Golden Globe winning actress Rachel Bloom of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend joins Scott and this week’s co-host Ming to talk about Rachel’s time studying Shakespeare at The Royal Academy of the Dramatic Arts, what brought her to the good ol’ USA after growing up across the pond, and the dream method she uses to prepare herself while shooting Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Then, chief inspector Yoplait arrives to tell us about his private detective business in which he poses as young children online. Later, Gummy Bright Candy owner Peter Finn returns to talk about his new line of Valentine’s Day candy and the continued search for his wife.

On February 21st in Houston, our good friend Harris Wittels will be named the 2017 distinguished alumnus for the HSPVA (The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts). Earwolf co-founder Jeff Ullrich will match any donations made for the school up to $5000 (put Jeff Match when donating online). For more info go to www.harristribute.com

This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/CBB) and ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/cbb).

Before Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) can begin discussing her love of Hamilton, the superfan tables are turned: Travon gushes about his favorite songs from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, the musical TV series that Bloom created and stars in. Next, they discuss artistic inspiration, her lifelong love of musicals, and why “Say No To This” would fit so well in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Plus, why she’s a Hamilton all the way.

This episode is brought to you by Zola (www.zola.com/HAMILTON) and MVMT Watches (www.mvmtwatches.com/HAMILTON).

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes himself to welcoming you back to Spontaneanation! This week, Paul’s special return guest is stand-up comedian Cameron Esposito of Take My Wife and Put Your Hands Together! They chat about what happens if the Supreme Court gets rid of Roe v. Wade, dog x-rays, and figuring out a group address to replace “guys.” Paul is then joined by Jeremy Carter, Colleen Smith and Gary Anthony Williams, to improvise a story set in A Family-Owned Bagel Shop. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

This episode is brought to you by MVMT Watches (www.mvmtwatches.com/PFT), Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/PFT), and Indochino (www.indochino.com code: PFT).

Negin is on the road out West, but Fake the Nation rests for no one! Leah Bonnema (VH1) and Benari Poulten (Garbage Time With Katie Nolan) get on the horn to discuss the sensitive, traumatizing first days of Trump’s presidency. Hint: it’s all a bit too Orwellian for comfort. Plus, women Trump voters at inauguration share why they’re optimistic about their new president.

This episode is brought to you by DecodeDC and Berries.com (www.berries.com code: FAKETHENATION).

Actress Kaitlin Olsen joins Randy and Jason this week to talk about getting cast in FOX’s “The Mick,” dealing with a household full of boys, and appearing on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Plus, Kaitlin shares her top bits from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and the Sklars give Ozzie Guillen a call to get his take on the recent Hall of Fame announcements.

This episode is sponsored by ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/happy).

Actress Ana Ortiz joins Ronna & Beverly to chat about acts of kindness at the Women’s March, keeping your cool, and much more. Plus, the girls share a clip from their appearance at the Planned Parenthood benefit.

This episode is sponsored by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: SHALOM) and Keepsake (www.keepsake.us/shalom).

Danielle and Casey are live at Largo with special guests Leslie Grossman (who brings us up to speed on Vanderpump and is not embarrassed to be watching Summer House) and Matt Besser (who brings us up to speed on his and Danielle’s daughter Syd). As usual Casey and Danielle close with a musical number that IS about Tom.

This episode is brought to you by Home Chef (www.homechef.com/bs).

This week Bryan and Erin share about their time at the Women’s March and the disaster of a human that is Kellyanne Conway. Also, a post election poll shows that Republican men believe women have it better in America right now, and House Bill 133 in Wyoming would allow discrimination under religious freedom against LGBTQ people. Plus, guests Caitlin Barlow and Katie O’Brien from the TV Land show “Teachers” are here to discuss Kris Jenners influence, their improve group “the Katydids”, and writing polar opposite characters from themselves.

The humons have voted, and here are your favorite scenes of 2016. These performances feature James Adomian, Mary Holland, Jon Gabrus, John Gemberling, Gil Ozeri, Anthony Atamanuik, Neil Casey, Pam Murphy, Ian Roberts, Sean Clements, Jessica McKenna, Zach Reino, Nicole Parker, Paul Rust, Andy Daly, Bob Dassie, Mookie Blaiklock, Seth Morris, Horatio Sanz, Shaun Diston, Adam Pally, Lauren Lapkus, Erin Whitehead, Stephanie Allynne, and Danielle Schneider.

This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/improv) and Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: IMPROV).

This week: The REAL Fifth Beatle! Gilbert “salutes” Leon Russell! Jerry Lewis’ “Space Oddity”! And the magnificent talents of Marni Nixon!

Hitting the post with Rich Sommer.

This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/NEVER) and ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/happy).

Earwolf producer Dana Wickens sits in with Kevin this week for discussions on the Academy Award nominations and Denzel’s theatrical debut, “Carbon Copy.” They review what aged well and what didn’t, and Kevin explains why he couldn’t finish the film.

