Our old friend Mike McShane (IMDb Link) returns to regale us of backstage tales and sordid details of the times before the glitz and the glory (in other words, back when we were all in college together, hanging out in the back rooms at restaurants and sucking nitrous oxide out of whip cream cans). There's also behind the scenes tidbits from movies such as Office Space, Richie Rich, and TV shows such as Seinfeld. And more!
Not only is this a special episode, it’s also the last episode of season two. But don’t worry, we’ll be back in 2021 with more moreness. There’s going to be even more moreness in the great amount of more in season three!
If Jack from The Shining were drinking absinthe at that bar, he would have written a wonderful novel instead of turning psycho murderer. Just sayin'. That is one of many important discussions we have here at this terribly important and so very serious show. No where else will you find the hard facts on what it would be like to recast the movie Dirty Harry with Munchkins from the Wizard of Oz. Oh, and just to let you know, season two is winding down. I know, I know, you're either terribly sad or greatly relived, but either way ... there's still a few episodes left. Carry on!
Sadly, Keanu Reeves couldn't join us on this episode as he's busy in Germany filming the new Matrix movie, but we do talk a bit about Bill and Ted, as well as some timely absinthe news, and ... oddly ... UFO sightings in New Jersey which according to the news turned out to be the Goodyear Blimp (but, seriously, if you look at the videos that dozens of people took, it does NOT look like the Goodyear Blimp).
Remember folks ... be excellent to each other.
Mentioned in this podcast:
Remember that old Warren Zevon song, "Send Lawyers, Guns, and Money"? Well, this is not it. This is more, "Send Fairy Dust, Zombies, Bob Newhart, The IT Crowd, Travel Man, What We Do in the Shadows, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Rick Wakeman, Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of the War of the Worlds, Alan Parsons, Star Trek Discovery, and Science Fiction Weapons."
Dan and Jerry -- after over 9 years of procrastinating -- finally have the one and only Absinthia as our guest! She tells the boys about the trials and tribulations of being a woman bringing a genuine organic absinthe to market. Dan does most of the interview while Jerry gets more and more "happy" drinking not one ... not two ... but three glasses of her wonderful elixir. Tune into this one for some serious insider information and also a very surprising revelation of the very best absinthe that Absinthia has ever tasted -- from a place that absolutely shocks Dan.
Thanks go out once again to Absinthia for joining in on this episode, and make sure to check out her absinthe and merch on Absinthia.com
The title says Atomic "Bomb" Lamp, not Atomic "Bong" Lamp. Meanwhile, Jerry suffers from some credit card fraud but was saved, apparently, by Netflix, Dan gives his recommendation on what he puts on his "music to sip absinthe by" playlist, and Jerry tells Dan about a girl named Ramona who works at a snake farm.
Trust us, if you don't know what the title is referring to, then you don't want to know. Other than that, this episode basically talks about box monkeys who are obsessed with those with bigger boxes, and the boys talking about Occupy Wall Street (remember that?) and the fact that if you really want to have a protest have some real effect, then you need to protest with your wallet. Lots of good absinthe conversation going on in this one, and remember this pro tip: the more you drink, the funnier we are.
Santé!
Dan and Jerry talk about stuff. And things. And jail.
Back in 2011, Jerry found out that, contrary to his expectations, it kind of sucked to live in a high-rise corner penthouse. Also, this is a COVID-19-free episode, though we do talk a lot about the zombie apocalypse ... so it's about the same thing. Just with more zombies.
Sick of hearing about the 2020 pandemic? This is a pandemic-free episode! How?! Because it was originally recorded in 2011, and in it Jerry talks about the email he once received from Steve Jobs, Dan questions how Saint Peter ended up being Heaven's security guard, and Jerry discusses the one addiction he just can't seem to kick. Also, Dan has an actual prescription for whiskey, and a pen he cannot take on an airline. Santé!
The pod gods smited us during this episode, forcing us to regroup and pick up the pieces. Among the cursed subjects are Romper Room memories, the horrors of finishing a bottle of Le Tourment Vert, and experimenting with the ROOT OF ALL EVIL (it's not money). Jerry also gives his recommendation of a specific camera, if you were only to have one camera -- this is the one. Until, of course, the newest model comes out.
Even back in 2011 Dan and Jerry were talking about the ominous aspect of not knowing if you're talking to a real person, or a bot, on the Internet. In this episode, Jerry is drinking Esprit Edouard, and Dan gives a review of Père Francois. What are you drinking? Santé!
Topics covered in this silly train wreck:
Grab your favorite beverage of your choice and join us!
It's 10 AM for Dan and 12 Noon for Jerry, but hey, it's a Sunday, and so who cares? Get your drink ready and join us for The Green Hour, where Jerry is enjoying his La Clandestine (now that he's figure out to not dilute it so much) and Dan gives advice to those trying new spirit for the first time. The boys also talk about bottles of alcohol that are designed specifically to be repurposed as a bong; why Jerry prefers independent music; and Dan recommends some older awesome movies for Jerry (and the rest of us) to put on our Netflix watch lists. They also talk about the tools of their respective creative trades, and ask you to chime in.
Important lessons to learn: How not to be roofied (Jerry's girlfriend had a very close call); buying glasses on the Internet is a total crapshoot; don't try to treat an eye infection with flaming absinthe; and how to make a absinthe Mojito. Special guest appearances on this September 2011 retro episode include Marilyn Monroe, Groucho Marks, and Chuck Testa.
So the United States Government finally makes an official admission that, in effect, UFO's are real, and in this day and age we pretty much yawn and say, "Whatever." Has it really come to this? Yes, dear friends, it has. But there is one positive note: some very smart people are doing serious research to see if the ingredients of absinthe may help fight the current pandemic, and so we say, "Let's drink to that!" And we did. Jerry, in fact, drank maybe a bit too much. Also he reveals the results of his test, which was last episode's cliff hanger.
If Burning Man is going to be online this year instead of out on the Playa, why can't the various absinthe festivals be online? And if they're not, should we create our own? Let's discuss.
In this special episode, recorded mostly on Easter Sunday 2020, we're joined by special guest Kim Haasarud, a James Beard-honored mixologist, author, beverage consultant, and Vice President of the United States Bartenders Guild, where she tells us how we can all pitch in and help bartenders and waitstaff displaced by the current Covid-19 pandemic. Or, how to get help from the USBG if you are a bartender or waitstaff who has found yourself in the situation where you could use a helping hand. Other topics in this episode include classic science fiction movies; Godzilla and the Twilight Zone (then, and now); the latest installment of Red Dwarf; and many other things to explore ... or re-explore ... while physically distancing.
Note: Jerry was going to call this episode, "Are you Social Distancing, or Do I Just Have Bad Breath?" but at the last minute thought better of it.