Bill Corbett's Funhouse - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 30: The Sporting Life May 03, 2019

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In the wake of a insanely well-attended NFL draft weekend in Nashville, we explore the wonderful world of sports fandom in all its good and bad aspects. We also discuss Japanese novelist Jun'ichirō Tanizaki; a series of dumb and decadent perfume commercials starring Natalie Portman; and the 1999 Guinness-soaked Boston gangster movie The Boondock Saints. Finally, we try a help a listener who makes plenty of money at his longtime day job but really wants to be a financially precarious artist like your humble hosts. With Brandi Brown and Bryan Miller.

Ep.29 Patreon Extra: "MY MONSTER" reading from 2010 TEASER Apr 26, 2019

Show notes

Patreon only! Here's a recording of the play MY MONSTER done by Bill and Trace Beaulieu LIVE at DragonCon in Atlanta way back in 2010. It's a reading of the short comic theater piece co-written by Joseph Scrimshaw and Bill, discussed in the interview with Joseph. Trace performed this with no rehearsal at all and completely killed. With live audience laughing, and sometimes not! A li'l bit of history.

Ep. 29: Funhouse Fam Focus JOSEPH SCRIMSHAW Apr 26, 2019

Show notes

Frequent guest and contributor Joseph Scrimshaw talks to Bill about his life and career: childhood days pinballing between Minnesota and Oregon; his work in the raucous Twin Cities theater and comedy scene (including a strange play co-written and performed with Bill) before moving to the sleepy town of L.A; his "geek-flavored" comedy, his long-running Obsessed podcast, and work as a writer on the hilarious uncanny-valley-ish Adult Swim hit TIGTONE. Joseph also discusses his academic grounding in comedy theory, as Bill tries to learn Why Stuff Is Funny. Does Bill find out? Tune in and see!

Ep. 28: Podcastaphobia TEASER Apr 19, 2019

Show notes

Do you suffer from lachanophobia, the fear of vegetables? Or maybe you have live in terror of the Pope, or papaphobia? In this show we follow in the great tradition of Dr. Lucy Van Pelt and explore the wonderful world of phobias, those irrational fears that add such color to our lives (unfortunate if you have chromophobia, fear of colors). Also we discuss the amazing TV show Fleabag and other cultural things and stuff! Finally we try to help a listener who thinks her mom is just too damned polite. With Brandi Brown and Bryan Miller.

Ep. 27: Funhouse Friend Focus J. ELVIS WEINSTEIN Apr 12, 2019

Show notes

Fellow Mystery Science Theater 3000 alumnus, original Tom Servo, television writer, documentary maker, musician and seasoned stand-up comedy vet (whew!) J. Elvis Weinstein joins Bill for a one-on-one discussion about all manner of things. They chat about Josh's brand new comedy album; his chill fight with cancer; reaching the 100th episode of his podcast Thought Spiral with Andy Kindler; his work writing for Freaks and Geeks; and his Minnesota upbringing in Coen Brothers suburbia. Finally: a frank and detailed talk about the early days of MST3K, including the circumstances that led to Josh leaving the show. All that and more!

Ep. 26: Funhouse Fam Focus SHANAN CUSTER (teaser) Apr 03, 2019

Show notes

Frequent BC Funhouse panelist Shanan Custer joins Bill for a one-on-one chat! She's a Twin Cities comedy legend, a serious student of the arts, and a dedicated goofball. Shanan discusses her California to Minnesota reverse-Inside Out childhood, her time in the groves of academe, and her time performing at the longest-standing improv theater in the country. Also: her hit plays about booze!

Ep. 25: Funhouse Friend Focus DARA MOSKOWITZ GRUMDAHL Mar 29, 2019

Show notes

Brilliant and funny food writer Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl joins us to talk about restaurants, food criticism, and her path to becoming one of the most awarded food writers working today. Also: things in cans, MN State Fair fare, dumb food trends, and Dara talks about her late friend and colleague Anthony Bourdain. Finally Bill, Dara and Brandi advise a listener worried about her kids' media exposure during these dark times. With Brandi Brown.

Ep. 24: Debate Me! TEASER Mar 22, 2019

Show notes

Have you ever wanted to DESTROY or ANNIHILATE or EVISCERATE someone in a debate? If so, this is the episode for you. We discuss "debate me" culture, including YouTube debate grifters, social media attention-wanters, and yammering cable news talking heads. Brandi gives us a primer on formal debate procedures, and Bill offers his tips for [super-dramatic destructive verb here]-ing your opponent in an informal debate free-for-all! Also: David Lynch's biography-slash-autobiography; the 1970s comic adventures of Lois Lane, Superman's Awful Girlfriend; and a very bougie appreciation of streaming music available on public radio. With Brandi Brown and Bryan Miller.

Ep. 23: ANDY RICHTER, First Banana Mar 15, 2019

Show notes

Bill sits down with Andy for an extensive interview about the early days of Conan, his died-in-a-wool midwestern ways, his start with the Real Live Brady Bunch, comedy, seriousness, therapy, aging, death, and possible...happiness.

Ep. 22: LINDSAY ELLIS and the Author Killers Mar 08, 2019

Show notes

Yes, it's a great name for a band but it's also the title of this episode! Bill is in L.A. and chats with superstar YouTube essayist Lindsay Ellis and Funhouse regular Joseph Scrimshaw. They discuss the "Death of the Author" theory that's the subject of Lindsay's recent video series. Some of the authors metaphorically made dead include J.K. Rowling, John Green, Orson Scott Card, Anne Rice, John Scalzi, Neil Gaiman, plus that incorrigible duo William Shakespeare & the guy who wrote Ready Player One. Also, inevitably: Star Wars. Finally, Lindsay, Joseph and Bill give listener advice to a couple annoying each other!

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