Scott Aukerman, host of "Comedy Bang! Bang!," producer/director "Between Two Ferns"

What's up hotdog?

I was a the show in Boston in 2013 (maybe 2014) on a Sunday, I was pretty close to the front and was laughing my ass off at the top of the show. You made a comment about how I was having a good time... Rather then heckle, I figured I'd wait till you did an AMA on reddit 2 years later and let you know, yes I was having a good time.

why, thank you! what a polite young person you are.

Scotterick, my dear boy! What aspect of your current life would impress an 8-year-old Scott Aukerman the most?

Having sex with girls, I think?

Hi Scott. Since the Star Wars films are set "a long time ago" (in a galaxy far far away), wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that Chewbacca was now dead, regardless of the non-canonical nature of the novels?

yes, but how long do Wookies live?

Do you think every movie sequel should have the number of characters indicated in the title? Like should Shrek 2 have two Shreks in it?

this is a great rule!!! Seven wars in the stars!

Can you go in to the extenuating circumstances you’ve mentioned that occurred in the 2nd half of Season 3 of CBB?

Each season has had its difficulties in producing them - and let me just say that I am really proud of the episodes in the second half of season three. I think they're super funny. There is a story to why I think they're a little inconsistent in production:

For season two, we wrote all 20 episodes before we started shooting, and we shot them all out of sequence. I think the christmas episode with Zach was one of the first ones we shot, and I know the Halloween ep with Pee-wee was in our second week. So we really got to figure out an order after the fact that made sense.

For season three, we had an earlier premiere date, but we started at the same time. So, even though we still wrote everything before we started shooting, what I didn't know was that the first ten episodes we turned in (and the first ten we shot) had to be the first ten that aired. The network told us that after we shot them. Those ten were huge episodes - and ones I would have spaced out a bit, because in most of them we're doing big, big ideas.

Secondly, after we shot these huge episodes, the production company came to me and told me we were wildly over budget, and had to cut stuff out of the second ten eps. So, not only were the second ten episodes slightly less ambitious, we had to cut even MORE out of them.

I pushed back, and we were able to keep some great stuff, like the time travel episode and the Xmas ep, but I do think the back half of the season suffers a bit from being less ambitious in scope compared to the front half. I would have liked to have mixed them up a bit more, like a mix CD, and have there be more variety.

First of all I wanted to say that the trajectory of my life has genuinely been altered by CBB. I started listening to the podcast 3 years ago and it had a profound impact on my sense of humor, and inspired me to pursue comedy. So I will be forever grateful for that. Thanks!

Question: You mention on the podcast that you get tired of your own humor sometimes. Is that for real or are you just just being self-deprecating? If so, are you trying to change things up? Edit: Grammar

aw, that's so nice! I think everyone gets tired of who they are, or their own brains sometimes. I think the important thing is to keep pushing through into unexplored territories - new ways to express ideas or new jokes. that's when I feel really good- hitting on something new.

Have you and PFT always been this funny when you're together?! Or has it just been the years of practice? He's the most frequent guest on the podcast, but your back and forth never fails to be fantastic even the hundredth time around. Together you could conquer the world.

i think we are "on" on the show. it can be exhausting to be like that 100 percent of the time. We usually take it down a notch or two in private.

Hey Scott, thanks for putting out a consistently amazing podcast and TV show. Now that Comedy Bang! Bang! is about to enter it’s fourth season, when can we expect the U Talkin’ U2 To Me? TV show?

Also, I feel like I saw somewhere that you are a comic book fan. What are you currently reading?

Someone at HBO told me they were a UTU2TM fan, so I told Adam we should do a TV show there. He said it would be like "Tell Me You Love Me," but with more fucking.

I am currently reading almost everything I can - loving Spider-Man and Silver Surfer by Slott; bummed Fables is coming to an end; stuff by Jason Aaron is great, just read Ant-Man by Nick Spencer right before this started, and it really had that Superior Foes of Spider-Man feel. Currently re-reading Hickman's FF, which is so complex and well-thought-out, it frightens me from ever attempting something similar.

