The Worst of All Possible Worlds

This lads kick off pride month by revisiting an oft-forgotten but foundational play in the queer canon: William M. Hoffman’s As Is. Topics include the history of the AIDS play, Hoffman’s exquisite weaponization of comedy in the face of overwhelming tragedy, and the legacy of a 90 minute play that inspired an entire genre of theater. Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall! Media Referenced in this Episode: As Is by William M. Hoffman. 1985. AIDS-Involved Drama Syndrome by William M. Hoffman. Poz Magazine. February 1st, 1997. Acts of Intervention by David Roman The AIDS Show Warren by Rebecca Ranson “Playwright Rebecca Ranson’s Journals Reveal Turmoil in Atlanta’s Queer Community During the AIDS Crisis” by Oli Turner. The South and the Archive. October 31st, 2023. As Is script As Is movie Interview with William Hoffman TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Writer’s Block” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. A.J. Ditty as “A.J. Ditty” Additional Voices for As Is Excerpts: Anne Huston, Eleanor Philips, Dara Swisher and Brent Shultz

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall The lads grab their papers and hop a plane to Morocco as they cover Michael Curtiz’ 1942 Bogartfest: Casablanca. Topics include the goblin energy of Peter Lorre, the GOATness of Victor Laszlo, and what it means to drown out fascists by belting out “La Marseillaise”. Media Referenced in this Episode: Casablanca. Dir. Michael Curtiz, 1942. Everybody Comes to Rick's TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: Pages 7-12 of "The Hidden Enemy," written and performed by Josh Boerman

Abigail Thorn (The Acolyte, House of the Dragon) and the lads stand up for their beliefs and just kinda drive around New Mexico as they cover the 2014 evangelical political thriller: Persecuted. Topics include passion plays, the art of selling evangelicalism, and what it means to build your entire theological identity around whining like a smol bean. Abigail Thorn: Bluesky // Instagram The Prince: A transformative new play that has everything: sword fighting, lesbianism, Hamlet, and disappointed parents. Available on Nebula. Philosophy Tube: Giving away philosophy degrees for free! Youtube // Nebula // Patreon Kill James Bond! is a comedy film review/ pop culture commentary podcast about the portrayal of masculinity in cinema. November Kelly, Abigail Thorn, and Devon have watched Bond movies, War on Terror movies, Eurospy movies, and now they take on their biggest task yet: Heist Movies. What can Heat, Oceans’ 11, and the Fast and Furious movies teach us about how masculinity was imagined by the people who created them? What does that say about Society? Free episodes are released every fortnight on all major podcast platforms and bonus episodes are released for supporters on Patreon on the interstitial weeks. Website / Twitter / Patreon Listen on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Media Referenced in this Episode: Persecuted. Dir. Daniel Lusko. 2014. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Da Pope” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. Donovan Eyre as “Da Pope”

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall The lads escape a chain gang and become men of constant sorrow as they embark on Joel and Ethan Coen’s 2000 Southern Odyssey: O Brother, Where Art Thou? Topics include the charms of George Clooney, the superlative soundtrack, and how to adapt the Odyssey without turning into a horny toad. Media Referenced in this Episode: O Brother, Where Art Thou? Dir. Joel Coen. 2000. Why it’s crazy that ‘Oh Brother Where Art Thou’ was pulled off - Tim Blake Nelson TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Spree!!!” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. A.J. Ditty as “Spree-Man”

Alex and Jeremy of the Quorators podcast join the lads for their triumphant return to Odyssey as they throw themselves headlong into adventures of magic bats, deceitful chickens, and Edwin Blackgaard staging The Merchant of Venice. Topics include the Twilife Zone, the ethics of Watto the Toydarian, and what it means to live your life in the service of a chicken whose real name is drugs. Alex Ptak - Bluesky // Twitter // Instagram Theater of Delights featuring Gran Nidorino! Jeremy Kaplowitz - Bluesky // Twitter // Instagram Quarators - Every Monday, comedians Jeremy Kaplowitz and Alex Ptak head to Quora dot com to find the stupidest questions they can and make fun of them. Youtube // Patreon // Apple Podcasts // Spotify Quorst of All Possible Worlds w/ Josh Boerman // Quorators Full Episode Q+087: Bull Psychology w/ Josh Boerman Media Referenced in this Episode: Adventures in Odyssey #358: “The Secret Weapon” #288: “The Twilife Zone” #359: “The Merchant of Odyssey” TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Case #1189195: Audit of The Patmos Corporation As Performed by Timmy ‘Taxman’ Thompson” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. Josh Boerman as “Timmy ‘Taxman’ Thompson”

