Sneaky Dragon

Bonjour, mes Sneakairs! It’s a long show this week, but that’s okay – we’ve been joined by Ben Mills so you know it’s going to go by fast and easy. This week on the show Ian, David and Ben discuss Ben’s theory of comedy as something locked in its own time (is comedy better now than in the past?); Ben maintains that people are getting smarter over time – the so called Flynn Effect; Ian wants to talk about joke theft – something we’ve never had to worry about (people stealing our “jokes”, that is); the hilarity of Jonestown; doing stand up; the problem with internet shaming; the fall out of the Jian Gomeshi trial; the problem with Dave shaming; Ben says don’t be afraid to put yourself out there; Dave asks Ben about his best ever concert experience and Ben has a doozy; and let’s end the show with A Dollop of Trollope.

Thanks for listening.

Ian brought it up so you’re probably wondering what it is. This is Fudge Cops:

Here is Ben’s most recent stand up appearance:

So suave, Ben!

Here is a TED talk about public shaming by the author of So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed, Jon Ronson

Good day, Sneakers! Welcome to our significant because it’s divisible by 5 and half of fifty episode of Sneaky Dragon! This week on the show: Dave feels the Bern; we introduce a new segment: “Well, Fuck It”; Dave meets a lunatic; Ian requests “Free Bird”; Dave gets a visit from “Two Pipes”; Dave’s truck rant; lots of BJs; Ian goes to Kelowna; Dave plays the mosquito; Ian experiences old-time seating; driving the Coq [pronounce “Coke”]; Dave the failed scenester; Ian would prefer you didn’t poke him; will Dave or Ian go see Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice; their favourite Batman movie; Dave enjoyed Pee Wee’s Big Holiday; Ian enjoyed the second season of Daredevil; a lament for confusing movies; and, finally, a little teaser: we have a guest next week.

Thanks for listening

Department of Corections:

As usual, Dave’s brain wasn’t working. Here are the actual CDs he got with the correct names and titles [the one with the egg on it is Wilco’s A Ghost Is Born]:

Ian and Dave really liked these two shows on Netflix:

PLAY FREE BIRD!!!

Hubbi, frubiends! (And a select few of you will get that.) Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never seems to end. This week Ian is a travellin’ man, but has taken the time to record this episode before flying off again. He and Dave have time to discuss jetlag; more talk about video games – especially the really old ones (Battle tank? Defender? Space Invaders? Anyone? Hello?); more talk about Raiders of the Lost Ark and that gosh darn snake on the plane; Dave has some suggestions on how to improve the Rocky franchise: Ian has some thoughts about Inside Out and calls out Dave for his favourite Pixar movie; Dave brings up Jim Varney and his Canucks commercials and seems to feel that saving Halloween isn’t that important; Ian suffered a panic attack; they talk fave podcasts; Ian bemoans unpleasant atheists; and, finally, Dave talks Ian off the ledge in a case of “too much Trump”. Also, “Zootopia is good – you should go see it” – Ian and Dave.

Thanks for listening.

Department of Clarification of Things Discussed on the Show that Seemed to Come to No Conclusion:

The video game Dave was attempting to remember was actually Space Wars. A lot of quarters went down the drain for this:

We recently found this Harry Plinkett review of Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. As usual, it’s a good analysis of what makes for effective storytelling in film with lots of gross jokes.

Bonjour, Sneakers! It’s episode 223 and Ian can’t believe we’re still doing this show and despite his threat to no longer do the show, he wishes everyone a Happy Mario Day, which leads to a discussion about Mario and his various other Marios including Wario and Jumpman who is not related to Gordon Jump. We send George Martin out to sea in a burning Viking boat and Dave ruminates and his amazing career. Ian joins in the chorus of hand-wringing over Donald Trump’s amazing rise to power within a panicking Republican party and Dave seems strangely complacent. Ian and Dave perform a dissection of the new Ghostbusters trailer and discuss Ghostbusters through the ages. David brings up The House of the Devil again and wonders what makes a great horror film. One our listeners asked what non-horsey folk might find interesting to watch at the horse-centered parts of summer fairs and Dave has some suggestions. In the final segment, Ian responds to a “how to be a writer” article with some practical advice.

