Judge John Hodgman Episode 73: Gavelbangers Ball

Complainant Caroline and her boyfriend Will share many interests, but there’s one thing they just can’t agree on. Will says that metal is an important genre to him, musically and personally, and that Caroline hasn’t given it a fair shake. Caroline finds the music jarring and distasteful and says she’s heard enough to say so. Who is right, and who is wrong?

Guest bailiff Monte Bailiff Belmonte of WRSI offers his assistance this week, and we are joined by a SECRET EXPERT WITNESS.

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Bullseye with Jesse Thorn: R.J. Smith on James Brown, Cameron Esposito, The Low Times

Summer Music with Daniel Ralston and Maggie Serota of The Low Times
 For summer music recommendations, we’re joined by our rock music correspondents Daniel Ralston and Maggie Serota of the Low Times podcast. They recommend Henrietta by Yeasayer and Life by Summer Camp. (Embed or Share The Low Times’ Music Recommendations)
R.J. Smith profiles the Godfather of Soul, James Brown
 R.J. Smith is a former senior editor at Los Angeles Magazine and a music journalist who’s written for the Village Voice and Spin. For his latest project, he took on the task of profiling the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. Smith’s extensive biography, The One: The Life and Music of James Brown, follows the musician from his childhood, raised in a whorehouse, wearing burlap sack underwear, to stardom, and then to reinvention. James Brown was a hugely influential musician and performer, known for hits like “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and “Get Up (I Feel Like a Sex Machine),” and he was one of the driving forces behind the creation and popularity of funk music. But he was also much more than that — a tenacious businessman who ran his finances into the ground, a man of messy and confusing political alliances, and a hardliner on drug abuse (who eventually fell to his own drug addictions). Why didn’t Brown’s politics fit neatly into a particular mindset? And why, unlike nearly all of his black contemporaries, did he endorse Nixon? What drew crowds of screaming fans to his performances? And how did he survive the rise of disco? Smith’s book delves into Brown’s storied and complicated life and music career of six decades, as well as his effects on pop music, politics, and race relations in 20th century America. (Embed or Share RJ Smith on James Brown)
Comedy from Cameron Esposito
Cameron Esposito is a standup comic who’s been featured on this show and performed at TBS’ Just for Laughs Chicago, South by Southwest, and the Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festivals. She recently moved to Los Angeles right in time for the 4th Annual MaxFunCon, and joined us to perform a set musing on her childhood appearance. (Embed or Share Comedy from Cameron Esposito)
The Outshot: Cheers
Why not go where everybody goes your name? This week, Jesse recommends that you revisit Cheers. Do you have a piece of pop culture that keeps you coming back? Share your own Outshot on our forums. (Embed or Share The Outshot on Cheers) Subscribe to Bullseye in iTunes or via the RSS feed!read more

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn: Robert Glasper, Pendleton Ward, and Davy Rothbart

