Crazy Christians

At last, the end is upon us. Recently promoted co-host Kevin Flynn (Whale Whale Whale) joins Tim and Dan for one final excursion into the depths of Aaron Sorkin's psyche. What they find is a bunch of dangling plot threads that somehow manage to resolve themselves without any of the characters having to do anything. It's what a finale that a more generous reviewer would call "frustratingly optimistic." But wait until you hear our ideas for season two!

In a perfect world, the third episode of a three-part story arc would at least attempt to resolve some of its myriad storylines. But that's not how Sorkin does it, baby! Comedy writer (and official Crazy Christians Two-Timers Club member) Kevin Flynn joins us to ponder this anti-climactic penultimate episode of Studio 60. Simon should for sure be fired! Matt has a bone to pick with George Bush's "megaphone moment!" And over half the cast fails to appear in the episode!

In a cynical attempt to boost their own ratings, Tim and Dan kidnap Tim's younger brother Matt and force him against his will to watch a late-season episode of Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip. Luckily (or unluckily) he managed to get stuck with an episode where not much happens. Sorkin is really treading water on this one until NBC pulls the proverbial plug. Flashback Matt can't help himself with the political humor! Jordan's medical problems prevent her from appearing in this episode! And Simon finally reveals himself to be this show's true villain!

Last week, it seemed like things couldn't get any more heightened. But now Sorkin has added in some kidnapping, ransom, and some much needed flashbacks to the weeks following 9/11. It is truly a recipe for comedy. Joining Dan and Tim for the intro to the K&R trilogy is ClickHole contributor and all around good guy Gabriel Laks. Watch as Danny and Jordan get engaged! The sexual harassment lawyer reveals her black ops connections! And, finally, Luke Scott gets to pitch his 100% Islamophobia sketch show!

With the end in sight, Aaron Sorkin decides to pull out all the stops and literally cram every plot line from every TV show ever into this very cramped Sunset Strip Studio. This week, comedy writer, fellow podcaster, and Tim's co-worker Megan Meadows joins us to discuss "Breaking News," the set up for the penultimate four-parter that will finally end this charade. The ratings are down! Matt gets confronted about his drugs but he's already quit sort of! And, look out Lil' Nate, something is afoot in Afghanistan!

As far as we're concerned, this show has always been a disaster. But this week, Aaron Sorkin claims to be doing it on purpose. Comedy writer Matt Garczynski joins us for a particularly bizarre episode that supposedly brings Studio 60 back to its roots. Which means we get to see some real bad sketches. Matt, Danny, and Jordan are MIA. Cal dabbles in some mid-2000s Islamophobia. And host Alison Janney learns the true value of show business!

If you ever wanted to find out how Aaron Sorkin would handle a #MeToo scandal, trust us, you don't actually want to find out. This week, comedian Tim Barnes joins us for a disturbingly topical episode of Studio 60 that finds our cast of troublesome men embroiled in a sexual harassment lawsuit. Needless to say, it is not handled well! Harriet is busy shooting her teen-murder movie. Simon fails to understand power dynamics. And Matt inexplicably scores a date with a sexual harassment lawyer.

Dan has been hyping it for a long time now, but it's finally here. Tommy Schlamme returns to the director's chair for this drug induced flashback (hallucination?) episode that finally answers the question: Where did Matt Albie find that tennis ball he's always throwing around? Joining us on this timeline hopping adventure is cartoonist and Studio 60-endurer Tom McHenry. Metric Conversion may finally make it on air! Jordan's office has fleas! And holy shit what are we going to do about Y2K!

"We're going to be finished tonight. Don't be scared." This week, comedy writer and new friend of the pod Austin Bernhardt joins us to see what "finished" really looks like in the world of Matt and Harriet. Turns out, it means a lot of arguing. Danny and Jordan make it off the roof and make out with each other's faces. Jack finds new and interesting ways to insult the Chinese. And Matt begins a downward spiral into a possibly interesting plot line!

Finally, we get to see the season's second two-parter, which is technically a three-parter and maybe technically just a 22-parter with the rest of the season. Finally! Onion contributor and Whale Whale Whale host Kevin Flynn joins us this week for the continuation of pretty much every plot line from the last episode, but now with more people in fruit costumes. Matt finally gets some comeuppance. Cal get in trouble with a snake. And Masi Oka is here with Dolphin Girl!

Just when you thought the male characters on this show couldn't get any scarier! Comedy writer and cartoonist Sara McHenry joins us to deal with the unholy mess of misogyny that is "Monday," a.k.a. The Harriet Dinner Part 0. Simon has a fruit sketch for Darius. Danny goes from hopeless romantic to murder suspect. And we get a behind-the-scenes look at Aaron Sorkin giving up on the show.

