Great Moments in American History

Canada:  come for the health care, stay for the mind-numbing politeness.

This Week in Canada

With two crews in New York and L.A., and a partnership with the National Lampoon (2015-2019), The East Coast Division continued to produce its unique brand of satirical comedy.  With a cast including Tony Hendra, Jeff Kreisler, Dan Vitale (the former SNL cast member, not the football player), Bruce Cherry, Jessica Park, Chase O'Donnell, and Savannah Brown, among others, this group put out a formidable body of work until Summer 2018, when the group closed up shop.  So let's settle in with some KFC and enjoy the best of the East Coast Division on The Final Edition Radio Hour.

Episode #384: The East Coast Division (2014-2018)

In the 2015 documentary "Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead:  The Story of the National Lampoon," Chevy Chase said that the Lampoon’s motive was "taking on the idiocy of our own generation."  And what idiocy there was -- government corruption at the highest levels, unnecessary wars, anti-intellectualism, rising gas prices, racism, sexism, and your garden variety stupidity.  And now, three generations later … nothing’s changed.  Oh, the names are different (some are frighteningly the same), but we’ve been dealing with the same bullshit for the past fifty years.

If the past half-century has taught us anything it’s that evil and stupidity are timeless, and that rock bottom is an illusion -- there’s always a deeper level to sink to.  Back in the Lampoon’s day, they had their big bad in the form of Richard Nixon, a president who has been so ridiculed and parodied that his very name has become a punchline.  Then came the Reagan Administration.  And then the first Bush Administration.  And then the Clinton Administration.  And then the second Bush Administration.  Twenty years ago, I thought we had the worst, most evil people in office -- the Anti-Christs that would finally destroy our nation -- but then the Trump Administration came along and said, “hold my beer.”  At this rate, I predict that -- in twenty years' time -- the Republican president of that era will openly molest children in the Oval Office and set random fires in D.C.

However, in times of said evil and stupidity, opposing voices will rise up and speak truth to that power.  In the past, we’ve had the aforementioned National Lampoon, SNL’s "Weekend Update," Michael Moore, The Onion, The Daily Show with John Stewart, Air America Radio, The Colbert Report, and -- in 2012 -- The Final Edition Radio Hour.  And whether it was railing against the center-right ineffectiveness of the Obama era, or the far-right nihilism of the Trump era, or trigger warnings, or conspiracy theorists, or social media obsessives, or just dummies who wanted to eat Tide Pods, we held the line.  Just as the National Lampoon took on the idiocy of their generation, The Final Edition Radio Hour took on the idiocy of our own.  And I’m proud to have been a part of it.

The following is one final playlist; a two-hour best-of the past ten years (I know, I know … technically it’s more like eight; leave me alone).  The final track is -- of course -- the classic "Deteriorata," written by the late Tony Hendra for the Lampoon's 1972 album "Radio Dinner.”  It wouldn't feel right to go out any other way.

Thanks for listening, everyone.  For the last time, this is The Final Edition Radio Hour.

Episode #388:  Happy 10th Anniversary!!!

As previously stated, there was so much good stuff from the latter era of the show that I created another playlist of our best material.  Am I biased?  Well, yes.  But listen to this show and prove me wrong.

You'll notice that -- among the many, many formidable talents from this time period -- a number of these sketches prominently feature cast member Samantha Jane Gurewitz.  I must confess that I have a considerable amount of affection for her.  She's an incredible writer, actor, and improvist (is that a word?), and she was kind enough to help me with several of my scripts.  She frequently said hi to me on the nights where the cast's recording sessions were broadcast online via the live stream.  And, most of all, I first became aware of her talent when hearing it performed in "Teach Talk," my first sketch to air.

So here is the best of Sam, as well as the best of Ben, Gil, Jessica, Keith, Barry, and the rest of my esteemed colleagues.  This is The Final Edition Radio Hour.

Episode #386:  More of the Second West Coast Division

The Final Edition's West Coast Division experienced a shift in early 2016, as many of the long-time cast moved on.  This was counterbalanced, however, by an influx of new writers and comedians, primarily from the Los Angeles area.  This cast included, at various times, Bridget Fitzgerald, Ben Kuerchner, Gil Baron, Samantha Jane Gurewitz, Keith Saltojanes, Kandice Martellaro, Jonathan Grant, Kate Segnalla, Mike Besaw, Gene Augusto, and Dominique Dibbell, among others.  Oh, and myself.

Time passed.  After several years as an hour-long podcast, The Final Edition returned to its 30 minute roots in September 2017.  The following year, the East Coast Division closed up shop; this coincided with the relocation of NY regulars Jessica Park, Chase O'Donnell, and Savannah Brown to California, where they joined the West Coast cast.  Our ties to the National Lampoon ended in Fall 2019 when the brand was sold [again] to new owners who wanted to start their own podcast.  And then COVID-19 kinda put the kibosh on being able to record, with our last official show being a best-of released on June 8, 2020.

