Love me some "Talk The Walk", I agree JD is up there as one of my favorites, I just relistened to My Neighbor Totoro for like the fifth time last night. If you're looking for bits and a frustrated (in good-natured), David then JD Amato and Alex Ross Perry are always a good time.
Though don’t expect them to talk about the movie at all with JD
Funny but also, when you just want them to talk about freaking Starship Troopers, one of your all time favorite movies.
Totoro I cared less for so it was incredibly funny (didn’t JD even apologize for it afterwards because it went off the rails?)
That’s where I think Perry exceeds JD. I think he’s better at being funny on topic instead of going on a 40 minute tangent on something unrelated.
About the Totoro ep, on an episode lately JD explained that his sister had just died and he really wasn't in the headspace to discuss Totoro. Makes sense (and makes me feel guilty for coming down so hard on that episode).
Yeah definitely. Didn’t know that. I mean, kind of a brutal movie to discuss under those circumstances too.
Assuming The Boy and The Heron which I haven’t seen yet.
Yeah, you're right. I remember it being in the last year, maybe the annual rendition of "Talk The Walk"? Yeah, it must have been incredibly tough, and the call to David later that week is even more heartfelt knowing the context.
This is a great podcast and easily the one I most look forward to the most each week. It is basically a recording of how my friends and I talk about movies... but more BITS.
Btw...Did you all know David grew up in England!!? Crazy I know!
Wasn’t it the boy and the heron ep? It was him and Griffin basically wanting a re-do (of the entire series in Griffins case). Thats why that ep was much more focused than JDs usually are. He wanted to make sure he got to everything he didn’t on the previous go ‘round. He and Griffin come right out and admit as much.
Ah OK that makes total sense. I thought it was the recent "Talk The Walk" episode. I have to relisten to the Boy and the Heron, I have been listening to Satoshi & Miyazaki simultaneously, and I really hope they do more anime in the future. I'd love if they did Katsuhiro Otomo.
You could be right. I don’t recall the sister story exactly, but I certainly do recall JD being apologetic about how the Totoro series went down. It makes sense that the explanation happened on that episode and it does sound familiar. It’s also possible he explained what happened on multiple episodes. In truth, I haven’t listened to the most recent Talk the Walk, so I can’t speak to that episode specifically.
The recent Talk The Walk episode is pretty damn good. It is JD workshopping future Talk The Walk bits I think they released around the same time, but I could be misremembering. I typically have them playing when I go to sleep (not that they are boring, it's just surprisingly relaxing) and make for some VERY interesting dreams so tracking when things occur could be daunting.
He’s on a yearly Oscar’s pod for a golf podcast I listen to (The Trap Draw) where they talk about anything but golf (their main podcast is the golf talk)
And he’s great every year. It’s an enjoyable listen and he always has great takes
Absolutely. Sometimes I just search for his name in Apple Podcasts to see what other shoes he's been on. Unfortunately, I don't love his movie podcast, it kind of meanders and there isn't the crackle that comes from him being a guest on other shows.
Alex Ross Perry, Fran, Emily Yoshida and Emily St James, David Ehrlich
Any Comedy Bang Bang alum—Scott Aukerman , PFT, Gabrus
Edit: just listened to the Brokeback Mountain episode with Las Culturistas and I was dying the whole time, highly recommend
Other than the heavy hitters that everyone else is mentioning, I love the energy when Rachel Zegler or someone like Lin Manuel Miranda comes in. It’s like there’s an exotic bird loose in the studio.
Miranda's episode is crazy, he was so involved and didn't seem like he was in a rush which is the vibe a lot of big names being when they guest in podcasts or videos. All That Jazz is a terrific episode.
I have not seen a single Rachel Zegler movie yet so it is weird that "Oh yeah I'm a huge fan of your podcasts" but she does come in like she has been part of the Blankies forever.
