Scott and Paul F. Tompkins continue counting down The Best of Comedy Bang! Bang! 2016 episodes as they go through numbers seven through four on the count down as well as number two on the Best CBB Live episode of 2016 as voted by YOU. You’re welcome!

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: BANGBANG), Blue Apron (www.blueapron.com/CBB), and Leesa.com (www.leesa.com/BANGBANG).

Former NBC CEO Bob Wright lost his wife, Suzanne, to pancreatic cancer earlier this year, and on this episode, he wants to know why so little progress has been made in the last 50 years against a disease with such a high mortality rate.

The 2nd ANNUAL HOWDIES with Paul, June, and Jason continue with awards given to Best Guest One Liner, Best Explanation Hope, Best 2nd Opinion, and much more. Tune in to find who will take home the gold!

This episode is brought to you by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: BONKERS), Quiznos (download app Toasty Points and use code: BONKERS), Sonos, and Casper Mattresses (www.casper.com/how).

If variety is the spice of life, today’s Christmas grab bag episode is zesty af. Negin shares a newsy dispatch from under parents’ roof in Palm Springs before talking with Seema Iyer (The Bollywood Lawyer) and Charlie Pickering (The Weekly) about why really obnoxious people sometimes become super successful. Next up: comedian Becky Donohue explains her love of all things delivery. Finally, Sarah Pappalardo (Reductress) and Frank Conniff (Mystery Science Theater 3000) ponder the value of not being in the moment.

This week, Randy and Jason welcome “Supernatural” guests Rob Benedict and Richard Speight Jr. out to the rollicking Country hills. They chat about everything from the perks of commercial work to Rob and Richard’s mini-series “Kings of Con,” and the boys swap stories of following the convention circuits. During Quick Hits, we hear about Hulk Hogan’s porch pirates and the controversy embroiling the World Pole Dancing Championships, and finally, the Sklars welcome Ozzie Guillen on to share some of his Christmas memories.

A special episode of the Handsome Rambler. Hannibal and Tony Trimm talk with Chance the Rapper just a couple hours before he releases “Merry Christmas Lil Mama”

This week Bryan recalls being the team whistler for the Harlem Globetrotters while Erin shares her recent attempt at a hike up Runyon with Oliver. Also One Million Moms is at it again and they are pissed about Highlights Magazine featuring same sex families, and male dominated Christmas movies have been prominent for way longer than necessary but with the Bechdel test you can find something less male-centric this holiday season! Happy Holidays HoneyBunz!

Each week, comedian Gilbert Gottfried and comedy writer Frank Santopadre share their admiration for lesser-known films, underappreciated TV shows and criminally underrated performers — discussing, dissecting and (occasionally) defending their handpicked guilty pleasures and buried treasures.

This week: Boris Karloff’s ‘busy season’! In praise of Chuck Jones! Gilbert takes over the Tiki Room! And the astonishing talents of Thurl Ravenscroft!

Bestselling author Jennifer Weiner (Hungry Heart, The Littlest Bigfoot) joins Sarah and Susan to talk about  Spock’s death in Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan, the funeral scene from “A Prayer for Owen Meany”, and “I Go Back to May 1937” by Sharon Olds.

This episode is brought to you by Third Love (www.thirdlove.com/babies).

On this episode of Handsome Rambler me and Al Jackson talk with comedy legend Franklin Ajaye about a mystical time called the 1970s. He tells us a couple Richard Pryor stories. He also explains why he moved to Australia from America years ago. We didn’t ask him how many bags he checked during the move. That’s a huge regret of mine. He’s a single man in his 60s and we try to get him to use Tinder and he doesn’t want to do it. He’s great at talking so we let him do most of it. Enjoy!

This episode is brought to you by Lyft (promo code: HANDSOMERAMBLER), Seeso (www.seeso.com code: RAMBLER), and Naturebox (www.naturebox.com/RAMBLER).

Go inside one of the most talked-about new entrants in podcasting with Hernan Lopez, a cable television veteran who founded Wondery at the start of the year. He joins the Wolf Den to discuss that transition from video to audio with hosts Chris Bannon and Lex Friedman. In fact, Hernan draws parallels between the early days of cable and podcasting, especially with regard to educating ad buyers. He explains why he started Wondery as a full-service network, and why they focused on fiction shows–including one musical–for their first full productions, reflecting on what TV’s transition to character-driven serials means for podcasting. Hernan also shares keen advice for podcasters while assessing the landscape for independent producers in 2017.

Listen to “The Gift of Listening” here: Smarturl.it/giftoflistening

This episode is brought to you by Podcast Movement (www.podcastmovement.com code: WOLF)

Bonus Holiday Potpourri Episode! The ladies do a Holiday wine tasting so you don’t show up to parties empty handed or with Whispering Angel! Casey provides musings on Mariah’s World, The Ladies of London and the return of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Danielle drops a professionally mastered and remixed version of the soon to be holiday classic “Christmas in the Berkshires: I Made it Nice.” Happy Holidays! See you January 4th! Thanks to all our fans for a great year! To 2017!

This episode is brought to you by Kopari (www.koparibeauty.com/housewives), Box of Style (www.zoereport.com/bitchsesh code: BITCHSESH), Lyft (www.lyft.com/housewives), Mack Weldon (www.mackweldon.com code: HOUSEWIVES).

Merry Christmas from The Black List Table Reads with Franklin Leonard! Please enjoy an interview with screenwriter Eric Heisserer known for Arrival, one of the best films of 2016.

The Best of Comedy Bang! Bang! 2016 count down continues as Scott and Paul F. Tompkins go through numbers eleven through eight on the count down as well as number three on the Best CBB Live episodes of 2016 as voted by YOU. Plus, a special Christmas surprise for all you precious listeners!