Thanks for listening!

A wonderful. little piece about George Martin and Paul McCartney making Tug of War together:

The trailer for the new Ghostbusters film:

Hello, Sneakers! This week the exciting three of the same numbers in a row episode! (We won’t see another one like it for 111 more episodes.) Ian honours this episode’s number with a discussion of the classic TV show Room 222. Don’t care? Don’t worry. Dave hasn’t seen it either. Speaking of 222, Ian doesn’t like even numbers; Dave has a lot to say about horse’s feet; Ian lives under howlin’ dogs; Ian and Dave both enjoy burgers – I think we all know that; Ian has found a contender to stand up against Donald Trump – and, no, it’s not Dave; we establish Ian is a homophobe – Dave is a condescending hetero; Ian could have gone to prison as a seven year-old; they take the Bible challenge; Ian gets sucker punched by Zack Snyder; Dave sticks up for the little films; Ian is tired of movies and only wants TV series; and speaking of films, Ian and Dave close out the show with a discussion of the movies Teen Lust, The House of the Devil and some of the best coming of age movies.

Do you have a favourite coming of age movie? We’re especially interested in the films that fall outside of the cliché of the trophy girlfriend. Dave would also prefer films that don’t require characters to conform to the cultural mainstream to appeal to the ladies (à la the disappointing The 40 Year-Old Virgin) (we know this is a minority opinion).

Thanks for listening.

Ian’s heartthrob:

Once again, if you can find it, Dave recommends the above average coming of age, teenage sex shenanigans film Teen Lust:

If you enjoy smart horror films, Dave also recommends The House of the Devil:

And the three coming of age films mentioned by Ian and Dave (Also, movie trailers for the 80’s sucked!):

Gregory’s Girl

The Sure Thing

Real Genus (directed by Martha Coolidge, which could explain the strong female character, but not why she is never mentioned in the trailer)

This week on Sneaky Dragon: post-surprise party comedown! Ian and Dave take a moment to look back at Dave’s surprise birthday party. Also, things Ian and Dave shouldn’t talk about: science: Ian is right; more about Adam and Eve; Dave insults 16% of the world’s population; remember Aristarchus; exhaustive religiosity with a somewhat incoherent Dave; Ian equates religion to abuse; Dave doesn’t like Gnosticism; Dave gets a name very wrong; an installment of A Dollop of Trollope; Pride and Prejudice: The Play – a review by Dave; finally, our lists of the Top 5 comedians that Ian and Dave were supposed to put together for last week’s show: Maria Bamford, Buster Keaton, Paul F. Tompkins, W.C. Fields, Matt Groening, Graham Chapman, Eric Idle, Woody Allen and Simon Pegg/Edgar Wright are Ian and Dave’s choices. Listen and they’ll tell you why.

Thanks for listening.

Department of Corections:

Unfortunately, when you’re talking off the top of your head (or out of your own a**) as Dave tends to do, you can make mistakes. Although, Dave was correct to suggest that Aristarchus presented the first known model of a sun-centered universe, he was not Egyptian, but Greek. Also, please note that when Dave kept saying Constantinople, he meant Emperor Constantine.

Because we love it so, here is Every Frame A Painting’s video essay about Buster Keaton, The Art of the Gag:

From the same series, How to Do Visual Comedy featuring the work of Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg:

(I might be including this because he agrees with David and Ian’s complaints about modern comedy.)

Someone has posted this on YouTube and it’s a great film so what the heck:

Happy birthday, Sneakers!!! To Dave, that is.

For this week’s show, Dave’s wife Lezah and Ian put together a surprise party for Dave and invited lots of friends of the show to drop by so we have lots of guests this week. Visits from Jason Dedrick, Kathleen Gros, Louise Moon, Mike Roberds, Pia Guerra, Vicki Van, Lezah Williamson, Mary Dedrick, David Fine, Allison Snowden and a brief cameo by Eve Dedrick leads to dub step; gambling problems, mixed-up dates; web cartoonist tips; ranking the Look Who’s Talking movies; generation gaps; gifts for Dave; Dave-centric entertainment recommendations; White Noise; auditioning; Mike Roberds CKNW show; lady names in comics; best kids show; Deadpool; evil, repressive movie ratings systems; double standards; Dave’s Aerio story; suntans; animation; Oscar talk; and, finally, a big Happy Birthday sing-along for Dave!

