Join Kevin, Samm, and Jaime live from Largo, Los Angeles as they chat with seasoned television producer Vince Gilligan. In great depth, Vince discusses writing, producing, and directing some of tv’s greatest series from The X-Files to creating Breaking Bad, and it’s spin off Better Call Saul.

When James has a marital spat, unlicensed therapist Stephen J. Dubner is at the ready to discuss the tribulations of committed adult relationships.

Hayes and Sean bust into the Teaser Freezer for a hilarious look at the “By the Sea” trailer. Then MIKE O’BRIEN turns up to dish on SNL gossip and play some clips of the best sketches that didn’t make his new comedy album.

Chunt here! Arnie’s hung over so I’m hosting the podcast this week. Usidore’s wizard-friend Can is drinking at the Vermilion Minotaur today. Maybe he’ll chat with us.

Credits

Chunt: Adal Rifai
Usidore: Matt Young
Can: Arnie Niekamp
Bungaree Chubbins: Tom Gottlieb
Craig: Ryan DiGiorgi

Producers: Arnie Niekamp, Evan Jacover, Ryan DiGiorgi
Editor: Evan Jacover
Theme Music: Andy Poland

Sponsors
Emporium Arcade Bar via The Chicago Podcast Cooperative

Wonderful filmmaker Ron Howard joins Josh this week to talk about his latest ambitious tense drama film In the Heart of the Sea, going from being an actor in The Andy Griffith Show & Happy Days to directing, taking a risk as a filmmaker with Apollo 13, and Willow. Have a Happy/Sad/Confused Thanksgiving!

In celebration of the release of Creed, Devin & Amy look back at some early Sylvester Stallone films as they pit 1976’s Rocky against 1982’s First Blood. Which Stallone film come out of this battle victorious? The rags to riches American dream story of Rocky Balboa or the story of John Rambo, a troubled and misunderstood veteran who must rely on his survival skills to fight for his life. Tune into hear Devin & Amy discuss the fascinating history of Stallone — and head to the forums on Wolfpop to cast the deciding vote!

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes everyone back in three different tones to SPONTANEANATION! This week, Paul’s special guest is Natalie Morales of Parks and Recreation and The Grinder! They chat about their thoughts on conspiracy theories, Donald Trump as “decoy,” and the ins and outs of jury duty. Paul is then joined by Bob Dassie, Rich Talarico, and Craig Cackowski of the improv collective Dasariski to improvise a story set at the Moon Landing Taping, 1969. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

THE NEXT SPONTANEANATION LIVE HAPPENS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5th, FEATURING IMPROVISERS HAL LUBLIN, ANNIE SAVAGE AND JANET VARNEY, WITH SPECIAL GUEST RON FUNCHES! HURRY! IT’S ALMOST SOLD OUT!

ALL PROCEEDS FOR THIS SHOW WILL GO TO CHARITY. 

TICKETS

This year we give thanks to the songwriting titans and fan favorites Neko Case and John Lennon as they return on this week’s Comedy Bang! Bang! Neko tells us all about her new box set “Truckdriver, Gladiator, Mule,” John explains his unfortunate past with Black Friday, and both Neko & John sing a special rendition of “Santa Baby.” Then, friend of the show Mookie Blaiklock stops by to talk about his new web series Please Slate Your Name when suddenly an unseeable force takes over his body.

Going back all the way to our very first episode, one of the topics that we’ve discussed most on this podcast is the Flynn Effect: the inevitability that each generation will be smarter than the last. We’re smarter than a generation of people from the early 1900s and the future-people of the 2100s who ride driver-less cars and get wi-fi implanted into their eyelids will laugh at how dumb we are.

Knowing this, the Flynn Effect would actually make time travel a bit more problematic than you thought. If you travel to the past, like Marty in ‘Back to the Future III’, in all likelihood you’d probably be burned as a witch or drawn and quartered for insisting the Earth traveled around the sun. If you go to the future, you’d be considered slow and thick-witted, that’s if the people could understand you at all. You’d be Fry.

Recorded live at the UCB Sunset theatre in Hollywood, Jack O’Brien is joined by Cracked’s Dan O’Brien and Soren Bowie to analyze the horrifying intricacies of ‘Back to the Future’, and then move onto why time travel as a whole is probably not a good idea.