Bill Browder used to be Russia’s largest foreign investor. Then, in 2005, he was blacklisted by the Russian government and kicked out of the country. Now he’s one of Vladimir Putin’s most outspoken critics. He joins Katie and Brian to explain what went wrong, including how his own lawyer ended up dead in a Russian prison. Plus, Browder unpacks the perils and opportunities of a closer U.S. relationship with Russia and offers a chilling assessment of Putin.

This episode is sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts, Toyota, Princess Cruise Lines (www.princess.com/katie), and Crane & Canopy (www.craneandcanopy.com/katie).

When you give birth by cesarean, doctors are required to warn you of the risks. But not so with vaginal delivery. Hillary interviews Kiera Butler about her recent article in Mother Jones on the risks of vaginal birth and why we should be talking about them more. To join the conversation go to longestshortesttime.com!

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace, Thirdlove, Yogi Teas, 1-800 Flowers and Tweed Wolf.

To hear more episodes from Hello from the Magic Tavern presents: Offices and Bosses. Go Howl.fm/magic and use promo code MAGIC at checkout to receive 1-month of our premium service for free!

In episode 1, The game of Offices & Bosses begins! Metamore plays Office Manager guiding Arnie, Usidore, Chunt and Flower on an adventure to attain the Q4 numbers. 

Cast includes: 

Arnie, aka Orlando Bloom: Arnie Niekamp https://twitter.com/misterarnie

Chunt, aka Dan Smith: Adal Rifai https://twitter.com/adalrifai

Usidore, aka John Bastion: Matt Young https://twitter.com/morepeoplehappy

Metamore: Bill Arnett https://twitter.com/btarnett

Flower, aka Gail Davidson-Durst: Brooke Breit https://twitter.com/brookebreit

Charles Schmutz: Scott Kurtz https://twitter.com/pvponline

Oodles of Doodles Players: Angela Kurtz, Cory Casoni, Steve Hamaker

Mysterious Man: Tim Sniffen https://twitter.com/MisterSniffen

Producers: Arnie Niekamp, Ryan DiGiorgi, Evan Jacover

Editor: Ryan DiGiorgi https://twitter.com/rdigiorgi

Theme Music: Andy Poland https://twitter.com/crabbydad

Magic Tavern Logo: Allard Laban https://twitter.com/rdigiorgi

Production Assistance: Garrett Schultz https://twitter.com/Garrettanite

Albert Desalvo said he committed all the Strangler murders, but he would never be tried for those crimes. Instead, he would stand trial for his crimes as the Green Man. DeSalvo’s wily lawyer, F. Lee Bailey, used DeSalvo’s violent history and his reputation as the Boston Strangler to assert that his client was not guilty by reason of legal insanity. In this episode, we’ll follow the prosecution and defense as they attempt to sway the jury, and we’ll hear chilling trial excerpts. We’ll also learn how one popular ’50s television sitcom may have given Albert DeSalvo the rationale he needed to invade the homes of hundreds—perhaps thousands—of women.   

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: STRANGLERS), Casper Mattresses (www.casper.com/STRANGLERS), Audible (www.audible.com/stranglers), Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/stranglers), and Investigation Discovery.

Katherine Spiers (La Weekly Food Editor and Smart Mouth podcast host) joins Andrew to talk about the Women’s March, Richard Spencer getting punched, and much more. As always, leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

On this episode of HARD NATION, Mark and Pete interview First Daughter / First Lady Ivanka Trump (Jen D’Angelo) post-her father’s inauguration. We hear more about Ivanka’s clothing line, her husband Jared Kushner’s true racial identity and what’s hidden under her clothes. Is this interview real?! Or is there just some “funky poison” in the air…

This episode is brought to you by the DecodeDC podcast.

Comedian Brandon Wardell (Hot Takes) joins Howard and Kulap this week to offer a glimpse into the Snapchatosphere. They count down iTunes’ Top 5 Hip Hop Songs while examining Drake’s musical strategies and Brandon tells the story of aux-DJing with John Mayer before the gang debates the new “lit” during the Movie Chart. Stard helps pitch new protest signs during Two Charted, and the Head Coach Style Showdown brings the heat before Howard explains the best way to bug out.

This episode is sponsored by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: CHARTED) and Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/whocharted).

Kevin hosts his FAVORITE two improvisers in the greater Los Angeles area for this first “Live From Earwolf” version of the Chat Show. TOO much fun is the promise, as well as more to come!

This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/chat).

Addicted to heroin for ten years, this week’s caller got clean because she wanted to be a good mother to her new son. She tells Chris about how she started using when a high school boyfriend introduced her to pills. Eventually she was living in her car and spending time in jail, where she networked with other addicts and dealers. She hopes that by speaking with Chris she can help those who may be dealing with addiction themselves or have friends or family who need help by making clear that they are not alone. If you’re looking for a place to get help, some have found na.org and aa.org to be helpful.

This episode is brought to you by Mailchimp (www.mailchimp.com), Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: CG), and Talkspace (www.talkspace.com/BEAUTIFUL).

