TAP Snaps

Gripes and grumblings of the rich and famous! This week the boys get extra petty with it as they discuss Hollywood Grumps. Blake takes a look at the mental gymnastics Ridley Scott performed criticizing Blade Runner: 2049 while simultaneously trying to take credit for the script. Liam tells the tale of Jared Leto trying to kill Joker (2019) to keep someone else from playing "his" character. The boys work through Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese's recent jabs at superhero movies in general.

This week the boys talk China! Specifically, they discuss the amount of influence China has been openly flexing in the wake of the Hong Kong protests. Blizzard, Apple, and the NBA have all found themselves in hot water one way or another since the protests began. The boys discuss the implications of American companies selling out to, and fighting back against a foreign government restricting free speech with their significant financial assets.

Spoiler-free episode.

Send in the clowns! This week the boys discuss the controversy surrounding Todd Phillips' Joker. With many reviews labeling the film "dangerous," Tarver gives his take on media contributing to violence in the real world. Blake wants to know who is writing these reviews, and if they have seen any other R rated movies. Liam is suspicious that a lot of the reviews and reporting about the movie is just very good marketing.

This week the boys check up on their ongoing experiment on YA Twitter. Blake catches us up on the new trends, and brings some great examples of the caliber of writing being shared. Tarver wants details as Blake is getting close to pulling the trigger on the actual YA novel troll. Liam wants to know what advances Blake has made since their last conversation. It's covert, it's classified, it's straight up wild, and it's (hopefully) about to come to fruition.

Time to check in with some of our favorites! This week the boys do their due diligence and follow up on some of the more notable stories from the run of the show. Blake wants to know what's going on with Jussie Smollett. Liam gets a laugh out of the actual fallout of the Area 51 raid. Everyone notices a conspicuous lack of new info about Jeffrey Epstein. Finally, Tarver laments the further descent of Chris Morgan, AKA Bagel Boss, and Liam is cool with it.

or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Special guest episode! This week the boys are joined by Liam's wife Erin as they dive super deep into Alejandro Inarritu's 2016 exploration of the nature of art and celebrity. Tarver gets super technical; breaking down the techniques used to achieve the film's "single-shot" format. Blake is super into how the characters function in the stage play/movie hybrid. Liam and Erin discuss the dynamics between the members of Riggan's (Michael Keaton) family, and the movie's open ending. Blake also hits us with a dope rewrite.

This week the boys tackle New Age Nonsense: anti-vaxxers, healing crystals, and flat-Earthers being the top offenders. Blake goes in super hard on anti-vaxxers, and those who would bring back the plagues of old. Tarver walks us through medicinal uses for crystals (spoiler: there are none). Liam can't stop laughing at flat-Earthers. We rank them by general awfulness, and potential to obliterate human life.

Liam's pick! This week the boys ride to Atlantic City to play fast and loose with Joe's money. They also discuss Empire Records: the 1995 teen classic that isn't afraid to have privileged white children say "Damn the man!" while facing no real consequences. Liam wrestles with a nostalgic favorite having some real plot troubles- but we musn't dwell. No, not today. We can't. Not on Rex Manning Day!

The boys pretty well take apart this slice of a simpler time that launched the careers of Renee Zellweger and Liv Tyler. It's not a trial, but everyone has some processing to do. Liam also hits us with a great rewrite. We don't feel the need to explain our art to you, Warren.

IT'S LIKE RAAY-EEE-AAAAIIIIN.

This week the boys groom their handlebar mustaches and crack open a six pack of PBR while they discuss irony. Liam catches us up on Russia accusing Facebook and Google of election tampering, Tarver gets real about the critical response to Dave Chappelle's new special VS the audience reception, and Blake wraps his mind around the story of a cashier who uses his photographic memory for petty theft.

SPECIAL GUEST EPISODE

This week the boys are joined by their dear friend Sierra, who they forced to watch Krull and then talk about it for an hour. She punishes the gang by refusing to speak directly into her mic. Tarver vehemently defends the "brave" fantasy classic against those who would detract from its sincere and full-hearted effort to blend the sci-fi and fantasy genres, and tell a tale of epic proportions. The glave is secured, the cyclops is swangin' javelins, and the Widow of the Web drops knowledge bombs all over everyone. Tarver also provides us with MULTIPLE hilarious scene re-writes.