Setups, Payoffs & Reversals: The Films of Shane Black: The Podcast

Sorry for the delay. I was looking for a guest, but couldn’t find anyone to talk about The Predator. So this one is just me. I enjoyed doing it once I got over how self-indulgent it felt. I talk the merits of the movie including it’s weird world swings as it relates to improv. Please consider buying my book. Thanks for listening!

My friend, improviser, and teammate, Wayland McQueen (Puddy, Bitchin’) talk The Nice Guys on a victory lap. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk The Nice Guys again. This time with more improv comparisons. Plus The BOOK is OUT! You can get it at jakejabbour.com. If you sign up for Tertulia you can get it for 50% off. Tertulia is like Goodreads but not owned by Amazon. Thanks for listening!

One of two episodes on The Nice Guys. This one has improviser, comedian, and librarian Lui Vega (Say When) to chat Shane Black’s sleeper hit from 2016. We have a grand ol’ time talking about what it means for two people to try and be good in 1970s Los Angeles. My book is out now! Get it wherever you get books! Here or here are just some options. Thanks for listening!

This episode we talk the psychology of Iron Man 3 with Los Angeles comedian, writer and friend Will Evans (William.ig, Moxy, /ws_evans). We go deep on what it means to be a hero and if Iron Man 3 is the best Marvel movie. My book is available now on my site or you can buy it anywhere you get books in January. Thanks for listening!

Join me for some male friendship with Dan Lippert (Big Grande, ManDogPod, CBB) as we talk Kiss Kiss Bang Bang! Lots to cover from Shane Black’s library to the question if you say something cool and no one is around, does it still make you cool? If you liked this episode, consider letting a pal know or buy my book! Thanks for listening!

Originally I was just going to record one episode per movie, but then this was so much fun, I thought who cares? I’m telling you, make stuff for yourself the way you like it. It’s a revelation. If comedian and friend Mike Leffingwell (Future Life Partner) says he wants to talk action movies, take him up on it. I had a blast! Thanks for listening! Buy my book!

Talking The Long Kiss Goodnight with Los Angeles Comedian and Writer, Chris Bosley (Dangeroom)! We go deep on the plotting, the improv overlaps and the believable switch Geena Davis portrays from Sam Caine to Charly Baltimore! It’s a good one! Look out for another Long Kiss Goodnight this week! If you enjoyed, consider pre-ordering the book here. Thanks for listening. Maybe tell a friend!

LA comedian and friend Zach Jobe (Parliament, The Fortune Teller Show) makes my day by coming on to talk Last Action Hero, a silly meta-commentary action movie about action movies and movies and existentialism and nihilism. We talk Arnold’s appeal, Leo the Fart, and a Zach shares a great Shane Black anecdote.

The book is finished! We’re waiting on a cover design and then it’s off the press. I hope you’ll check it out here. Thanks for listening!

Lehr Beidelschies (Everything is Terrible, STEM Kidz) came on to talk The Last Boy Scout. He also helped produce some of the fixins for the podcast. Great guy, crazy movie. Love ‘em both! Head on over to https://weimprov.org/store-1-2/p/shaneblackbook to pre-order the book! Thanks for listening!!

I spent most of this year writing a book on the films of Shane Black. It’s finished and it’s being formatted. This is my third book in the Lapbook series. A Lapbook is a term I coined for small pocket-sized books inspired by mixtapes. They’re all self-published, self-edited, independent dives on topics I’m interested in. My first one is about my cat Lemon that I wrote after she passed, and the second is on improv. This one is a personal and cultural examination of the films of Shane Black. Writing it in 2025 was often the only thing that kept me from losing my damn mind. I’m very proud of it.

I wanted to promote it, but I hate promoting. I find it truly unpleasant. And I wanted this project to be as pleasant as possible. Talking about movies is my second favorite thing to writing about them. So I thought I would see if any of my friends were fans of Shane Black and would want to talk with me about his movies for a limited series podcast. As of this writing I have someone for every movie but The Predator. The chats have been great and if all promotion could be this, I wouldn’t mind it at all. I hope you enjoy.

This first episode is with my FRIEND, and teammate Colin McGurk (Bitchin’). He asked to talk about a different Shane Black movie, but it was already taken so he generously agreed to take a bullet for me and talk Lethal Weapon 1&2. I say that only because of the Mel Gibson stink on them. The movies rule. So does Colin. I say in the podcast I could have talked with him for hours.

If you want to pick up the book, right now it’s available for pre-order on my website. It’ll be out December 20025, possibly January 2026 depending on how long it takes to finalize the formatting. After it’s released, it will be available on most book-buying platforms. I’m told it matters a lot to have it tracked on sites like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. But really I don’t care. If you like Shane Black, or action movies, or even just my writing, then I think you’ll like this book. And that is the second most important thing to me. The first is that I wrote it. I wish you well in the year ahead and I hope you make something important to you. Thanks!