Scott celebrates 8 years of Comedy Bang! Bang! with his intern Gino Lambardo, Buddy Valastro aka The Cake Boss, and show favorites. We’ll hear from the writer/singer of America’s Funniest Home Videos theme song, a community activist & her world traveling sister, a construction worker, and many more special guests!

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: BANGBANG), Lyft (www.lyft.com/BANGBANG), Leesa.com (www.leesa.com code: BANGBANG), ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/cbb, and Capterra (www.capterra.com/BANGBANG).

The term ‘movie magic’ typically refers to the technical brilliance of bringing dinosaurs to life onscreen or how Denzel Washington can make an entire theatre of men and women pregnant with a single knowing glance. But there’s a second type of movie magic that often goes overlooked: when movies are so good, we don’t notice when their characters’ plans’ make absolutely no sense. 

All the great ones do this. In ‘Return of the Jedi’, all of the main characters get captured attempting to break Han Solo out of Jabba’s palace, but it’s all good because that was seemingly their plan all along? Why wait to get captured when you can just drop in, lightsabers blazing, bust your dude out of the carbonite and smoke fools in an epic prison breakout? Seems like Luke wanted to fight the Rancor all along.

There’s a whole category of these where bad guys try to weaponize monsters. From the ‘Alien’ series to ‘Jurassic World’, it’s just a bad idea. 

Christopher Nolan is a real magician when it comes to bad movie plans. ‘The Dark Knight’, ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, and ‘The Prestige’ all have glaring examples of movie schemes that don’t hold up under an ounce of scrutiny.

So, join Jack O’Brien, Michael Swaim, and David Christopher Bell as they discuss the failing of Nolan’s villains, why ‘Westworld’ makes no sense, and how the dudes in ‘Jaws’ had a bigger boat the whole damn time.

And make sure to get tickets to our next LIVE Cracked Podcast, coming up on Saturday, May 13th at 7pm at the UCB Sunset Theatre in Los Angeles. Jack O’Brien is joined by Cracked’s Carmen Angelica, Alex Schmidt and Michael Swaim, and comedian Blake Wexler to combine the podcast’s two favorite topics: great moments in history and binge drinking. 

They’ll discuss the drafting of the US Constitution, the Russian Revolution and other famous moments in history where everyone was completely sh*tfaced. Tickets are only $7 and available here: https://goo.gl/PWmm2y

Footnotes:

Video: Cracked: 3 Ridiculous Movie Schemes That Make No Sense: https://goo.gl/BGkAFW

Article: Cracked: 6 Terrible Plans in Movies That Just Sort of Work Out: https://goo.gl/DA0Hk

Article: Cracked: The 6 Most Pointlessly Elaborate Movie Murder Plots: https://goo.gl/nuKW4V

Article: Cracked: 6 Famous Movie Villains Whose Evil Schemes Make Zero Sense: https://goo.gl/zkR1RT

Article: Cracked: 6 Huge Movie Plot Twists That Caused Even Bigger Plot Holes: https://goo.gl/L3957

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: CRACKED), and ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/cracked).

The Baron finds an old episode Arnie forgot to upload, from two days before the seige of Hogsface. Our hosts learn about magic paint from a “carfoonist.”

Credits
Arnie: Arnie Niekamp
Chunt: Adal Rifai
Usidore: Matt Young
Baron Ragoon: Chris Rathjen
Charles Schmutz: Scott Kurtz
Kobold Hunters: Jay & Miles of “Jay & Miles XPlain the Xmen”
Mysterious Man: Tim Sniffen
Craig: Ryan DiGiorgi

Producers: Arnie Niekamp, Evan Jacover, Ryan DiGiorgi
Editor: Garrett Schultz
Theme Music: Andy Poland
Magic Tavern Logo: Allard Laban
Audio Assistance: Jason Knox
Production Assistance: Garrett Schultz
Photo Credit: Beatriz Ilacqua-Hoover

Special Thanks: Emerald City Comicon

Craig-Cast Theme Music: Loping Sting Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: MAGIC)  and ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/first).