Get your jingle bells a-jingling because Studio 60 is gearing up for their big Christmas Show! A.V. Club TV Editor Erik Adams joins us for this festive episode that officially marks the half-way point (and perhaps the tipping point) in this bonkers season of television. Trombone Shorty tries his hand at acting. Matt and Danny dabble add some more fireable offenses to their HR files. And Cal officially loses his mind. 

At the near-halfway point of the season, Aaron Sorkin finally gets down to what the show is meant to be about: Tense and dramatic hostage situations. This week, io9 writer, Charming Pod host, and Tim's wonderful wife Beth Elderkin joins us to dissect the pointlessly confusing episode 'B-12.' It's raining in LA. Harriet (a professional comedian) can't tell a joke. And, finally, Mark McKinney deigns to show his face in the halls of Studio 60.

Just when you thought you'd finally escaped the events of Nevada Day, Aaron Sorkin decides to inexplicably set the very next episode on the same damn day (but also somehow during Thanksgiving?). This week, Belladonna editor Caitlin Kunkel joins us for the seminar in mansplaining that is 'The Option Period.' Ricky and Ron step out on their own. Harriet gets her faith explained to her by numerous men. And finally, Cal's artistic skill gets a moment to shine.

Sure, you've seen Nevada Day Part 1. But you haven't lived until you've experienced the largely unnecessary sequel, Nevada Day Part 2. This week we're joined by 'Texas Forever' and 'Head Over Heels' host Meryl Williams to dissect the clumsy culture debates and troop-supportin' conclusions to this Studio 60 two-parter. Jack gets mad. Harriet gets smitten. And Donkey Kong gets nervous about doing his job.

This week, 'The Opposition with Jordan Klepper' writer River Clegg joins us for the first part of the infamous Nevada Day two parter in which a dizzying array of plot lines are explained to us over and over again until Sorkin realizes he's hit the 42-minute mark. Harriet gets assaulted by a gang of homosexual street toughs. Lil' Nate Corddry gets taken down by a decrepit basset hound. And John Goodman wins a damn Emmy. 

This week we're treated to a series of vignettes, each more insulting to the viewer than the last. Jordan wants to make some friends. Matt and Simon want to diversify the writing staff. Lil Nate Corddry struggles to connect with his parents. And Cal harasses an old Jewish man. Yes, that's all in one episode. Join us and comedy writer Alicia Kraft (The Ogrecast) before we all get blacklisted.

Since it's our fifth episode we decided to do something special and get a guest who has actually heard of Studio 60. This week, Late Night with Seth Meyers writer and Studio 60 aficionado Seth Reiss joins us to discuss (and defend!) "The Long Lead Story." Instead of just lamenting what Sorkin gets wrong, we talk a lot about what he's so close to getting right. Also, Seth talks about running the official Matt Albie Twitter account (@MattAlbie60) and the time he wrote an Aaron Sorkin parody sketch for Aaron Sorkin himself. 

The only thing that should be taken more seriously than comedy writing is the very serious crime of joke theft. On this very special episode of Crazy Christians, Tim and Dan are joined by comedy writer Don Plattner to discuss the complex emotions and live television logistics at play in this episode of Studio 60. There's also a lot of talk about breasts because Aaron Sorkin is a 14-year-old...? To understand you really have to have read some August Strindberg.

Ok, so you've created one of the smartest and most provocative late night sketch shows in history, but there's only one problem: These rubes in middle America don't understand you're very good jokes! This week, Tim and Dan are joined by comedy writer Michelle Spies to discuss the sketch comedy of Aaron Sorkin which could generously be called offensive (on many levels!). Also, Jordan got a DUI one time! Drama!

We hope all your Gilbert and Sullivan heads are geared up for another rip roarin' week of sketch comedy, because this week Tim and Dan are joined by comedy writer Tricia England to discuss the travesty that is "The Cold Open." How oh how will Matt Albie kick off his first week as head writer? How will Harriet deal with the toxic work environment that's been forced upon her? Why is comedy so damn hard? We certainly don't have the answers.

There's an old saying in Hollywood: The best way to start a TV show is with a pilot. This week, Tim, Dan, and special guest Abbey Kindler watch as Aaron Sorkin tries his best to prove that saying wrong. This episode has everything from Paddy Chayefsky references to Network references and nothing in between. Welcome to Studio 60, the least funny place on the planet.

Before they dive into an episode-by-episode rewatch of a 12-year-old failed TV show, Tim and Dan take a moment to answer some incredibly important questions. Namely, what is Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip? What is their relationship with it? And, perhaps most importantly, why is this happening?