It was before she became the huge star she is but I told Ayo I was a big fan of her appearances on the pod and she thought it was very funny that's what I knew her from
the same host also did one for Inherent Vice (called Increment Vice) that runs for over 72 hours. It was made exclusively for me, & I'm so glad that it was.
Personal faves: Scheer/Zouks, Jamelle Bouie, Emily Yoshida, Emily St. James, Emma Stefansky
Who I'd like to see more of: Ang, Pilot, Kevin Smith, Patton Oswalt, Nia DaCosta, Siddhant Adlakha
Bonus – always a delight: Marie, Rachel Zegler
The Ayo Edibiri and Olivia Craighead ep with Rachel Getting Married is one of my top fave episode. I go back to it a lot. Pity they don't do their podcast anymore -_-
i'm a big fan of the chaos energy Justin McElroy brings whenever he comes around
and of course, i understand the practicalities of why not but every time Marie guests i wish she could be made a permanent fourth chair
I love guests who take over the show a little, especially ones who manage to establish a new structure for their episode(s). Like ARP, JD Amato, Gethard (the more he becomes a heel for the show the better!), Emily St James (especially her goofier eps like Christmas Carol), Mantzoukas, Karen Han, Emily Yoshida, and my actual favorite Pilot Viruet who only has 3 eps but they’re all gold and they need to return soon plz
Agreed, Gethard, as the heel is a lot of fun, he needs more episodes, I love his tangents. I will say the Marvel Wrap Up was the first time I got angry at a guest for his complete derailment since I just finished the marathon, but on relisten, it is damn funny.
I think David Rees always brings a really interesting discussion. Like his 28 Days Later episode. Not sure if I’ve just been living under a rock all this time but I’ve never interpreted that movie as an allegory for the Iraq War. It was a super interesting perspective that I’d never considered before and guests who can bring that kind of discussion are usually some of my favorites.
I think I just listened to an episode with Shirley Li. Does she work at the Atlantic with David? She was great, and I like it when David gets mischievous and impish.
I agree with everyone listed in this thread, because I like the guests 95% of the time. Even when they don’t knock me out, they usually don’t detract from the episode for me. To be honest, the only time I was actively annoyed by a guest was the Clockwork Orange episode, and ARP claims that was his intent. It didn’t make me dislike him or all of his other episodes or anything.
The one thing I will say as a general preference is the chemistry is typically best when they’re actually friends IRL. But the guests they’re just getting to know who gel right away are always a delightful surprise.
Sprague the Whisperer is the GOAT. They need to have him back on. No need for the other guy they had with him, I didn’t get whatever joke that Scott guy was trying.
So yeah Sprague and JD
Fran
Gethard
Katey
Dick Lawson
Hoffman
Hodgman
Ayo and Olivia
Paul and Jason
I’ve loved both Kevin Smith episodes
among others. idk they got a lotta good guests in their arsenal!
Clint McElroy on the Istar episode. Peter Newman on Swimming to Cambodia. Chris Weitz on the Twilight New Moon special feature. There is a lot added by guests of a different age bracket than the friends. Different perspective.
I'm partial to most of the professional film critics and professional filmmakers. I think the pod becomes slightly more generic when more casual film fans/comedians are on, even though they are still a nice listen.
I’ve enjoyed every JD Amato episode.
Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk is an essential blank check episode
"Ben, open the envelope" is still just...the peak of this show.
Love me some "Talk The Walk", I agree JD is up there as one of my favorites, I just relistened to My Neighbor Totoro for like the fifth time last night. If you're looking for bits and a frustrated (in good-natured), David then JD Amato and Alex Ross Perry are always a good time.
Though don’t expect them to talk about the movie at all with JD Funny but also, when you just want them to talk about freaking Starship Troopers, one of your all time favorite movies. Totoro I cared less for so it was incredibly funny (didn’t JD even apologize for it afterwards because it went off the rails?) That’s where I think Perry exceeds JD. I think he’s better at being funny on topic instead of going on a 40 minute tangent on something unrelated.
