In this very special solo episode of My Favorite Mistake, Mark Graban breaks down the gloriously ridiculous — and surprisingly instructive — mistakes made by the characters in his all-time favorite film, This Is Spinal Tap.

With the long-awaited sequel, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, now in theaters, Mark explores why Spinal Tap endures not just as a cult comedy classic, but as a brilliant satire of human behavior, team dysfunction, communication breakdowns, and leadership gone sideways.

And yes — these mistakes still matter, even four decades later.

From the Stonehenge measured in inches…

…these moments are funny because they’re true. And they’re great reminders that how we respond to mistakes matters more than pretending they never happened.

Why This Is Spinal Tap is more than just a comedy

The iconic “Stonehenge” prop mistake and what it teaches us about communication

How real-life rockstars refused to drum in the sequel (because of the “curse”)

Why remembering the courgette as a cucumber is itself… a mistake

The brilliance of “We don’t have time for that” and the backstage loop in Cleveland

Why doing what you’re told isn’t the same as doing what’s right

Mark’s personal story of seeing the film 100+ times — starting with a VHS in high school

🎬 This Is Spinal Tap on IMDb

🎥 Spinal Tap II: The End Continues – Now in Theaters

📘 The Mistakes That Make Us by Mark Graban

💻 SpinalTarp.com – A curated list of character mistakes from the film

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and check out past episodes of My Favorite Mistake — where we talk to leaders, authors, entrepreneurs, and creatives about the mistakes that made them who they are.

🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your shows.