Recommendations from Mark Frauenfelder of Boing Boing
Mark Frauenfelder of Boing Boing and the Gweek podcast brings us this week’s culture recommendations: The Harvey Girls: Little Audrey, Little Dot, and Little Lotta and The Internet Archive’s Classic TV feed. (Embed or share Mark’s Recommendations)
Jazz Pianist Robert Glasper
Robert Glasper is a jazz pianist and the band leader of the Robert Glasper Experiment. Glasper’s life in music began early, as his mother, a jazz and blues vocalist, would often bring her young son along to clubs with her, where he would watch from backstage. His music today blends classic jazz influences with soul music and modern hip-hop, forging something fresh and new out of a genre he says is in dire need of a shake-up. His new album, Black Radio, includes collaborations with hip-hop artists like Lupe Fiasco, Mos Def, as well as old friend and frequent collaborator Bilal. Glasper sits down with us to reveal some of his more embarrassing musical influences, reflect on working alongside the late J. Dilla, and dish on what he feels is wrong with today’s jazz culture. (Originally aired April 10, 2012) (Embed or share this interview with Robert Glasper)
Found Things, with Davy Rothbart
Davy Rothbart is the editor of Found Magazine, an annual publication collecting lost letters, tests, essays and notes, all found and submitted by readers. Found put out its first issue nearly ten years ago, and Davy has been a regular guest on The Sound of Young America ever since. In his first appearance on Bullseye, Rothbart recounts the cryptic tales found within the pages of some of his favorite lost treasures, brought to him by readers on Found’s national tours. (Originally aired April 10, 2012) If you’ve found something special you’d like to send in, either digitally or by mail, visit www.FoundMagazine.com/submit. (Embed or share Davy Rothbart’s Found Things)
Animator Pendleton Ward, creator of Adventure Time
Pendleton Ward is a writer and animator, and the creator of the Cartoon Network series Adventure Time. The show follows the adventures of Finn the boy and Jake the shape-shifting dog, through a magical post-apocalyptic Earth. It’s very witty and full of humor, and is one of those rare programs that works just as well for kids as it does for adults. Pen is a born artist, who even during this interview can’t help but capture his host on paper. He joins Jesse to discuss drawing as a comedic outlet, the delicate art of writing a quality fart joke, and the influence of Dungeons & Dragons on the fantastical quests of Adventure Time. The show just began its fourth season; you can catch new episodes Monday nights on Cartoon Network. (Originally aired April 10, 2012) (Embed or share this interview with Pen Ward)

The Outshot: BESTIE x BESTIE

For this week’s Outshot, Jesse delves into the often contrived world of quirky viral videos and finds something genuinely hilarious: the web series BESTIE x BESTIE, starring Jenny Slate and Gabe Liedman. You might know Slate as a former featured player on SNL or as the writer and voice of another internet smash, Marcel The Shell With Shoes On. In BESTIE x BESTIE she and best friend Liedman take turns trying desperately to remain serious while the other does their best to make them crack. The results are often as funny as anything on the internet. (Originally aired April 10, 2012) Is there a web series that tickles your funny-bone like none other? Help it go viral by sharing it on the MaxFun Forum and picking your own Outshot. (Embed or share this Outshot on BESTIE x BESTIE) Subscribe to Bullseye in iTunes or the RSS feed!read more

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn: Ice-T, Greta Gerwig, Aaron Freeman and The Low Times

Music Recommendations from the Low Times
 This week’s pop pundits, Daniel Ralston and Maggie Serota, come care of The Low Times Podcast (co-hosted by Tom Scharpling of The Best Show on WFMU). Daniel is enamored with Caitlin Rose’s alt-country spin on The Arctic Monkeys’ tune “Piledriver Waltz”, while Maggie can’t get enough of the infectiously poppy and deceivingly upbeat synth heartache of Lemonade’s “Soft Kiss.” (Embed or Share The Low Times’ Music Recommendations)
Rapper, Actor and Director Ice-T on Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap
 Ice-T is a rapper and actor, with more than ten albums and nearly eighty acting credits to his name. He’s also one of the forefathers of west coast hip-hop. This week he adds “filmmaker” to an already diverse resume, as he makes his directorial debut with the hip hop documentary Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap, in theaters this Friday, June 15th. Ice sits down with us to talk his desire to bring an artful appreciation to hip hop’s origins and about going through his phone book to sit down with friends to discuss the craft, and to resolve the mystery as to whether or not he was a ghostwriter for an 80s rap album by Mister T. (Embed or Share this interview with Ice-T on Bullseye)
Aaron Freeman: The Song That Changed My Life
For much of his musical career, Aaron Freeman might have been better known to you as Gene Ween, guitarist and co-founder of the experimental rock band Ween. In May, Freeman released his first solo record, Marvelous Clouds, a collection of covers of songs by 60s poet/songwriter Rod McKuen. And just a few weeks ago, Freeman announced he was retiring the Gene Ween persona for good. This week he tells us about the song that changed his life: Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry”. (Embed or Share Aaron Freeman on The Song That Changed My Life)
Actress Greta Gerwig
Greta Gerwig is an actress and filmmaker, whose starring role in the 2007 comedy Hannah Takes the Stairs put her right at the heart of the mumblecore movement. She’s since gone on to leading roles in bigger indies alongside Ben Stiller in Greenberg, as well as major motion pictures like Arthur, opposite Russell Brand. The indie darling has had a particularly prominent year in 2012, with starring roles Damsels in Distress and the romantic comedy Lola Versus, both in theaters now, and a supporting role in Woody Allen’s latest, To Rome With Love, due later this month. Greta joins us to discuss her artistic upbringing in Sacramento (complete with dreams of being a ballerina), her meteoric and slightly serendipitous rise as an actress, and the way her public perception seems to change with each role she plays. (Embed or Share this interview with Greta Gerwig on Bullseye)
The Outshot: History of the World, Part I
On this week’s Outshot, Jesse misses the old days of pure wacky comedy insanity exemplified by the unfiltered goofiness of Mel Brooks’ History of the World, Part I. Is there a film that never fails to make you laugh like a mad man? Share the laughs on the MaxFun Forum by picking your own Outshot. (Embed or Share The Outshot on History of the World, Part I) Subscribe to Bullseye in iTunes or via the RSS feed! read more

