The Worst of All Possible Worlds

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall On this episode of Fancy Movie Time with Brian and A.J., the Fancy Lads unplug their phones and have a good cry as they cover James L. Brooks' 1987 ode to the joys of work: Broadcast News. Does the electric chemistry of the three leads make this movie a Fancy Feast? Or does its overlong runtime make it a Failure to Fancy? One thing's for sure: that Gracie Films' tune sure is catchy.   Next episode: Ordet (1955).

MERCHANDISE NOW ON SALE THROUGH 12/31 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH 12/31   Tom Stoppard, the acclaimed, prolific playwright behind Arcadia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Rock 'n' Roll and so many other plays, along with the screenplays to Shakespeare in Love, Brazil, and Anna Karenina, has died. He leaves behind a staggering, inspiring, often frustrating body of work that will continue to be seen long after we are gone. We are joined today by Abigail Thorn (The Acolyte, House of the Dragon) to look at the corners of his oeuvre that have spoken to us over the years, and discuss what we can learn from him going forward.   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 Podcast

MERCHANDISE NOW ON SALE THROUGH 12/31 ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH 12/31   On their fourth annual remembrance of Pearl Harbor, the lads hop in their B-17’s and throw Los Angeles into chaos as they cover Steven Spielberg’s notorious 1979 WWII flop: 1941. Topics include the duality of Jon Belushi, the real-life horror of the Zoot Suit Riots, and the difficulties of delivering a punchline when everyone around you is screaming.   Media Referenced in this Episode: 1941. Dir. Steven Spielberg. 1979 “Civilian Casualties: Pearl Harbor”. National Park Service. Last updated September 18th, 2024. “How Pearl Harbor created a climate of fear” by Daniel Greene. CNN. December 7th, 2016. “Inn Owner Tells of Shelling; SUBMARINE SHELLS A CALIFORNIA PLANT U.S. MAINLAND SHELLED” by The New York Times. February 24th, 1942. Remember Pearl Harbor! By Thomas Blake Clark. Modern age books. 1942. Steven Spielberg’s 1941 | The Making Of. “The 1942 Battle of L.A.” by Scott Harrison. The Los Angeles Times. February 23rd, 2017.   TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com   Interstitial: “Something Special” // Written and performed by A.J. Ditty // Music: “Inkwell Hell” by Kristopher Maddigan

A very special message from Josh.  https://store.worstpossible.world https://www.patreon.com/worstofall

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall The lads throw on their bowler hats and blame on their shoes the faults of their feet as they cover Samuel Beckett’s tragicomic masterpiece: Waiting for Godot. Topics include the origins of Godot, the benefits of being stabbed in the chest, and the enduring legacy of a stage play where nothing happens twice. Media Referenced in this Episode: Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett. 1953. Damned to Fame: The Life of Samuel Beckett by James Knowlson. Simon and Schuster. 1996. Panic Attack by John Lahr. The New Yorker. May 11th, 2009. SAMUEL BECKETT: Waiting for Godot : Bert Lahr / E. G. Marshall The 1957 All-Black Broadway Cast of 'Waiting For Godot' in the Archives | The New York Public Library TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “A Message from Mr. Godot” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Featuring A.J. DItty as “Mr. Godot” and Eleanor Philips as “The Weird Brother”.

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall We've done it. Charlotte and Libby are back to join us in the Hunter's Nightmare, a blood-drenched valhalla where no one's having a good time. What’s All This Then?: A podcast about Britain, hosted by Charlotte McDonnell and Libby Watson. Patreon // Spotify // Apple Podcasts Libby Watson: Twitch // Bluesky Charlotte McDonnell: Twitch // Bluesky TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com

The godfather of Christian media podcasts Kevin T. Porter (Good Christian Fun) joins the lads in Odyssey as they cover three episodes from the series that would one day become Adventures in Odyssey: Family Portraits. Topics include the dangers of yokel discrimination, the bizarro world of pre-Odyssey Odyssey, and what it means to have your mail delivered by a man named George Poindexter.   Kevin T. Porter: Instagram // Website Good Christian Fun: Good Christian Fun is a podcast delving into the strange upside-down world of Christian pop culture. Hosts Kevin T. Porter and Caroline Ely are your tour guides through the weird and hilarious world of faith-based entertainment. GCF is a show for skeptics and believers alike, all are welcome. Don’t worry, they won’t make you go to church ;) Patreon // Apple Podcasts // Website Listen to Josh’s episode of GCF about Mary Rice Hopkins Media Referenced in this Episode Family Portraits S01E01: “Whit’s Visitor” S01E03: “The New Kid in Town” S01E09: “A New Kind of Peer Pressure” TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “J2o18h15n th11e Fi5rs14t” // Written by A.J. Ditty // feat. Brian Alford as “John/Jimmy/Michael”, A.J. Ditty as “Dr. Oswald Oliver”, and Jessie Cannizzaro as “Dr. Christina Cavalcante” // Violin Cover of “The Chain” by Steve Bingham, Arranged by Rowan Marshall

