Don't Get Me Started

Comedian and improviser Amanda Sitko joins us to discuss CULTS. What's the allure of the charismatic figures who draw people in? What's with Scientologists? What's the cultiest thing you've ever done? Oh, and what'd Landmark all about? Plus: atheism, brainwashing and wondering if "Drink the kool-aid" simply refers to too horrible an event to ever really use. Also, Will discusses late-career Peanuts comic strips and Anthony discusses the temporary Billy Joel radio channel on Sirius XM (and we listen to it, they were playing "We Didn't Start the Fire," shucks).

Comedian and UCB original gangster Billy Merritt joins us to talk about this fascination with his own home state of Florida. With election gaffes and tabloid criminals, Florida is often a punch line these days, but Billy tells us stories from its history and its present. How does a community made up of just mailmen grab you? Well there's better stories than that, but that's the one that Will liked and he's writing this summary. Also, Will talks about the Scottish band Orange Juice and Anthony discusses how Golden State's basketball prowess is so strong right now that watching them makes him laugh.

PART 2 of 2! So many people have asked us to come on and talk about composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim that we are devoting two episodes to him! And we've brought on three guests: John Flynn, John Ross Bowie and Jessica McKenna (comedians, actors and writers all) -- who, along with co-host Anthony King have an insanely deep love (and knowledge) of Sondheim's works! This is in contrast to co-host Will who knows almost nothing about Sondheim! So listen as the group educates Mr. Hines on: Follies, Assassins, Hal Prince, Sweeney Todd, and oh I don't know a million other things!

(re-published with a better sound mix) So many people have asked us to come on and talk about composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim that we are devoting two episodes to him! And we've brought on three guests: John Flynn, John Ross Bowie and Jessica McKenna (comedians, actors and writers all) -- who, along with co-host Anthony King have an insanely deep love (and knowledge) of Sondheim's works! This is in contrast to co-host Will who knows almost nothing about Sondheim! So listen as the group educates Mr. Hines on: Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Into the Woods and much more!

NOTE: This podcast was originally uploaded with an audio glitch that made all the clips from "Let's Get Small" inaudible. That's now fixed. But you may have to delete and re-download this episode if you got it early (early being the first half-day it was available). When their guest can't make it, hosts Anthony and Will make it about their own obsession with Steve Martin! Anthony's favorite movie is L.A. Story and Will is obsessed with Steve's first stand-up album Let's Get Small. So they talk about those two things for the whole time! Why did Steve's weird meta stand-up work? Why does it not hold up for everyone? What is it about LA Story that lets the sentimentality work? We talk about Bowfinger, and SNL, and his unfunny stuff, and his plays and his New Yorker writings and his banjo, and how Will stole a Steve Martin bit for his own 30th birthday party and... you know what? we just like Steve Martin a whole bunch.

We talk to comedy genius John Gemberling (Broad City, Marry Me, and others) about his love of video games. John is particular, John is exacting, and John has opinions. He likes stories like the old LucasArts games (Monkey Island, etc), he likes insane consequences or taking a premise too far like in Grand Theft Auto, he likes committed reality like in Elite: Dangerous. WE GET INTO IT. Oh, he also wants more realistic dismemberment when people get killed in games. Will talks about sharpening knives and Anthony discusses the "rural purge" of late 60s early 70s television.

Comedian and TV writer Alison Benett ("You're The Worst" and "Betas" and others) comes on the show to talk about thrifting, meaning the art and science of finding good stuff at thrift stores. We talk about what makes something good, the hierarchy of types of thrift stores, the genre of "mean animal jewelry," and some great/weird finds in her collection. Also, Will talks about DVDs and how nothing plays them correctly (while slyly letting everyone know how many advance screeners of movies he's getting) and Anthony discusses Skamania County Ordinance 69-01 which makes it illegal to shoot Big Foot.

Actor/comedian Jason Mantzoukas comes on our show to talk about IMPROV. Are we breaking the rules of our show not discussing a person's career? We are, and we don't care. Because we love talking about improv. We go deep. What's good about it? How do the various shows that Jason regularly plays in work? What's the best opening? How did The Sleepover (an improv show from UCB-NY in the early 2000s) work? What was Amy P. like as a teacher? ALL THIS AND MORE. We loved this talk so much we let it go way long. AN HOUR AND FORTY MINUTES, geez louise. But you improv nerds are gonna love it. Everyone else: see you next episode! Plus Will talks about the Magic Eraser and Anthony talks about seeing a punter who tried to be a hero and failed immediately.

Tis the spirit of the season and we talk about one of our most revered Christmas traditions, watching the movie Die Hard. Why do we love this movie so much? What makes it our favorite action movie of all time? What does it get right that so many others get wrong? Is Argyle too much (no!)? How do they make every single character a a fully realized personality? And does taking off your shoes and making balls with your toes really relax you after a long plane ride? Also Will talks about the human need to generalize and label! And then Anthony talks about the Burbank running shoe store Fleet Feet! BURBANK!

We talk to comedian/writer/musical theater performer Amber Petty about her obsession with The Eurovision Song Contest. Join us as we explore this enormously popular, very specifically weird European tradition. It's the Olympics of pop songwriting, bonus points for outrageous costumes and lighting displays. Countries get really into it. Some countries go weird for it. Some deliver amazing songs! We check it out. Will talks about how all the food in China is served hot, and Anthony talks about the musical Floyd Collins, specifically the final big number. "How Glory Goes."