Dave would like to thank everyone who was able to make it down to join in the pizza and fun. And a big thanks for the wonderful presents.

Thanks for listening.

Once again – Louise’s recommendations were:

* The website Measuring Worth, which lets eager readers of long-ago fiction compare the relative worth of the characters’ income – really useful when you like to read Victorian literature like Dave

* The movie The Scandalous Lady W – a Victorian-era courtroom drama of sexual intrigue and double cross:

* The TV series Grantchester – about a vicar – an apparently studly vicar – who gets mixed up in mysteries:

* The novel The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan about a world-weary 200 year-old werewolf hunted and harrassed by various factions.

And let’s take a look at one of David Fine and Alison Snowden’s early films as we wait for their new short:

“Hello, hello, hello, is there anybody there?” as Phil Ochs once said and we say, “Welcome to Sneaky Dragon!” And you can say, “Thanks!” Also, you can listen to Ian and Dave discuss audience laughter; Ian’s most humiliating moment as an audience member; Dave’s questionable taste; who is really so vain; how to write a better essay; what’s wrong with the Coen Brothers; Dave’s dislike of the 3 Stooges; Ian’s alternate Marx Brothers movie; blood oaths gone bad; Cher the quick-change vamp; Ian’s horrifying TV variety show moment; the complete and sordid TV history of The Brady Bunch; Dave’s work challenge; Ian’s questionable taste; Dave watching the film It Follows; and, finally, what makes a great a great horror film.

Thanks for listening:

Ian pronounces it a misfire!

Ian enjoyed the Farrelly Brothers take on The Three Stooges at least:

Ian’s suggests this as an alternate Marx Brothers film:

V-A-M-P!

The sketch the so horrified Ian:

Honest Trailers comment on the Saw series:

Hello, hello, hello, Sneakers! Welcome to Episode 218 of this year’s model podcast: Sneaky Dragon! Here is all you have to know about this week’s show: after three weeks without one, Dave has a new phone; Ian comes up with a “million dollar” idea; Dave knows little – oh, let’s be honest – nothing about phone games; teen phones versus adult phones – the most terrible analogy of all time; Ian’s neighbourhood has a blackout and Ian explains why he doesn’t like the dark; everyone is feeling sleepy; talk of drugs leads to friends behaving badly, cocaine in the music industry, and cocaine and comedy; Ian and Dave discuss when comedy boomed; Ian has some more “million dollar” ideas; one of the hosts has an embarrassing cry; and, finally, who are their heroes – in any work of fiction – comics, literature or movies.

And that makes us wonder, dear Sneakers, who your heroes in works of fiction may be. Please let us know in the comments section below. We’d love to know!

Thanks for listening.

Unfortunately for Ian and Dave, somebody has already had Ian’s million dollar idea:

Hello, all you Sneakers out there! Things keep on rollin’! Also, this show. Keeps on rollin’, I mean. This week on the big show: things get off to a rough start; Dave is still getting older; love your children; love your wife; Robert Benchley and the Algonquin Round Table; who was Bennett Cerf?; dynamic tension; Robert Mitchum and blue comedy; David Letterman visits Vancouver; comedy game shows; comic conventions in the world of superheroes; and, finally, what are Ian and David’s favourite superheroes?

Thanks for listening.

Here is David Letterman’s appearance on the Canadian cooking show, Celebrity Cooks:

Apparently, Robert Benchley is regarded as an official member of the Algonquin Round Table so “nuts” to Dave. Here is one of the many short subjects he made:

Department of Corections:

Dave’s uncanny guesswork about Bennett Cerf was mostly correct except he was a publisher of Random Books, not Doubleday as Dave stated.