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn: Daniel Handler, The Sklar Brothers, Nico Muhly and the AV Club

Culture Picks: AV Club All-Time Favorites
 Our pop culture luminaries from The AV Club return for another round of recommendations. Sitting in the hot seat this week are Genevieve Koski and Josh Modell, as they select their all-time favorite records. Josh can’t resist the lure of Fiona Apple’s 1999 album When The Pawn…. Genevieve, meanwhile, opts for a relative modern selection: it’s Dessa’s lyrically resonant 2010 release A Badly Broken Code. (Embed or Share The AV Club’s All-Time Music Picks)
Author Daniel Handler
 Daniel Handler delved into his memories of young love and high school frustrations to pen the novel Why We Broke Up — the twist? He writes the girl’s side of the story. The story is illustrated by a collection of items collected during the relationship; the paintings are provided by New Yorker illustrator Maira Kalman. Daniel Handler is also known by his alter ego, Lemony Snicket, who authored A Series of Unfortunate Events. (Originally aired February 14, 2012) (Embed or Share Daniel Handler on Bullseye)
Nico Muhly: The Song That Changed My Life
Nico Muhly is a classical composer who’s worked with a wide range of musicians, from high-profile composer Philip Glass, to Icelandic snger-songwriter Bjork to indie rockers Grizzly Bear. His opera Two Boys is set to debut at the Metropolitan Opera in the 2013-14 season. He talks to us about the song that changed his life — Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians. (Originally aired February 14, 2012) (Embed or Share Nico Muhly on Bullseye)
Comedians The Sklar Brothers
Randy and Jason Sklar, known collectively as The Sklar Brothers, are comedians and actors perhaps best known for their ESPN Classic show Cheap Seats. They’re currently hosting a new TV series called United Stats of America, Tuesday nights on the History Channel. Their latest stand up album is Hendersons and Daughters and you can hear them each week as the hosts of the comedy podcast Sklarbro Country. They sat down with us earlier this year to reflect on forming identities as stand up comedians (and twins), broadening sports comedy for the average Joe, envisioning the writing process for Grimm’s Fairy Tales, and more. (Originally aired February 14, 2012) (Embed or Share The Sklars on Bullseye)
The Outshot: The Newsroom
Americans enjoyed a wave of cringe-inducing awkward comedy in Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Office. This week Jesse recommends one of their precedents, the Canadian series The Newsroom. (Originally aired February 14, 2012) (Embed or Share The Outshot) Subscribe to Bullseye in iTunes or via the RSS feed!read more

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