Robert De Niro trades mobsters for punchlines in Taylor Hackford's The Comedian—a movie about an aging insult comic who just can't stop burning every bridge in his life, no matter how many second chances he gets. We break down De Niro's passionate but polarizing performance, debate whether the film's crass, mean-spirited tone is intentional or just misguided, and try to figure out if there's anything redeeming about a story where bad behavior keeps getting rewarded. Along the way, we get lost in tangents about viral memes, USA Network aesthetics, and our shared distaste for bad fake driving shots. Wikipedia page for The Comedian. Films recommended this episode:

• The Devil's Advocate
• Endorphin Port
• Stand Up Solutions

Follow Mike and Mike on Letterboxd @mikebackatyou and @mikethefab and email them at [email protected]. Next week: Mikethefab's Mystery Birthday Pick