In one of the most offbeat episodes to date, comedian, writer and actor Steven Wright drops by the studio to talk about his love of surrealism, his admiration for Don Rickles, his childhood obsession with “The Tonight Show” and the absurdity of telling jokes for a living. Also, Steven discovers Hal Ashby (and Cat Stevens), Gilbert chats up Norman Fell, Randy Quaid holds a press conference and Brooke Shields goes to a podiatrist. PLUS: “Summer of ’42”! Humphrey Bogart orders stamps! Steven nabs an Oscar! The return of Jack Frost! And Ben Gazzara enjoys the Ben Gazzara bit!

This episode is brought to you by BullGoose Shaving (www.bullgooseshaving.com code: GILBERT).

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes everyone on and in planet Earth to Spontaneanation! This week, Paul’s special guest is Tatiana Maslany of Orphan Black! They chat about what animals Tatiana has seen in the wild, her lifelong fear of sharks appearing in unusual places, and her 11 year no-vomiting streak. Paul and Tatiana are then joined by Lauren Lapkus to improvise a story set in The Manager’s Office of a Miniature Golf Course. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

If you’d like to provide a location for the improv on a future episode, follow @Spontaneanation on Twitter so you won/t miss the prompt!

This episode is brought to you by Scentbird (www.scentbird.com code: PFT), Leesa.com (www.leesa.com code: PFT), and Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/PFT).

Marabel checks in with the neighborhood gals on their Complete Woman journeys. They practice roleplaying some common relationship scenarios, but things get frisky when a few very special guests crash their meeting. With: Amanda Lund, Stephanie Allyne, Angela Trimbur, Maria Blasucci, Mark McConville, Matt Gourley, James Bladon

Marabel opens up about her nagging habit, and how she quit cold turkey. Then, she puts on her lab coat and reveals the differences between woman and men with cutting edge scientific experiments (and Mr. Goodbars). With: Amanda Lund, Kate Berlant, Andy DeYoung

Marabel has the gals over once again to discuss their thoughts and fears about Part 2 of The Complete Woman Course. They dish on their exciting weeks, oral dentist appointments, clowning around in the kitchen, and S-E-X-U-A-L-I-N-T-E-R-C-O-U-R-S-E… With: Amanda Lund, Stephanie Allyne, Angela Trimbur, Maria Blasucci

Marabel helps you put the sizzle back in your marriage with her bedroom tips and fun costume ideas, told from a Christian perspective. Learn the most erotic scent for a man, and the joy of eating a banana. Take it from Martha, a scientist’s wife! With: Amanda Lund, Mark McConville, Molly Hawkey

Marabel invites some of the neighborhood gals over to sip Sweet Vermouth and check in on how they are doing with Part 1 of The Complete Woman. They wonder what their husbands are doing, learn the greatest sin a woman can commit, and get deeply introspective. With: Amanda Lund, Stephanie Allyne, Angela Trimbur, Maria Blasucci

Franklin Leonard and Kate Hagen of The Black List join Amy this week to pit “Juno” against “Whiplash.” Kate makes her case for “Juno” with the potency of the written dialogue and what the film signifies as a cultural watershed moment, and Franklin argues in favor of “Whiplash,” noting the enjoyability of J.K. Simmons’ character and breaking down the more intense sequences in the film. Which movie will enter the Canon? You decide! Cast your vote on the Earwolf forums now!

Meet Marabel May, creator of The Complete Woman Course. Listen, as Marabel describes the origins of her technique and then teaches you the importance of organization in the household and how To-Do Lists can save your marriage. Plus: get to know your kitchen appliances! With: Amanda Lund, Mark McConville, Matt Gourley, James Bladon, Molly Hawkey, Maria Blasucci

Live from Largo in Los Angeles with special guest Lauren Lapkus, Casey and Danielle get at the most important question of the ages, “which house-husband can f*ck?” The Ladies perform a One Act play that will be winning awards for years to come and Lauren confesses a love for the (ex) Countess that no one thought was possible

Plus plenty of Boots on the Ground and another bunny bites the dust. 

This episode is brought to you by Halo Top (www.halotop.com), Paula’s Choice (www.paulaschoice.com code: HOUSEWIVES), Texture (www.texture.com/housewives), Psychic Source (www.psychicsource.com code: HOUSEWIVES), and Le Tote (www.letote.com code: HOUSEWIVES).

