THE EXORCISM OF CAKE BOSS - a reimagined “Comedy Bang! Bang!” classic AUKERMAN / TOMPKINS / GOURLEY

Scott Aukerman’s Earwolf podcast “Comedy Bang! Bang!” often reminds me of the old-time radio shows, in particular, Jack Benny’s, in which a bunch of weird and wonderful characters surrounded the host, who, although a fine comic in his own right, pretty much played the straight man. Like Scott, Jack was happy to let others supply the laughs, not only because he was a generous performer, but because he realised it didn’t matter who had the jokes, as long as there were plenty of them.
Those radio shows are often referred to as “theatre of the mind” (an expression Scott sometimes jokes about, such as in SXSW 2017 pt 1), because imagination supplied the pictures. The audience could “see” a shitload of stuff falling out of Fibber McGee’s overstuffed closet, just as anyone listening to a “Time Bobby” episode of “Comedy Bang! Bang!” will picture a stabby little orphan boy knifing a podcast host and legendary theatrical composer.
Like old time radio’s most-popular shows, “Comedy Bang! Bang!” boasts hugely-talented performers bringing characters to life in the imagination, except Scott and his guests do it without a script, utilising instead brilliant improvisational skills and a warped stream-of-consciousness to create outrageous situations and uproarious comedy.
My favourite “Comedy Bang! Bang!” episode is no. 289. I have heard it many times and I always find it hilarious. It not only has three excellent characters by Paul F. Tompkins and Matt Gourley (two making their first appearances) supplying an abundance of surreal humour, but also plenty of pop culture references, callbacks (many of which are holdbacks) and crazy “images”.
Being the classic it is, it’s not surprising there are several edits of CBB 289 online, but “The Exorcism of Cake Boss” really is a three-act play for the theatre of the mind, so I thought it was a shame no one had uploaded the very funny first-third and decided to remedy the situation and while at it, show (as best-possible, considering my rudimentary editing skills and poor quality of some images) some of what pops into my mind when I listen.

[@_therealgabe_]

30 seconds in and I already have to say thank you. Not only one of my favorite eps of all time but taking the time to piece some images in. I am SO down. Thanks

[@BabyFaceBren]

Thanks for the comment. I'm glad you like it.

[@jack_rabbit]

agreed :)

[@BabyFaceBren]

I've just uploaded another crazy compilation for people who like this sort of thing. Enjoy! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpPXkqiwo5KfhtU

[@beatlesdork1274]

It’s officially the 10 year anniversary of this piece of art! MAY NIIIIINETEEEEN

[@BabyFaceBren]

Ahhh! The Cuervo Gold! The fine Colombian! Makes tonight (a decade ago) a wonderful thing.

[@beatlesdork1274]

1k of the 38k views are from me listening to some great comedy as I go to sleep.

[@k.pacificnw02134]

I never get tired of Matt Gourley's H.R. Giger. Ever!

[@GregorySigmundsson]

K. PacificNW Hey! Really Giger!

[@jmsmith1767]

I listen to all Giger stuff. Perfection.

[@TheZigzagman]

@@jmsmith1767 His rendition of _'Twas the Night Before Christmas_ pops into my head constantly.

[@PorkFistedViking]

"I feel like this is my Olive Garden"

[@k.pacificnw02134]

Men my age getting the giggles and making tons of references I get makes me laugh so hard.

[@BabyFaceBren]

A strong contender for funniest moment, the scientist who was shot in the head because he knew too much (07:58)

[@deathmetaldownhiller7874]

Holy crap that May 19th Steely Dan intro made me burst out in laughter. Solid start.

[@GooseGumlizzard]

"I was a consultant on Mall Blart!"

[@earlchatterton9133]

This ep is almost unbearably funny at times. Everyone is so on their game. Just hilarious.

[@kylesteinhauser2535]

I'm glad I'm getting married on May 19 (seriously). I will always remember this to remember my anniversary

[@BabyFaceBren]

Well, even if there is no Cuervo Gold or fine Colombian, I'm sure the night will be a wonderful thing!

[@BabyFaceBren]

Maybe Prince Harry will do the same twitter.com/ScorpioOx61/status/976962534665158657

[@9juju6]

That UnCola référence caught me off guard, holy hell that’s hilarious.

[@DaGreatTater]

To this day I still say "HONJIOKAY" like the reverend.

[@BabyFaceBren]

Paul is great at doing that, picking up on some nonsense someone accidentally says. Hence “technicality no down boo over”!

[@beatlesdork1274]

Technicality no down boo over?!?

[@reverendrobertparsimony8475]

The bazooka Joe comic is so good!

[@BabyFaceBren]

Yeah. Thankfully a fan (credited at the end) had already made those images which I found online. I had to change a couple of captions because they didn't quite match PFT's words.

[@MelissaAnn420]

Paul F Thompkins is freaking brilliant. This is an awesome upload, thank you, Cake Boss (Cake Boss).

[@BabyFaceBren]

You're welcome, and yes, kudos to Cake Boss (Cake Boss)! I'm glad you like my edit, but it's going to be a while before I can listen to that episode again, after two weeks of long days listening to nothing else!

[@alifraser5445]

It shouldn't be possible, but you've made this episode even better! The editing and pictures are absolutely bang on. I feel like Earwolf should be begging you to work for them in an official capacity.

