recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Fear & Desire/Killer's Kiss

**Fear & Desire/Killer's Kiss** is episode 387 focusing on the 1953 and 1955 (respectively) films of the same name kicking off Pods Wide Cast miniseries on the films of Stanley Kubrick. Posted August 7, 2022.

## Summary

>
> He dominated the field in this year’s 20th Century March Madness competition, and now we’re celebrating with a parade and a big brass band…it’s time for our series on the films of Stanley Kubrick - Pods Wide Cast! Join us as we fill in the background strokes of Kubrick’s early career - his childhood in the Bronx, his photography apprenticeship with Look Magazine - and as we discuss his first two features - 1953’s *FEAR AND DESIRE* and 1955’s *KILLER’S KISS*. Some burning questions we end up asking: how much of later Kubrick is already present in these pretty amateurish works? How do these rank in the pantheon of debut films by great directors? Is there a code of ethics for cab drivers when you jump into the backseat and request that they “follow that car?” Why has Ben been buying mannequins off eBay? And more!
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> Additional Music by Alex Barron
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* John Wayne throws kid in river
* The Seafarers
* Maybe the only two movies covered on the podcast financed by drug stores and pharmacists?
* Killer's Kiss: *second* film about taxi dancers that they've covered *this year*.
* Griffin: maybe interested in buying a mannequin from Ben? Oh it's just legs? Not interested.
* The best scene in *How to be Single*, starring Jonathan Braylock.
* David's favorite street in London: Coldbath Square
* Confirmed: they got the Spartacus steelbook.

#### Box Office Games

They spend a little extra time talking about the box office, because they don't really get to talk about this era of film that often.

**Fear & Desire**

April 1, 1953

1. Call Me Madam
2. Salome
3. Peter Pan
4. Moulin Rouge
5. Hans Christian Andersen

* Other movies in the top 10: Off Limits, Trouble Along the Way, I Love Melvin, I Confess, Bwana Devil

**Killer's Kiss**

1955

1. To Hell and Back
2. Cinerama Holiday
3. Blood Alley
4. The Left Hand of God
5. To Catch a Thief

* Other movies in the top 10: Gentlemen Marry Brunettes, Ulysses, I Am a Camera, The Shrike, The McConnell Story

## Quotes

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> | David: |  These goons try and rough him up or whatever.
> | Ben: |  I mean, they rough him up... *to death*.
> | David: |  Yes, which is not—
> | Griffin: |  They rough him *to death*. The roughest.
> | David: |  [laughing] They rough him up to death.
> | Griffin: |  Hard to get rougher.
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> | David: |  How long have we been going, Ben?
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> | David: |  Done. How long has it been?
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## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Fear & Desire / Killer's Kiss. Audioboom. Retrieved on August 7, 2022.
Mad Max

**Mad Max** is episode 264 focusing on the film of the same name. The episode is the first of the Mad Pod: Fury Cast miniseries. Posted March 29, 2020.

## Summary

>
> Witness Blank Check because this week, Griffin and David ride towards Valhalla and into a new mini series on the films of George Miller! Together they examine Miller’s medical background, the early camera and stunt work of *Mad Max* that Miller would continue to develop and refine, and more.
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* LOTS of Big Momma’s House and Bad Boys talk.
* Ben is on a Paul Hollywood kick.
* Apartment talk! They’re recording at Small Fine (Ben’s apartment). David recently moved to Little Nicer. Griffin is living at Medium Messy and no one is allowed to visit.
* Box Office Game: Weekend of February 18, 2011, the opening of *Big Momma’s House: Like, Father Like Son*.
* Box Office Game for the American release (May 1980) appears in Oops! All Box Office.

## Quotes

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> | Ben: | Technically I’ve been in multiple gangs. I’ve just been thinking.
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## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Mad Max. Audioboom. Retrieved on July 5, 2022.
2. ↑ @ 0:45:09
Clifford

*For the follow-up episode, see Clifford 2: Hyper-Clifford*

Grifford

**Clifford**, also known as **Grifford**, is episode 110 and standalone episode and the fourth Ben's Choice. Posted 28 May 2017.

## Summary

>
> Our special episode this week: a discussion of 1994’s miscreant child portrayed by a grown man comedy, Clifford. Together, Griffin, David and Producer Ben examine Dinosaur World, sketch comedy movies, Martin Short and Charles Grodin’s careers and Producer Ben’s animated series.
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From the mind of Producer Ben...

This movie was a last-minute choice, as #TheTwoFriends first rejected the more Finest Film Critic proposals of *Gummo* and *Bob Dylan: Don't Look Back* before Ben made a desperation pass: "Well, I like that *Clifford* movie..." Note that the cult of *Clifford* has been fostered by "The Best Show," which is something Ben and his Jersey buddies have listened to for years, so shout-out to Tom Scharpling and Jon Wurster.

In this movie, 40-something Martin Short plays a little boy. What? WTF is this movie?

Look, we the viewers can't do anything about it now, so we just have to soldier on. Does the movie somehow find visual ways to make the little kid thing bearable without looking completely stupid? Indeterminate-age Charles Grodin is his curmudgeonly uncle, and he is fine-tuning his on-screen persona of "crank." Mary Steenburgen is playing a 100% thankless role, and has to fend off little-boy Martin Short's amorous attentions (agh. AGH). And Dabney Coleman has a beard and a wig.

But back to the story at hand. What is Clifford - is he a bad kid, an agent of chaos in the mythical sense, a demon, the Devil?

Which jokes in this comedy have aged poorly? Why can't Charles Grodin just get to build a great LA transit system? And can this movie have some semblance of a happy ending?

