Join guest host Samm Levine as he sits down with actor/director Rider Strong (Boy Meets World, Cabin Fever). Rider chats about starting theater at age 5, becoming a slave to his hair, and discovering that swords don’t make comical “swoosh” sounds.

This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/chatshow).

Writer and go-getter Lily Drew joins Deanna and Emily this week to tell us about the LA club scene, people faking the funk on social media, and the future of VR (virtual reality).

This episode is brought to you by Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/omfg).

Comedian and actor Jon Dore joins the Sklars for the final episode of Sklarbro County! They celebrate the end of an era by having Jon tell the tale of his poker-induced seizure before diving into Stories. Daniel Van Kirk opens with a personal account of having crashed an Austin Bachelor Ball. Jon shares his epic ongoing text exchange with Todd Glass, we hear about a mystery nightclub pooper and a katana crack party, and finally, Mark Wahlberg closes the show with a voicemail congratulating the Sklars on the new series.

This episode is sponsored by ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/happy).

The boys Hayes and Sean open the Teaser Freezer and discover the teaser for “The Comedian” in there. Then WILL GREENBERG of TBS’s “Wrecked” arrives to pick his desert island discs because Wrecked is on a desert island.

This episode is brought to you by MVMT Watches (www.mvmtwatches.com/hollywood) and Casper Mattresses (www.casper.com/handbook).

The “Man of a Thousand Voices,” comedian and impressionist Rich Little joins Gilbert and Frank for an hour of memories and anecdotes about his legendary showbiz pals and co-stars, including Jimmy Stewart, Dean Martin, Don Rickles, Frank Sinatra and Jack Benny (to name but a few). Also, Rich dubs Ernest Borgnine, George Burns takes a phone call, Johnny Carson takes his revenge and David Frye lays down the law. PLUS: The Velvet Fog! “The Caine Mutiny”! Carnac the Magnificent! Ed Sullivan introduces Little Richard! And Gilbert “dances for Fred Astaire”!

Think of every RomCom trope and the one thing that separates it from being in a horror movie instead: the music. It’s all the same mad libs game, and the outcome is always the same.

Colin Firth/Hugh Grant/Matthew McConaughey runs to the airport/apartment building/twee bakery to declare his undying love for the maid/undercover journalist/baker he just met last week. The music swells, they kiss, the girl’s less attractive best friend sighs, “oh I wish architect/surgeon/astronaut Chet Wellington could fall in love with me,” and the credits roll. But what if, instead of the swelling music, it was a single piano note being played backwards, or an old-timey phonograph blowing out a single child singing, “Ring Around the Rosie?” ‘Love Actually’ would turn into an actual horror movie. The little boy chasing the little girl through the airport would take on a new interpretation. ‘Shining 2: This Time It’s British Christmas.”

RomComs are weird like that. They take a thing most people experience (falling in love) and turn it into a warped version of reality that only abides by backwards rules: where chasing someone down is considered romantic and getting the person to like you is the hardest part, not that whole spending the next 5 decades together thing. No, that part is easy (cries self to sleep).

So this week on the podcast, Jack O’Brien is joined by Cracked editor Soren Bowie and comedian and writer Jamie Loftus from ‘The Bechdel Cast’ to talk about how RomComs get almost everything wrong and when you change just one detail, they become creepy stalker thrillers.

Our next live podcast is on Saturday, January 14th at 7pm at the UCB Sunset Theatre in Los Angeles. Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark from ‘My Favorite Murder’ are back for another hour of creepy unsolved murders and even creepier solved ones. Tickets are currently SOLD OUT but more will be released throughout the week  here: https://goo.gl/5eew6F . If the show remains sold out, we will have a standby list at the door, so make sure to come early!

Footnotes:

Jamie Loftus on Twitter: https://goo.gl/5Jqr9m

The Bechdel Cast on iTunes: https://goo.gl/9FkEzU

Video: Cracked: The Only Film Genre That Gets You To Root For The Bad Guy: https://goo.gl/M3N8aW

Video: Cracked: The 9 Creepiest Things Movies Portray As Romantic: https://goo.gl/Vwt9hy

Video: Cracked: Why Romantic Comedies Are Secretly Bad For You: https://goo.gl/CeXsli

Video: ‘Love Actually’ Cue Card Scene: https://goo.gl/WVkGGy

Video: ‘Trainwreck’ Dance Scene: https://goo.gl/UtKVtQ

Article: The Oxford Philosopher: The Birth of Tragedy: https://goo.gl/wZbVmF

This episode is brought to you by Casper Mattresses (www.casper.com/cracked) and Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/cracked).

