Stephen’s forthcoming golf lessons prompt a discussion considering how mechanisms such as rapid feedback and failure keep us ‘on course’ in more ways than one.

In celebration of the 68th anniversary of the start of the Hollywood Blacklist, Franklin sits down to chat with John McNamara, screenwriter of Trumbo. They discuss if it was intimidating for John to write a screenplay about Dalton Trumbo, arguably one of the greatest screenwriters of all time, learning Trumbo’s voice through trial and error, and what helped guide him toward the story he wanted to tell with the film.

Matt Gourley digs back into the classic I Was There Too vault to bring out the very first episode with the King of Podcasting Paul F. Tompkins. Paul F. Tompkins joins Matt to discuss his role as Mr. Prescott in the film There Will Be Blood. Paul tells us how he got to know Paul Thomas Anderson through the Largo comedy scene and about the strange noises Daniel Day-Lewis makes in between takes. Plus, Matt talks about the people who were originally cast in There Will Be Blood in a segment called I Wasn’t There Too.

The Smartest Man in the World, Greg Proops joins Leonard this week to discuss his wide-ranging interest in movies, which he screens in front of a live audience at Cinefamily in Los Angeles. They’ll also talk about one of Greg’s personal favorites, Don Siegel’s 1973 crime thriller Charley Varrick, starring Walter Matthau.

The Shrimps take on The Traveling Pants at Pan Pacific park. Mark McConville and Sitting-In-For-Matt-Guest-Commentator Paul F. Tompkins call the action, Jensen Karp has the Sock Report.

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

Matt Gourley on Twitter and IG: @MattGourley
Mark McConville on Twitter and IG: @MarkMcConville

Chicago based singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks joins Mary Holland, John Gemberling, and Horatio Sanz for a very special musical edition of improv4humans with Matt Besser! Robbie performs songs live in-studio that will inspire scenes about marrying musicians in order to form a band, letting that special someone see what you could do to them in your mind, and a catfishing story taking place in Rocky Road Pie Town. Make sure to get the Upright Citizens Brigade television show season 3 now available on DVD, the UCB Comedy Improv Manual, and pick up Robbie Fulks’ music at www.robbiefulks.com!

Paul introduces a brand new show coming to Earwolf December 2nd: Bitch Sesh, A Real Housewives Breakdown Show! Casey Wilson and Danielle Schneider (Hotwives Of Las Vegas) couldn’t be more excited for the latest season of Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills, and they’re going to share that excitement with you in their new podcast Bitch Sesh! They’ll dish on the season’s wildest moments, answer all your burning Housewives questions, drink Housewives-branded wine, and bring on special guests like June Diane Raphael. Don’t be tardy to the party; make sure you set your DVRs for the season premiere of RHOBH Dec 1!

Our heroes meet some very familiar faces from the past…

This week, Howard and Kulap discuss how Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton can relate to Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, cover songs that come out prematurely, and what a day would look like if our hosts switched bodies! Additionally, Kulap reveals the special guests that have recently visited the set of Bajillion Dollar Properties. Then Noel Wells joins the show to talk about her role on Master of None, as well as her unique connection with Oscar Winner Tom Hanks.

Age and maturity level should go hand-in-hand, but that’s not always the case. What does it take to be ‘mature’, and what are some signs that a person is, shall we say, ‘lacking’ in that department?

Jensen & Matty are taking calls from the Bunheads once again to find out what we should get up OFF. They talk about getting up OFF Netflix, alcohol based mouthwash, ordering shrimp at restaurants, buying items items in bulk to sell back in an increased price, Snapchat, and much more.

In celebration of the 68th anniversary of the start of the Hollywood Blacklist, Franklin sits down to chat with John McNamara, screenwriter of Trumbo. They discuss if it was intimidating for John to write a screenplay about Dalton Trumbo, arguably one of the greatest screenwriters of all time, learning Trumbo’s voice through trial and error, and what helped guide him toward the story he wanted to tell with the film.

Delightful jewess Caroline Goldfarb is the mind behind the beautiful sparkle wonderland that is Official Sean Penn. Caroline joins Deanna & Emily this week to describe what Sean Penn and Lisa Frank mean to her, introduce us to thirst trapping, and break down the social media phenomenon of calling celebs “mom and dad.”

Randy and Jason welcome comedian Mark Cohen who talks about the best joke for silencing a room full of jews, life in Las Vegas, and the unique experience of having to perform on 9/11. Then, Daniel Van Kirk covers stories that include the latest trend in parenting, two men that can only fight if they’re naked, and a woman that learns the hard way that you mustn’t break into a zoo. Lastly, Michael Kissick leaves a voicemail discussing his Thanksgiving plans.

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.