Due to the sheer volume of content, choosing best-of material from this era was difficult, but this playlist contains many highlights from this era.  In fact, there's so much that there may be more coming.  This is The Final Edition Radio Hour.

Episode #385:  The Second West Coast Division (2016-2020)

Republicans Announce That Working Moms are to Blame for Everything

From November 2016.  Originally created for Howl.

Men in Black:  Disrobing the Supreme Court

For our penultimate show, it's another best-of the West Coast live stream.  For those of you just joining us, from May 2017 to May 2019, what was The Final Edition's West Coast division would broadcast their recording sessions live on Facebook and UBN's website on Wednesday evenings, allowing viewers (okay, just me) to watch the sausage get made.  This time, I'm highlighting some sketches that never made it to the show itself, as well as some improvisations that would have made fine sketches of their own.

While I have this soapbox, I wanted to take an opportunity to thank Executive Producer Barry Lank for taking me on as a contributing writer.  While I'm certain many contributors to this show can trace some of their comedy education to Tony Hendra, I can actually trace some of mine to Barry, as I first became familiar with his work on the original Air America Radio back in 2004 - 2006, when he wrote material for several shows on the network (this is also where I became fans of Final Edition alums Jim Earl and Bruce Cherry).   We eventually became friends on social media, but for some reason I was unaware of the Final Edition podcast until early 2015, when I stumbled upon one of his sketches that he posted to YouTube.  I searched out the show's archives online -- it was scattered across a few podcast platforms -- and I became a fan.

The following year, I approached him online asking if they were accepting submissions.  He asked me to send him some stuff, and I eventually became a regular contributor; over time, I also took on duties handling this SoundCloud page.  My participation was always remote -- I had hoped that, one day, I could take a trip to Los Angeles to record live with the crew, but then The Plague happened and ... you know.  The live stream was my one-sided way of participating with the West Coast team during their recording sessions.

I hope you find these highlights as engaging as I did years ago, standing out on the streets of Baltimore at one in the morning -- listening on my phone in between karaoke songs at Castaways Bar & Grill -- waiting to see if my jokes passed muster.  This is The Final Edition Radio Hour.

Episode #387:  Requiem for the Live Stream

It was announced on May 6th that Dan Vitale -- New York comedian, Saturday Night Live player, and veteran of the Final Edition Radio Hour -- has died at the age of 66.  A contributor primarily in 2015, Vitale was known for possessing an aggressive, caustic wit, one that he mastered on the mean streets of a pre-gentrified Big Apple.  Presented here is a sampling of his limited, but powerful, appearances.  He will be missed.  Photo courtesy of the SNL Network.

Remembering Dan Vitale

The Final Edition Radio Hour

This Week in Canada #1

This Week in Canada #2

From December 2013.  This installment:  1973 - Henry Kissinger is being naughty.

Great Moments in American History #1

This Week in Canada #3

This Week in Canada #4

This Week in Canada #5

From December 2013.  This installment:  1852 - The Millard Fillmore crisis.

Great Moments in American History #2

Republicans Announce That Working Moms are to Blame for Everything #4

Republicans Announce That Working Moms are to Blame for Everything #3

From December 2013.  This installment:  1858 — James Buchannan ignores the South.

Great Moments in American History #3

From December 2013.  This installment:  1962 - John F. Kennedy has a quickie in the Oval Office.

Great Moments in American History #4

Republicans Announce That Working Moms are to Blame for Everything #2

Republicans Announce That Working Moms are to Blame for Everything #1

From November 2016.  Some outtakes from our "Men in Black:  Disrobing the Supreme Court" series.

Men in Black:  Disrobing the Supreme Court, Outtakes

From November 2016.  The Future, or "Big, Fat Question Mark."  Originally created for Howl.

Men in Black:  Disrobing the Supreme Court, Part 3

From November 2016.  Modern Times, or "Decisions, Decisions." Originally created for Howl.

Men in Black:  Disrobing the Supreme Court, Part 2

From November 2016.  The Past, or "Odor in the Court."  Originally created for Howl.

Men in Black:  Disrobing the Supreme Court, Part 1

From February 2018.  The crew settles in, and Executive Producer Barry Lank informs them that they're now on camera.

Outtake #25:  Live Stream Opening

From May 2017.  The group discuss ASMR, and then Barry Lank and Kate Segnalla improv an ASMR fight between two roommates that both have YouTube channels.  It should have been a sketch.