Matt Besser of improv4humans and one of the original UCB 4 joins Scott this week to talk about his off-air relationship with Scott, the new season of The UCB Show, and retiring Bjork. Then, park ranger Margery Kershaw of Pinnacles National Park stops by to warn us about a dangerous bee situation. Later, TV and radio commentator Joe “Pinions” Rudolph arrives to say what everyone else is afraid to say about pockets, Easter, and politics.

This episode is brought to you by Jeff and Some Aliens on Comedy Central, Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/CBB), and Lost in London Live (www.fathomevents.com).

In dreams within dreams, you can relive the weirdest Thanksgiving brunch over and over again. Gary’s analysis is in top form this week as he tackles everything from cotton candy ladies to biblical floods, and he impresses the pants off our guest, actor Griffin Newman of the new Amazon series The Tick.

Go to www.casper.com/dreams and use the offer code “DREAMS” for $50 off your next mattress purchase.

My name is Sarah Maher. And I’m trapped in the magical land of Foon. But I’m continuing this podcast with Chunt and Usidore.

Sarah: Sarah Maher
Chunt: Adal Rifai
Usidore: Matt Young
Can the Wizard: Arnie Niekamp
Mysterious Man: Tim Sniffen
Craig: Ryan DiGiorgi

Producers: Arnie Niekamp, Evan Jacover, Ryan DiGiorgi
Editor: Chris Rathjen
Theme Music: Andy Poland
Magic Tavern Logo: Allard Laban
Audio Assistance: Jason Knox
Production Assistance: Garrett Schultz

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

Gabourey Sidibe (Empire, Precious) and Travon met recently over a very long, fun brunch with friends. Now she’s in the Room and ready to discuss growing up with hip hop, her theory about Alexander Hamilton’s character (hint: there’s a curse word involved) and what song made her break down and cry when she saw the show. Plus, listen closely for Gabourey’s harmonizing during “Ten Duel Commandments.”

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: HAMILTON) and Zola (www.zola.com/Hamilton).

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes the audience back to Spontaneanation, recorded in front of a LIVE audience at the world-famous Largo at The Coronet! This week, Paul’s special guest is actor Steven Yeun of The Walking Dead! They chat about what day Steven would go back to relive & change, how Steven got a scar during high-school track warm ups, and Steven’s church band. Paul is then joined by Shulie Cowen, Tawny Newsome, and Chris Tallman, to improvise a story set in an Art Gallery. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

Photos by Liezl Estipona.

This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/PFT), GlassesUSA (www.glassesUSA.com/Paul), and Indochino (www.indochino.com code: PFT).

Happy New Year from The Black List Table Reads with Franklin Leonard! Please enjoy an interview with screenwriter Todd Komarnicki known for Sully, one of the best films of 2016.

Recorded live from Largo at the Coronet in Los Angeles, D’Arcy Carden (The Good Place) and Dan Levy (Lion) join Paul and Jason to discuss the 1996 John Carpenter/Kurt Russell film Escape from L.A. They’ll talk about Snake Plissken possibly being immortal, Cuervo Jones, playing basketball to save your life, surfing on a tsunami, and much more. Plus, everyone meets a real bad-ass Snake Plissken during Audience Q&A!

This episode is brought to you by Jeff and Some Aliens on Comedy Central, Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: BONKERS), Seeso (www.seeso.com code: BONKERS) and Quiznos (Download Toasty Points app use code BONKERS).

Get yourself a BB-8 “What Is Its Mission?” T-shirt or Tote Bag over at http://howdidthisgetmade.bigcartel.com

Where to Find Jason, June & Paul:

Paul is in the new Nicolas Cage film “Army of One” available on VOD.

Paul’s new comedy Filthy Preppy Teen$ is now avail on the FullScreen and you can see June and Paul in their old show NTSF:SD:SUV:: on HULU. Paul also appears on Fresh off the Boat on ABC.

June stars in Grace and Frankie on Netflix, as well as Lady Dynamite alongside with Jason.

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

SiriusXM hosts Pete Dominick (Stand Up! With Pete Dominick) and Mark Thompson (Make It Plain) join Negin to kick off 2017 by discussing the latest hullabaloo from the presidential transition and what they expect from Trump’s first 100 days in office. They also tackle the GOP’s intra-party dynamics and Trump’s inauguration performers (or lack thereof).

This episode is brought to you by Hello Fresh (www.hellofresh.com code: FAKE35).