As for Ben - oh boy, do we ever get some amazing insights into growin' up in Jersey. They've talked about a future animated series "Blank Check Babies" before, but now there might need to be a dedicated cartoon called "The Adventures of Young Ben." Possible storylines include Ben endlessly aggravating his dad, finding porn in the woods, starting trash fires, stealing Robitussin and drinking it all behind the Cost Cutters.

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Genre of this movie, according to David: horror
* Griffin's Hollywood Stories: Martin Short on set of "Mulaney," with the best-told joke Griff ever heard
* Future Ben's Choice possibilities: *King Ralph*, or *Major League*
* Bonus! A fan-edit ending to the episode. (credit to u/mi-16evil, moderator of the Blankies subreddit)
* For bonus Grodin, check out The Heartbreak Kid episode.
* Box office game: Weekend of April 1, 1994

## Quotes

>
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> | Griffin: |  It is like *Alien vs. Predator*. Whoever wins, we lose.
> | David: |  I'm rootin' for Grodin. I'm sorry. I'm rootin' for Grodin.
> | Griffin: |  In the same way—
> | David: |  I want him to kill this kid.
> | Griffin: |  In the same way that I'm rooting for the Predator.
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## References

1. ↑ Clifford on Audioboom.
2. ↑ Clifford @ 50:08. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
Carl Tart

**Carl Tart** is an actor, writer, improv comedian, and podcaster.

## Biography

Carl co-hosts *The Flagrant Ones* basketball podcast with Hayes Davenport and Sean Clements. He currently stars on *Grand Crew* on NBC alongside fellow guest Nicole Byer.

Carl's mom made a guest appearance via phone during the *Love & Basketball* episode. Carl had thought she was an actress in *Disappearing Acts* but she confirmed that she was actually in *Strange Days*.
Batman Forever Commentary

**Batman Forever** is episode 138 of Blank Check: Special Features focusing on the 1995 feature film of the same name. Posted June 1, 2022.

## Summary

>
> The Batmen keep on coming! BC:SF kicks off June with 1995's *Batman Forever*. Topics include: director Joel Schumacher former career as a window dresser, Gossip Gerty, kissing special effects, riddling, and trying to make Robin seem cool.
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> **Movie starts at...25:42**
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* Box-Office Game: Weekend of June 16, 1995

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Batman Forever. Patreon. Retrieved on June 7, 2022.
March Madness 2020 Recap - Round 3

**March Madness 2020 Recap - Round 3** is episode 52 of Blank Check: Special Features about the third round of the year's March Madness tournament. Posted March 26, 2020.

## Summary

>
> Another March Madness recap bay-beee! Griffin, David, Ben and Ang check in on the brackets as we near the final contenders.
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* The first ever two trillion Comedy Point bailout, to Ben to shore up his Comedy Point finances.
* Ben's nicknames are back! With a few flubs, due to lack of use.
* Mann nickname: **Public Benemies**; Miyazaki nickname: Hosley's moving castle? **Hausicaa of the Ditch of the Jersey**. Demme nickname: They'll figure it out by the end of the episode!
* Chip Smith is still on sick leave. He might pop up for the final recap.
* He has a dot gov email address?? He's the commissioner of Denver's International Airport??
* **Sweet Sixteen**
	+ Coens laid waste to Nichols. In the words of Mike Mitchell, they folded him like laundry.
	+ Shout out to Eoin's stats breakdowns on twitter!
	+ Oh, is there a bit of a decline in Cimino's career?
	+ Prince could be the first Black filmmaker covered on the pod. Batdance! Iconic! They'll cover the music videos if Prince wins, and his Muppets Tonight appearance of the Muppets win.
	+ Possible Cats (2019) episode three years from now.
	+ Bong's a buzzsaw!
	+ Sara Rubin definitely helped GDT. She *loves* the *Pacific Rim* universe.
* Some sweet *Bobby's World* chat.
* Ang finally watched Sully!

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. March Madness 2020 Recap - Round 3. Patreon. Retrieved on January 18, 2022.
5th Anniversary Special

It's hard to make the five.

The **5th Anniversary Special** is episode 263. It was recorded at Virtual Fine amid the COVID-19 global pandemic. Posted March 22, 2020 -- the eve of the podcast's anniversary.

## Summary

> Griffin, David, Ben and Ang each from their own apartments celebrated Blank Check’s anniversary with a look back at some favorite moments and reflect upon these past five years. Plus, messages from past and future guests of the show!
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The episode includes clips from J.D. Amato talking the walk, War Horse with Pilot Viruet, The Matrix Reloaded, Chris Gethard on Our Performance Review 3.0, David Rees on Spirited Away, and Inception.

The episode also includes voicemails from J.D. Amato, Emily Yoshida, Katey Rich and Charlie, Richard Lawson, Shirley Li, Fran Hoepfner, Emily St. James, and Chris Weitz.

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Griffin's background was Vin Diesel and David's was multiple images of Colin Farrell. Listen to their individual episodes of Iconography to hear them wax poetic.
* Ang reveals the mp3 file for the War Horse episode is called "Fuckable Horse."
* Charlie's favorite movie is *Wall-e*.
* Guests they almost got: M. Night Shyamalan and Ang Lee.
* Future guests: James Urbaniak, Jamie Bell, Max Minghella, Robert Hosley, Griffin's mom.
* Jobs Griffin almost got: Young Neil in *Scott Pilgrim vs. The World*, Ken Jeong's role in *Ride Along 2*, Michaelangelo in the Michael Bay-produced *TNMT*, and Debra Messing's son in *Smash*. He auditioned for *Scoob!* for the role of Scooby Doo; and tried really hard to get cast in *Bloodshot* for a role ultimately played by Lamorne Morris with a British accent.
* Even though they don't like him as a director, Griffin regrets the Colin Trevorrow dick punching stuff. He's done some stuff lately that isn't bad! Griffin notes that his TROS script is inarguably better, and it's classy as hell that he gave his proceeds to a children's hospital. If he ever comes on the pod, he can have a clean shot at Griffin's peen.
* At the time the live shows were rescheduled for June. Obviously the pandemic was still raging full force so those shows were cancelled too.
* The jeans are out of the ground.

