Daniel O’Brien

If sci-fi movies have taught you one thing about species with queen-based social hierarchies, it’s that you should always kill the queen. Same goes for insects right? Kill the queen and the ant hill or bee’s nest goes away. Sounds good, unless you’re dealing with Argentine ants, who have about 300 queens for every 1,000 worker ants. 

How do you kill them? 

You don’t.

Where do they live? Probably Argentina, right? 

Wrong, they’ve taken over just about every continent other than Antarctica. So good luck with your new insect overlords.

On this week’s podcast, Alex Schmidt is joined by Cracked’s Katie Goldin and Daniel O’Brien, as well as comedians Joey Clift, Caitlin Gill and Matt Kirshen to discuss ants, crows, cats, immortal jellyfish and 7 other species whose crazy abilities will allow them to take over the world once us humans are gone.

East Coast! The Cracked Podcast is coming to you! The Cracked Podcast will be a part of the Now Hear This podcast festival in New York, taking place September 8th-10th. For $20 off your ticket, head to NowHearThisFest.com and enter code ‘CRACKED’ at checkout.

West Coast! Pack an extra life, some elixirs and a poke ball. The next live Cracked Podcast is Saturday, August 12th at 7pm at the UCB Sunset Theatre in Los Angeles. Alex Schmidt asks Michael Swaim, Adam Ganser, Monika Scott, Mike Drucker and Brodie Reed, “what is the best video game universe to live in?” Tickets are $7 and available here: https://goo.gl/WCKg8f

Guys. Gals. Aliens. Did you miss the premiere of Cracked’s newest podcast, Cracked Movie Club? Don’t worry. There’s plenty of time to catch up. Hosts Tom Reimann and Abe Epperson feature a new director each month as they do a deep into four of the director’s films with jokes, insane behind-the-scene stories and crazy fan theories. And July is devoted to none other than Steven Spielberg.

Listen to their episode about Raiders of the Lost Ark here: https://goo.gl/ygBfW1

Listen to their episode about Jurassic Park here: https://goo.gl/FK9gV4

Listen to their episode about E.T. here: https://goo.gl/aQmqzD

And to hear the newest episode each and every Thursday, search for Cracked Movie Club in your podcast app of choice or click here to find it on Apple Podcasts: https://goo.gl/fQ2o72

Footnotes:

Caitlin Gill on Twitter: https://goo.gl/HblhwS

Katie Goldin on Twitter: https://goo.gl/GBnSWq

Matt Kirshen on Twitter: https://goo.gl/TC2tML

Joey Clift on Twitter: https://goo.gl/oXXSBe

Daniel O’Brien on Twitter: https://goo.gl/oQWtkY

Article: The Atlantic: These Dolphins Are Using Sea Sponges As Tools: https://goo.gl/Gic9E1

Article: Wired: Clever Dolphins Use Shells To Catch Fish: https://goo.gl/CBu32Q

Article: BBC: The Dolphins That Kill Each Other’s Young: https://goo.gl/GwKnDG

Article: BBC News: Ant Mega-Colony Takes Over World: https://goo.gl/JETzX

Article: Cracked: 6 Animals That Kill Nature’s Scariest Creatures For Fun: https://goo.gl/EPu58

Article: Cracked: 5 Animals That Could Take Over The World (If They Wanted To): https://goo.gl/xq0W1

Article: Cracked: 5 Animals Who Taught Themselves Eerily Human Skills: https://goo.gl/3R3zxb

Article: Cracked: The 6 Most Horrifying Abilities Animals Are Evolving: https://goo.gl/pZUW48

Article: Cracked: 29 Animals You Didn’t Realize Were Evil Geniuses: https://goo.gl/E49yS9

Article: Cracked: 5 Super-Adorable Animals That Can Kill The Hell Out Of You: https://goo.gl/wr0MWL

Video: Raccoon Tries To Eat Cotton Candy: https://goo.gl/yULLCR

Website: Daptone Records: https://goo.gl/Vn5rbB

Every morning when you wake up you (probably) do the same routine. In some order, you shower, use the toilet, shave and brush your teeth. In that respect, movie characters don’t seem to exist in the same universe as us. Typically we only see them there if something important is happening, like if someone is taking a shower at the Bates Motel or if Danny Glover needs to use the toilet in ‘Lethal Weapon 2’.