Hey Scott. I, for one, was quite pleased with the inclusion of the Solo-bolo in 2014’s Best-Of, and frankly, I was appalled to learn that some didn’t appreciate it. That said, what type of microphones do you use for your podcasts? Condensers? Lavs? Headsets?

there are pictures of them in each of the episodes!

Hey bro. Do you think the 2015 tour ep of UTU2TM will be the "finale" until U2 releases another record? If so please tell me there are other Adam Scott Aukerman projects in the works!

we're definitely doing a live ep from SF Sketchfest, and after that, who knows? Getting Adam to actually even write back to texts or emails can be difficult!

Will Traci Reardon ever be on the TV show?

I doubt it!

Hi Mr. Aukerman,

When I went through a new podcast phase,I listened to your podcast for about a week straight, but I didn’t get it. I did not understand what was happening, I thought Bobby Bottle Service was real, and a douche, and I thought it was just a fucked up radio show. It was not until I saw the TV show that I understood (sort of). I guess I’m an idiot. I spent a great deal of a car ride once wondering why someone would hire that guy to come to their party, and if I should be hiring people to come to my parties.

Anyway, I’m pretty dumb. That has nothing to do with my question.

How did you get connected with Reggie? I can’t imagine the show without him. He’s like… a fluffy angel. (But you'll be ok)

haha, thank you - this is why, on our recent best of episodes, PFT and I decided to draw back the curtain a bit - so many people listen to those for the first time, I want to make sure people know what's going on.

Reggie and I hung out a bit at various comedy festivals. Then he did the podcast a few times, and did both theme songs. So when we were thinking of what to do, music-wise, for the show, he seemed a natural fit!

How did you decide to break from canon in the 2014 best-ofs and openly discuss comedians playing characters?

It made me deeply uncomfortable, personally... When I first started listening to CBB, I just thought the real Werner Herzog was hilarious for like two months, and I feel like others should have to suffer through feeling just as dumb.

Edit - Just in case you actually get around to answering this (since I see that you are super active!), thanks a ton for all the glee you bring me every week through the podcast. It's one of my favorite pieces of entertainment across any medium, and I can't imagine trading it for anything.

sort of answered above, but PFT and i discussed, and i really wanted the show not to be so impenetrable, you know? Like, this is the first time people are listening, so why can't I show them the difficulty involved in putting together this show, so they can appreciate it? It's like how Bernie Brillstein advised bob and david to come out as themselves at the top of Mr. Show - then people could appreciate how they were doing all the characters.

Scott,

May I have your blessing (and if I may be so bold - your support) in selling these Technicality No Down Boo Over shirts/hoodies, on the condition I donate the profits to Earwolf and/or a charity of your choosing? I have no desire to profit off your work, I (and many others I’ve seen on the r/Earwolf sub) just really wanted the shirt! I created it yesterday, and as of typing this question I’ve already sold 4!

link for shirt

link for hoodie

In a perfect world I would love to keep making other simple items based off other classic quotes.. Id proudly wear a “Zouk’s Dooks” shirt.

Thanks for the AMA and especially for endless hours of entertainment, it means a lot!

i want to have you send these to earwolf to maybe sell in the store! Contact them about it?

Hey Scott,

Two questions if you'd so oblige me

1) Did it surprise you no Jon Gabrus clips/episodes make the top 15? He is hilarious. Please continue to have him intern. (This is not Jon Gabrus)

2) Whenever something goes wrong with the podcast I think "fucking Cody" and I wonder if it's similar to the scenario where you can make fun of your own family, but when someone else does it's irksome. Do you care? Does he?

yes, i think gabrus was criminally underlooked for the best of. I do not care when something goes wrong on the show - it gives us something to talk about. I act annoyed, as that takes up time. but cody and i have talked about it - if i were actually annoyed about something, i would take it off-air.

In a fight between Werner Herzog and H.R. Giger, who wouldn't lose?

the audience?

You forgot to fucking ask if PFT's favorite ep. made the CBB top 15, what was it Scott?!!??!?

Nubile Agape!

What's up Hotdog? Maybe it's just me, but for me, it seems difficult to break into the world of comedy. What advice do you have for an aspiring writer/comedian?

