Latest Episodes

July 5, 2017

Matt is back from his honeymoon to interview Steve Agee about his role as Gef the Ravager in the 2017 Marvel film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. In a I Was There Too first, Matt and Steve have a pre-interview before watching the film together. Among many great stories Steve reveals about his time on the film such as Stallone in the bridge chair, catching on fire himself, and getting beer squibbed.

July 5, 2017

The NOlympics LA working group joins Andrew to talk about NOlympics LA, organizing collectively, and much more. As always, leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

July 5, 2017

Actor, comedian, and improvisor Tim Baltz (Shrink) joins Howard and Kulap to count down the best in summah charts! We hear a special music chart of the Top 5 Howard Kremer Songs on Spotify while Tim explains the benefits of brewing your own sunscreen, and the gang talks French connections and fave Tom Petty hits during the Movie Chart. Later, Howard shows off his most patriotic item from the Summah Shrine during Two Charted.

 

This episode is sponsored by Audible’s Hold On with Eugene Mirman.

July 4, 2017

Screenwriter Dmitry Portnoy joins Matty and Jensen to talk about Saint Judy, getting up OFF subscription boxes, PG-13, southern heritage, and much more.

July 4, 2017

Gethard chats with a Soprano. As in the highest of the four singing voices in Opera, not a character from a popular HBO show. The caller speaks about troubled relationships from her past and, even more troubling, a serious childhood trauma. (Trigger warning: discussion related to childhood sexual abuse.)

This episode is brought to you by Redbox (www.redbox.com/games), Honest Tea (www.honesttea.com/podcast), Away (www.awaytravel.com/stories), Thumbtack (www.thumbtack.com).

July 4, 2017

Join Kevin as he sits down with comedy legend Carl Reiner (The Jerk, The Dick Van Dyke Show). Carl chats about his many publications, his son Rob’s goofy friend Albert Brooks, and remaining close with pal Mel Brooks.

July 4, 2017

Vine personality Wahlid Mohammad joins Emily and Deanna this week to talk about living in a post-Vine world! Wahlid gets the girls moving on Facebook stories, explains the new app “musical.ly,” and sheds some light on the fate of Vine superstars past. Plus, we hear about the hot tail from Vine and the explanation for Wahlid’s unique vanity plate.

 

 

This episode is sponsored by ThirdLove (www.thirdlove.com/htblo).

July 4, 2017

Sean and Hayes sit down with HOLLY PRAZOFF to learn about Canada and to help Kevin with something.

 

This episode is sponsored by Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/handbook) and Chapman University (www.chapman.edu/grad).

July 3, 2017

Baron Ragoon has brought his new girlfriend to the Tavern. She seems vaguely familiar. Also, Blemish is around.

Credits:
Arnie: Arnie Niekamp
Chunt: Adal Rifai
Usidore: Matt Young
Tomblain Belaroth: Steve Waltien
Baron Ragoon: Chris Rathjen
Blemish: Martin Wilson
Mysterious Man: Tim Sniffen
Craig: Ryan DiGiorgi

Producers: Arnie Niekamp, Evan Jacover, Ryan DiGiorgi
Editor: Ryan DiGiorgi
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 and Blue Apron.

July 3, 2017

For many people, filmmaking begins and ends with the director. We call it a director’s medium. It’s their vision that guides the entire production and it’s their name that gets the praise when a movie is good, and gets dragged through the mud when a movie stinks. While that’s somewhat accurate, it’s completely forgetting about the hundreds of artists, technicians, producers and craftsmen who bring equal skill to the table and without whom our favorite movies would be totally different.

Take Tim Burton, for example. His films have a “look,” right? Edward Scissorhands, Pee-Wee’s Great Adventure and Beetlejuice sort of exemplify Burton taking atomic age nostalgia and running it through the prism of Dr. Seuss on acid. Burton gets the credit for it, but all of those films (and a huge swath more) were art designed by the same guy, Rick Heinrichs. Without Heinrich’s input, who knows what those movies would look like or if any of them would be as instantly memorable as they are now.

Alex Schimdt welcomes Michael Swaim and Matt Gourley (Superego, I Was There Too, James Bonding) to talk about people like Heinrichs. Unknown artists who have had as much of a guiding hand in modern cinema as your Spielbergs, Lucases and Scorseses, but who you’ve never heard of. 

And if you’re in Los Angeles in July, make sure to come to our next live podcast taping. On Saturday July 8th at 7:00pm at the UCB Sunset Theatre, former zoo tour guide and current Cracked Podcast host Alex Schmidt will be joined by Cracked’s Daniel O’Brien and Katie Goldin as well as comedians Caitlin Gill, Joey Clift and Matt Kirshen as they discuss snakes, hippos, octopuses and every other animal that could Planet-0f-the-Apes us if they tried. Tickets are only $7 and available here: https://goo.gl/rVhzPC

Also, make sure to subscribe to our new podcast, Cracked Movie Club! Why? Because almost every movie you love is secretly insane. Join co-hosts Tom Reimann and Abe Epperson (plus special guests) for a journey through the secrets, strangeness, and fan theories behind movies you’ll never see the same way again. And every month focuses on one director’s work, building a case for exactly why Hollywood’s greatest minds are weirder than you ever thought possible.