## References

1. ↑ 5th Anniversary Special on Audioboom.
Evil Dead II

**Evil Dead II** is episode 369(nice) focusing on the 1987 film of the same name as part of Podcast Me to Hell miniseries on the films of Sam Raimi. Posted April 3, 2022.

## Summary

>
> It’s the definitive Sam Raimi film - a “symphony of silly” with a bravura performance from Bruce Campbell, and a prevailing sense of, “the more gore the merrier!” John Hodgman - who, believe it or not, was Bruce Campbell’s literary agent! - joins us to chat about the magic of “Evil Dead II” and what puts it in the pantheon of “sequels that improve upon the original installment.” Also in this episode - we imagine the time when Sam Raimi, the Coens, Frances McDormand, and Holly Hunter were all roommates in Silverlake; a behind the scenes look at the publication of Bruce Campbell’s best-selling memoir “If Chins Could Kill”; and an unrelated but very involved tangent about the Peanuts comic strip.
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* Box office game: Weekend of March 13, 1987
* New Ben nickname: The Futzer
* This American Life - Episode 190: Living the Dream
* The Comics Curmudgeon referenced by David
* Garfield tweet
* Look out for Ben on Season 3 of *Dicktown* as a real motherfucker.
* Sam-o-Cam diagrams

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Evil Dead II. Audioboom. Retrieved on April 5, 2022.
2. ↑ Garfield on Twitter: "dreading tomorrow" Retrieved April 5, 2022.
3. ↑ blankcheckpod on Twitter: "some diagrams" Retrieved April 6, 2022.
Confess, Fletch

**Confess, Fletch** is episode 149 of Blank Check: Special Features about the 2022 film of the same. Posted September 21, 2022.

## Summary

>
> Join BC:SF's for a review of *Confess, Fletch*. Topics include: the lack of promotion, the box office performance, streamers, the Mad Men secret past, a subtle Marcia Gay Harden performance and more! Alan Sepinwall joins this episode!
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* The first recording from the brand new Blank Check Studios! They have a 3D projector so Griff is probably gonna make them strap on the glasses for some future commentaries!
* David makes the rules! NO MORE STREAMING MOVIES! Not allowed! Banned.
* *Sleeping with Other People* -- best rom com of the past decade according to Griffin!
* Ben & Alan: Fletch Texts!
* Will we hear David’s TIFF Airbnb story? No, save it for The Woman King.
* Box Office Game: Weekend of September 16, 2022.
	+ Same game as future ep The Woman King, so they do just movies 16-20.
* Feige hire Griffin as H.E.R.B.I.E. challenge.
* Jon Hamm was nominated by David for Best Actor at The Eighth Annual Blank Check Awards.

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Confess, Fletch. Patreon. Retrieved on September 21, 2022.
Batman (1966) Commentary

*This article is about the 1966 Batman film. For other Batman episodes, see Batman (disambiguation)*
*This article is a stub. You can help Blank Check with Griffin and David Wiki by expanding it.*

## Batman (1966)

### Reddit thread

Link

**Batman (1966)** is episode 135 of Blank Check: Special Features and about 1966 film of the same name as part of the #NotAllBatMen commentary miniseries. Posted May 1, 2022.

## Summary

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> 🎶Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na Batmaaaaaan!🎶
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> Having reviewed the Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan films, BC:SF is kicking off May with our *#NotAllBatMen* commentary series, featuring all the other Batman movies we have not previously covered. Starting things off strong is the 1966 feature starring Adam West! Topics include: legendary stick man, the different Robins and Alfreds over the years, when too many bits can backfire, slime and more!
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> **Movie starts at...13:48**
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## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Batman (1966). Patreon. Retrieved on May 1, 2022.
BC Takes AC

**BC takes AC** is episode 29 of Blank Check: Special Features where the gang goes to Atlantic City. Posted September 10, 2019.

## Summary

>
> Part 2 of BC’s recent road trip to Six Flags Great Adventure and Atlantic City! The crew is in rare form on this gambling edition, including: Cars 2 joke dissection, sit down shower energy, rhino boys at the Six Flags safari, the single greatest item ever featured on a drink menu and so much more!
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* Released from behind the paywall on September 11, 2022.
* A few AC pics in the Patreon photo album
* Special appearance by Ben's girlfriend on the intro.
* By the time they get to AC, Ben's joker makeup is *almost* off.
* Griff and ARP are both Debit Card Guys
* Batman - first mention of The Spreadsheet. The Keep - possibly first mention of the Five-Timers Club catchphrase.
* ARP, Ben, and Griff try and predict what David will be like once they get there.
	+ Ben: David will get super agro/bro out at the tables
	+ ARP: If David was a good gambler, he'd be gambling all the time. Maybe he's an *online* gambling guy.
* Alex likes video poker, Griff likes video slot machines
* Griffin and Ben say they'd "love to" do Minions on the Patreon. Griff also wants to do Cars ("Cars 2 makes Cars 3 look like Cars 1").
* Teasing a "Little of This, Little of That" Analyze This/That commentary miniseries.
* They didn't get Jamie Bell on a podcast. Wonder if they ever did...
* Jump in medias res to a convo about Pine's Peen.
* Ben's 3rd floor hotel room: Small Smoky. David is on the 27th floor.
* Griffin refused to leave the Ghostbusters machine because he was convinced his luck would turn.
* Griff ordered a Honey Nut Cheerios martini, that did *not* have a honeyed rim as advertised.
* David made money on poker, roulette, craps. Even on blackjack.
* Drunk Emily!
* Ben lost a $16 voucher, found it, then lost it gambling.
* Emily races Ben for $10
* Possible Patreon goal: re-recording an episode people didn't like?
* Most edited episode? The one where Griff reads his essay.
* David: The Slaw Dog. Griffin: Backseat Newms.