P.S. Thanks to you, I sort of like Phish now and I'm still not sure how to feel about it.

move to a city where you can do it all the time, then do it all the time!

sorry 'bout Phish

Hot Soccermom,

Can we expect a reprise of the Pie Minister on the CBB podcast?

yes! But i am never quite sure what PFT is going to bring on any given day.

Hi Scott, you're one of my favorite humans. Will you be a guest host on Lauren Lapkus' new podcast? I'd really like it if Dabney interviewed one of her characters.

would like to, but i'm sure she gets enough of me on CBB!

Hey Scott, huge fan. I have a few quick questions for ya

1. Can we expect to see any CBB pod regulars come back soon that haven’t been on in a while such as Mulaney, Pally, Tig, Silverman, Hiedecker and Richter?

2. Can we expect to see any new upcoming Earwolf shows soon besides The Hooray Show?

Anyways, thanks for all you do

Mulaney is coming up soon; Tig would be great if I can get her; Silverman usually comes back when she has something to promote; Heidecker just ran out of time to do it last year; and yeah, I should get Richter back soon!

We're always looking for new Earwolf shows, but we also don't like to talk about them until they're ready to come out. So keep your eyes peeled in '15!

Is there a character from the podcast you are dying to port to the TV show that seems unlikely to happen due to subject matter and/or the physicality of the character? Like Wompler or Victor & Tiny

one of those is on this year.

Quick Hopefully Easy Q - Is there any chance Dan Van Kirk might end up on the Comedy Bang Bang Podcast as Mark Wahlberg? Sorta been wondering for a while (for a whileeee) now why he hasn't shown up yet, especially since The Wahlberg Solution shows are on Earwolf. Wondering if it's that he's a Sklarbro/DLM character and you sorta don't want to take that away from them, maybe having someone do an impression of THAT big a celeb would be a bit much for a whole CBB, or just scheduling/lack of desire/"f that guy" :P

you know, i was thinking about this - it's kind of a thing where i don't like to "steal" characters from other shows. If something was developed elsewhere, for whatever reason, I feel weird about doing it on my show - I wouldn't want it to seem like I "own" it or something. Maybe because CBB has a bigger listenership, I am worried about the show it was developed on feeling slighted or something. I kind of was very apologetic when I asked Matt Gourley if he wanted to do HR Giger on CBB. You know, that's a Superego thing, right? But I realize most performers don't give a shit, and just want to do their stuff wherever they can. I like DVK, and would like to see if he would want to do something new though!

What do you want to do after you finish with the TV show? Do you want to branch out into other things or just continue doing similar stuff to what you're doing now? Also, I've been a huge fan of the podcast since the beginning, so I hope you continue breaking off hundos no matter what you do.

I would like to direct a film some day. I have had a book deal for several years that I would like to complete, should I ever get enough time. Hopefully some of the TV shows I'm currently producing will get made. Thank you for breaking off so many hundos!

In the pictures of Earwolf recordings that are posted with each episode I never see any alcohol. Is there a policy about no drinking? Do comedians ever complain about having to perform sober?

Nope, no policy. I just don't know a lot of people who bring beer to drink outside of their homes at noon, i guess? That said, the one coming out tomorrow was taped the morning after a big Earwolf party, and there was a lot of loose alcohol around, so the guests partook.

Do you ever get offended when PFT's characters tell you to shut up?

haha, yes EVERY TIME!

Hi Scott!

As an Earwolf / CBB fan from the UK, are there any plans to tour the show beyond the US? (Soho Theatre or Leicester Square Theatre in London are both great venues for CBB!)

Also: will there be a Comedy Bang Bang / Fernwood 2 Night crossover?

Follow Up to the Also: is the character of 'Dabney' a nod to Dabney Coleman?

Thanks, and all the best!

I would like to go to the UK, was thinking about asking my agent if there would be any interest. would there be?

