Little Red Bandwagon

It’s October, so naturally we’re giving you a Coven (™) episode! The ladies of LRB are going through some stuff, though - Ann has major Diet Coke anxiety, Meredith might need to stop going on vacation (at least in Ohio), and Hillary is (of course) grappling with her age.  In TBTL land, this week is our last full recap. And The Coven (™) actually enjoyed a lot of it! The live shows were a great time and showed off Luke and Andrew’s fun/funny personalities (with a fantastic Nick and Hodgman appearance). The other episodes, filled with tons of Skyjinks Woo (aka man-babies whining about mild discomfort), had us pretty enraged. Ahh the yin and yang of TBTL! Regardless, we are all very excited about what we have brewing for our next iteration. Thank you for the sweet notes, voice memos, and faxes. We love you all!

It’s getting chilly as we move into fall (unless you live in Texas, I guess), so we’ve built a cotton candy bonfire to warm our hands and hearts while we continue our last few weeks of focusing on TBTL. Your LRB hosts, however, are more interested in dog plans, 20-year-old memories, and the disappointment of Coyote Ugly, among other things. There’s more football talk than usual, given that two of our hosts’ teams are pitted (totally pitted) against one another, and Pinto Ron/Kenny is wasting good condiments left and right. Ann experienced a bizarre non-adventure. Bobby has a problem with certain businessez. Mike is suffering from senioritis. Hillary makes a promise she can’t keep. Plus, the Qatar of celebrities, a level-10 dad joke, never disrespect a book, and the difference between trash talk and trash talk.

Welcome to the final “Final Friday” edition of LRB! Bobby is unapologetically Simpsons-splainin’, Mike is celebrating Ravelry Week, Ann is  letting her inner bitch become her outer bitch, Christy is riding a rolley coaster of office dog emotion, and Hillary is making a compelling case for why everyone (or at least her neighbors) should have one of those Ring doorbells. Also, more listener love about the upcoming show transition, why no one loves bedtime, and there’s  no love lost for Jeff Bezos and his “terms of service” that we maybe (probably) “violated.” Expect a strongly worded email from sparklepony69@nofatchicks.org any day now, Jeff. In the words of our forefathers, “Here’s a flashlight, a racing form and a Penthouse Forum. Come back when the street lights are on.”

In the waning days of LRB, Hillary, Ann, Bobby, and Mike are here to discuss all of the past week’s events in the LRB and TBTL worlds. Firstly, the Wagoneers have given us some LOVELY feedback on our transition to a non-TBTL podcast. Thank you so much for the support! We’re extremely excited to bring you something new! But also, please give us some name suggestions (preferably with an affordable URL).  In the business, Hillary reviews a book and movie, Ann and Hillary are both jerks (that’s a family-friendly word for it), Mike made it through his Emily-less time relatively unscathed, and we got some voice memos!!! Thrilling and keep them coming! We did eventually dive into some TBTL topics, including The Far Side (will it still be funny?), phone calls (they’re scary!), James Cameron/Avatar (who wants it?), Aaron Sorkin (good/complicated writer!), and oral health (please floss!).  Finally, here are a few of the MANY unused show titles to pique your interest: “Guess What’s Swollen at Mike’s House” “Who’s the Du

Ann and Christy are laughing their way through this final LRB clip show by looking back at some times that people other than us offered up critical feedback for TBTL. But first, we acknowledge that our own responses to judgement from others aren’t always a model of emotional health. We protest the injustice of getting slapped for not following rules we didn’t know existed, or criticized for things we can’t control. We discuss a couple of cases in point, including how Christy’s co-worker accidentally fed her case of impostor syndrome, while Ann once almost had the K-9 unit set on her. Then we dive into clips containing letter-writing grandmas, comparisons of TBTL to athlete’s foot, the creation of a couple of longtime show catchphrases, and a promise from Luke that he will never again make a factual error on the show (hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha). Plus, a Wingdings conspiracy, which cursive capital letters are bs, and the beauty of math. No reply necessary.

Welcome to your slightly hungover, somewhat lonely, and extremely pet-centric episode of LRB! Ann, Hillary, Meredith, and Mike are here to talk you through all of that business/nonsense. We finally get around to recapping a bit of TBTL, including the prevalence of exceedingly specific t-shirts that we all still find hilarious all these years later. We also refuse to quit naming nuts and vow to never ever talk over Marvin Gaye singing!! Most importantly (and sorry to bury the lede), there is some VERY SIGNIFICANT LRB NEWS in the business. Listen and let us know what you think!

