Episodes

  • 86 “Duck Soup Reheated” featuring The Marx Brothers Council

    86 “Duck Soup Reheated” featuring The Marx Brothers Council
    Oct 30 2025
    Listeners weigh in with their takes on the 1933 classic. We dive into the big questions: Is the film genuine satire or just anarchy in disguise? Which supporting characters truly “deserve” the wrath of the Marxes? And why is there not even incidental sound in the famed mirror scene? Join us as we spin our wheels trying to find logic in the brothers’ most illogical film.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 31 mins
  • 85 “That’s a Rodeo You’re Thinking of”

    85 “That’s a Rodeo You’re Thinking of”
    Sep 30 2025
    This month we listen to and examine some of Groucho’s, Chico’s and (yes even) Harpo’s most notable radio guest appearances. We discuss how while most of their radio work was pedestrian, when paired with the right writers and co-stars, the brothers could flourish. These guest spots also let the brothers experiment in ways they couldn’t elsewhere — and even when the results were uneven, they were always fascinating.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 48 mins
  • 84 “Traveling Sohlo” featuring Brad Sohlo

    84 “Traveling Sohlo” featuring Brad Sohlo
    Sep 3 2025
    Alexander Woollcott authority Brad Sohlo returns to explore the celebrated critic’s influence on Harpo’s life and career—and the equally vital role Harpo played in Woollcott’s. Brad also shares stories from his visit to Woollcott’s Neshobe Island retreat, where Harpo and fellow Algonquin Round Table regulars gathered to unwind, rough it, and battle it out over croquet.
    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
  • BONUS EPISODE: Horse Feathers Unredacted

    BONUS EPISODE: Horse Feathers Unredacted
    Aug 11 2025
    A complete collection of listener submissions from episode 83, "Horse Feathers Reeducated". Because of time constraints and overlapping content, not every comment made it into the original episode. Now, you can enjoy the full, uncut versions of every clip we received—packed with great stories and fascinating insights. Enjoy!
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 57 mins
  • 83 “Horse Feathers Reeducated” featuring The Marx Brothers Council

    83 “Horse Feathers Reeducated” featuring The Marx Brothers Council
    Jul 28 2025
    Council members weigh in on one of the Marxes’ greatest films. Hear about a botched screening, why Jennings might be the dumbest gambler in history, and one member’s detailed dissent on Chico’s piano solo. You’ll also get mixed takes on the football finale, learn who holds the title of show business’s most ridiculed performer, and find out how Halle Berry’s name managed to enter the conversation.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 15 mins
  • 82 “Bob & Noah & Matt & Elliott” featuring Elliott Gould

    82 “Bob & Noah & Matt & Elliott” featuring Elliott Gould
    Jun 18 2025
    Screen icon Elliott Gould joins the guys for a heartwarming and at times profound conversation about his friendship with Groucho. From deli lunches to hospital antics to reflections on Mae West, Erin Fleming, and the meaning of legacy, Elliott offers deeply personal stories with warmth and wit. You’ll even learn what Groucho considered Elliott’s greatest performance.
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
  • 81 “Ten Annotated Years”

    81 “Ten Annotated Years”
    May 27 2025
    We're celebrating the tenth anniversary of Matthew Coniam’s “The Annotated Marx Brothers: A Filmgoer's Guide to In-Jokes, Obscure References and Sly Details”. In this retrospective, we explore how the book came to be—and how it ultimately became something quite different from what the title might lead you to expect. What sets it apart from other books on the Marxes? Is an updated edition on the horizon? And does Matthew still hate “Duck Soup”? These and other pressing questions will be lightly dodged before we inevitably try to sell you a copy.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 18 mins
  • 80 “Strange Interludes” (“The King and the Chorus Girl” & “Time for Elizabeth”)

    80 “Strange Interludes” (“The King and the Chorus Girl” & “Time for Elizabeth”)
    Apr 30 2025
    Friend of the podcast Kathy Biehl joins the guys to explore Groucho's only two produced scripts, the 1937 film "The King and the Chorus Girl", and the 1948 play "Time for Elizabeth" - which was later adapted for TV, featuring himself in the lead role. The crew delves into how these collaborations with Norman Krasna mark a conscious shift from Groucho’s signature humor, pondering what might have driven him to this new direction. They’ll guess which lines bear Groucho’s unmistakable stamp, and weigh in on his acting chops in Elizabeth. By the end, you’ll have the answer to the big question: Did Groucho need the funny?
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 25 mins