I tried to do a Fernwood 2 Night crossover... Norman Lear was shown CBB and he really liked it. We cooked up a really cool crossover, which turned out to be the Fred Armisen episode in Season three. The "TV at Night Show" (a Tonight Show analogue) was originally going to be "The Tonight Show," which we would then reveal was the Fernwood 2 Night show, still hosted by Martin Mull and Fred Willard all these years later (Mr. Lear's idea). I also wanted to film, as a web video, a new episode of the Fernwood 2 Night show, and got IFC to agree to finance it. For various reasons, the timing didn't work out, which I was bummed about (even though I think that episode turned out really great).

Dabney probably is a nod to Coleman? Not sure!

Hey Scott, I've noticed any time a calculation or number related thing is brought up on the podcast you actually do the math there in your head or at the very least pull out a calculator. You seem to be one of the few people who doesn't run away from math, what's up with that?

Also when will you do a solo bolo on You Made it Weird with Pete Holmes?!

i don't know, i'm good at math. i've been told that musicians are good at math, and i've always loved music.

Hot Soccermom,

Thank you for all of the hours of free entertainment and the laughs on my otherwise awful commute.

Something you said stuck with me because it was very sweet of you; on the recent best of countdown about letting PFT know that you enjoyed his work because it’s important to share that with people instead of assuming that the artist knows their work is being watched and appreciated. Paraphrasing here but I thought that was true- ATTABOY!

Can you share a time when you received a message from someone about your work that meant a lot to you?

Also I love the way you seem to sing through any song until you’ve exhausted your memory of the lyrics or melody – and even then sometimes still keep it going… please never stop. "Contact/ It’s the reason/for the season/ Were you there when they crucified Je-sus?" – I nearly drove off the road in pure elation [:

thank you! I have had a few people reach out and say they are enjoying stuff - a few i can remember:

Reuben Fleischer reached out out of the blue to tell me how he listened to a recent episode and was struck by how much I've grown and how it's turned into something really unique. I thought that was such a sweet thing to say.

Alex Reid sent me an email the other day about the time travel episode and how blown away he was by it. That was super cool.

Eric Andre emailed to tell me about how much he liked his episode. most guests don't do that - i can't even tell if any of them have watched it or not. So that was cool to hear.

There are others, but it has struck me recently that we should be more supportive of the things we like. That's why I'm constantly writing to artists i don't know on twitter and telling them i enjoyed something they did. They probably don't care it's from me, but it's just nice to hear someone is out there appreciating it.

How do you think Mad Men will end?

old don draper in 2015, looking at an iPhone, tipping his shades down - "I could get used to this."

Hey Scott! Thanks for doing yet another AMA. Congratulations on your success with the podcast and TV show, I just finished season 3 not too long ago and it was fantastic, I'm looking forward to the long 4th season.

My question is this: Bro, how you weigh? I know you have friends and comedians who listen to your podcast(s). Much like Paul F Tompkins or Jason Mantzoukas have mentioned they listen to CBB, but I know several others do too. Anyway I'm just curious since you have such a busy schedule if you have time to listen to any podcasts yourself? If so, what are your favorites?

A side question that I'm not sure if you can or want to answer but I have to ask... on the podcast Hollywood Handbook from Earwolf Hayes Davenport and Sean Clemmons have mentioned several times they're the least listened to podcast on the network, but since they play such exaggerated characters on the show and never break character I don't ever know whether or not to be worried if one of my favorite podcasts will stop, or if they're simply joking. Is Hollywood Handbook really the least listened to? or does as poorly as they jokingly say on there?

Words can not express how excited I am for your Bro-down Ho-down with Jason Mantzoukas, and again congratulations on your success and I look forward to your work in the future!

Thank you! I wish I got to listen to more podcasts, but sadly between recording my own and doing 40 episodes of this goddamm tv show, I haven't been able to do much more than sample. Heard a little of Lauren Lapkus's and gave some notes (aw, who am I kidding - one note).

Hollywood Handbook may be the least-listened to podcast on the network, but it has the most fan support, I think of any show we have. The cool thing about Earwolf is we don't really care that much about actual numbers, if the hosts are cool and the fans really like something.