This week Bryan attended a rock concert featuring music only whales would love, while Erin shares her favorite dog songs. Also, Female Genital Mutilation is much more prevalent in the US than people know, and it still isn’t considered illegal in most states, and an article recently in the New York Times has been tracking Trump and his record regarding LGBTQ issues which has been a consistent failure.

Our resident Fast & Furious expert Adam Scott joins Paul, June, and Jason in-studio to discuss the latest in the Fast film franchise, The Fate of the Furious. They’ll cover everything from Jason Statham and The Rock’s team up to the John Wick influence to Vin Diesel getting emotional. Plus, everyone shares who they’d like to see enter the Fast universe.

This episode is brought to you by SKYN condoms (www.buycondoms.online code: BONKERS), Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/BONKERS), Seeso (www.seeso.com code: BONKERS), and Sonos (www.sonos.com).

Check out new HDTGM merch over at https://www.teepublic.com/user/howdidthisgetmade

Where to Find Jason, June & Paul:

Paul’s new comedy Drive Share is available on Go90. You can see June and Paul on NTSF:SD:SUV:: on HULU. June stars in Grace and Frankie on Netflix, as well as Lady Dynamite alongside with Jason.

Jason can be seen in The Lego Batman Movie, How to Be Single, Sleeping with Other People, and is still indeed in The Dictator.

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: BONKERS).

Spring has sprung! To celebrate, today’s episode is a special spring break edition featuring a grab bag of new conversations with some of Negin’s favorite guests. Negin is joined by Pete Dominick (Stand Up! With Pete Dominick) and Mark Thompson (Make It Plain) to talk about atheism and religion. Also, Mike Pesca (The Gist) and Ben Kissel (The Last Podcast On the Left) riff on how to get rid of negative thinking, and finally, Maeve Higgins (Maeve in America) and Benari Poulten (Garbage Time with Katie Nolan) discuss the benefits of being messy.  

This episode is brought to you by Aaptiv (www.aaptiv.com code: FAKE), Credo Mobile (www.credomobile.com/fakethenation), and FilterBuy (www.filterbuy.com/fake).

Comedian Jackie Kashian joins Randy and Jason this week to talk about her new album “I Am Not the Hero of This Story.” She reminisces with the Sklars about “growing up” in comedy together, explains the political element of her comedy, and shares stories of being raised in the Armenian church. Plus, we hear about Serena Williams’ pregnancy beef and the World’s Largest Pool Cue during Quick Hits, and the Sklars listen to a voicemail from Michael Jordan in which the former NBA star corrects the record on his legacy.

This episode is sponsored by Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/sklar).

Welcome back to Deep Deep Deep Dark Secrets, the safe space for your worst confessions. Join host Sherry Sarandon (Cate Freedman) in lifting the weight and heaviness of inner humiliations as she welcomes onto the program FBI profiler Tiffany Stenandon. Tiffany offers tips on how to figure out other people’s secrets and breaks down how she uses her imagination on the job before opening up one of Sherry’s deepest, darkest secrets. Plus, Traci Reardon stops in to help her Twitter followers with their secret questions.

This episode is sponsored by Mack Weldon (www.mackweldon.com code: LAPKUS) and Audible (www.audible.com/lapkus).

You probably got to know him as the “Senior Middle East Correspondent,” or the “Senior Muslim Correspondent,” or maybe the “Senior Foreign Looking Correspondent”, but actor, writer, and former Daily Show correspondent Aasif Mandvi has moved into the hot seat for this episode of Politically Re-Active. Join Aasif and your favorite hosts as they talk about political satire during the Bush years, Aasif’s reaction to the Muslim ban and the “gaslighting presidency”, and what it means to “wrestle your inner Hitler to the ground”.

Keep up to date with Aasif on Twitter: @aasif. That’s also where you’ll find a link to learn more about his memoir _No Land’s Man_, which the New York Times calls “explosively funny”.

Kamau’s also got a book coming out! _The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell_ is available for pre-order on Amazon. If you’d like to hear his awkward thoughts in person, you can meet him on his book tour. Visit http://www.wkamaubell.com/ to learn more. And if you STILL can’t get enough Kamau, watch him on the season premiere of United Shades of America, which returns to CNN on April 30th!

Hari is ALSO on tour, and he wants you to show up, Midwest fans! Tour dates are at his website: http://www.harikondabolu.com/.