## Quotes

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> | ARP: |  That's when that happened. When Ana screamed in Elle Fanning's face "Are you a blankie?"
> | Anna: |  Okay, that's overstating it a bit.
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## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. BC takes AC. Patreon. Retrieved on September 15, 2020.
2. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Great Adventure. Patreon. Retrieved on August 15, 2022.
Doctor Strange Commentary

*This article is about the Special Features MCU commentary episode. For the 2022 Raimi sequel, see Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.*

## Doctor Strange

### Unlisted Guest(s)

David Ehrlich
Ben Hosley

### Reddit thread

Link

**Doctor Strange** is episode 24 of Blank Check: Special Features and a commentary episode on the Marvel Cinematic Universe film of the same name. Posted July 21, 2019.

## Summary

>
> Enjoy another BC:SF MCU commentary recorded at Big Nice studios in New York City! Griffin, David and Producer Ben discuss *Doctor Strange*. Plus, a special surprise guest appearance!
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* **Movie starts at 0:05:46**, after a fair bit of Taco Bell Cantina talk.
* There is a lot of eating on mic, so if that bothers you skip this commentary!
* Ben is on the record: likes apples.
* Probably the only movie in history with two Benedicts above the title.
* BENEDICT WONG WAS IN THE AUDIENCE AT TALKING MAUL!!!!!
* Lots of Dr. Phil talk from Griffin. Dr. Phil — go on Hot Ones! Rachel McAdams — go on Hot Ones!
* David's boy child (Paddington Dormamu Ehrlich) is due two weeks before The Rise of Skywalker!
* Box-office game: Weekend of November 4, 2016.
	+ The same box office game as Richard Lawson's *Trolls*.

## Quotes

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> | David: |  He's one against three.
> | Griffin: |  No, he's *Wong* against three.
> | Ehrlich: |  [off mic groan]
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> | Ehrlich: |  I wonder what Dormamu's love life is like.
> | David: |  Is there a Mrs. Dormamu?
> | Ehrlich: |  I don't know. That guy's got a face for podcasts.
> | Griffin: |  I hear he gives great head.
> | David: |  Oh boy.
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## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Doctor Strange. Patreon. Retrieved on March 11, 2022.
2. ↑ @ 01:35
3. ↑ @ 01:42
A Clockwork Orange

**A Clockwork Orange** is episode 397 focusing on the 1971 film of the same name as part of Pods Wide Cast miniseries on the films of Stanley Kubrick. Posted October 16, 2022.

## Summary

>
> Attention all droogs: grab your Nadsat dictionaries and your bowler hats, it’s time to drink some drug-milk! We’ve got our very own Alex - Ross Perry, that is - on the pod to go long on Kubrick’s controversial X-rated dystopian nightmare, 1971’s A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. We’re reminiscing about our rebellious teenage years, which for Alex included a trip to New York to see The Prodigy in concert, and for David included a “Pinter phase.” Did you all know that David grew up in England? Plus - Ben learns that Malcolm McDowell was once married to CLIFFORD’s own Mary Steenburgen, Griffin learns about Kubrick’s preferred brand of storage boxes, and David learns that Alex and Griffin have given him a mysterious new nickname.
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* They've talked enough about Clifford!
* Alex & David are 1000% wrong about alphabetization. This wiki will *always* be properly alphabetized.
* Stanley Kubrick’s Boxes, Orson Welles’ Sketch Book
* Last of the Summer Wine, Porridge
* New David nickname: **Hip Hop Sims**, but Alex and Griffin refuse to tell him why until Alex’s next appearance on the pod. They put a pin in it.
* David’s The Prodigy recommendation for Ben: Out of Space, but imagine you’re hopped up on goofballs in the English countryside.

#### Box Office Game

The film came out Christmas 1971, but they do the box office for early January 1972 when it was in the top 10.

1. Diamonds Are Forever
2. Carnal Knowledge
3. The French Connection
4. Dirty Harry
5. Fiddler

* Other movies in the top 10: Dollars, Bedknobs & Broomsticks, Straw Dogs, A Clockwork Orange, House of Wax

## Quotes

>
>
> | David: |  Ben’s just smirking at me.
> | Ben: |  I thought of a good joke.
> | Alex: | Let’s hear it.
> | Ben: | You have a dossier and Alex brought his own dossier, so it’s a *dos*sier kind of going on right now.
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> | Alex: |  David, you’re steering it off topic and I feel like this is not what you want to be doing.
> | David: |  I know, and we’re almost done with the film.
>
>

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. A Clockwork Orange. Audioboom. Retrieved on October 16, 2022.
2. ↑ @ 0:59:05
3. ↑  @ 2:07:22
4. ↑  @ 2:13:16
Aliens Commentary

*For the main feed episode, see Aliens*

**Aliens** is episode 74 of Blank Check: Special Features as part of the Alien Franchise commentaries. Posted October 21, 2020 and released from behind the paywall on October 21, 2023.

