The Worst of All Possible Worlds

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO  Patreon.com/worstofall The lads finally finish the hat as they cover James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim’s beautiful, pointillist musical: Sunday in the Park With George. Topics include the complexity of the score, the controversial second act, and the challenge of bringing order to the whole through design, composition, balance, light, and harmony. Want more TWOAPW? Get access to the rest of this episode, our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes, and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall! Media Referenced in this Episode: Sunday in the Park with George by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim. “Eight Lines (Octet)” by Steve Reich. 1979. Look, I Made a Hat: Collected Lyrics (1981-2011) with Attendant Comments, Amplifications, Dogmas, Harangues, Digressions, Anecdotes and Miscellany by Stephen Sondheim. Penguin Random House. 2011. “Partitions” by Milton Babbitt, 1957. Putting it Together: How Stephen Sondheim and I Created "Sunday in the Park with George" by James Lapine. macmillan Publishing. 2021. Reich and Sondheim: In Conversation and Performance. Interview with Frank Rich. Lincoln Center, 2016. Sondheim on Music: Minor Details and Major Decisions by Mark Eden Horowitz. Scarecrow Press, 2010. Also available on Youtube. “UK Omnibus: Sunday in the Park with Stephen.” 1990. “Putting It Together” Variations Barbara Streisand’s Version The Academy Awards Version The Xerox Commercial Version The Ethan Allen Version TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com

The lads strap on their gas masks and look for the light as they face down both the Infected and the evil heart of humanity in Naughty Dog’s 2013 mega-hit: The Last of Us: Part I. Topics include the history of zombie media, the tremendous performances, and the deeply cynical philosophy at the heart of the “greatest video game story ever told.” Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall! Media Referenced in this Episode: The Last of Us: Part I Available on PS5 // Steam The Last of Us: Remastered Available on PS4 The Last of Us Available on PS3 “Grounded: The Making of the Last of Us”. Directed by Jason Bertrand, Matt Chandronait, Jeffrey Keith Negus, Ryan O'Donnell, Cesar Quintero. Produced by Sony, Feb 2014. “The Power of Failure: Making ‘The Last of Us’” by Andrew Webster. The Verge September 19th, 2013. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Featuring Eleanor Philips as “Ellie”.

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall THE LADS WATCH 8 MRBEAST VIDEOS AND THEN TALK ABOUT THEM (Not Clickbait). Topics include MrBeast’s humble origins, the monetization of altruism, and the internet’s canonization of St. Jimmy Donaldson. Want more TWOAPW? Get access to the rest of this episode, our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes, and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall! Media Referenced in this Episode: The Beast Playlist “Is MrBeast for Real? Inside the Outrageous World of YouTube's Cash-Happy Stunt King” by EJ Dickson, Rolling Stone April 9th, 2022. “Mr. Beast, YouTube Star, Wants to Take Over the Business World” by Taylor Lorenz, NYTimes, May 4th, 2021. The CouRage and Nadeshot Show, Episode 38: "MrBeast Shares His BIGGEST YouTube Secrets!" The Joe Rogan Experience, Episode #1788: MrBeast. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com 

TSA hacker maia arson crimew (@_nyancrimew) teaches Josh and Brian how to hack the planet as they ride the internet superhighway straight into the eXtreme cyberpunk 90’s nostalgia of Iain Softley’s Hackers. Topics include the art of the 90s montage, the legacy of Hackers in the hacktivist community, and the paramount importance of pulling a righteous hack.   Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!   maia arson crimew (it/she) is gay, mostly for girls, and a tiny kitten :3 Website // Ko-Fi // Wikipedia   Media Referenced in this Episode: BTS Polaroids from the set of Hackers by Roger K Burton. Dazed Digital. How Telephone Phreaking Worked by The 8-Bit Guy. 2020. “how to completely own an airline in 3 easy steps” by Maia Arson Crimew, Jan 19th, 2023 HACKERS: Iain Softley - Director Interview by Hackers Curator. Jan 29th, 2021. “House Republicans demand answers from TSA over No-Fly List hack” by Matthew Foldi. The Spectator, January 27th, 2023. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall Colby Day (@thecolbyday) is thrown into The Room of Consequences as he and the lads return to Odyssey for Adventures in Sodom, Gomorrah, and the most sinful place of all: the theater. Topics include the big swings of Phil Loller, the camp perfection of Edwin Blackgaard, and the paramount importance of keeping art weird. Want more TWOAPW? Get access to the rest of this episode, our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes, and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall! Colby Day is a writer/director for theater/film. He wrote the upcoming Netflix film SPACEMAN, directed by Johan Renck (CHERNOBYL), starring Adam Sandler. His script IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE is set to be directed by Andrew Stanton (WALL-E). His short film Lead/Follow is now streaming. Twitter // Instagram // Website Watch Lead/Follow here! Media Referenced in this Episode: Adventures in Odyssey #210: On Solid Ground Adventures in Odyssey #236: Into Temptation Adventures in Odyssey #248: Terror from the Skies Adventures in Odyssey #218: A Class Act TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com (edited) 