Sklarbro Country’s celebrity gallery has gathered once again to celebrate the new year! Randy and Jason welcome special guests Dennis Rodman, Dick Vitale, Tilda Swinton, Fat Matthew McConaughey, Kris Kristofferson, both Nicholas Cages, Sam Elliott, Ken Kratz, Steven Avery, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Steven Seagal, Michael Caine, Javier Bardem, Manny Pacquiao, and many, many more to reflect on the past year and to share their plans for 2017.

This episode is sponsored by ZipRecruiter(www.ziprecruiter.com/happy).

This week Bryan learns the meaning of DSLs while Erin finally shares her new obsession with Judge Judy. Also, Paul Ryan’s at it again as the mother of the House of Representatives trying to defund Planned Parenthood, and Stefano Gabanna made some controversial statements after receiving hate on a recent Instagram post. Plus Erin’s fiancé, guest Alessandro Minoli is here to serenade us with Olivers toy song, meeting Erin, and discuss his new show Jeff & Some Aliens.

Being good with Rachel Bloom.

This episode is brought to you by Harry’s (www.harrys.com code: PARDO) and Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/never).

Each week, comedian Gilbert Gottfried and comedy writer Frank Santopadre share their admiration for lesser-known films, underappreciated TV shows and underrated performers — discussing, dissecting and (occasionally) defending their handpicked guilty pleasures and buried treasures. 

This week: Sterling Hayden! “The Story of Mankind”! Gene Hackman dodges a bullet! And Snow White serenades Gilbert!

The wonderful, warm, and witty actress Molly Shannon (Other People, HBO’s Divorce, SNL) joins Sarah and Susan to talk about “Smile” by Nat King Cole, the movies “Ponette” and “Annie,” an Emily Dickinson poem, and snowy scenes.

This episode is brought to you by Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/babies).

Actor and comedian Baron Vaughn joins Kevin and newly-returned Kamau this week to discuss Denzel’s recent film “Fences.” They chat about the best way to deal with recording snafus and swap Denzel Top Fives before diving into a discussion on the film, noting the changes from stage to screen and praising Viola Davis’s powerhouse performance. All this and more before “Fences” receives an official Denzel rating.

Special musical guest Radical Face (Ben Cooper, Josh Lee) joins Dan Lippert, Jon Gabrus, and Stephanie Allynne along with Matt Besser for this week’s improv4humans. Ben and Josh serenade the improvisers with tunes that inspire scenes about schoolkids that refuse to be buddies, the search for a time-traveling daughter, and the least badass dude in a bar. Later, a dead uncle tries to sell cars at a seance, and Stephanie has a hard time bringing her dog back to life.

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

Find Full Archive of Shortwave with GLP on Stitcher Premium

Find Full Archive of Rafflecast on Stitcher Premium

Find Full Archive of Owen & TJ on Stitcher Premium

Find Full Archive of Mike Detective on Stitcher Premium

Find Full Archive of Earwolf Challenge on Stitcher Premium

Casey and Danielle are back from hiatus and it couldn’t be soon enough what with Kenya pulling a gun on trespassers, the debut of that nasty Dorito and Mariah just…being Mariah. Plus Casey has a new years resolution involving unprescribed pills and Danielle fights the real enemy…Jiggy. It’s an extra long episode because they cover it all, except Erica Jayne’s vag, that’s still bare and beautiful.

This episode is brought to you Box of Style (www.zoereport.com/bitchsesh), The Skimm (www.theskimm.com/housewives), Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/housewives), and Texture (www.texture.com/housewives).

With 2016 behind us, we want to take a quick minute to thank you all for supporting this podcast. The Atlantic listed us at #7 in their top 50 podcasts of 2016, and we were first in GQ Magazine’s list of the 7 best new podcasts to check out. We’re very proud of the recognition and very grateful to all of you for listening, for subscribing, for telling your friends about Stranglers, and for all your comments online (even the criticisms…we read those too!). On behalf of the Stranglers production team, I want to wish you all a very happy new year & let you know that next week, Stranglers returns with the 2nd half of our season. Another week might feel like a long time to wait, so give a listen to this sneak peek of what’s in store…

Happy New Year

Dr. Harold Bornstein (Jon Gabrus), Donald Trump’s personal physician, shares fun facts about Trump’s health and fitness with Mark and Pete; his all-horse-meat diet, why he literally bleeds red, white and blue, and whether he is in fact immortal. Plus: Pete resolves to be less combative in the new year.