In part-three of our special mini-series ‘Looking the Part’, Soren Bowie and Daniel O’Brien break down the typical bathroom tropes we see all over pop-culture, from the different varieties of the scary shower sequence, to the strange way shaving is used to show a power imbalance. They’re joined by screenwriter Seth W. Owen to break-down how a writer implements these types of scenes and to discuss the crazy reason so many movies have a part where the hero washes his face and then takes a long, steely look in the mirror.

And if you missed the first two installments of ‘Looking the Part’, check them out by clicking the links below:

In episode 1, Soren and Daniel break down Superman’s dueling haircuts and the roles of mustaches, beards and goatees in film: https://goo.gl/hwuUvB

In episode 2, Soren and Daniel discuss scars, tattoos, costumes and the most recent two Jokers: https://goo.gl/81qZk3

This episode is sponsored by Dollar Shave Club. For a limited time, new members get their 1st month along with the Executive Razor and a tube of their Dr. Carver’s Shave Butter for ONLY $5 with FREE shipping.  That’s a $15 value for only $5 bucks! After that, razors are just a few bucks a month.  This offer is exclusively available at DollarShaveClub.com/cracked

Admit it: the Harry Potter movies would be totally different if he didn’t have a cool scar. If Harry looked like Gary Oldman in ‘Hannibal’, Hermione and Ron be afraid to talk to him and even the Dementors would think twice before getting close to him. But Harry’s scar is pencil-thin, and hides behind his hair. He’s got a good-guy scar. And characters like Heath Ledger’s Joker, Freddy Krueger and Scar? Obviously bad guys, right? ‘The Lion King’ wasn’t even trying when they named their bad guy.

Last week, in episode one of “Looking the Part,” Soren Bowie and Daniel O’Brien analyzed what filmmakers were subtly telegraphing to audiences with characters’ hair, mustaches and beards. This week the guys are joined by costume designer Jenna Wright to take a look at the skin, how scars and tattoos are used on good guys vs. bad guys, and the role costuming plays in developing a character.

This episode is sponsored by Dollar Shave Club. For a limited time, new members get their 1st month along with the Executive Razor and a tube of their Dr. Carver’s Shave Butter for ONLY $5 with FREE shipping.  That’s a $15 value for only $5 bucks! After that, razors are just a few bucks a month.  This offer is exclusively available at DollarShaveClub.com/cracked

Understatement time: movies are hard to make. Every movie from The Godfather II to Joe Dirt 2 is the result of years and years of tireless hard work from artists, craftsmen, teamsters, executives and advertisers– all working in high pressure situations with tight deadlines, huge egos and insane amounts of money at play. Like GDP of a small island nation amount of money.

Odds are behind every movie, there’s an absolutely insane story of inappropriate behavior, blatant disregard for safety regulations and famous people trying to murder each other. This week on the podcast, Alex Schmidt is joined by Cracked’s Daniel O’Brien and Tom Reimann, comedian Jamie Loftus and writer Dave Schilling (The Guardian, Bleacher Report, Vice) to cover 17 movies with absolutely batsh*t behind the scenes stories, like basically every late-period Marlon Brando movie, the screwball comedy that shot an iconic scene on 9/11 and the backstage antics that led a very famous actor to punch James Cameron in the face.

If you need some hot new threads for the summer, be sure to check out our new Cracked Podcast Merch. And for a limited time, get 20% off your order when you use the code CRACKED at checkout: https://goo.gl/2J8Nh3

Footnotes:

Article: Cracked: 6 Insane Dick Moves By Directors Behind Famous Movies: https://goo.gl/JB88mh

Article: Cracked: 6 Famous Films You Had No Idea Were Hell Behind The Scenes: https://goo.gl/KoDcf7

Article: Cracked: 6 Great Movies That Were A Disaster Behind The Scenes: https://goo.gl/aElYpy

Article: Cracked: 5 Famous Movies That Were Insane Parties Behind The Scenes: https://goo.gl/lvZLQy

Article: Cracked: 7 Insane Behind The Scenes Problems Recent Movies Dealt With: https://goo.gl/3MlTNb

Article: Cracked: 6 Classic Movies Made Possible By Reckless Endangerment: https://goo.gl/dKgBU

Article: Cracked: 5 Great Movie Scenes Made Possible By Reckless Endangerment: https://goo.gl/81V33

Article: Cracked: 12 Classic Movie Moments Made Possible By Abuse And Murder: https://goo.gl/hvav0

Video: Marlon Brando Reads Cue Cards Off A Baby in Superman: https://goo.gl/eGiezr

Video: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Clip: https://goo.gl/fYCf45

Video: Master of Disguise – Turtle Club Clip: https://goo.gl/wU2VLS

Every cheesy soap opera gives it away from the start– the dashing Dr. Iago Montana is back from the dead…with a goatee. We as the audience know: IT’S NOT HIM, IT’S HIS EVIL TWIN! SEND HIM BACK FROM WHENCE HE CAME!