Patrick Willems (@patrickhwillems) teaches the lads the ABC’s of corporate espionage as they slide down the deeply intricate lore rabbit hole that is Dreamworks’ 2017 fever dream: The Boss Baby. Topics include the scores of Hans Zimmer, the commodification of love, and the eternal and ever-growing rivalry between babies and puppies. Want more TWOAPW? Get access to our full back catalogue of premium/bonus episodes and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall! Patrick H. Willems: “Pretty much the Terrence Malick of YouTube.” Twitter // Youtube // Nebula // Instagram // Letterboxd Night of the Coconut: Nebula // Vinyl Media Referenced in this Episode: The Boss Baby (2017) available on Amazon // Apple TV The Boss Baby: Family Business (2021) available on Amazon // Apple TV The Boss Baby: Back in Business (2018) available on Netflix The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib (2022) available on Netflix TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial Written and Performed by Eleanor Philips

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, CHECK US OUT AT Patreon.com/worstofall   The lads hop into their ham trunks and floor it to the Great White North as they cover the trials and tribulations of the New Burbage Theater Festival in 2003’s hit Canadian TV show: Slings and Arrows. Topics include the series’ roots in the Stratford Theater Festival, magical Shakespeare harps, and the enduring legacy of one of the only successful TV shows about a life in the theater.   Want more TWOAPW? Get access to the rest of this episode, our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes, and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!   Media Referenced in this Episode: Slings and Arrows, Season One: Amazon // Acorn TV The Creators of Slings and Arrows Talk about Creating One of TV’s Greatest Shows by Emily St. James, AV Club, May 30th, 2013. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com

Trevor Strunk (No Cartridge Audio) and the lads grab their whips and commit a colonialism as they return to Odyssey for some rip-roaring adventures in treasure hunting, stranger danger, and French missionary pranksters. Topics include the defense of property rights, the treachery of false uncles, and the many, many, many jobs of John Avery Whittaker.Trevor Strunk Twitter / Story Mode No Cartridge Audio: Critical but casual approaches to current, past, and future video games six times a week. In addition, guests will periodically share their own aesthetic and personal experiences with games in conversation! Available on Apple Podcasts // Spotify // Red Circle Support No Cartridge Audio on Patreon // Twitter Josh’s Episode of No Cartridge About Thief 2: The Metal AgeMedia Referenced in this Episode: Episode #102: The Treasure of LaMonde! Episode #244 and #245: The Mysterious Stranger Parts 1 and 2 Episode #171 and #172: The Cross of Cortes Parts 1 and 2 TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: brendan-dalton.com / brendandalton.bandcamp.com

THIS IS A PREVIEW. FOR THE FULL EPISODE, GO TO Patreon.com/worstofall   The lads dive deep into the gaping hole at the heart of Noir York City as they brave the nauseating, bullet-ridden world of Remedy’s Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. Topics include the Matrix-ization of video games, the tenets of Sam Lake’s storytelling, and the bafflingly acclaimed legacy of the pills and simile-addicted Maximilian Payne.   Want more TWOAPW? Get access to the rest of this episode, our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes, and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall   Media Referenced in this Episode: Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne Available on Steam // Xbox // PS2 “30 best female video game characters, ranked” by Joal Ryan, CNET, Oct. 13, 2016 “LGR - Adventures of Ninja Nanny - PC Game Review” by LGR, LGR Youtube Channel, November 13, 2015 “Max Payne ‘Clones’” by Lucas Raycevik, Raycevik Youtube Channel Metacritic Reviews Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne for PC “Sam Lake: The Remedy Story So Far” by Sam Lake. Digital Dragons Speech, 2017. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: brendan-dalton.com / brendandalton.bandcamp.co

Phone rings, door chimes, in comes Patrick Flynn (The Original Cast) as he and the lads celebrate Bobby’s infamous 35th birthday in the Stephen Sondheim/George Furth deep-dive into marriage: Company. Topics include the many revivals of the show, the superb score/uneven book, and the incomparable performance of Raúl Esparza.   Want more TWOAPW? Get access to the rest of this episode, our full back catalogue of premium and bonus episodes, and add your name to the masthead of our website by subscribing for $5/month at Patreon.com/worstofall!   Patrick Flynn: Website / Twitter / New Play Exchange   The Original Cast is a podcast about original cast albums and the people who love them. Each episode, Patrick interviews someone who’d see on-stage, backstage, or in the house of a theatre about an original cast album they love. Listen on Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Google Podcasts Instagram / Twitter Media Referenced in this Episode: Company, dir. John Doyle, 2006. Youtube / Cast Recording Company, dir. Hal Prince, 1970. Original Cast Recording Company, dir. Marianne Elliot, 2018. London Cast Recording “Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) with Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines and Anecdotes” by Stephen Sondheim, Penguin Random House. 2010. Original Cast Album: Company. Dir. D.A. Pennebaker. Watch it on HBO Max / Criterion Channel Masterworks Broadway presents Stephen Sondheim: The Story so Far https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7IiisCxYN0 - This is not the episode where the Stritch interview comes from, but it's the same series. the interview has been completely offline for the last decade   TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: brendan-dalton.com / brendandalton.bandcamp.com Feat. David Armstrong as “Larry” and Eleanor Philips as “Multitudes of Amys”.