CBB helped me get through my recovery from a psychotic episode last year, when I was very withdrawn and unsure of myself socially. The podcast gave me people to hang out with, though the Golly episodes may not have helped my grasp on reality. So, tossup. Two questions:

1. Come to DC. Pick a weekend with good people at Arlington Cinema/the Improv and book 6th and I or something. ...Question Mark?

2. What does Blue Turtlin' actually mean? I use it sometimes among fellow listeners and it's past the point I can ask them.

haha, thank you! Not sure how to answer either of those, but thanks for listening while you were going through a hard time.

What's the most inappropriate time you have used a CBB in-joke in a non-CBB environment?

I find it really difficult to resist my urge to do the "It's been a while" and "It's been" responses in random conversations. I have yet to hear anybody say "Cake Boss" since I started listening to CBB but I'm pretty sure I'll be completely unable to stay silent.

this is a good question, but since i work for myself, it's hard to think of an example! If i do, I'll come back tho.

Scott! Super excited for season 4 of Comedy Bing Bong! What’s the deal with Reggie? Is this his last season as your band leader? If so, will he be involved with your show in any other capacity? You can answer off mic, if you’d like.

he will be on season four until he leaves, about mid-way through the year!

Hey Scott, I loved you on Zap!

With respect to the podcast, it seems like you push certain improvisers/characters into more uncomfortable/unplanned directions than others (I'm thinking specifically of Andy Daly, making him come up with limericks on the spot, some of the crazy places you take his characters back stories, etc. vs. someone like Paul F Tompkins who seems to have a fairly clear direction where his characters are headed prior to the episode).

Is that something that is discussed with your guests prior to recording or is it something you spring on them? Is it something you decide beforehand or is it something you feel out during the recording?

Scott and Paul discuss this on 2014 BEST OF Ep. 4. Particularly in regards to what Zouks does with Andy Daly.

sometimes it just naturally goes in directions people didn't expect - i'm thinking of pam murphy and will hines on a recent episode. when we take a break, I'll usually ask, "Is there somewhere else you were thinking of going with it, and can i lead you back there?" Most improvisers don't care about where it ends up, because the journey is more important than the destination.

It’s been a while since I’ve been this excited about an AMA. I’m a huge fan of Comedy Bang Bang (podcast and TV series), UTU2TM, and Mr. Show. You’re one of my ATFC’s (all time favorite comedians). One of my New Years Resolutions is to stop being a baby and finally sign up for classes at iO or Second City, and a lot of that honestly has to do with Earwolf.

I read recently that you are a big fan of the $100,000 Pyramid. I used to watch reruns of that on GSN all the time, it’s great. Have you ever considered doing a live Pyramid-type show kind of like Jimmy Pardo used to do with Match Game? Maybe you could pair up comedians with random audience members. I would totally go to that (if I lived in LA).

if you are a fan of the Pyramid, please listen to Never Not Funny tomorrow. As I say on there, I could do that for hours and hours. No plans to do any live version.

And good luck with classes! The sooner you start, the sooner you'll be good at it!

Is Howard Kremer "in character" on Who Charted? ... or is he really just like that?

i think we're all in character, as exaggerated versions of ourselves.

Whatever happened to Mike Detective?

season two is plotted, and one episode even written. I hope it will come back some day, but since Neil and I wrote them all, we've been busy with the TV show.

Hey Scott!

My roommate and I are big fans and have a few questions about the most recent podcast.

1. I'm a big fan of Disney Parks. My roommate is not. He believes that your experience as Br'er Bear/Goofy is a sign of your contempt for the 'land, while I contend that was just an isolated incident. Plus, you've made many references to Disney rides, i.e. The Haunted Mansion. So, my first question is, what is your actual opinion of The Disney Parks, and who will be replacing Reggie as bandleader?

2. You seemed to have shut down Horatio's first character on this ep. By studying the clues, I have come to believe that he was creating someone called "Captain Cum" who shoves semen-laden tissues into his mouth. How accurate is that conclusion, and who will you bring on to replace Reggie?

3. You've stated that some people have come to loathe the "Solo Bolo," for reasons I can't seem to comprehend. Is there another Bolo in the future, or will Benny Schwaz be replacing Reggie as bandleader?

Thanks!