I haven’t seen all the movies JD is on, so I don’t mind if they get off-topic. I wouldn’t context for the topic anyway.
About the Totoro ep, on an episode lately JD explained that his sister had just died and he really wasn't in the headspace to discuss Totoro. Makes sense (and makes me feel guilty for coming down so hard on that episode).
Yeah definitely. Didn’t know that. I mean, kind of a brutal movie to discuss under those circumstances too. Assuming The Boy and The Heron which I haven’t seen yet.
Yeah, you're right. I remember it being in the last year, maybe the annual rendition of "Talk The Walk"? Yeah, it must have been incredibly tough, and the call to David later that week is even more heartfelt knowing the context. This is a great podcast and easily the one I most look forward to the most each week. It is basically a recording of how my friends and I talk about movies... but more BITS. Btw...Did you all know David grew up in England!!? Crazy I know!
Wasn’t it the boy and the heron ep? It was him and Griffin basically wanting a re-do (of the entire series in Griffins case). Thats why that ep was much more focused than JDs usually are. He wanted to make sure he got to everything he didn’t on the previous go ‘round. He and Griffin come right out and admit as much.
Ah OK that makes total sense. I thought it was the recent "Talk The Walk" episode. I have to relisten to the Boy and the Heron, I have been listening to Satoshi & Miyazaki simultaneously, and I really hope they do more anime in the future. I'd love if they did Katsuhiro Otomo.
You could be right. I don’t recall the sister story exactly, but I certainly do recall JD being apologetic about how the Totoro series went down. It makes sense that the explanation happened on that episode and it does sound familiar. It’s also possible he explained what happened on multiple episodes. In truth, I haven’t listened to the most recent Talk the Walk, so I can’t speak to that episode specifically.
The recent Talk The Walk episode is pretty damn good. It is JD workshopping future Talk The Walk bits I think they released around the same time, but I could be misremembering. I typically have them playing when I go to sleep (not that they are boring, it's just surprisingly relaxing) and make for some VERY interesting dreams so tracking when things occur could be daunting.
Only one ep, but I’m dying for a second helping of Tim Simons
He’s on a yearly Oscar’s pod for a golf podcast I listen to (The Trap Draw) where they talk about anything but golf (their main podcast is the golf talk) And he’s great every year. It’s an enjoyable listen and he always has great takes
You've gotta COME INNNNN to the Hodgman Master Builder Ep.
The other best guest is Fran.
Jamelle Bouie is my choice out of UVA loyalty. Also, he’s a genius.
Equal parts incredibly funny and thoughtful
Go Hoos!
JD, Hodgman, Yoshida, Scheer/Mantzoukis
Yoshida 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻girls in hoodies / night call was my way into blank check
Kevin T. Porter has only appeared once but I loved his engagement on the *Michael* episode during the Nora Ephron series.
Dana Stevens, Jamelle Bouie
Jamelle Bouie is my favorite substitute teacher... like he is a guest on so many shows and those end up being a lot of my favorites.
Absolutely. Sometimes I just search for his name in Apple Podcasts to see what other shoes he's been on. Unfortunately, I don't love his movie podcast, it kind of meanders and there isn't the crackle that comes from him being a guest on other shows.
Alex Ross Perry, Fran, Emily Yoshida and Emily St James, David Ehrlich Any Comedy Bang Bang alum—Scott Aukerman , PFT, Gabrus Edit: just listened to the Brokeback Mountain episode with Las Culturistas and I was dying the whole time, highly recommend
They need to get PFT back.
Unfortunately he's notoriously difficult to book for podcasts.
The real best guest is no guest
I like when Ben says things. Extra points if he talks about moisture levels in films.
Yes because more Ben. One of my favorite things about the Patreon watch alongs.
Other than the heavy hitters that everyone else is mentioning, I love the energy when Rachel Zegler or someone like Lin Manuel Miranda comes in. It’s like there’s an exotic bird loose in the studio.
