In the spirit of the great comedy compilation films of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, we’ve decided to create our own “Best of the Marx Brothers” money-grab.

To be precise, the three of us have each compiled our own films…hamstrung by the constraints of our in-house Irving Thalberg. We’ll discuss our scene choices and come up with a final tracklist, all before realizing the whole exercise was pointless.

Did your favorite scene make the cut? Listen and find out, unless you’re an Eve Arden fan, in which case don’t even bother….

Name-checked in this episode: W.C. Fields, Kristen Schaal, Jay Hopkins

Our long overdue look at the definitive Marx Brothers documentary, with special guests, producer/meme Robert B. Weide, and writer/editor Joe Adamson.

The guys take us on Nutshell’s long journey, full of roadblocks and last minute scrambling. How did they get both Paramount and MGM clips when told it was impossible? Why did PBS viewers not see Woody Allen, and no one see Betty Marx? What happens when you ask Gene Kelly to do a retake? These and other questions you never asked will all be answered...

Oh, and if you want to watch “The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell” before listening, you can purchase a dvd at: http://duckprods.com/store.html

Name-checked in this episode: Kurt Vonnegut, Lauren Bacall, Mort Sahl

Our contractually obligated deep dive into “At The Circus”, where your hosts are as enthused watching the film as the Marxes were in making it. We try our best to make sense out of this jumble of wonderful and embarrassing moments.

You’ll scream as you experience the lost courtroom scene that MGM cut instead of "Two Blind Loves"….you’ll thrill as we struggle to remember plot points no one cares about anyhow…you’ll jump for joy as we play no clips of Groucho yelling “Help Pauline!”

NOTE: This ep does contain moments of explicit language, which should be a hint to those still wondering what we thought of the film.

Name-checked in this episode: Marilyn Monroe, Eddie Deezen, Adolf Hitler.

This month we are joined by Zeppo expert/loyalist/fangirl/critic/stalker Andrea Orlando for a two-hour examination of the youngest Marx.

Was he the funniest Marx Brother offscreen? Was he even a Marx Brother onscreen? Andrea rips some of Zeppo’s performances, then drools over his ripped shirt in Duck Soup. Matthew adds up his screentime, Noah secretly wonders if this was worth surviving Covid-19 for, while Bob questions how Vanity Fair will react.

Yes, we said two hours. About Zeppo Marx. You have something better to do?

Name checked in this episode: Frank Sinatra, Barbara Stanwyck, Hal Thompson

Still stuck in quarantine, we’ve dug up another vintage interview from Jay’s archives. From 1979, Jay talks with Steve Stoliar, who worked in Groucho’s house as secretary during his final years and later wrote the essential account of this era, “Raised Eyebrows”. Steve details how he helped get “Animal Crackers” rereleased after being out of circulation for twenty years, and how this led to him meeting Groucho and being hired by the infamous Erin Fleming. Steve recounts his fascinating duties, and meeting the many characters and celebrities that were always around. Of course, unlike our previous archive subjects, Steve is still with us…but this interview dates from much closer to his time with Groucho than even his book, so his memories are especially crystal clear.

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Quite the opposite of the live get-together this episode was supposed to document, your three quarantined hosts do their best to help you through COVID-19…

First, we reveal the results of “The Marx Brothers Nonsensus” where fans made it known what they like and what they want. Let’s just say there are some curious folks out there...or at least a couple of wise guys.

Then we dive into the virtual mailbag and play clips of your comments and questions. Many submissions are videos, so we recommend viewing the YouTube version of this ep at: https://youtu.be/SpQBlCvD-kU to best enjoy it.

Name checked in this episode: Jim Carrey, Sydney Greenstreet, Bill Maher.

Taking advantage of a captive audience, we are proud to present the latest in our exclusive series of vintage interviews from the archives of Marx Brotherhood founder, Jay Hopkins. From 1984, Jay talks with Groucho’s son...author, playwright, tv scribe and screenwriter Arthur Marx. Arthur discusses the pitfalls of writing showbiz biographies, the gestation and disappointment of “Minnie’s Boys”, being passed over to write the screenplay for “The Impossible Years”, and the star of a Groucho one-man show he REALLY didn’t like…

No, it’s not a sequel to “1917”, but something even better! This month we discuss the year that the Marx Brothers didn’t do anything besides lose Zeppo. After finishing “Duck Soup” in late 1933, the team was without a studio contract, and in no hurry to make another film…in fact, they weren’t certain they wanted to remain in Hollywood at all. We examine the internal and external forces which led them to MGM and Irving Thalberg.

We’ll also talk about Groucho’s heretofore unknown solo project, “A Night at the Brothel”.

Name-checked in this episode: Mickey Rooney, Katherine Hepburn, Hitler, Alec Baldwin.

After avoiding its 90th anniversary, Matthew pushes Noah and Bob into the pool for a deep dive into The Cocoanuts. Why did contemporary critics consider it their best? Why does Margaret Dumont get more laughs than Zeppo? Who the hell is Penelope? Noah connects a Groucho line to Star Trek: The Next Generation, Bob brings up Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Matthew is certain one shot was cut for a 1984 British TV broadcast. It’s appointment podcasting!

A deep dive into Groucho’s first solo effort, 1947’s “Copacabana”, which can be considered both a success and a failure…as well as neither. Surprisingly, for one of your hosts, this was a first time viewing, so Bob comes up with observations that most of you had decades ago. We explore the fascinating teaming of Groucho with Carmen Miranda, and romances that are undefined and unresolved. The Barry Manilow jokes and song excerpts are kept to a minimum, so don’t be afraid.