[@alifraser5445]

I appreciate people in the comments mentioning the half-drunkeness as well, it explains so much haha.

[@BabyFaceBren]

That would be pretty cool, as long as I could dpo it here. Not leaving paradise for LA.

[@BabyFaceBren]

I've just uploaded another crazy compilation, full of strange images, for people like you who like this sort of thing. Enjoy! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpPXkqiwo5KfhtU

[@FightMeRLG]

Is this played back at a faster speed than it was recorded in real life? How are these guys so fast at improv? Amazing.

[@BabyFaceBren]

I know. If I didn't trust them implicitly, I would think it was scripted.

[@brianleon12]

thanks for putting this together. amazing episode

[@brianleon12]

all riddles take place in Louisiana

[@mdnghtanml7164]

38:03, the first thing to pop into my head was Georgia, kind of sad he didn't say it

[@mrleedra]

All riddles take place in Louisiana.

[@Lukeade815]

literally read this comment at the exact same time HR Giger said it- almost like he read it out loud for me 0_0

[@ClaytonStone895]

Just listened to this for the first time - thanks so much for putting this up! I was laughing so hard when Rev Parsimony was reading the Bazooka Joe comic. Very similar to Ep. 17 of “The Pod. F. Tompkast”, where he reads/describes another old-time comic strip, “Henry”. Highly recommend.

[@BabyFaceBren]

Thanks for that. This is a great show and that Bazooka Joe cartoon description is one of the best bits. I love the way it has the "held back information" callback! I just checked and "The Pod. F. Tompcast" series is on the Stitcher app. I haven't heard any of them. I will start with #17!

[@ClaytonStone895]

BabyFaceBren Listen to them all - they are wonderful. 17 was the first Ep. I heard and I couldn’t believe Paul was just riffing and being so brilliantly funny (his complaining about birds is awesome). Then I started from the beginning and was hooked. (Also: thank you for the just Scott & Paul episodes - I’ve listened to them many times and still laugh. Appreciate your hard work.)

[@BabyFaceBren]

Ha ha, I was just listening to that birds riff while making myself something to eat. He's a funny man. I'm glad you enjoyed my "Just Scott and Paul" videos. Were you referring to the audio-only ones, because I have now edited three videos from the 29 Best-Of eps, as a mammoth tribute, so far totalling 6 hours, in the "reimagined" format. There is still one hour (part 3B) to go, which I had started, before my external drive with all the pieces, crashed. At the moment, I just can't bring myself to re-make the images I lost, so I'm culling my recorded-from-TV VHS tapes and uploading, till I can bring myself to finish the Scott and Paul opus. There is also a compilation just of their singing. If you need the links let me know and thanks again for the thanks!

[@ClaytonStone895]

BabyFaceBren I’ve listened to both types, and didn’t realize how much work went into this. Goodness. I know the 4 part “best of’s” that are audio-only have been a constant companion while I’ve walked my dog, and cut my grass. It’s not often I sit and watch videos, as I’m pretty busy. Much appreciated! And anything that dunks on Trump is fantastic. (Hope you enjoy the Pod F. Tompkast)

[@TheRealGoopyGoop]

yeah this episode was amazing

[@Spoocecow]

Do you see how I'm an opposite guy?

[@BabyFaceBren]

That's part of my deal

[@kenyaalltime8629]

this is amazing

[@BabyFaceBren]

This is one of my favourite episodes and was my first "re-imagined" CBB video. Now that I know a lot more of how to illustrate audio, I plan on re-doing it one day, but it was a lot of fun to make and led to many more!

[@kenyaalltime8629]

@@BabyFaceBren make that one day soon please. let me know if you any recommendations for episode to do it on :)

[@first1shot]

Cake kitchen 🤣

[@TheZigzagman]

In 2019, Mattel finally changed their logo... By making the star have less points.

[@BabyFaceBren]

wow, radical of them!

[@tolbydamit]

The Odd Couple Theme Song: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJXdqYyIoqZ0ZrM

[@lukezawodni9767]

whats up hotdog?!

[@tredeuce]

Who owns Star Warsh? Is it Arthur Treacher's Fish n' Chips?

[@BabyFaceBren]

Is it Garanimals who owns Star Warsh?

[@tredeuce]

BabyFaceBren i was crying at 5 this morning when i barely heard what he said and then doubled back and read it along with hearing it.

[@BabyFaceBren]

I think I realised why they are all so funny in this episode- as Scott and Paul admit, they are still half drunk from the party the night before.

[@tredeuce]

BabyFaceBren i have yet to see PFT in a setting where he isnt funny. Scott on the other hand just kinda feeds them more stuff to talk about.

[@BabyFaceBren]

Oh yeah PFT is always a funny guy, Scott is an awesome straight guy always asking the right questions, but in this case the humour seems a bit more surreal and outrageous than usual, which i put down to them being half drunk lol

[@tolbydamit]

Inshesht.

[@BabyFaceBren]

That just reminded me of a hilarious throwaway line from Bobby Moynihan in the final Fourvel which I am editing at the moment. Scott asks Slow Pesci if he is a cinefile and he answers "oh yeah... that's kids right?"

[@DannyWilliamH]

Ehhh, marc marone!

[@TheNickNuttall]

Technicalitynodownbooover?!

[@BabyFaceBren]

The origin of TNDBO is in "Bing Silly with Gilly".