Actor Laura Dern has wowed audiences in everything from the “Jurassic Park” blockbusters to independent gems like “Citizen Ruth,” “Blue Velvet,” and “Wild at Heart.” Her latest performance - the lead in HBO’s dramedy “Enlightened” - has earned raves, and netted her a Golden Globe. Brendan chats with Laura about the show’s rising political consciousness, David Lynch’s brains, and Scott Baio’s leisure suit.
Grammy-winning duo They Might Be Giants (John Flansburgh and John Linnell) have been churning out catchy, smart tunes since 1986 - for both adults and on several albums for kids. Their 16th album “Nanobots” (out this week) features a whopping 25 songs in just 45 minutes. To celebrate the less-is-more idea, they suggest a few other tiny gems.
This week back in 1961, Ivan Ivanovich became the first man in space. Or rather, the first mannequin in space. Learn about this state-of-the-art dummy, and then toast his successes with this custom cocktail.
New Euro budget hotels where you might just have to make your own beds…and desks… and…
Nick Krill, frontman for the Spinto Band, has a joke that’s a shoe-in for a groan. (His band just released the album “Cool Cocoon.”)
In 1980, Toru Iwatani created an arcade video game that he thought would appeal to the ladies featuring a cute little dude who bounces around noshing on fruits and dots. It wasn’t big in Japan – but stateside, Pac-Man took off big-time. Listen to the history, play a few levels, and then join us at the bar for a highly unusual cocktail.
Reyhan Harmanci, Deputy Editor of the new food & culture magazine Modern Farmer guides us to La Tacopedia: Enciclopedia del taco which may be the world’s most delicious reference book.
Singer, songwriter, and music producer Kenny Vance has been in the spotlight for over fifty years – but his joke is about two things he doesn’t possess. (Listen to a story from his rock-star glory-days later on in the show…)
All the music used in this episode.
Get the party started with a new Daft Punk track.