Ronna and Beverly come to you live from the UCB theatre in Los Angeles with their special guests and handsome fellows Ben Feldman of Superstore and Reid Scott of Veep. They’ll discuss the alternate career path Reid’s mother wanted him to pursue, Reid playing a schmuck on Veep, Ben’s character on Superstore, how to get in contact with Woody Allen, and the one time Beverly ran into Bernie Sanders.

Photos by mixedvegetables

Welcome to Ball is Life with your hosts Ronnie Holt (Rick Glassman) and Jerry (Brent Morin)! Ronnie and Jerry talk about relationships, life, and let y’all know there is no difference between a team sport and a relationship. This week they are honored to be joined by Psychoanalyst and therapist Tom Hanks. They’ll cover topics ranging from Michael Jordan to how your love live is effected by your shortcomings in sports as they take calls in-studio. Plus, Traci Reardon stops by to help her Twitter followers with advice on cool Roller derby names, tricking your girlfriend into happiness, and more in another edition of “Help Me, Rhonda.”

From the creator of the YouTube web series The Mis-adventures of Awkward Black Girl, Issa Rae debuts a 10-part audio drama titled “FRUIT” exclusively for Howl. Listen as a professional football player named X, recounts his journey of self-discovery and sexual exploration both on and off the field. FRUIT chronicles X’s relationship with his friends, teammates and family as they impose their own perceptions of his role in an alpha-male dominated industry of professional sports. 

In Episode 2, X decides to explore switching teams. In the process, he must address his relationship with Siya.

To hear the rest of the story, told week-by-week, sign up for Howl Premium today. Use the promo code FRUIT at Howl.fm, and get your first month free.

Randy and Jason discuss a woman who included her hatred for Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler in her obituary. Comedian Hannibal Buress joins the Sklars to promote his new special, “Comedy Comisado,” which premiered on Netflix. They discuss gambling, Chicago sports teams and when to stop doing a bit on stage. The Quick Hits include basketball player Gilbert Arenas trashing Flint, MI on Instagram and a retired porn star who claims to be an athletic guru. Later, retired basketball player Bill Walton calls in to explain how to get rid of Steve Kerr.

Andrew Ti and special guest Chris Cope finish the week off by discussing the racist origin of the song Ice Cream trucks play. As always, leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

There’s another princess at the Vermilion Minotaur! And she seems pretty chatty. Maybe now we’ll get the real story on princess life.

Credits

Arnie: Arnie Niekamp
Chunt: Adal Rifai
Usidore: Matt Young
Princess Phillipa: Abby McEneny
Otok Barleyfoot: Nick Baer
Krom the Fingarian: Mark Logsdon
Flower: Brooke Breit
Bridge Troll: Padraic Connelly
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

Sponsored by: The Red Eye via The Chicago Podcast Cooperative

This week Kevin and Kamau catch up on the saga of Kevin’s TV situation, the most Denzelish moments of the Super Bowl, and the new Training Day TV show.

This week, The Black List Table Reads brings you a powerful and poignant script set in China during the Nanking Massacre. “Forever Jiaying, 1937” by Kristina Lauren Anderson, follows an American woman who moves to Shanghai to be with her husband, unaware that her world is about to be upended. Forever Jiaying stars Jessika Van, Georgina Haig, Erin Cummings, Amy Hill, Kerr Smith, Ryan McPartlin, Patrick Fabian, Chris Pang, Tom Choi, and Cooper Thornton.

James Adomian, Mary Holland and Jon Gabrus join Matt Besser for a live episode at San Francisco Sketch Fest. Their scenes include a cat whisperer who thinks he’s a cat, Mary trying to survive living in a drunken world and Guy Fieri’s intense rhetoric during a commercial shoot. Later, a senile grandpa struggles with his driver’s test and a group of strangers speak to a medium about people who are most likely alive. Sign up for Seeso.com to watch Besser’s new stand-up special “Besser Breaks the Record” and “The UCB Show,” which were filmed live in UCBLA.

Looking at the wind blow with Ellis Paul.

James may be the author of ‘The Power of No’ but actually declining invitations doesn’t come easily to him. Today we hear techniques our hosts have developed through trial and error, and learn that Stephen may secretly be a spy for the CIA.

Chris Cope and Andrew talk about people defending Bill Cosby. Make sure to leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

Join Danielle and Casey and BFF Adam Pally (Happy Endings) as they demand an all new Beverly Hills Housewives roster, the O.J. Mini series and THAT… yes THAT jumpsuit. We’re looking at you Eileen by Alene Too. Plus Adam rates the Housewives F***ability. Spoiler alert: Adam thinks Kyle’s body be bangin. 

Leonard is joined this week by his newlywed daughter Jessie! In celebration of this momentous occasion, they take a look at some of the great marriages in movies. From 1998’s Polish Wedding to 2006’s Confetti, Leonard and Jessie discuss which wedding movies you’ll absolutely adore and one you should avoid.

On this bonus episode of The Black List Table Reads, Franklin chats with Josh Singer, the writer of Oscar-nominated sensation Spotlight. They’ll discuss Josh’s beginnings in theater, writing for The West Wing, and how working on The Fifth Estate led to Spotlight.

