisted. And Patricia Arquette is typically brilliant. Finally, for real, I adore The Muppet Christmas Carol.
I bought an inexpensive fountain pen, and I’m really enjoying it. I have a white Kaweco Classic Sport with a fine nib, and I particularly like how lightweight it is, with a nicely thick barrel. Love a thick-barreled pen.
Finally, have you listened yet to Jad Abumrad’s new podcast Fela Kuti: Fear No Man? Truly exceptional storytelling.
Host Matthew:
Music: De La Soul, Cabin in the Sky. A lovely and fun tribute to their beloved third member, Dave.
Book: Alison Cochrun, Every Step She Takes. HOTPOTS would love this book because it’s about walking the Camino de Santiago, and that guy is always walking somewhere.
TV: Taskmaster, the season with Jason Mantzoukas (Series 19). Free on YouTube!
Forever crying when Tiny Tim Crachit comes on screen,
Host Molly