Outtake #26:  ASMR Fight

From September 2017.  Rejected jokes from the "Man on the Street" segment.

TO HEAR THE ORIGINAL SKETCH CLICK HERE: 
 https://soundcloud.com/thefinaledition/man-on-the-street-new-chocolate?

Outtake #27:  Man on the Street Outtake (Chocolate is Poo)

From June 2017.  Barry Lank recalls his time with Robin Williams, and then he gives his thoughts on bad improv.

Outtake #28:  Robin Williams and Bad Improv

From May 2017.  The cast discusses regional idioms with Kandice Martellaro.

Outtake #29:  Baking with Butter

Mayor Michael Bloomberg Announces a Plan to Fight Climate Change

The Final Edition's Celebrity Panel on the Latest Episode of 'Game of Thrones'

Pope Francis I to Marry Brazilian Transgender Man Named Joan

President Obama's Right Hand on Shaking Hands with Cuban President Raul Castro

Presidential Press Conference on Republican Control

Barack Obama and John Boehner Merge to Form the Speaker of the White House

History Attends the Bush Library Dedication

Military Drones Now Used to Replace Sheriffs, Evict Families from Foreclosed Homes

The Powerful Homeless Children's Lobby

Republicans Vote to Repeal the Works Progress Administration (1935-1943)

Men will scream like children, clowns will be worshiped as gods, and the threat of violence hangs over all — must be the annual office party.

Office Party

Sandra Bullock:  America’s sweetheart, or mutant white-supremacist internet oligarch?

Sandra Bullock Lied

Not sure where to take your in-laws for a holiday dinner?  Try Chez Rectal — the CIA gives it [redacted] stars!

Chez Rectal

You can’t hide your love of cop shows, America (if you tried, you'd just get strip searched without a warrant).

Copophilia #2

The hosts of Fox and Friends go crazier than Michele Bachmann’s eyes when forced to choose between France and Obama.

Fox News Meltdown

Ten tips for tourists from some one that hates you, and knows that the NYC Highline exists.

Ten Guide Tips for New York City’s Meatpacking District

Audio from the meeting where that decision was made to take the nudes out of Playboy.


Behind the Headline (Playboy Magazine)

Lets put guns in the hands of the Americans that need them the most.

Gunz-4-Kids

Basic Cable Tourette’s

In which a member of academia stands up for what is right. Technically.

Teach Talk

You're not a real American unless you're proud of surrendering to Vladimir Putin.

A Message from Actual Patriotic Americans for Putin

Johnny's Car Whores

It's that time in L.A., to watch the homeless on parade.

The Parade of the Homeless

News for People Who Have Given Up

A Hollywood sexual harassment scandal involving the Smurfs will leave you feeling blue ... Get it?  Blue? ...  Hello?

Smurfsual Harassment

I was going to write something funny here, but I'm going to need a moment as well.

Breakup

Finding the little Anne Frank hiding in all of us.

23andJew

Part one of a drunk couple's ride in an Uber.

Drunk Couple #1

From April 2014.  It's important to mark career achievements.

LinkedIn Work Anniversary

OooooOOOOoooohhh!  Garlic bread!  No, you go ahead.  I'll just watch.

Proxy Eating

From May 2012.  This Mother's Day, why not get your mom something she's wanted for years:  an abortion.

Second Thoughts Family Clinic

From April 2012.  When he was alive, the late David Koch took some time to provide some insight on the American Dream with us.  Conputruerunt iumenta in requiem eorum, Dave.

David Koch's Speech on the American Dream

From January 2015.  Paid for by Americans Who Strongly Support Freedom of Speech As Long As They Don't Actually Have to Support Freedom of Speech.

Freedom of Speech PSA

From October 2015.  Cancer paints the town red ... with internal hemorrhaging.

WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3szoZXw7No4

Cancer's Big Night Out

From October 2016. The first in a series.

Mantiques Road Show #1

The Final Edition Radio Hour.  Angry chunks of end-of-the-world comedy featuring talents from The Daily Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Air America Radio, Cracked-dot-com, at-midnight, The Five Lesbian Brothers, Stan Against Evil, and Conan.

The Final Edition is the creation of acclaimed satirist Tony Hendra (National Lampoon, This is Spinal Tap) and Jeff Kreisler (Bill Hicks Spirit Award, author of “Get Rich Cheating”).  Formed in the tradition of the original National Lampoon Radio Hour, our podcast features some of the finest comedic talent from Los Angeles, among others.

The Final Edition can be heard weekly on a variety of podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Acast, Player FM, and TuneIn.  Individual sketches can also be heard on SoundCloud.  You know, the website you’re currently visiting.

The Final Edition Radio Hour.  Satire with teeth.

Playlists by thefinaledition