It’s LRB’s official Hampton Inn Lobby Rotary Pre-Funk, complete with DIY waffles and soggy ottomans. Bobby shares pictures of hotel elevators, Mike Has Ideas to accommodate traveling snackers, Ann recalls the time she went Hollywood, and Meredith answers the age-old question, “why the face?” We also discuss TBTL.

We’re pretty sure we won’t get memberships in Illusionists Local 4309 after this show, but it’s a sacrifice we’re willing to make. Christy, Mike, and Ann take the opportunity provided by a content-lite week of TBTL to go heavy on our own stories. We’ve got a Boogie Nights anecdote, some medical mishaps (both past and present), and the worst hold music experience ever. TBTL-related topics include but aren’t limited to: what makes the best kindling for a prison riot, Prince’s potential home court advantage, the skin-crawling awfulness of live Q&As, and we seem to keep circling back to breakfast carbs. Plus, a long, detailed conversation regarding the many attractions at the MN State Fair. Sorry, but it had to be done.

Two shows in one! Sort of. First, Bobby, Christy, Ann and Mike are nearly derailed from any substantial talk of TBTL by a corn fest, a pile of dirt, and a familial connection to a(n) (in)famous (minor) celebrity bowler. Thankfully, the LRB Mailbag gets us back on track, and even inspires some spirited (albeit brief) roleplaying. After the music, stay tuned for special bonus content: Audio from the LRB picnic! What this tape lacks in stable audio levels or group sobriety it more than makes up for in Oreos, Blake Lively and group quiz fun. Enjoy!

A full Coven (plus) has convened for this LRB episode! Hillary and Christy reveal that they are teens at heart. Ann reveals that she is a MN State Fair expert (LRB event next year?), and Meredith reveals she used to have a pet snake! Other topics discussed include but surely are not limited to, emojis, Train Lyrics, Hamilton (of course), spiders in your wall, 90210, Ann as a drug mule, and much, much, much more On the TBTL front, we’re concerned about the guys’ choice of live show venues. How many people fit in a Waffle House?? Is Andrew’s trash going to be out of control while he’s out of town? Are the guys trying to be sooooo random? Speaking of teens, we think Luke should put down the phone and try to catch the snake. The real world is in 3D after all!  Bottom line for this week - for the love of God, Luke needs to STOP using the term “raw dog.” Ew. 

It’s been a busy weekend indeed at LRB. Bobby hosted a party (and met listener Bet!) despite battling a chest cold. Hillary prepared (mentally) for back-to-school time despite it only being August. Meredith made new friends despite being at the High Times Festival. And Mike used the movie Reality Bites to make a serious point about an often-overlooked TV and film heft continuity issue despite the acting of Winona Ryder. We also talk about last week’s TBTLs. Keep Bellingham Subdued™

There comes a time in a young man’s life when he feels that the entire world is persecuting him. And sometimes that’s accurate, especially when you’re talking about Andrew Walsh and the phenomenon of the cat-roll. From his (supposed) pal Luke, to a dedicated consort of Tens, to legitimate media stars, it seemed for a while that everyone was pranking ol’ Andy with a simple snippet of audio. AND WE LOVED IT. And so, for your listening pleasure, here is the complete aural history of The Cat-rolling of Andrew Walsh.

It’s another week here at collective LRB studios, and Hillary, Ann, Bobby, and Mike are running down the latest navel-gazing adventures of TBTL. Lots of questions were asked this week. Is Trump going to win in 2020 (don’t jinx it, Luke!)? Is Luke a hypocrite about his vegetarianism (probably, yes)? Is Andrew wasting his summer (who knows)? Was the octopus lady an irredeemable dummy (according to Mike and the guys, absolutely yes)? As for your lovely hosts, we have a few questions as well. Is Hillary more of a Betty or a Joan (Joan for sure)? Is Adventure Bay the worst run town in all of Canada (uh, yeah)? Should Bobby and Ann go to the Minnesota State Fair together and report back (HELL YES)? Did we go off the rails at the end (maybe!)? Also forward promo for an upcoming show - Mike will tell his hold music-induced panic attack. Stay tuned!

What a fun time we had in Seattle! Your LRB hosts are (mostly) back home and ready for a post-picnic weekend debrief. We have lots to discuss, including how Hillary is sober on the show for the first time in … a while, what caused Meredith to discover her mom voice, how Ann saved all of LRB from food poisoning, and what we thought of the tricks Mike showed us with a washcloth/towel and a sample size container of L’Occitane lotion. It was less weird than it sounds, honestly. During the TBTL portion of the show, we can’t believe we’re STILL talking about video interpolation, wonder why it matters whose party it is, dubiously discuss the attractiveness of politicians, and sing the praises of Lauren Ober’s appearance on the show. We agree that if you want to be a vegetarian It’s Fine (TM), while disagreeing about a certain Christian worship song. I mean, WE GET IT ALREADY.