## Summary

>
> Easily our favorite movie that got sold with a whiteboard and a dollar sign - we get to cover Alien$ again, bay-bee! Griffin, David, Ang, and one white-hot Benny revisit James Cameron's Vietnam allegory, how it's so drastically different from the thrilling original (and still works), and why that set the standard for new genre spins as the franchise and evolved. We're asking deep questions this week. Would aliens make good house flippers? Was there a slime unit on set and how do we get that job? And WHY DOES NO ONE LISTEN TO RIPLEY???
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> This is the **THEATRICAL CUT**.
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> The movie starts at...6:37
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* Lots of talk about how Disney is handling the Fox catalog.
* Both Griffin and David share horror stories of dropping their wireless headphones into liquids (🚽 and ☕️, respectively).

## Quotes

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> | Griffin: |  I wish Newt had taught me to read.
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>

—————

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> | Griffin: |  You ever date someone who shared a name with a lizard, Ben?
> | Ben: |  Uhhh, I’ll have to think.
>
>

## References

1. ↑ Aliens on Patreon. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
Episodes

This **Episode Guide** is a summary of each episode of the show. Please note that, to a large degree, any titles and information listed for future episodes are unofficial and subject to change.

For more details on the history of the podcast, see About The Show or the miniseries page for The Phantom Podcast. For a general summary of the different series, see the Miniseries Guide summary page. For a summary of every film covered, see List of Films Covered on the Podcast.

## Blank Check: Special Features

*Main article: Blank Check: Special Features*

**Blank Check: Special Features** is the name of the Blank Check Patreon. The Patreon was launched in January 2019 with a $5/month patron tier. Some special features complement a **main feed episode**, while others are standalones or audio commentaries.
I Wanna Hold Your Hand

**I Wanna Hold Your Hand** is episode 288 focusing on the 1978 film of the same name, and the first of the Podcast Away miniseries on the films of Robert Zemeckis. Posted September 6, 2020.

## Summary

>
> Your March Madness winner series has arrived! Chosen by the listeners, our latest subject is Robert Zemeckis, a Hollywood hitmaker who gives us plenty to cover. But before we get to *Forrest Gump* and *Back To The Future*, we're starting with 1978's *I Wanna Hold Your Hand*, which centers on a group of girls sneaking into the Beatles games Ed Sullivan show performance.
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>
> Patrick Willems (@patrickhwillems) helps us kick it all off as we talk iconic dork performances, the best Beatles movies, and the confidence in this directorial debut.
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* Patrick's video about the films of Robert Zemeckis: The Sad Story of Robert Zemeckis & His Wonderful Toys
* Griffin's impression of Zemeckis making movies: "God I love movies!"
* The impossible Beatles quiz mentioned by Eddie Deezen: The World's Toughest Beatles Quiz (According to Eddie Deezen)
* Box Office Game (April 1978) appears in Oops! All Box Office.

## Quotes

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> | Ben: |  The thing about the Beatles though is that it's your parents' music.
> | David: |  SHUT THE FUCK UP. I'M GONNA KILL YOU BEN. Where are you? Are you in your apartment?
> | Ben: |  Yes.
>
>

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. I Wanna Hold Your Hand with Patrick Willems. Audioboom. Retrieved on July 5, 2022.
Die Another Day Commentary

**Die Another Day** is episode 193 of Blank Check: Special Features and a commentary for the 2002 feature film of the same name. Posted November 1, 2023.

## Summary

> BC:SF's Brosnan-focused Bond series concludes with 2002's Die Another Day! Topics include: Rosamund Pike's career, relitigation of duck piss and of course Disney Emoji Blitz.
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> **Movie starts at 12:17**
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> BC:SF's Annual Bond series will return...... Or will it!?
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* Griff accesses his memory palace and pulls out a previously untold childhood Pierce Brosnan story. In the most Griffinest way, he tells the story of recognizing Brosnan on vacation as "the scientist from Mars Attacks!" and getting invited to lunch.
* Box office game: Weekend of November 22, 2002

## Quotes

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> | Ben: | I know that duck piss isn't real but...
> | David: | This movie is inventing duck piss...
> | Griffin: | What better name is there for it?
>
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## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Die Another Day. Patreon. Retrieved on November 1, 2023.
2. ↑ @2:05:30
Fan Fiction

**Fan Fiction** is episode 9 and the ninth part of the The Phantom Podcast miniseries. Posted 19 May 2015.

## Summary

>
> It’s week nine into the investigation and the case is not coming together. Sooo, Griffin and David have decided to dig deep and explore the strange world of Phantom Menace fan fiction.
>
>
> Perhaps these stories will help them better understand the relationship between lets say Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn? Selections include “Cards on the Table” by Emilia-Wan Kenobi, “Glory Glory Hallelujah ” by Dr. Gonzo and other entries. [Warning: This episode includes sexually explicit content]
>
>
> Also, Griffin checks in with the merch corner finding a hologram Darth Sidious action figure at CVS.
>
>
> Music Selections:
> “Gentle Whispering” and “Happy Little Clouds” by Lee Rosevere (freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee\_Rosevere/) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
>
>
>
>

This set the record for the shortest studio-recorded episode of the show ever, clocking in at just under 59 minutes. It has been surpassed since, though only by midweek bonus minisodes.

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Things Qui-Gon Jinn's brain does in the story "Glory Glory Hole-elujah": Wince, snicker
* seeing *Paddington* in the theater on valium: causes hallucinations and nonsensical screenplay ideas
* grade-school Griffin's fanfic sequel to Space Jam: *Soccer Jam*
* Ben likes a good tall ice coffee. But not raw snow peas, though snap peas are on the borderline.
* David: "Griffin, you're a professional actor. That's really impressive!"
* Griffin's preferred role in *The Phantom Menace*: Captain Panaka
* Merchandise Spotlight!