Kevin T. Porter (Gilmore Guys) joins Jensen and Matty to talk about his podcast Gilmore Guys now covering Bunheads, Camp Lo’s “On The Way Uptown,” Instax film, R&B group King, The Truth Podcast, how we were late on The Good Place, and many more things you should know about.

This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/getuponthis).

Actor, writer, and improviser Katy Colloton is a member of The Katydids, a six member ensemble whose names all happen to be derived from Katherine. Katy joins Deanna and Emily this week to talk about how performing improv with The Katydids for fun lead to creating a Teachers web-series together and ultimately lead to them landing a TV show for TV Land. Plus, we’ll find out if portraying a teacher who works with kids will help her in a OMFG! Quiz!

Sean and JON GABRUS help Hayes resolve an issue that has arisen from last week’s episode.

This episode is sponsored by The Harold Ramis Film School, ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/first), and Harry’s (www.harrys.com code: HANDBOOK).

Paul F. Tompkins welcomes back the East Coast and it’s representatives to Spontaneanation, recorded in front of a LIVE audience at The Bell House in Brooklyn! This week, Paul’s special return guest is singer/actor/writer/director Nathan Lee Graham! They chat about which song was playing when Nathan lost his virginity, performing at a petting zoo, and Nathan’s “Harriet Tubman Tour” of Germany with “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Paul is then joined by Chelsea Clarke, Shannon O’Neill, and Gary Richardson, to improvise a story set at The Bell House. And as always, Eban (only the best) Schletter scores it all on piano!

Testing out mobile recording for the show. Let’s… get out of the tavern…

Credits
Arnie: Arnie Niekamp
Chunt: Adal Rifai
Usidore: Matt Young
Clacks/Clax: TJ Jagodowski
Ooze: Paul Grondy
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
Audio Assistance: Jason Knox
Production Assistance: Garrett Schultz

This episode is brought to you by Death’s Mistress by Terry Goodkind and ZipRecruiter (www.ziprecruiter.com/first).

Remember when you made fun of that kid in grade school for wetting the bed? You probably shouldn’t have done that. I would apologize, change your name or leave the country. The reason is, psychologists suggest something called the Macdonald triangle, that there are three main characteristics of people who grow up to become killers: arson, cruelty to animals and bed-wetting. If you’ve got two or more, (in Jeff Foxworthy’s voice) chances are you might be a serial killer.

So, for another round of creepy solved and unsolved murders, we’ve invited back to the podcast America’s foremost experts on the subject, Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark from ‘My Favorite Murder’. They join Jack O’Brien and Daniel O’Brien to talk about Daniel’s two hometown serial killers with a strange connection, two district attorneys who suffered mysterious ends, the unsolved murder of three girl scouts, and the murderer who buried his “kill kits” in the woods.

Footnotes :

My Favorite Murder: https://goo.gl/gpaZN8

Article: Cracked: The 5 Most Terrifying Serial Killers You’ve Never Heard Of: https://goo.gl/wh6B2U

Murderpedia: Richard Biegenwald, “The Thrill Killer “: https://goo.gl/2yq6l2

Murderpedia: Robert Zarinsky: https://goo.gl/sM521t

Documentary: Netflix: ” Amanda Knox ” : https://goo.gl/y4LTOa

Article: New York Times: For Letterman Stalker, Mental Illness Was Family Curse and Scarring Legacy: https://goo.gl/tw4GQ6

Article: Washington Post: A Decade Later, Prosecutor Luna’s Death Still a Mystery: https://goo.gl/ydFmNI

Article: CNN: What Happened to Ray Gricar?: https://goo.gl/Jd3Qqy

Book: Gloyd McCoy: Tent Number Eight: https://goo.gl/wKUgTZ

Murderpedia: Israel Keyes: https://goo.gl/3t6NPG

Documentary: HBO: There’s Something Wrong With Aunt Diane: https://goo.gl/2rjXqJ

Article: ABC News: Murder of Jasmine Fiore by Ryan Jenkins: https://goo.gl/rc0YyT

Article: Today Costa Rica: Costa Rica Re-Opens Serial Killer Case): https://goo.gl/iD2b0U

Gilbert and Frank pay loving tribute to some of the outstanding talents who passed away in 2016, including Robert Vaughn, George Kennedy, Carrie Fisher, Patty Duke and Garry Shandling. Also in this episode: Carol Brady pitches Cheerios, Garry Marshall defends Wayne Newton, William Schallert tangles with Tribbles and Steve Allen presents Guido Panzini. PLUS: The Godfather of Gore! The Slow Talkers of America! Jack Riley’s doomsday cult! Gilbert hangs with Lois Lane! And we bid farewell to the Green Hornet (and Cato). 

Gary makes a devil’s bargain with guest Wyatt Cenac to keep Chris from discovering his terrible secret. In the meantime, the dreams keep flowing: a salty dive off a waterfall, Jimmy Buffett’s parenting skills, and a McDonalds ball-pit… of death!

Go to www.casper.com/dreams and use the offer code “DREAMS” for $50 off your next mattress purchase.