The picnic is over and the votes are in! Ann, Bobby, Christy, Hillary, Meredith and special guest Gus reveal the winners from the Oreo Challenge at the 2019 LRB Picnic while discussing the merits of the unholy suicide/graveyard bowl of cookie leftovers fueling our lakeside afterparty. In the TBTL Week in Review, Luke once again confesses to being a wasteful wiper, and a bicyclist causes Andrew to lose his s***. As Colonel Whatever says, “It’s a trap!” Plus, who are each of your favorite LRB hosts in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Stay tuned to future episodes to find out, because we were far too distracted to figure it out this weekend.

Join The Coven™ and Bobby for a quick Final Friday roundup featuring peak podcasting, Reality TV hypocrisy, decoy ducks, more butt faxes, and more. Plus, airport wheelchair groupies, backwoods hotel wifi, puppies as presidents, microwave chicken with  PEEPS® (a game, not a recipe*), a live review of Surly Brewing Co.’s Dots and Loops, and of course, a young future star Hilliary doing her best Madonna/Roger Rabbit despite a complete lack of voguing support from her cousins. Reminder: It’s LRB Picnic Day! See you in Shoreline; and see our Facebook page for details!     *yet

This week, Hillary is back from Europe, Bobby is back from Missouri, Mike is back from cursing Ann, and Ann is back on the Conan Train. For the stick, we recap the latest week of TBTL. And for the marrot, we learn about Ann and Mike’s meat bridge, Bobby’s chilling midwest encounter, and Hillary’s even colder bathroom studio. We dare you to send her a bill, Hillary’s parents. COME TO THE PICNIC! Friday, July 26, 5pm, Shoreline WA. Don’t miss it!

It’s the end of the TBTL 2019 Summer Games, and your LRB recappers have laced up our Air Jordan McNasty 25s for the final match. We reflect on the second week of (improved) quizzes, the problems with ska, why you really should consider those tattoos in advance, and why Andrew shouldn’t be embarrassed about that feature piece he did for Tamara Keith. Mike is stocking up on anvils and TNT. Meredith reviews Stranger Things Season 3. Ann reminisces fondly about the OK Soda hotline (1-800-I-FEEL-OK). And in pet news, the cats of LRB are preparing for Thunderdome. Come to our picnic and watch us make your children cry.

In our media-obsessed culture, the emphasis on having a trim figure is constant and overwhelming. Almost all of us have been frustrated, at some point, by not being able to achieve the perfect (or, let’s face it, just slightly improved) body, but nobody remains more stubbornly committed to winnowing away those extra pounds than Luke “LB” Burbank. Christy and Ann are ready to do a run-down of many (but certainly not all!) of the fad diets, kooky nutrition ideas, and far-out strategies he’s employed over the years in an effort to build his beef castle. From extreme calorie restriction, to cheeseburgers and booze-ahol, to part-time veganism, he’s willing to try just about anything, although his enthusiasm usually outpaces his preparation. Along the way, we remind ourselves that it’s a “cheat meal,” not a “cheat day,” get annoyed by Bridget Jones’s Diary, and wonder exactly what Luke was doing with those pickles. If you’re interested in reading about the truth of dieting, why it doesn’t actually work, and what yo

TBTL may have half-assed Summer Games Week (as well as the pronunciation of chorizo and allium), but Ann, Mike and Bobby are most definitely full-assing this week’s LRB. Bobby just got back from Blue Jays Loonie Dog Night in Toronto, and the Great White North isn’t looking so great these days. Ann is standing ready to rescue her dearest Justin, though he now has competition for her affection from a handsome young new Scottish fellow. And Mike is suffering from a bout of sociopolitical indigestion after the President’s “perp rally,” though a gelatin-suspended seafood sample didn’t help. Plus, a blissfully short breakdown of TBTL’s quizzes, an apropos reminder that  the worst wounds are the emotional ones (with examples!), and an audio postcard from middle-aged transcontinental mom-iish type Hillary, recorded after a harrowing Hungarian pedicab ride. Remember: Come to our picnic on July 26th! Bring anything you like as long as it isn’t aspic. And, go listen to Spectacular Failures, edited by our own P-Fletch!