## Quotes

>
>
> | David: |  [laughing] We will not release this episode.
> | Griffin: |  Oh, you don't think this is gonna get on Podmass?
> | David: |  I don't know who writes Podmass anymore.
> | Griffin: |  You still have an 'in,' though, right?
> | Ben: |  We should leave that part in, too, where we talk about Podmass.
>
>

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Fan Fiction. Audioboom. Retrieved on January 30, 2023.
Dark Star

**Dark Star** is episode 336 focusing on the 1974 film of the same name and the inaugural episode of the They Podcast miniseries on the films of John Carpenter. Posted August 8, 2021.

## Summary

>
> Our long-awaited John Carpenter series kicks off with his ultra-low budget oddity debut *DARK STAR*. Ben goes Hollywood (actually, “Hosleywood”) to record with Emily Yoshida - the Mother of Blankies herself - \*in person\* in Los Angeles, and the gang debates possible names for the series. We landed on “They Podcast” - which is a departure from Griffin’s far sweatier suggestions. Join us as we set the table for Carpenter’s filmography, and go deep on this film, which could also just be called “Space Dirtbags,” per Emily.
>
>
>
>

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Emily likes this as a proto-Carpenter movie, but *really* likes it as a proto-Alien movie.
* Dark Star Rd. in Benson, AZ.
* The Future Home of Blank Check Studios

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Dark Star with Emily Yoshida. Audioboom. Retrieved on August 8, 2021.
Aquaman

podquaman, hell yeah

**Aquaman** (also known as **Podquaman**) is episode 197 focusing on the movie of the same name, posted 23 Dec 2018. Part of the PodDCEU Cast, the podcast's continuing coverage of the superhero films of the DC Extended Universe.

## Summary

>
> On the week of its release in December of 2018, Griffin and David discussed the latest offering in the DCEU: Aquaman. But how many Oscars did David throw at the screening? is Orm a name? Did Ben’s brain break? Together they examine director James Wan’s career, sea crime and the legacy of Aquaman over the years.
>
>
>
>

### Milestones and Ephemera

* It's big
* it's wet
* there are a LOT of fish
* Will this be Ben's favorite movie of the year? (Sea crime!)
* Box office game: December 21, 2018
	+ Same game as future ep Welcome to Marwen

### Sponsors

* Robinhood, check.robinhood.com
* The /Filmcast, slashfilmcast.com
Christine

**Christine** is episode 342 focusing on the 1983 film of the same name and part of the They Podcast miniseries on the films of John Carpenter. Posted September 19, 2021.

## Summary

>
> It’s the Blank Check / Kingcast crossover event you’ve all been waiting for! Scott Wampler and Eric Vespe join us to discuss John Carpenter’s “Christine” - the first Stephen King adaptation we’ve covered. What is more terrifying - a sexy vintage car that kills people? Or Barbra Streisand’s basement mall? A difficult question, we know.
>
>
>
>

### Milestones and Ephemera

* They discuss possible names for the kind of movie made post-bounce. A rebound? A mortgage?
* David continues to try and make a Streisand miniseries happen.
	+ Buyer & Cellar, the play about the guy working at Barbara Streisand's Mall.
	+ Barbra Streisand: Dream House Photo Shoot, *Harper's Bazaar*, November 22, 2010

**Box Office**

December 9, 1983

1. Sudden Impact
2. Scarface
3. Terms of Endearment
4. Christine
5. Yentl

* Other films: A Christmas Story, The Big Chill, Never Say Never Again, All the Right Moves, The Smurfs and the Magic Flute.

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Christine with Scott Wampler & Eric Vespe. Audioboom. Retrieved on September 19, 2021.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

**Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull** is episode 104, part of the Pod Me If You Cast miniseries covering the filmography of Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks era. Posted 15 Apr 2017.

## Summary

> David Ehrlich (IndieWire) returns to Blank Check to discuss 2008's polarized franchise reboot, *Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull*. But are the rumors true that there is a superior early version of this screenplay? Is George Lucas to blame for the most of the criticism? And is it clear that Mutt Williams is a greaser type character? Together they examine, the new old Harrison Ford movies slated for release, the culture around the death of celebrities, the many follies of Shia LaBeouf and also explore Ray Winstone impressions.
>
>

David Ehrlich is in the studio with Griffin and David and Producer Ben to talk about the most recent Indiana Jones movie, which he regards as a borderline masterpiece.

Gotta start this with Harrison Ford and the differences between him in Star Wars movies (which he's famously grumpy or irascible about) and him in Indiana Jones movies. Or in his case, does he see it as Indiana Jone$ ? Hmmmm???

Moving on, next is the George Lucas connection, aww, Georgie Porgie. But wait, whoa, say that again, *who* wrote preliminary versions of this movie? Did this project drive Shia Lebeouf crazy or did that come later? The movie starts off fun; when does the fun end... or does it? How does the 50's setting affect not only the plot but also the way Spielberg shot it?

Why does Ehrlich think this a masterpiece? Why does just about everyone else think it terrible?

It's good to look for the positives in every movie, and Griffin and David make it entertaining to do so, but... It's somewhat illuminating that this episode abandons the "let's go through the plot of the movie" structure of a Blank Check episode, instead returning to the style they employed for the Star Wars prequels in the Griffin and David Present days. Because you can't look at this movie directly for long periods of time - you have to dart your eyes and jump all around to avoid getting horribly burned.