Again, it’s easy to spot this from a mile away when you see it on a soap opera or a children’s cartoon. The crazy thing is, whether you know it or not, every movie and TV show uses a special shorthand to convey if a character is good, evil, happy, sad, trustworthy or complicated. And more often than not, this shorthand is baked into how a character presents themselves. You just need to know what to look for.

That’s why in our new podcast mini-series sponsored by Dollar Shave Club, Cracked senior editor Soren Bowie and head of video Daniel O’Brien will dissect how characters’ grooming habits, costumes and make-up are the biggest spoilers of all. This week on episode one, the guys will take a look at Superman’s dueling hair styles, what different types of facial hair say and what it means when a character chooses to be bald.

This episode is sponsored by Dollar Shave Club. For a limited time, new members get their 1st month along with the Executive Razor and a tube of their Dr. Carver’s Shave Butter for ONLY $5 with FREE shipping.  That’s a $15 value for only $5 bucks! After that, razors are just a few bucks a month. This offer is exclusively available at  www.dollarshaveclub.com/cracked .

Serious Talk. It’s Jack’s last episode. After 11 years at Cracked, our intrepid editor-in-chief and podcast host extraordinaire Jack O’Brien is hanging up the cleats to tackle new projects, end world hunger and find the Zodiac killer.

But that doesn’t mean this podcast is going anywhere. Jack is joined this week by NEW Cracked Podcast host Alex Schmidt as they sit down with Michael Swaim, Daniel O’Brien, Soren Bowie and Jason Pargin (aka David Wong) to reminisce over Jack’s 11 years of service, how they all landed at Cracked and their favorite Cracked Podcast topics from the first 182 episodes.

To keep up with Jack, be sure to follow him on Twitter: twitter.com/jack_obrien

To follow your new Cracked Podcast host, you can find him on Twitter: twitter.com/alexschmidty

And if you need some hot new threads for the summer, be sure to check out our new Cracked Podcast MERCH: https://goo.gl/2J8Nh3

Also, be sure to come see the next live taping of the Cracked Podcast on Saturday, June 10th at 7pm at the UCB Sunset Theater in Los Angeles. Guests inlcude Daniel O’Brien, Tom Reimann, Jamie Loftus (The Bechdel Cast) and Dave Schilling (Bleacher Report, Grantland, Vice) as the Cracked crew discusses insane behind the scenes stories from movies and tv shows. Tickets are $7 and available here: https://goo.gl/lsCBDm

Footnotes:

Video: TED: James Flynn: Why Our IQ Levels Are Higher Than Our Grandparents: https://goo.gl/MMRp4L

Video: Clip from Fractured Flickers: https://goo.gl/UPBhG2

Book: Michael Shermer: Why People Believe Weird Things: https://goo.gl/fXBHp7

Podcast: Cracked: Insane Simpsons Easter Eggs (Explained By Simpsons Writers): https://goo.gl/zhfWQb

Podcast: Cracked: More Simpsons Writer’s Room Stories (From a Simpsons Writer): https://goo.gl/7HVBM6

Book: Daniel O’Brien: How to Fight Presidents: https://goo.gl/yXfDjH

Article: Esquire: Todd Marinovich: The Man Who Never Was: https://goo.gl/C89avK

Podcast: Cracked: Why Class in America Isn’t About Income: https://goo.gl/2tliZx

Article: Siderea: Class (American): https://goo.gl/tlmX4S

Article: Slate Star Codex: Staying Classy: https://goo.gl/2eYdF6

Article: Slate Star Codex: I Can Tolerate Anything Except the Outgroup: https://goo.gl/ZrwgcS

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: CRACKED) and Harry’s (www.harrys.com/CRACKED).