This episode is brought to you by HUAWEI (www.huawei.fit/comedybangbang) and Leesa.com (www.leesa.com/BANGBANG).

Moving in with Lauren Ash.

Ian Roberts, John Gemberling, and Gil Ozeri join Matt Besser live at UCB Sunset for this week’s improv4humans. Audience questions inspire scenes about fine bathroom art, a greeting card writers’ room, and the world’s leading sexual engineer. Later, they open the very first private McDonalds, and a feudal lord roleplays as one of his filthy peasants.

This episode is sponsored by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com/improv).

Film critic Amy Nicholson joins Kevin this week to discuss the 2012 film “Flight.” Amy and Kevin recount their very first meeting and analyze Denzel’s movie star status before Amy gives a pre-review of “Fences.” During their conversation on “Flight,” they touch on Denzel’s chemistry with Don Cheadle and share favorite scenes before giving it an official Denzel rating.

This episode is brought to you by Sock Club (www.sockclub.com code: DENZEL).

To listen to the entire premium series go to Howl.fm and use promo code REACH at check out. THE OUTER REACH: Stories from Beyond, is an anthology series inspired by pulp science fiction of the mid-century. In this distant future, space travel is common and colonies span hundreds of different planets – but humans still struggle with the small stuff: love, jealousy, ambition, failure and what it all means. In episode 1, Near the edge of the galaxy  on a tiny tourist planet, lush with exotic plant life two caretakers prepare to meet their final visitor.

Celebrate the true holiday of the season, The Wookiee Life Day with Matt and special guest and professional camera man Larry Heider who has worked on countless TV projects including the infamous and wonderful Star Wars Holiday Special from 1978. Join them as they discuss how this special came to be including what Larry observed behind the scenes and all the great photos he took along the way. Plus, one more special visit from Starship 1, the mysterious real person that did audition for Star Wars: Episode 8.

All photos are property of Larry Heider and may not be used without written consent. All rights reserved

In 1963 and 1964, several more Strangler murders drive the city of Boston and the state of Massachusetts to take extraordinary measures. Attorney General Edward Brooke creates a special task force to coordinate police work across the state, but the killer continues to elude his pursuers. Desperate, the police even fly in a psychic. One dogged investigator, detective Phil DiNatale, finds a clue that he believes will lead him to the Strangler. His lead: the mysterious “measuring man,” who approaches women at home and attempts to convince them they have a future in modeling. Host Portland Helmich meets Carole, who reveals the chilling details of her encounters with the “measuring man.” Detective DiNatale, sensing he might have found the killer, gets down to the hard work of gumshoe policing in order to prove his case.

This episode is brought to you by Talkspace (www.talkspace.com/stranglers), Squarespace (www.squarespace.com code: STRANGLERS), Casper Mattresses (www.casper.com/STRANGLERS), Audible (www.audible.com/stranglers), and A Crime to Remember.

Hilarious stand-up comedian Ahmed Bharoocha joins Andrew to talk about Kanye West and Donald Trump meeting, over PCing, using the term “brown people,” and much more. As always, leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

This week on a special holiday edition of HARD NATION, the one and only Santa Claus (Allan McLeod) stops by the studio to disclose the mysteries of elf diapers, share the process behind the naughty or nice list, and reveal his affair with Melania Trump. Plus: Mark & Pete get punched in the face (a lot).

Actor/comedian Johnny Pemberton arrives this week to help out Howard and Kulap with their fashion choices! They count down Stereogum’s Top 5 Songs of the Week while Johnny explains why he’s never recognized for “Son of Zorn” and why Kanye would benefit from his friendship. Then, during the Video Game Chart, the gang assesses what it takes to be a nerd these days, and finally, Howard plays Show and Teller before holiday gifts are opened on Two Charted.

This episode is sponsored by Squarespace (www.squarespace.com/charted).

Actress and comedian Madeleine Byrne joins Deanna and Emily to talk about how lip liner changed her life, how she grew her online presence through collaboration, and what you can do to find out what your Uber rating is.

It’s that time of year once again where Jensen & Matty countdown their top 10 Get Up On picks of 2016, throw in one Get Up OFF, and then call each other out for what they think was each other’s WORST pick of the year. Enjoy and thanks for listening Bunheads!

Growing up as a black woman in rural Appalachia wasn’t easy. She was different, and she was bullied. But punk rock saved her, and helped her form her own identity. Chris interrupts her Snapchatting at the start of the call, which leads to a discussion about their experiences with social media around the election.

This episode is brought to you by Mailchimp (www.mailchimp.com), Mack Weldon (www.mackweldon.com code: BEAUTIFUL), Adam and Eve (www.adamandeve.com code: STORIES), and Texture.

Join guest host Samm Levine as he sits down with actor Kevin Rahm (Mad Men, Lethal Weapon). Kevin chats about how choosing drama as an extracurricular activity may have lead to his career… but in the end it all comes back to cheerleading camp.

Comedian David Huntsberger co-hosts this week with Randy and Jason to welcome long-time showfriend Beth Hoyt back to the County. They discuss the benefits of a one-way Mars trip before getting into Stories. David brings tales of a long-distance sandwich seeker and a drug smuggling cop, and finally, the Sklars listen to an ethereal voice message from Tilda Swinton.

This episode is sponsored by Texture (www.texture.com/sklar).

Comedian Jo Firestone joins Chris and Gary for this week’s dream analysis, tackling mysterious coded messages, robots who love flowers, and shark eyes! But tensions run high as details of Gary’s “training” begin to come out.

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

Photo by Eric Michael Pearson.