“The Daily Show” Senior Correspondent Jessica Williams dishes about her most devastating moment (in an olive oil shop in Park Slope)… Talk-show legend Dick Cavett waxes poetic on playing himself… Comedian Jen Kirkman loses her cell phone and changes her life… Actor Michael McKean, of “This is Spinal Tap” and “Laverne and Shirley” fame, briefs us on playing bad guys. Plus Helen Zaltzman — host of the podcast The Allusionist — on the spies sending you birthday cards, a real German cocktail to go with some fake German news, and music from Emmy the Great!
Helen Zaltzman - 'Turning Into My Father'
Helen Zaltzman, host of "The Allusionist" podcast, borrows an icebreaker from her brother before giving us a little small talk for our dinner party.
UK Spies Find a Better Birthday Reminder Than Facebook
Helen Zaltzman, host of "The Allusionist" podcast, explains how U.K. spies have been abusing a surveillance database to look up the birth dates of their loved ones... in order to send them birthday cards and arrange passports for personal travel.
The Hamburg Mule and the Hoax of the Century
This week back in 1983, a German magazine spent millions on what they thought were the genuine wartime diaries of Adolf Hitler. They were wrong.
How Attempted Blackmail Changed Jen Kirkman's Life
You may have seen Jen Kirkman appears on the talk show "Chelsea Lately"... or confusing Richard Dreyfuss with Frederick Douglass in the series "Drunk History." Her new book is called "I Know What I'm Doing -- and Other Lies I Tell Myself: Dispatches from a Life Under Construction." She shares an excerpt with us.
Keeping Up with Jessica Williams
Jessica Williams co-hosts the new podcast "2 Dope Queens." But it's in her role as senior correspondent for "The Daily Show" that she's become America's favorite fake-news reporter. Jessica aims her arsenal of quick wit and righteous indignation at everything from politics and race to Beyonce. She tells us about forging her own career path, her brief brush with child stardom, and why the Kardashians might be providing the best drama on TV.
Michael McKean Breaks Bad
Actor Michael McKean is probably best known for his comedy roles. He was the charmingly dumb Lenny on the hit '70s sitcom "Laverne and Shirley." And he played David St. Hubbins, lead singer of Spinal Tap... the fictional heavy-metal band he created along with Christopher Guest... as immortalized in the film "This Is Spinal Tap." But McKean's latest role is a far cry from all that. He's onstage now at L.A.'s Mark Taper Forum, in "Father Comes Home From the War." He talks about this his dark and complicated role and tells us about the time Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton had a “Spinal Tap” moment.
Dick Cavett Waxes Poetic on Playing Himself
Dick Cavett is considered one of the greatest talk show hosts ever. From the '60s through the '80s his interviews with celebrities ranging from Gore Vidal to Jimi Hendrix were and are renowned for their humor and intelligence. The Onion AV Club said he "prove[d] good conversation makes good television." He also was a regular columnist for the New York Times and has published several books. He looks back on his part in the feud between Mary McCarthy and Lillian Hellman, what it was like to interview a reticent Beatle, and more.
Etiquette Super Team Dick Cavett and Jessica Williams
The talk show legend and "The Daily Show" Senior Correspondent join forces to tell you how to deal with competitive co-workers and personal space invaders.
Emmy the Great - 'Swimming Pool'
Emmy the Great's debut album "First Love" was named one of the best of the year by The New York Times. Her new album -- cunningly-titled "Second Love" -- just came out. She joined us on stage in New York, for a special rendition of her song "Swimming Pool." Check out a video of the performance below.
Playlist 345
All the music from episode 345.