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall Donovan Eyre (Radio Free Tote Bag, DonoHell) and the lads throw on their trenchcoats and putter around some crime scenes as they cover the hit NBC/ABC mystery sensation: Columbo. Topics include the genius of Peter Falk, the many crimes of the Kong family, and what we can learn from watching a working class detective one more thing his way towards bringing justice to the bourgeois. Donovan Eyre: Bluesky  // Instagram // SoundCloud DonoHell: Streaming Wednesdays 8-10 Radio Free Tote Bag: A weekly relationship advice podcast hosted by Audrey and Donovan. Patreon // Spotify // Apple Podcasts // Twitter // Instagram Media Referenced in this Episode: Columbo. Created by Richard Levinson and William Link. S02E01: “Étude in Black” S05E05: “Now You See Him” S10E01:“Columbo Goes to College” Columbo, Romania and the Communist Party by Radu Pericol Tiganas. How Columbo Influenced the Cinematographers of Poker Face by Iain Marks. American Cinematographer. May 21st, 2025. “How We Created Columbo and How He Nearly Killed Us” by Richard Levinson and William Link. American Film Magazine. March 1981. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Columbo Kong” // Written by A.J. Ditty // feat. Brian Alford as “Bluster Kong/Mainer Kong/Werner”, Josh Boerman as “DK”, and A.J. Ditty as “Columbo Kong”

Jolenta Greenberg (Hot Mess-Terpiece Theatre) and the lads attend the dinner party from hell and down goblets of cocktails as they cover season one of the hit-Bravo reality show: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Topics include the origins of the Real Housewives, the art of the talking head one-liner, and what we can learn from the horrifying darkness that comes with being married to Frasier Crane.   Jolenta Greenberg: Website // Instagram   Hot Mess-Terpiece Theatre: Comedian & pop culture critic Jolenta Greenberg has a theory: reality TV isn’t ruining culture - it is culture. Join her and a cast of sharp, funny guests as they dig into the details behind the drama and unpack why we can’t get enough of those iconic scenes and unforgettable characters. This is the place for highbrow conversations about “lowbrow” TV. Spotify // Apple Podcasts // Podbean // Instagram   Media Referenced in this Episode: The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills S1 E4: “It’s My Party and I’ll Spend If I Want To” S1 E5: “I Would Never Say That” S1 E9: “The Dinner Party From Hell” S1 E13: “Unforgivable” “Bravo Adds Fifth Night of Programming, Boosting Original Hours by 20%” by Bill Gorman. Bravo TV Press Release. March 10th, 2010. “Bravo’s ‘The Real Housewives of Orange County’ to premiere March 21st” by Reality Tv World staff. Reality TV World. January 6th, 2006. How Andy Cohen Became Famous Enough To End Up On "Riverdale" by Rebecca Farley. Refinery 29. March 22nd, 2018. MEDIA; “Bravo Learns to Make Noise and Have Fun” by Abby Ellin. The New York Times. July 5th, 2004. “NBC Puts Its Stamp on Bravo” by Allison Romano. Broadcasting and Cable. February 17th, 2003.   TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com   Edited by: Brian Alford   Interstitial: “The Real Housewives of Carmel-By-The-Sea” // Written by A.J. Ditty // feat. Josh Boerman as “Bravo Announcer”, Eleanor Philips as “Chloe”, Anne Boerman as “Kathy”, and Madeleine Bundy as “Kim”.

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall   The lads take the Breeze to Crockett island and drink the blood of the angels as they attend Mike Flanagan’s 2021 Catholic horrorfest: Midnight Mass. Topics include the origins of Mike Flanagan, the banal evil of Hamish Linklater, and what it means to try to fight addiction while doing battle with Nosferatu-worshipping vampire-priests.   Media Referenced in this Episode: Midnight Mass. Dir. Mike Flanagan. 2021. “The Deeply Personal Horror of Midnight Mass” by Mike Flanagan. Bloody Disgusting. September 27th, 2021.   TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com   Interstitial: “James the Lesser” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Feat. Dono Eyre as “Da Pope” // Music: Pipe Organ of Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know” by Reductio