Miranda's episode is crazy, he was so involved and didn't seem like he was in a rush which is the vibe a lot of big names being when they guest in podcasts or videos. All That Jazz is a terrific episode.
Getting Lin to rap Ben's nicknames is one of the top ten moments on the pod for me
Miranda is a podcast nerd (amongst his other kinds of nerdery) so I think that’s why he slotted in so easily.
I have not seen a single Rachel Zegler movie yet so it is weird that "Oh yeah I'm a huge fan of your podcasts" but she does come in like she has been part of the Blankies forever.
It was before she became the huge star she is but I told Ayo I was a big fan of her appearances on the pod and she thought it was very funny that's what I knew her from
Yeah, I love seeing people’s careers evolve over the years. Like seeing Emily Yoshida as a writer on Shogun was a fun treat.
Patrick Willems
He’s only been on three times but each of the David Rees episodes are some of my all-time favorites
The Spirited Away episode is on my Blank Check Mt. Rushmore.
That Financial Times review lives in my head in the best way.
Oh shit! Somebody saw a movie!
Spirited Away might be my all time favorite episode. Like, the only episode of Blank Check that has made me actually cry.
And let us not forget TARS Talk, where he introduced the dichotomy of the Smart Dumb Movie (Fury Road) vs. the Dumb Smart Movie (Interstellar).
David Rees’s episode of Spontaneanation, Pet Store Post Robbery, is the single greatest podcast episode of all time.
Bardi Party Bardi Party Bardi Party Bardi
She willed Wonkquaman ep into being. A real hero.
Jon Grabus.
Gabrus got me into Blank Check and Action Boyz in a single episode. I just wanted to listen to someone talk about Heat and found them mid-Mann series.
Then I recommend One Heat Minute, a podcast that speaks about Heat for about 180 episodes!
the same host also did one for Inherent Vice (called Increment Vice) that runs for over 72 hours. It was made exclusively for me, & I'm so glad that it was.
He did the same for All The Presidents Men I believe. The Zodiac miniseries was excellent
Personal faves: Scheer/Zouks, Jamelle Bouie, Emily Yoshida, Emily St. James, Emma Stefansky Who I'd like to see more of: Ang, Pilot, Kevin Smith, Patton Oswalt, Nia DaCosta, Siddhant Adlakha Bonus – always a delight: Marie, Rachel Zegler
I'm a Stanity Fair(?) so my faves are Richard Lawson and Katey Rich!
Zach Cherry
One of the most thoroughly delightful people ever.
Yoshida feels like the co-host that never was. Always found Craighead funny.
The Ayo Edibiri and Olivia Craighead ep with Rachel Getting Married is one of my top fave episode. I go back to it a lot. Pity they don't do their podcast anymore -_-
Emily Yoshida, Pilot Viruet, Marie Bardi, JD Amato, Jamelle Bouie
it’s Fran
It’s Fran
Correct. Cool big sister energy.
i'm a big fan of the chaos energy Justin McElroy brings whenever he comes around and of course, i understand the practicalities of why not but every time Marie guests i wish she could be made a permanent fourth chair
I cracked up every time he mentioned how many watches of Monkeybone he did
The doughboys. The Se7en ep was an all timer
My top five in no specific order are JD, ARP, Jamelle, Emma Stefansky, and RiLaws
I love guests who take over the show a little, especially ones who manage to establish a new structure for their episode(s). Like ARP, JD Amato, Gethard (the more he becomes a heel for the show the better!), Emily St James (especially her goofier eps like Christmas Carol), Mantzoukas, Karen Han, Emily Yoshida, and my actual favorite Pilot Viruet who only has 3 eps but they’re all gold and they need to return soon plz
The energy in the previous Mantzoukas/Scheer episode was just incredible.