Actress Danielle Schneider brings a Top 5 Broadway Musicals chart on this week’s episode. Kulap and Danielle convince a reluctant Howard to see “Hamilton” under certain circumstances. Everything from films in uncomfortable environments to skincare tips are discussed during the Top 5 Movies charts. Danielle talks about her podcast, “Bitch Sesh,” and her love for the Real Housewives shows. During Two Charted, Kulap shares exciting updates on “Bajillion Dollar Propertie$” and Howard pitches another brilliant invention to mankind.

A marriage; a miscarriage. A divorce; a guy who looks (and smells) like a caveman. All in this epic love story. (With an UPDATE to last year’s cliffhanger!)

To join the conversation about this episode, go to longestshortesttime.com!

How long does it take to reach to 90th percentile in a ‘glamour profession’ such as the arts or sports? Aspiring professional backgammon player Stephen pulls data from his experiences pursuing a writing career and debates professional research with James on the topic.

Chris Cope and Andrew talk about shortening your name in the workplace. Make sure to leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

The Shrimps take on the Blouses at Pan Pacific Park. Matt Gourley and Mark McConville call the action, Jensen Karp* has the Sock Report. *Something’s wrong.

The Shrimps on Twitter: @pistolshrimpsbb
The Shrimps on Instagram: thepistolshrimps

Pistol Shrimps Radio on Twitter: @ShrimpsRadio
Matt Gourley on Twitter and IG: @MattGourley
Mark McConville on Twitter and IG: @MarkMcConville

*NSYNC’s Lance Bass and producer Drew Pokorny of Dirty Pop with Lance Bass on Sirius XM join Deanna & Emily this week for a very special episode of OMFG! We’ll find out how in tune Lance and Drew are with the youth as they do their best to define “fuckboi,” “thirst trap,” “diva cup,” and much more as they go head-to-head in a “OMFG! Dirty Pop” Pop Quiz. Plus, Lance shares the official story behind the evolution of the apostrophe before *NSYNC.

Writer Lauryn Kahn joins Jensen and the newly married Matty to talk about Matty’s wedding, Lauryn originally being an assistant for Adam McKay, growing as a writer, Niki & The Dove, Happy Valley, Friday Night Tykes, Total Design Furniture, The Witness, how we’re late on Lucha Underground, sensory deprivation tanks, Amazon Prime, and many other things you should know about.

Besser gives a follow-up on his Reddit AMA where humons asked comedy-related questions and sent him their thanks. Someone serving in the military tells Besser about trying to form an improv group and listening to the greatest podcast in the world. Besser also talks about the importance of having life experience before delving into comedy. Make sure to sign up for Seeso.com to get Matt Besser’s new standup special “Besser Breaks the Record” and the new live comedy show filmed at the UCB theaters called “The UCB Show.”

Have Millennials been raised in a culture where they not only expect all media to be free, but also feel compelled to publicly complain if the content doesn’t exceed their standards? Also today, James and Stephen discuss the death of the print encyclopedia, selling books on Amazon, and why Wi-Fi on Amtrak is so slow.

Hayes and Sean are talkin’ sports this week as they dish out some hot takes about their feelings on “a very large event”. Then, they chat with Brandon Gardner about his career in advertising and he lets them peak behind the curtain a little bit.

Randy and Jason talk to The Grawlix comedy troupe members Ben Roy, Adam Cayton-Holland and Andrew Orvedahl about their new truTV show “Those Who Can’t.” Daniel Van Kirk brings a crazy story about two men who fought each other with a shovel and chainsaw. Next, the Sklars recap the Broncos’ Super Bowl win with the Denver-based troupe and how Cam Newton handled the loss. Lastly, the late Chicago Bears linebacker Doug Buffone stops by the show to answer some questions about the 30 For 30 “The ’85 Bears” episode and everyone in heaven.

Chris Cope and Andrew talk about online gaming. Make sure to leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

The lovely and talented Gillian Jacobs joins Josh this week to talk about her new Netflix show “Love,” how “Community” brought stability to her life as an actor, one of her worst auditions, and her short documentary “The Queen Of Code”.

In celebration of the release of the latest Coen brothers film Hail, Ceaser!, Devin & Amy discuss their 2000 adventure film O Brother, Where Art Though?. The movie is based on the epic poem Odyssey. It stars George Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson as 3 chain gang fugitives who escape from prison to find a treasure in the American South and have many adventures along the way. Listen as Devin & Amy get deep into one of the Coen brothers most playful and comedic films — and head to the forums on Wolfpop to cast the deciding vote!

Heynong Man! Jason Mantzoukas aka J-Dog aka Jeffrey Characterwheaties joins Scott to celebrate the 400th episode of Comedy Bang! Bang! Tune in and turn out to hear Scott & Jason discuss the status of Talkin’ ‘Tang, their love of Hamilton, and The Heynong Man Challenge. We then say “What’s Up?” to our old friend Hot Dog, champion water skiier and aspiring member of Sha Na Na. Hot Dog takes time away from his active war against surfers to hit us with a major bombshell.