### Milestones and Ephemera

* "How did we as a society collectively forget Billy Crystal did blackface within the last five years?!"
* Jimmy Fallon was in literal blackface in 2001.
* Hot takes galore on celebrity death watches.
* Ehrlich gives a partial retraction/partial explanation for his Harrison Ford dismissiveness during this episode in Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance.
* Box office game: Weekend of May 23, 2008

## References

1. ↑ Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull on Audioboom.
Blackhat

*This article is a stub. You can help Blank Check with Griffin and David Wiki by expanding it.*
*For the unit of box office measurement, see Blackhat.*

## Blackhat

### Reddit thread

Link

**Blackhat** is episode 229 focusing on the TV pilot episode of the same name, as part of The Cast of the Podhicans miniseries on the films of Michael Mann. Posted August 4, 2019.

## Summary

>
> Film critic, Bilge Ebiri, joins #thetwofriends to discuss 2015's hacker flop *Blackhat*.
>
>
>
>

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Box office game: Weekend of January 16, 2015.
	+ Its box office performance lends itself to the unit of measurement, A Blackhat, which equals its domestic box office $8,005,980.

## References

1. ↑ Blackhat on Audioboom. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
Battling Butler/The General

*This article is for the Buster Keaton film* The General*. For Rosario Dawson's pubic zone, which she has publicly said she calls "The General," see the episode on Trance.*

## Battling Butler/The General

### Audio link

Audioboom
SoundCloud

### Sponsors

ZocDoc
ExpressVPN

**Battling Butler/The General** is episode 427 focusing on the 1926 films of the same names as part of Podcast Jr. miniseries on the films of Buster Keaton. Posted May 28, 2023.

## Summary

> One of narrative cinema’s earliest training sequences, and one of cinema’s most famous trains - that’s right, we’re covering Buster Keaton’s 1926 films BATTLING BUTLER and THE GENERAL. Gentleman, scholar, and action movie aficionado Jamelle Bouie joins us to unpack this week’s double feature, providing some essential historical context for THE GENERAL’s unfortunate Civil War setting. Plus, Ben starts researching how one buys a train.
>
>
> Guest Links:
>
> Read Jamelle’s writing at The New York Times
>
> Listen to Unclear and Present Danger
>
> Subscribe to Unclear and Present Danger Patreon
>
>
>
>
>

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Jamelle joins the Five-Timers Club
* Subbuteo
* Go see Harry Hugh Hosley's photographic work at the Eastman Museum

### Box Office Game

**Battling Butler**

Week of September 18, 1926

1. Tin Gods
2. The Campus Flirt
3. Don Juan
4. Aloma of the South Seas
5. The Waning Sex

Others in the top ten: Ben-Hur, Mare Nostrum, Blarney

**The General**

February 1927

1. It
2. The Kid Brother
3. What Price Glory
4. Tell It to the Marines
5. The General

Others in the top ten: Blonde or Brunette, Old Ironsides, Paradise for Two, McFadden's Flats, Altars of Desire

## Films

Battling Butler 1926, Comedy Silent Movie Buster KeatonFull MovieThe General (1926) - Full Movie HDFull Movie

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Battling Butler/The General. Audioboom. Retrieved on May 28, 2023.
Alien

Fan art by Blankie redditor Ioncelostashoe

**Alien** is a miniseries, primarily as part of the Blank Check: Special Features, covering the films of the Alien franchise.

## Summary

The Alien commentary series was announced as the next commentary series on the Blank Check: Special Features Patreon in September 2020 following the Mission: Impossible series. The Alien franchise was the runner up in the 2020 Special Features March Madness tournament.

During the course of the podcast, #TheTwoFriends covered one additional movie on the main feed as part of the Podinator: Judgment Cast miniseries on the films of James Cameron.

### Milestones and Ephemera

* There was a drinking game created for the franchise. The rules are:

1. Someone doesn't listen to Ripley
2. Drippy pipe
3. Close up of alien teeth
4. Someone says "The Company"
5. Someone dies

## Ranking The Franchise

At the conclusion of the miniseries, the Blankies rankings will compiled from a voting thread found on the r/Blankies sub-reddit. Griffin and David gave their rankings in The Fifth Blank Check Mailbag episode.

## References

1. ↑ "After doing one for Mission Impossible I figured I'd do another for Alien" by u/Ioncelostashoe on reddit
2. ↑ "Introducing our next series: ALIEN" on Patreon
3. ↑ @blankcheckpod on Twitter: "The official Alien franchise drinking rules we ran with. God speed." Retrieved December 20, 2020.
Breaking Dawn – Part 1 Commentary

**Breaking Dawn – Part 1** is episode 102 of Blank Check: Special Features, and is a commentary track for the 2011 film of the same. Posted July 1, 2021.

## Summary

>
> The dawn has indeed begun to break! BC:SF is in the home stretch of the Twilight Saga commentary series. And boy...is this one truly cursed. Topics include: director Bill Condon's unique campy style, the deeply twisted political undertones, the problem with being "people with faces as humans that move around" in this franchise, Bones Day, and more!
>
>
> **The movie starts at...8:34**
>
>
>
>

## References

1. ↑ Breaking Dawn – Part 1 on Patreon. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
Evil Dead (2013)

**Evil Dead (2013)** is episode 133 of Blank Check: Special Features on the 2013 remake? sequel? legacyquel? to The Evil Dead as a supplement to the Podcast Me to Hell miniseries on the films of Sam Raimi. Posted April 11, 2022.