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall Caleb @BirdRespecter (Western Kabuki, 60 Minute Drill) joins Brian and Josh to tell the story of Richard “Beebo” Russell, a man who walked off his job as a baggage handler at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport one day in 2018 to steal an airplane. Russell and his ill-fated flight quickly became a cause célèbre among some of the darkest corners of the internet, continuing to this day. This episode tries to figure out how and why that happened. Note: This episode deals with suicide and racist extremism. Caleb: Bluesky // Twitter // Linktree Western Kabuki: Formerly the preeminent Nick Cage podcast, this show is now a few friends from Twitter, @Birdrespecter, @AGoldmund, and @JUNlPER discussing what’s going on online. Patreon // Spotify // Apple Podcasts // Bluesky // YouTube Media referenced this episode: “The Sky Thief: Beebo Russell’s Last Flight” by Tim Dickinson. Rolling Stone, June 24, 2021. “I Worked With Richard Russell at Horizon Air, and I Understand Why He Did What He Did” by Todd Bunker. The Stranger, August 17, 2018. “‘Airplane of opportunity’? Richard Russell raised pilot’s suspicions a year before Sea-Tac plane heist” by Lewis Kamb. The Seattle Times, September 12, 2018. “Sea-Tac air traffic controller faced ‘one in a million’ scenario with stolen plane” by Daniel Beekman and Michelle Baruchman. The Seattle Times, August 11, 2018. “FBI: Richard Russell, who stole plane from Sea-Tac, acted alone, crashed on purpose; motive a mystery” by Lewis Kamb. The Seattle Times, November 9, 2018. “Human remains, flight data recorder found among wreckage of stolen plane on Ketron Island” by Stacia Glenn. The News Tribune, August 13, 2018. “Airline job was way for man who crashed stolen plane to visit Alaska” by Adam Lynn, Alexis Krell, Sue Kidd, Lauren Smith and Craig Sailor. The News Tribune, August 12, 2018. “White nationalists and the ‘Sky King’” by Martin McKenzie-Murray. The Saturday Paper, August 18, 2018. FBI press release on investigation from November 2018 Redacted FBI report from the investigation Music used in this episode: Anticipation by Drill Folly Lookin’ For That Orca (Beebo’s Song) by Johny Maudlin TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: The first seven pages of “The Hidden Enemy,” written and performed by Josh Boerman

Renee Olstead (The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Unfriended) and the lads grab some ice cubes and enter the cutthroat world of Vegas dancing as they cover Paul Verhoeven’s 1995 striptacular: Showgirls. Topics include the madness of Joe Eszterhas, the infamous VH1 cut, and the solidarity that can be learned from a movie that involves shoving your competition down a flight of stairs. Renee Olstead: Website // Instagram // OF // Twitter Coalition of American Sex Workers Media Referenced in this Episode: Showgirls. Dir. Paul Verhoeven. 1995. 'Showgirls' at 25: Gina Ravera discusses the cult movie's most controversial scene by Ethan Alter. Yahoo! Entertainment. September 22nd, 2020. Showgirls, Jade, and the Fall of Joe Eszterhas (Erotic 90’s, Part 14) — You Must Remember This TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “The Worst of All Possible Sex Tips” // Written by A.J. Ditty with additional lyrics by Brian Alford // Featuring Josh Boerman as “Sexy Josh” and Brian Alford as “Sexy Brian” // Music: “Careful Shouting” by Highway Superstar

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall The lads grab their crossbows and make for the Space Needle as they cover the back half of Naughty Dog's 2020 revengefest: The Last of Us Part II. Topics include state quarters, the logistics of building crane bridges, and what it truly means to “look for the light”. Media Referenced in this Episode: The Last of Us Part II. Dir. Neil Druckmann. Naughty Dog. 2020. Grounded II: The Making of The Last of Us: Part II.  One Day, Everyone Will Always Have Been Against This by Omar El Akkad. Penguin Random House. 2025 TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “The CW’s The Last of Us: Season Nine” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. A.J. Ditty as “CW Announcer/Barnaby Bozo”

The lads grab their golf clubs and make for Seattle as they hop on the Ellie murder train that is Naughty Dog’s 2020 revengeapalooza: The Last of Us Part II. Topics include the chaotic development process, the CW-fication of the writing, and the inescapable conservatism at the core of The Last of Us universe. Media Referenced in the Episode: The Last of Us Part II. Dir. Neil Druckmann. Naughty Dog. 2020. 220: Josh Boerman and Dylan Rank Game Mechanics With Us | Anime Sickos - Podcast for Geniuses “The Evolution of Ellie” by Elise Favis. The Washington Post. July 1st, 2020. Grounded II: The Making of The Last of Us: Part II. “The Not So Hidden Israeli Politics of 'The Last of Us Part II'” by Emanuel Maiberg. Vice. July 15h, 2020. “We Talked To The Last Of Us Part II's Director About The Game's Violence (And More Treacherous Stealth)” by Stephen Totilo. Kotaku. June 12th, 2018. Interstitial: “The CW’s The Last of Us: Season Two” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. A.J. Ditty as “CW Announcer/Barnaby Bozo” (edited) 

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall When Bill Clinton won the US presidential election in 1992, two people were key to his success: James Carville and George Stephanopolous. This week, Brian and Josh step into The War Room, D.A. Pennebaker’s 1993 documentary about how these two men and their team of future top Democratic all-stars cajoled and bullshitted America’s electorate into sending Slick Willie to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Media Referenced in This Episode: The War Room, dir. D.A. Pennebaker (Pennebaker Associates/October Films, 1993) Feed, dir. Kevin Rafferty and James Ridgeway (Video Democracy, 1992) Primary, dir. Robert Drew (Time Life, 1960) Bob Dylan: Dont Look Back, dir. D.A. Pennebaker (Leacock-Pennebaker, 1968) Original Cast Album: Company, dir. D.A. Pennebaker (Castle Drive/Talent Associates-Norton Simon, 1970) “Jeffrey Epstein Was a Sex Offender. The Powerful Welcomed Him Anyway.” Jodi Kantor, Mike McIntire, and Vanessa Friedman, The New York Times, July 13, 2019. “Foreign Purchases by Bush Camp Alleged.” Paul Valentine, The Washington Post, September 29, 1992. “Second” campaign ad by Bill Clinton (1992) “Celeb” campaign ad by John McCain (2008) Yes We Can Obama Song by will.i.am (2008) Sensual Pantsuit Anthem (Official Rapped Music Video) by Lena Dunham (2016) “Carville: Trump collapse happened quicker than I imagined” on Smerconish (CNN, 2025) TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com