1. i like disneyland, i just have been there so often, i don't think i'll go back until i have a kid or something

2 yes, this is what horatio jokingly said he was going to do

3 more solo bolos to come!!

What has been the best/funniest/worst joke/pun that has been spoken on the podcast?

Other than Pulled Bjork Sandwich, obviously.

i was quite proud of "--er at the end? What is this, NBC Thursday nights in the 90's?"

Do you think you guys will ever get some east coast comedians for Earwolf? I would love a podcast with Jon Glaser and Jon Benjamin.

hoping to get something like that going soon!

Who are your favorite characters throughout the history of the podcast and tv show CBB?

Love Huell Howser - am bummed about James's insistence to retire characters once they die (or like GWB, once they're out of office). ALW is probably my favorite character with whom to interact. I could probably talk to the Calvins Twins all day. And Ho-Ho is a new favorite - i went around imitating her for the next few weeks.

Hot Soccermom! If season 4 of Comedy Bang! Bang! were a pizza, what toppings would be on it?

And would Reggie eat the whole pizza, or just the first half?

Ty Burrell, Maya Rudolf, Schoolboy Q, Eddie George, Simon Helberg, Mark Duplass, Kid Cudi, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Dax Shepard, Zach Galifianakis

He'd EAT IT ALL!!!

If you could kill one celebrity, who would it be? You'll still go to jail so keep that in mind.

chewbacca with my car

Are you and Pete Holmes ever going to do each other's shows?

he did an ep of mine, and we've talked about me doing YMIW. would really like to do it, if he'll have me.

In your opinion, which character from the CBBuniverse had the best transition from the podcast to the TV show? Which had the worst?

And of course, thank you for everything that you have done with Comedy Bang Bang and podcasts in general. I don't care what "Best Podcast" lists say, you're number 1 in my eyes, ears, and heart.

i liked danny mahoney... fourvel... Lord ALW, of course... there are many more!

Hi Scott –

Do you have any plans to put your creative energy into dramatic/serious works? No slight intended; comedy is the best.

i have always done some dramatic stuff - i worked with Imagine Films recently for a year, working on a script of my own, but also giving notes to other ones. There were a lot of different types of scripts that came out of it - dramas, comedies, action films, etc. One, The Good Lie, actually made it to the screen.

Hi Scott, huge fan of the show and as a woman, let me start by confirming that the last ep with Schwaz & Horatio Sanz was absolutely a panty-dropper. This probably isn't an interesting question to anybody else but I am curious, did Jon Hamm really blindside you with the Reggie comments on 12 guests of Christmas? And if so, were you pissed? I genuinely felt really bad for you getting sort of cornered on stage and for what it's worth, I'm super sorry that happened!

i didn't care - the weirdest thing about it was, he didn't even know if the reggie thing had been announced yet. that's insane to me, that he would say that without knowing that.

How in hell did you create the environment that spawned the podcast? There's still nothing at all like it out there, and the calibre of improv is just ridiculous. I was laughing-til-crying all the way through the recent best-ofs.

"I prefer to be known as Little Button-Puss."

it was all an accident! coupled with producing a live show for ten years, and getting to know super funny people and what they could do.

Scott, you've helped create several funny memes like pronouncing your name differently but so that it still sounds similar and asking what your fuck style is bro. Does that get annoying when you try to do something like a reddit ama?

nope!

Hey Scott, what sort of challenges do you face when bringing a character from the podcast onto the tv show?

they have to work visually, and most importantly, have to have a reason they would be on a talk show. so we have to reasonably be able to figure out why a producer would book them to appear on a show with celebrities on it (does that make sense?).

You are the most hilarious. I can't wait for CBB to come back. My question:

are the interviews on CBB (and B2F, too, I guess) improv or scripted? Do you plan out the direction they'll go ahead of time?

Fabrice Fabrice's Marsupial poem comes to mind...did Nick Kroll just freestyle that?

most of the character interviews are improv, sometimes from an outline, sometimes not. Nick freestyled all poems - including the one he does on our premiere Friday. Sometimes we'll do several takes - I think Nick's other poem he did is on the DVD extras.