## Summary

> Marie joins BC:SF to discuss Fede Álvarez's remake of the Raimi classic. Topics include: justice for Jane Levy, rare examples of final boys, Pucci heads, the upcoming new Predator movie and more!
>
>

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Fingers crossed, fall will include a "...Has Fallen" miniseries!
* Box-office game: Weekend of April 5, 2013

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Evil Dead (2013). Patreon. Retrieved on April 11, 2022.
Bilge Ebiri

**Bilge Ebiri** is a Turkish-American journalist and filmmaker.

## Biography

Currently, Ebiri is working for The Village Voice. His first feature film, a comedy thriller entitled *New Guy*, was released in 2004.

Bilge was a guest for the Dunkirk episode of Blank Check. It was one of the more analytical episodes for which his expertise and intelligent commentary were very well suited for.
Attack of the Podcast

**Attack of the Podcast** (also known as **Griffin and David Present: Attack of the Podcast**) is a 10-episode miniseries covering George Lucas' film *Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones*. This miniseries ostensibly serves to investigate a single central question: "Is this a good sequel to *The Phantom Menace*?"

## Summary

Once again, Griffin and David maintained their running bit about the Star Wars movies: that in terms of the movie under discussion, this was the last Star Wars movie (in order of the episode numbers, of course) that George Lucas got to make. Functionally this meant that the hosts pretended that they had seen Episode I, Episode II, and that's it. Many guests on the show had a tough time remembering and maintaining that fiction, but most of the time Griffin and David stuck to it.

Originally the plan for this miniseries was to focus each episode on a different planet in the movie, because the characters do so much traveling to move the plot along. The idea was abandoned early on, however, and Griffin and David ended up moving from show topic to show topic in a freewheeling way - most notably illustrated by how much the discussion of Dexter Jettster's 50's diner dominated the second episode. David later talked about how they were still really flying by the seats of their pants in terms of the structure of the show, sometimes deciding the topic of an episode only after they'd arrived at the UCB to record.

This miniseries was preceded by the The Phantom Podcast miniseries. It was followed by the Revenge Of The Podcast miniseries.
Darkman

**Darkman** is episode 370 focusing on the 1990 film of the same name as part of Podcast Me to Hell miniseries on the films of Sam Raimi. Posted April 10, 2022.

## Summary

>
> Who’s Darkman? A man of a thousand faces! A walking fleshwound who probably smells awful! A dude who probably would be into night eggs! Filmmaker Chris Weitz joins us to geek out over Sam Raimi’s homage to the Universal Monsters - a film that establishes the comic book style that Raimi would later perfect with his “Spider-Man” trilogy. We discuss the early 90s run of pulpy comic book films (“Dick Tracy”, “The Shadow”), the shock of seeing Frances McDormand in what she describes as a “bimbo role,” and the unbelievably true story of how Sam Raimi swapped in his own cut of “Darkman” when the studio tried to release their own version.
>
>
>
>

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Chris does not swear *at all* during this episode.
* Chris presented Form BC-10 requesting retirement of bit "Night Eggs"
* Darkman has big ~~Night Eggs~~ retired bit energy.
* Box-office game: Weekend of August 24, 1990

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Darkman. Audioboom. Retrieved on April 10, 2022.
Collateral

**Collateral** is episode 224 focusing on the movie of the same name, as part of The Cast of the Podhicans miniseries on the films of Michael Mann. Posted July 7, 2019.

## Summary

>
> #thetwofriends welcome back Katey Rich (Vanity Fair) to discuss 2004's Cruise/Foxx thriller *Collateral*. Together they examine the initial casting of Adam Sandler as the cab driver, as well as, the entire cast's excellent performances, contemplate a coyote and more.
>
>
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>

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Box office game: Weekend of August 6, 2004

## References

1. ↑ Collateral on Audioboom. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
Allied

**Allied** is episode 307 focusing on the 2016 film of the same name, as part of Podcast Away miniseries on the films of Robert Zemeckis. Posted January 17, 2021.

## Summary

>
> Now in the final stretch of the Zemeckis mini series, Chris Weitz returns to discuss 2016's WWII spy thriller, *Allied*.
>
>
>
>

### Milestones and Ephemera

* Lots of Night Eggs talk.
* David's interview with Robert Zemeckis in *The Atlantic*: *Allied* Is an Old Hollywood Rarity.
* The practical baby from Twilight
* Griffin nominated this movie for Best Original Screenplay at The Second Annual Blank Check Awards.
* Box Office Game: Weekend of November 25, 2016.
	+ Same game as Moana.

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Allied with Chris Weitz. Audioboom. Retrieved on January 17, 2021.
2. ↑ u/bestowaldonkey8. The Practical Twilight Baby. reddit. Retrieved on January 17, 2021.
Clifford 2: Hyper-Clifford

*For the original episode focusing on Clifford (1994), see Clifford.*

**Clifford 2: Hyper-Clifford** is episode 333 re-focusing on the 1994 film of the same name and a standalone episode. Posted July 18, 2021.

## Summary

>
> It’s the direct-to-Crackle sequel to our original Clifford episode from four years ago! Clifford superfan and comedy legend Tom Scharpling (“The Best Show,” his new memoir “It Never Ends”) joins us to wax poetic on Martin Short and eulogize the great Charles Grodin. The guys also give pitches for an actual Clifford sequel. Would it involve a prison break? Ben thinks so!
>
>
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### Milestones and Ephemera

* Tom bought his way onto the show via the George Lucas Talk Show.
* Tom was an assistant to someone doing rewrites on Lucky Numbers and pitched a dream sequence.
* The photo of Tom, Martin Short, and the Clifford jacket.

## References

1. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. Clifford 2: Hyper-Clifford with Tom Scharpling. Audioboom. Retrieved on July 18, 2021.