To get the first two episodes when they premiere on July 13th, type in, “Cracked Movie Club” into wherever you get your your podcasts or subscribe here on Apple Podcasts: https://goo.gl/fQ2o72

Footnotes:

Article: Fast Company: How Ben Burtt Designed The Sounds of Star Wars: https://goo.gl/CaLwxe

Article: io9: The Most Unforgettable Creations of HR Giger: https://goo.gl/NXD7Qt

Article: Telegraph: Ken Adam: The Man Who Drew the Cold War: 

Video: Alex McDowell Lecture on Design and Storytelling: https://goo.gl/zn3f2C

Article: Wired: After Pee Wee and ‘Tonight, Tonight,’ Artist Wayne White is Reborn: https://goo.gl/Yz7mTx

Video: Roger Deakins Featurette: https://goo.gl/B3bHHa

Article/Podcast: NPR: The Story Behind the Stunts: Remembering Hal Needham: https://goo.gl/h9iHp1

Article: Vice: Meet The Most Prolific Stuntman of All Time: https://goo.gl/WRVWv1

Article: Vanity Fair: Meet the Most Powerful Woman in Hollywood: https://goo.gl/MYJjMu

Article: Playbill: The Other Chenoweth: Casting Director Gives Stage Actors Their Film Careers: https://goo.gl/Vc3cES

Video: Trailer for ‘Casting By’: https://goo.gl/jscnYK

Article: Wired: Love Classic Star Trek? You Owe A Huge Debt To Gene L. Coon: https://goo.gl/81CEY1

Video: Godley & Creme: Cry: https://goo.gl/yNcQFk

Article: New Yorker: What Kind of A Genius is Max Martin: https://goo.gl/TQj7IU

Article: Vanity Fair: John Barry: The Man Who Knew The Score: https://goo.gl/oV7cQa

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: CRACKED) and ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/CRACKED).

July 3, 2017

Gilbert and Frank welcome one of their most sought-after guests, iconic writer-producer-director Norman Lear, who holds court on a variety of subjects, including the inscrutability of Dean Martin, the politics (and Jewishness) of Edward G. Robinson, the “inventiveness” of Mickey Rooney and the heroism of the Tuskegee Airmen. Also, Norman woos Frank Sinatra, praises John Amos, presents Jerry Lewis with a one-of-a-kind gift and remembers his friend Carroll O’Connor. PLUS: James Franciscus! Roscoe Lee Browne! “Hot l Baltimore”! Norman buys the Declaration of Independence! And the legend of Joe E. Lewis.

July 3, 2017

Wake up from your slumber and listen to actress Andrea Savage as she joins Scott and intern Gino to talk about her new TV show “I’m Sorry” on this week’s Comedy Bang! Bang! You’ll also hear Morpheus, The Dream Lord stop by to warn Scott about his recent troubling dreams. Plus, entrepreneur Mary Lisa joins everyone in the dream world to beta test a new meal delivery service.

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: BANGBANG), Leesa.com (www.leesa.com code: BANGBANG) and Wag.

July 3, 2017

Paul F. Tompkins is back at it again (just like Damn Daniel) on Spontaneanation! This week, Paul’s special return guest is Nicole Silverberg of Reductress! They chat about what ingredient Nicole would remove from the world and why, repeatedly turning down a certain offer over the course of a 2nd date, and meeting her talented mustachioed boyfriend through Story Pirates. Paul is then joined by Colleen Smith, Nyima Funk, and Lilan Bowden, to improvise a story set in A Forest. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

Want to submit a location for our improv? Follow @Spontaneanation on Twitter! We’ll ask for locations before we record, and once we do you’ll have five minutes to submit your suggestion! One suggestion per recording, thanks!

New York! There are still tickets left to see Spontaneation Live at The Bell House in Brooklyn! November 12, 10pm: bit.ly/SPONTHOUSE1710PM

July 3, 2017

Entertainment reporter for The Daily Beast Ira Madison III joins Amy this week to discuss the 1987 Coen Brothers film “Raising Arizona.” They each make their case for why “Raising Arizona” should or shouldn’t enter The Canon, noting what the film says about people born “on the wrong foot,” how the Coen Brothers deliberately lean into cartoonishness, and the impressive structuring of dialogue. Does “Raising Arizona” deserve a place in The Canon? Cast your vote on the Earwolf forums now!

July 1, 2017

Have you ever been accosted by a grocery store psychic? Are you the only representative of your age demographic at the Sound of Music Sing-A-Long? Are you tired of hearing from anti-gay bakeries? Are you putting too many things in your vagina? Is Reductress, the funniest place on the internet, the only thing that makes you LOL IRL WTF AARP? If you answered yes to ALL OF THESE, this episode is for you!

June 30, 2017

Whose faster? The Flash or Superman? This question and more on this week’s mini-sode! Paul goes through Corrections and Omissions for Ninja Terminator, Paul goes through the mail bag, and the Movie Bitches review Unforgettable. Plus, you’ll find out which Van Damme film we’ll be covering next week!

