Podcast Town

To celebrate the 1 year anniversary of the podcast, we did a live show at Madison Square Garden before 20,000 screaming, adoring, panty-throwing fans. Luckily a soundproof recreation of Chris's dining room was constructed on the MSG stage, where we could record in peace and quiet. Helping us celebrate the big show are guests and real life step siblings Erika McCarthy and Brandon Mabry. We get down to the big questions like: how realistic were the depictions of step siblings on Step by Step? And who had better balls - Cody or J.T.? Oh, and it just so happens that Creed's most famous song "Higher" is about Season 2 Ep 6 of Step by Step where the kids all work at a diner. Plus, later in the show Brandon violates the rules of the podcast by impersonating Scott Stapp and thus is forced to read an old Jay Leno monologue in the voice of Scott Stapp. Plus everyone joins in for an impromptu reenactment of the time Creed caused a scene on an airplane. This anniversary special truly has something for everyone, or at least for our ~50 fans!

Step by Step again steals directly from 1992's popular culture and does an episode where the family brings home a giant but lovable St. Bernard. But when the dog gets between Frank & Carol's love making, they swiftly kick it out of their home forever. Plus, Chris discovers a contest in which indie rock veterans The Shins are giving away their trusty touring van - which happens to look EXACTLY LIKE CODY'S VAN. This of course fits perfectly with the podcast's upcoming world tour, so Chris & Rob cover a Shins song live on the show in order to win. They do their best despite the fact that Rob cannot play any instruments or sing, and has never heard a Shins song. In other words, give us dat van!

J.T. plagiarizes Wayne's World for his public access show while Frank and Carol argue about whether or not they would have intercourse with strangers on a desert island. When Frank says the wrong thing, Carol withholds sex (as per usual). Plus, as the one year anniversary of Step by Stapp approaches, we decide to celebrate by going on a world tour to perform live podcasts for each of our listeners. We even plan on making it down to Australia to see the one dude who downloads every episode there. Only thing is we need you to pay for our travel costs. Also, Rob shares an original "yo mama" joke he came up with in the shower.

Frank Lambert (Patrick Duffy (The Duff)) gets jealous after his daughter won't shut up about how cool her friend's dad is. He does what any father would do in this situation and challenges the other dad to a Velcro wall jumping contest. Turns out the new Scott Stapp / Art of Anarchy single "The Madness" is about this very season 2 episode. What are the odds? Plus, we discuss a couple of podcast haters who dedicated an entire episode of their show to bashing our show. We talk about their criticisms of us (example: we suck) and discuss our feelings after these meanies were mean to us. We also get a rare mid-show call from Blank Check superfan Martii, who gives us his own unfiltered reviews of both podcasts.

Guests Steve Schifini and Julian Morena are here to discuss the episode of Step by Step where J.T. has to take a test on Shakespeare's Hamlet, but is discriminated against because he's a jock. And honestly, when will the jocks get their day? We also point out some (obvious) similarities between Step by Step and The Godfather Part II. Plus, we share stories of having faked the reading of classic works of literature in school, break some Creed related news, and even bring a few underreported issues to light that you won't hear about in the mainstream media. Namely: what if people had penises for hands?

Dana & Cody take the SATs together despite the fact that Cody is 20, already has a career, and is probably not allowed within 1000 feet of a school. To everyone's surprise except the viewers, Dana does not do as well as the Code-man and decides her life is not worth living. Then all of the kids steal Frank's clothes and Patrick Duffy shows off his buff new physique. Plus in this special late night recording session, Chris solves America's health care crisis with a foolproof idea that basically amounts to Carrot Top becoming the entire nation's primary care physician. We also learn which former professional athlete Rob's mother looks like, and the Creed song "In America" will make you question everything you thought you knew about Stapp Theory.

After Frank pushes Carol & Karen to enter a mother/daughter beauty contest at the local old white guy club, they are immediately verbally assaulted by said old white guys. But you know the old saying - "the show must go on regardless of unwanted sexual advances!" They perform a cheery duet much to the delight of old white guys and young white guys alike. Plus, Chris & Rob make a bet for $55 on whether Rob can go the full episode without singing a Destiny's Child song. They also each reveal a fact about themselves that the other doesn't know, and though it's never on the agenda, the topic of boners is earnestly discussed.

For Frank Lambert's 40th birthday, Carol gives him flying lessons. When the pilot immediately tries to commit murder suicide in the air, Frank must land the plane himself. Also, Cody installs a new shower head. Episode 21 of Step by Step truly has it all. Plus, we recap our New Year's Eve celebrations, resolutions for 2017, and eventually wind up pitching a new sitcom based on the notion of an Egyptian prisoner forced to live on campus with a stoner frat boy. And who could have guessed that Creed's "Rain" would actually be the perfect sitcom theme song? We could have, and we did. Welcome, Y2K17!

Chris & Rob set out to do just another episode of the show; but things quickly go awry when a request for a day off leads Chris to cancel the recording & kick Rob (a.k.a. Bad Boy Bobby Cratchit) out of his house. Chris is soon visited by some colorful spirits as they try to show him the true meaning of Christmas before it's too late. This is a completely original premise. Enjoy this episode around the yule log with your family, unless you are a copyright lawyer in which case please ignore the musical selections. A new holiday classic is born!

To celebrate our 20th episode, special guest Erika returns to the show to analyze the Step by Step where Frank finds out his elderly father is dating a stripper. Then we listen to and discuss the Creed smash hit "With Arms Wide Open". We all agree that it is, indeed, a song. Plus, Erika recalls a childhood memory of acting out the Sally Jessy Raphael Show into a Talkboy, and we revive the show with our own take on it. Chris & Rob recount tales of going to the worst strip club in town, and we learn about the world's only self-pleasuring standup comedian: Buddy Whackit.