You asked for it and it’s happening, next week we’re going deep into the net with one of the most important computer films of all time, Hackers. This week Paul goes through Corrections and Omissions for Lifeforce, is joined by Jason to talk about whether or not Nic Cage would make Lifeforce better, and recommends a great Twitter feed & app during Scheer’s Picks. Plus, Paul and Jason help HDTGM listeners with their problems and answer their Qs in a special segment called Help Us HDTGM!

Los Angeles: Grab your tickets now for How Did This Get Made? LIVE from Largo at the Coronet on January 23rd, 2 shows (8pm and 10:30pm)! Go to www.largo-la.com for tickets!

People of the internet: The League is back on FXX 10pm on Wednesdays! A while ago, Paul and Rob Huebel did a comedy special on a 60 foot glass bus that traveled around LA and now you’ll be able to see it. Go to https://itun.es/us/3M4J9 now to buy it! You can also see Jason in Sleeping With Other People in a theater near you!

The Hotwives (Casey Wilson, Danielle Schneider, Andrea Savage, Dannah Phirman, Tymberlee Hill, Angela Kinsey, Erinn Hayes) are back and this time they are in Vegas baby! Watch The Hotwives of Las Vegas on Hulu today!

Also, check out June in Grace and Frankie available on Netflix, Paul in Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp on Netflix, all the episodes of NTSF:SD:SUV:: on HULU for free, ScheeRL on YouTube here:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbNGyZuMGBm0cq73JN-QhcpQNc-Shtlb7, and Jason in The Dictator (he’s still in it!).

New and old Book Club friends Robert Baker, Amanda Walsh, Dana Wickens, and Melissa Stetten join Nate this week for a special Holiday themed Book Club episode of Reading Aloud! This week they’re celebrating Halloween (because it’s such a good Holiday) as they dive deep into “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson. Get a head start on the next book “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel and send in your thoughts on the book at readingaloudpodcast@gmail.com.

Randy and Jason discuss a pro football player that picks a fight with a police dog and a race car driver who’s the master of downplaying all serious situations. Then, the Sklars welcome Joel Stein who talks about growing up a sports fan in New Jersey, life as a journalist, and his self improvement podcast Man Made. Additionally, the gang talks about why rich people might have some entitlement issues, the mystery of 600 bobble heads, and Texas A&M’s most recent lawsuit. Lastly, Manny Pacquiao calls in to discuss his interest in fighting Holly Holm.

Hello! Welcome back to The Wishing Well with your host Skee-Lo (Shaun Diston)! 90’s rapper Skee-Lo has been making wishes for a real long time and has yet to have any of his wishes granted from his famed 1995 song “I Wish.” This week Skee-Lo is joined by special guest Frank Dorito, the Guinness World Record holder for Most Wishes Granted. They’ll review Skee-Lo’s wishes including his prized wish for a rabbit in a hat with a bat, discuss several tactics on how to get a wish granted, and give us the real scoop on genies. Later, Traci Reardon arrives to help her Twitter followers with advice on making a decision between two wishes and more in another edition of “Help Me, Rhonda.”

Ronna and Beverly welcome Jessica St. Clair of Playing House. Jessica talks about how to master discount shopping, the specifics of female hygiene, and which actors have less than adequate dongs. Also, Ronna and Bev talk about the tragedy in Paris, as well as the dangers of misplaced anger.

Andrew Ti and special guest Joshua Walker finish the week off by discussing the American Spirit logo with a Native American on it. As always, leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

Jared Frieder, screenwriter of Three Months, joins Franklin this week to chat about how Three Months came to be, choosing comedy as a vehicle for a personal story, and why it’s important for writers to be constantly creating from a personal space.

Welcome to Season 2 of the new and improved The Black List Table Reads with Franklin Leonard. Expect a full earmovie in its entirety with superb sound design. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house during our recording of Jared Frieder’s moving dark comedy, Three Months: the story of a queer Miami teen who gets exposed to HIV, and must wait for his diagnosis. Three Months won the Austin Film Festival Best Comedy Screenplay award in 2014, and for good reason! Our presentation stars Mindy Sterling, Ritesh Rajan, Jee Young Han, Philip Casnoff, Kofi Siriboe, Gerald Downey, Frances Fisher, Obba Babatunde, Christopher Cousins, Jared Frieder, and Cooper Thornton.