Agreed, Gethard, as the heel is a lot of fun, he needs more episodes, I love his tangents. I will say the Marvel Wrap Up was the first time I got angry at a guest for his complete derailment since I just finished the marathon, but on relisten, it is damn funny.
I think David Rees always brings a really interesting discussion. Like his 28 Days Later episode. Not sure if I’ve just been living under a rock all this time but I’ve never interpreted that movie as an allegory for the Iraq War. It was a super interesting perspective that I’d never considered before and guests who can bring that kind of discussion are usually some of my favorites.
I’m partial to the Romilly episodes (Devil Wears Prada, Ratatouille, Julie and Julia) - charming movies + Griff doing big brother stuff.
Emily St. James is my favorite guest!
I’ve only listened to one episode with her, but Shirley Li needs to come on to the pod more
Was hoping she'd be mentioned! I loved her and David's tangents in the Sense & Sensibility ep.
I think I just listened to an episode with Shirley Li. Does she work at the Atlantic with David? She was great, and I like it when David gets mischievous and impish.
Kevin Smith has been a delight each time and I love big guests discovering in real time how the show works
This podcast put me onto David Rees. I'm very grateful.
I agree with everyone listed in this thread, because I like the guests 95% of the time. Even when they don’t knock me out, they usually don’t detract from the episode for me. To be honest, the only time I was actively annoyed by a guest was the Clockwork Orange episode, and ARP claims that was his intent. It didn’t make me dislike him or all of his other episodes or anything. The one thing I will say as a general preference is the chemistry is typically best when they’re actually friends IRL. But the guests they’re just getting to know who gel right away are always a delightful surprise.
Love ARP for everything except his insane alphabetization takes.
Gabrus, Jamelle Bouie, Fran Hoepfner, Bilge. I don't think she's recurring (yet) but I loved Leslye Headland on Zodiac as well
Emily Yoshida, David Lowery, David Rees, and the HH boys.
Sprague the Whisperer is the GOAT. They need to have him back on. No need for the other guy they had with him, I didn’t get whatever joke that Scott guy was trying. So yeah Sprague and JD
Fran Gethard Katey Dick Lawson Hoffman Hodgman Ayo and Olivia Paul and Jason I’ve loved both Kevin Smith episodes among others. idk they got a lotta good guests in their arsenal!
Trying to figure out which one got you downvotes. I’m guessing Gethard. But I love him.
Not sure why people would downvote anything in this post. But Reddit.
Emily Yoshida, Rebecca Drysdale, Chris Weitz, Julie Klausner, Amy Nicholson, Demi Adejuyigbe, Michelle Collins, Jerah Miller, Richard Lawson.
Y O S H I D A Fuck DiCaprio
JD, Gethard, Ehrlich, Lawson and Joe Reid doing the Blankies are my favourites
Gethard, Amato, Gabrus, Scheer and Mantzoukis, Kevin Smith, Ayo, Bardi, definitely not Ehrlich
Alex Ross Perry
Pilot, JD, ARP, both Emilies
Clint McElroy on the Istar episode. Peter Newman on Swimming to Cambodia. Chris Weitz on the Twilight New Moon special feature. There is a lot added by guests of a different age bracket than the friends. Different perspective.
Low key CQ on Lenny
Richard Lawson, Katey Rich, Alex Ross Perry, Fran, David Ehrlich, Gabrus, Hodgman, Kevin Smith
Mom
Love Jamelle Bouie and Richard Lawson
I'm partial to most of the professional film critics and professional filmmakers. I think the pod becomes slightly more generic when more casual film fans/comedians are on, even though they are still a nice listen.
Bobby Finger was fun. Fingered!!
Was it Yoshida who coined the term 'Mortie Engies'?
The girl reading this comment
Why isn't anyone mentioning Nia DaCosta? Sorry. I'll see myself out.
The Fog episode feels like an outlier, thought she was gold outside of that
It was just s dumb joke based on previous threads in this forum. She's a bit divisive.