This episode is brought to you by SKYN condoms (www.buycondoms.online code: BONKERS) and Hulu Plus (www.hulu.com).

Check out new HDTGM merch over at https://www.teepublic.com/user/howdidthisgetmade

Where to Find Jason, June & Paul:

Paul’s new comedy Drive Share is available on Go90. Paul can be seen on Veep. You can see June and Paul on NTSF:SD:SUV:: on HULU. June stars in Grace and Frankie on Netflix, as well as Lady Dynamite alongside with Jason.

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

 

June 30, 2017

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

June 30, 2017

Welcome to The Complete Woman audio interview series hosted by housewife Marabel May (Amanda Lund)! It’s 1965 and Marabel is here to save your marriage. This week she is joined by her mother (Matt Gourley) and little sister Georgina in her living room to do some brain teasers, look in Marabel’s costume trunk, and to hear one of Georgina’s poems. Plus, Traci Reardon stops by to offer advice in her new advice column in the newspaper.

June 30, 2017

Negin celebrates the 4th of July with special guest (and fellow Muslim) Bassem Youssef. Known as the “Jon Stewart of Egypt,” Bassem is a surgeon-turned-comedian whose satirical political show once captivated 30 million viewers a week in Egypt. Negin talks to Bassem about the new documentary about his show’s rise and eventual end due to government censorship and political pressure. Plus, they debate whether or not populism is killing political reform and ponder why people pretend they aren’t rich. 

This episode is brought to you by CozyPhones (www.cozyphones.com/FAKE).

June 29, 2017

Danielle and Casey are joined by stylist to the stars, fan favorite and critic of metallic shoes Clare Mukherjee to talk the many substance abuses of Southern Charm and the hot sweaty dry-cleaner sex of Real Housewives of New York. Plus Clare dreams of a Tinsley makeover that could change lives and lift spirits.

This episode is brought to you by Texture (www.texture.com/housewives) and Better Help (www.betterhelp.com/housewives).

June 29, 2017

Jason “Heynong Man” Mantzoukas is back to join Scott to talk about his new film The House, improvising alongside Amy Poehler and Will Ferrell, and horse rights. Then, senior class president nominee Jennifer Spot stops by to tell us about her platform and why we should vote for her. Plus, artist Jason Turley takes us through a couple of his adult coloring books that help beat the stress and heat.

June 29, 2017

Popping fresh with Andrea Savage.

This episode is brought to you by Casper (www.casper.com/PARDO).

June 29, 2017

Live from Del Close Marathon, winners of the nationwide improv4humans contest Dad Van (Rafe Williams, Eric Christensen, Ben Lyons, and Melissa Darch) join Matt Besser along with Tim Meadows, Horatio Sanz, Chad Carter, and Shaun Diston! They take audience suggestions that inspire scenes about physical homesickness, a firefighter who wants to hang back, and a 4th grader who’s paranoid about assassination. Plus, a ghost can’t take off the sheet he died in and a visit to the seashell emporium brings back painful memories.

 

This episode is sponsored by Audible (www.audible.com/IMPROV).

June 28, 2017

Cord Jefferson (The Good Place, Master of None) and Grace Parra (Grace Anatomy) return to join Andrew to talk about people saying they can’t be racist if they are dating a person of a different ethnicity, the woman in Canada demanding a white doctor in a viral video, and much more. As always, leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

June 28, 2017

Mark and Pete break down the Senate’s new health care bill with help from the bill’s authors, Tina and Tanya (Holly Prazoff and Alana Johnston). Learn why being a woman is now a pre-existing condition, and why asthma sufferers just have “a bad attitude.” Plus: Pete is helpless to stop another segment about Star Wars.

June 28, 2017

We’ve got episode 1 of Hollywood Masterclass. What is it? Do you know? Welcome friends, your journey begins here…To hear more episodes in this series, sign up for a free trial of Stitcher Premium and use promo code MASTERCLASS. You can find all the details here http://stitcherpremium.com/masterclass

June 28, 2017

Comedians and showrunners Natasha Leggero and Moshe Kasher join Howard and Kulap this week to discuss how not to be an idiot, and when to appropriate when it’s appropriate! The squad counts down iTunes’s Top 5 Rap & Hip Hop Songs while talking trashy music tastes and friendly memories of Justin Bieber. Then they pitch business ideas and useful post-apocalyptic skills during the Video Game Chart, and finally, Howard and Kulap open up gifts and dig into the undergarments of summah during Two Charted!
This episode is sponsored by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: CHARTED).

June 27, 2017

Subscribe now to Cracked Movie Club, debuting July 13th!

June 27, 2017

Join Kevin as he sits down with actor and writer Rob Corddry (Hot Tub Time Machine, Children’s Hospital). Rob chats about New Orleans ghost stories, the importance of space work, and often being confused for pal David Koechner.

June 27, 2017

Actor and writer Brian Sacca joins Jensen and Matty to talk about working with Martin Scorsese on The Wolf of Wall Street, working with Bill Murray on FCU: Fact Checkers Unit, Wrecked on TBS, Leikeli47, Budapest, GLOW, how we were late on the bullet juicer, and many more things you should know about.