Keep telling us what you think of the show! We’re on Twitter: @politicreactive. Or if you want to wax poetic, shoot us an email: politicallyreactive@firstlook.org.

This week: Norman “Hurricane” Smith! The many talents of Loudon Wainwright III! The return of John Fred & His Playboy Band! And the strange origin of “Dancing in the Moonlight”!

Shootin’ puppies with Eliza Skinner.

This episode is brought to you by Bombfell (www.bombfell.com/PARDO) and Generation Tux (www.generationtux.com code: PARDO).

Comedian, actor, digital influencer, and best-selling author Hannah Hart (Buffering) joins Sarah and Susan to talk about soldiers coming home videos, The Muppet Christmas Carol, and a good slow clap.

This episode is brought to you by Third love (www.thirdlove.com/babies) and Le Tote (www.letote.com code: CRYBABY).

Please enjoy this week’s episode of The Black List Table Reads with Franklin Leonard with Black List community director Kate Hagen and screenwriter Chris Salmanpour known for The Promise which will receive the ear movie treatment.

Playwright Dan O’Brien and actors Tim Cummings and Brian Henderson join improvisers Mike Hanford, Sean Conroy, and Don Fanelli for a theatrical episode of improv4humans! Dan, Tim, and Brian present selections from Dan’s new stage play “The House in Scarsdale” that inspire scenes about extreme colorblindness, a real estate agent encouraging property damage, and a pool enthusiast romance. Later, a psychic explores familial boundaries, and Don asks a stranger to be his grandmother.

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: IMPROV) and Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/IMPROV).

The Shrimps take on the Lucille Ballers at Lake Street Gym. Matt Gourley and Mark McConville call the action.

The Shrimps on Twitter: pistolshrimpsbb
The Shrimps on Instagram: @thepistolshrimps
Pistol Shrimps Radio on Twitter: @shrimpsradio
Pistol Shrimps Radio on Instagram: @pistolshrimpsradio

Matt Gourley on Twitter and IG: @mattgourley
Mark McConville on Twitter and Instagram: @markmcconville

Writer and comedian Bassem Youssef joins Andrew to talk about his new book “Revolution for Dummies,” comedy and satire facing dictatorship, whether he’s worried about living in the age of Trump, and much more. As always, leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

This week on HARD NATION, the guys are on location at the infamous “Winter White House”, Mar-a-Lago! They talk with resort staffers Gabriel St. Jennifer (Mark Rennie) and Roz (Jennie Pierson) about poolside Wonder Bread, nuclear footballs in the jacuzzi, Trump’s Cobb salad, and much more.

Once again Matt has lovingly pieced together a collection of the best anecdotes told on I Was There Too about experiences on the set of the Star Wars trilogy, Back to The Future, Die Hard, and many more. You’ll hear from Steven de Souza, Tom Wilson, Lauren Lapkus, Ahmed Best, Jimmy Pardo, and more on topics ranging from beating Michael Jackson for the role of Jar Jar Binks to down to the wire re-shoots for Die Hard. Plus, Matt checks in with Starship 1, the mysterious real person that auditioned for Star Wars Episode 8: The Last Jedi to hear her real time reaction of the trailer and some of the moments from the Star Wars Celebration in Orlando.

This episode is brought to you by Generation Tux (www.generationtux.com code: IWTT), Harry’s (www.harrys.com/iwtt), and Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/iwastheretoo).

Actor and Birthday Boy Mike Hanford (Questions for Lennon) joins Howard and Kulap this week to throw down for Record Store Day! They count down the Top 5 Shazam’d Songs of the Week while discussing run-ins with failed presidents and what “jobs” are allowed on network television. Then, during the TV Chart, Howard explains what puts him on edge while watching “Better Call Saul” and Mike gives the lowdown on his musical supergroup, “The Sloppy Boys Jangly Band.” Finally, they listen to Kevin’s Hot Picks and get ready for imminent summah on Two Charted.

This episode is sponsored by Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/chart).

Should this week’s caller quit his lucrative corporate job to pursue his passion? His dream is to purchase a small business but he’s nervous that he’ll lose his financial stability. Chris chats with him about the plusses and minuses at play in this big life decision. 

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: CG), Subaru (www.meetanowner.com), ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/beautiful), and Uber (www.uber.com/drivenow).