Mr. Hot Saucerman, love everything that you have done. Seriously. My question though is do you like to do the TV show or the podcast more? I love both but I love the podcast more. Love, Me

they're both different. I would say i have more fun making the podcast, but am probably proud of the acheivement of the tv show more.

Hey Choctaw, thanks enduring what I’m sure will be countless jokes about the floor being open for questions to do this. CBB has introduced me to lots of hilarious comedians and has been a huge inspiration for me to get more involved in comedy (did some sketch stuff last year and just started classes at UCB!).

Few questions for you, feel free to pick and choose (#5 is mandatory though):

1. Some of the guests you bring on the podcast to do characs are relatively unknown. How do you identify them, and what kind of audition or screening process do they go through to get on the show?
2. Great/sad news for Reggie moving over to the TV at Night Show, what can we expect for CBB once he moves on?
3. What one thing do you feel helped you the most in achieving the success you have today?
4. What’s one thing you wish you would’ve done differently when you were getting started?
5. What’s your address?

Thanks again!

word of mouth or recommendation or seeing them somewhere

for it still to be great!

hard work

didn't work hard enough

23--wait a minute, this is a trap!

When is the CBB podcast ep coming out with the person who donated to get that reward for Kulap's documentary? I'm curious to see what guests that person chooses

i think we're recording soon... not sure when it'll be released.

Where's the beef between you and TJ Miller?

i love TJ! We just did episodes of In Bed with Joan right after each other. And he said such nice things about CBB when we did Paul Provenza's show.

Sliding Doorman,

Are you excited for Reggie to be on The Late Late Show? Have you already developed something for his exit from CBBTV? Super stoked for season 4.

i am very excited for my pal reggie... it will be a challenge, I'm sure, for him, but it'll be good to have him actually live in LA for a change. We have a very cool goodbye episode for him... it was kind of difficult to figure out, since we had just done a fake "series finale" episode and a Bookie goodbye ep that kind of mined farewell material, but I think what we came up with is very funny and very touching, if I do say so myself. A proper tribute.

You were one of the last guests on "In Bed with Joan" (Rivers). So my question, are you death?

aw, you got me!

Hey Scott, it looks like you have a lot of diverse guests on the upcoming season of the CBB TV show. What guest on this season surprised you with their ability to "fit in" to the overall attitude of the program?

Also how did Eddie George become part of an episode this season?

i met eddie in Washington DC at an event Obama put together for people who had helped with the ACA. Since I am not a huge sports fan, i saw him and for some reason, knew he was a football player. and i wondered how I would know something like that. We had just had a football player do a scene on our show, and he was only there for like 45 minutes, and I was thinking, "is that how I know him? Is he the same guy?" I convinced myself it must be him, since that would be the only way I would be so familiar with this guy. So I went up to him and asked if he had been on my show, and he very politely said no - but now he had to do it! we chatted about him doing Shakespeare, and how athletic you had to be to do it properly. I thought he was a cool guy, and so I wanted to find a way to get him on the show. The episode he's on is our tribute to "sports," so he was a natural fit. When we were doing research about him for the interview, I realized his wife was on Survivor - and he was on it too - and that's how I knew so much about him!

Scott - what are your five favourite albums from 2000 to present?

Also thanks for being my comedy AND style icon.

Thank you! Fleet Foxes self-titled first record is my favorite music thing of the last twenty years, I think... I listen to it constantly. My Morning Jacket, Arcade Fire (love their recent one), Beyonce's recent record... that's what i can think of now!

How did you get Jessica Alba and Zoe Saldana on the show ?

asked them!

What's up, Hot dog?

How did you keep all the sub-podcasts straight on the commentary episode of UTU2TM? Likewise, all the personalities in Oh golly, you devil.

Also, has there been anyone that consistently points you to new improv/character talent in the LA area or is it just a buzz around certain performers that gets them on your show? (I'm thinking of Lauren Lapkus and Claudia O'Doherty as people I first recognized from your podcast)

Thanks for all the entertainment over the years. The TV show has been great, as has most everything on Earwolf.

thank you! I keep a list of the sub-podcasts we've done (altho i'm realizing now I forgot to update it this last ep).