One of the greatest directors in the history of cinema, Spike Lee joins Kamau and Kevin this week to talk about Denzel Washington, the Greatest Actor of All Time Period. Spike tells us about his Top 5 Denzel Movies that he didn’t direct, how Denzel channeled the spirit of Malcolm X by preparing for the role for over a year, future NBA hall of famer Ray Allen getting caught by surprise when Denzel went off script during their one-on-one basketball game in He Got Game because Denzel wanted to score a basket, and Denzel himself asking him to direct one of 10 August Wilson plays being produced by HBO. Plus, Spike gives us the scoop on his latest film Chi-Raq, a satire set in Chicago about the gang violence prevalent in some neighborhoods on the city’s south side.

In this bonus Crybabies, Sarah Thyre brings you a special presentation of her new Howl show with Rachel Lichtman, Something Cool. The fancy lady from Chickasaw County, Bobbie Gentry rose to fame with her most memorable hit song, “Ode To Billie Joe.” In a male-dominated era of singers and songwriters, Bobbie Gentry was a standout: an early feminist icon and independent success who earned the respect and collaboration of her contemporaries with her unique Southern charm and significant catalog, most of which was written and produced by Gentry herself. Through exclusive interviews, vintage clips, and a gorgeous soundtrack; this episode celebrates Gentry’s immeasurable influence and brilliant artistry.

Marking your territory with Al Jackson.

Singer-songwriter John Grant joins Scott to preview new songs off of his new record “Grey Tickles, Black Pressure” on today’s B-B-B-ONUS Comedy Bang Bang! We also meet Tom Jimson, the man who has the record for the most multiple personalities of all time ranging from old prospector to a giant Miyazaki baby. Plus, Scott’s cousin Delna stops by in hopes of getting advice on how to turn her bad life around.

It’s a two-team spectacle as Lauren Lapkus, Erin Whitehead, and Stephanie Allynne of Wild Horses and Dan Lippert, Ryan Rosenberg, Drew Tarver, and Jon Mackey of Big Grande join Matt Besser for a LIVE improv4humans from the UCB’s Sunset theater in Hollywood California! They’ll explore what it would be like if home invaders entered a home of an old college buddy, being finalists at the Laundry Olympics, and Halloween was every day in October as they Crap on YouTube. Plus, musical guest Ivan Ives performs “California” which inspires a scene about adjusting to the chill California lifestyle. Make sure to get the Upright Citizens Brigade television show season 3 now available on DVD, the UCB Comedy Improv Manual, Matt Besser’s new comedy album at mattbesser.com, and Dragoon’s new album at dragoongalaxy.bandcamp.com!

The Sklar Brothers present an exclusive clip from their Howl series Finding The Funny!

With the holiday season approaching, James and Stephen give their personal secrets to going on vacation with children.

Joshua Walker and Andrew talk about if the NFL is racist. Don’t forget to keep leaving us messages by calling (323) 389-RACE.

We’ve been getting so many emails lately, I decided to do an all letters episode. Letters night!

Credits

Arnie: Arnie Niekamp
Chunt: Adal Rifai
Usidore: Matt Young
Tannakin: Sarah Fineout
Spants: Meridith Stepien
Glenn Miller: Nick Gage
Mysterious Man: Tim Sniffen
Craig: Ryan DiGiorgi

Producers: Arnie Niekamp, Evan Jacover, Ryan DiGiorgi
Editor: Ryan DiGiorgi
Theme Music: Andy Poland
Episode art provided by…we don’t know, we don’t remember, sorry… Did you draw this? Let us know!

Sponsors
Basecamp via The Chicago Podcast Cooperative
Utter Nonsense

Our heroes have traveled far and wide and it has lead them to a battle on the beach against fish robots. They’ll crank up the Chuck Mangione and make these fish wish they never came out of the ocean.

You know him and you love him from Freaks and Greeks, Inglourious Basterds, and his notoriously celebrated appearances on Doug Loves Movies, Samm Levine joins Leonard this week to discuss his lifelong love of movies and one of his particular favorites, James L. Brooks’ Broadcast News.

Joshua Walker and Andrew talk about a caller’s question regarding a White man who is using being a quarter Native American to say that they are also oppressed. Be sure to keep leaving us messages at (323) 389-RACE.

James Altucher, Stand-Up Comic? Stephen J. Dubner, Screenwriter? Let’s have a listen to what new endeavors our hosts are pursuing when not podcasting.