Mostly i just work from recommendation. Everyone kept telling me about Lauren. And two people told me about Claudia within a week, so I thought I would give her a shot!

HI What is the best thing about working with Reggie Watts and what does he smell like?

Reggie is super funny and talented, and we always seemed on the same page when we would start to do bits. He smells like a human.

Any plans for Earwolf to start a NYC based podcast?

I feel like we're missing out on so many good UCB talents over there. Going through the LA UCB rosters, I know and love almost every name on there, mostly because of Earwolf shows. But not many NYC names are as recognizable because they don't have as many opportunities to be on Earwolf programs since you are based in LA. I would love to see what the other coast has to offer.

hopefully soon!

What can I expect from your SF Sketchfest UTU2TM show? I'm an SF local and a huge fan of the podcast (and bang bang, as you can tell by my username). But it's quite expensive, and I'm quite broke! Is it worth dishing out the dough for the show? Would love to see you guys.

well, it's sold out, so don't worry about it!

Are you making a conscious effort to rotate out old recurring characters on the podcast? Or can we still expect to occasionally hear old favorites like El Chupacabra and...well, probably not Little Gary. You know what I mean. Have some of them just run their course?

i'm usually game for whatever the particular performer wants to do. Most want to try new things instead of relying on old faves.

Can we get some more Fourvel on the show?

if Bobby can make it to LA, yes!!

Who are your comedic influences? I get a very Pee Wee's Playhouse for adults vibe from CBB. Also do you think of all your fake names or does an intern do it?

Late night with David Letterman, certainly. I still use a lot of the techniques in writing taught by Bob on Mr. Show, even though they're tonally very different shows.

The editors usually come up with the fake names - they have a master list and cross them off one by one. THAT SAID- i thankfully caught them recently when they accidentally repeated one, and ONLY because I happened to watch an older episode for research that day.

Hey, Hot Saucerman. 2 questions:

1. What is the process in writing, filming and improving an episode of Comedy Bang! Bang!? Is it similar to a "real" talk show where the guest comes out and you riff or is it heavily scripted?

2. If your name was Ronnie, would you introduce yourself as I, Ronnie and would that be a pun or ironic?

Thanks for being hilarious.

we usually write everything except for the interviews (and sometimes the bandleader banter). There are certainly some sketches involved in the celeb guest interview, but we do long takes of improv, and mix it in. The character guests are usually 100 percent improv, but sometimes based on an outline.

Scottrick, I was saddened when you didn't use my plugs theme. It was called p(l)ugs. Has its time passed, or is there still a chance?

i don't pick em - the engineers do - but i know that we always need them, so maybe it's coming up?

Do you ever find it hard to act silly/ask absurd questions to a guest that you don't know that well on the podcast? They should know what they're getting into, but it still seems like it might be hard to do when you don't really know them that well, and you don’t know if they're going to appreciate it or not. Do you ever feel like you get to act crazier or more absurd than you would in real life, knowing that you always have the excuse of "it's for the show"?

i think i try to adequately prepare people for what they're getting into on the podcast. For the TV show, I think guests get it and are relieved they don't have to actually answer questions.

Do you ever miss anything about living in Milwaukee? I'm moving out of here when I'm done with college in a few months, and I want to know what I should savor before I leave

nope!

Scott! Huge fan of the podcast/show and everything you do. Thanks for making Mondays and the occasional buh buh buh bonus Thursdays awesome. Have a few questions:

When you and Zach prepare for the Between Two Ferns interviews, how much is planned out? Is it better to not fill in the guests too much or to have them watch previous episodes?

What was your favorite album that came out last year? (Besides Songs of Incontinence of course)

Can you give us any 'sclusies about the new season?

Sorry (Gilly) if you’ve been asked these a million times. Can’t wait for the new season and Happy New Year! (just kidding)

Zach and I plan out the B2F's, but we don't tell the guests anything. Sometimes we don't really know if they've ever seen the show.

Fave album of last year is probably The War on Drugs!

I don't have many sclusies, other than I am SUPER proud of this season! Our best yet, in my opinion.