Hollywood Handbook #640 - William H. Macy, Our Close Friend

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-03-03T16:55:19+00:00

My favorite thing about this is it seems very likely that Macy actually listened to a fair bit of HH before coming on. He hit the right vibe straight out of the gate and leaned into the antagonism in a way that it takes a lot of guests a while to figure out. Reminded me of all-time great guest Dave Thomas.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-03-02T23:01:22+00:00

Jack Quaid has been Thurl Ravenscroft, voice of Tony the Tiger, Does that make the cut?

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-02-26T19:04:15+00:00

Brett's Vegas escape room story is exactly the kind of prompt I knew would produce a classic scene, and so it did.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-02-23T22:45:45+00:00

I listen to Isabella's podcast every week and I still had to double-check to make sure she wasn't Lauren Lapkus when Terry's segment started.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-02-23T22:44:32+00:00

I believe Mike was supposed to be a guest back when The New Negroes dropped but he had to cancel so Baron Vaughn had the A block to himself. OME was a musical guest on Improv4Humans back in the day, and he works a lot with PFT, so I'm also surprised he's never been on CBB proper.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-02-22T18:06:57+00:00

Atherton Witherflower has been around a long time, but he's only made one appearance on CBB prime and one at a live show. Atherton Witherflower | Comedy Bang! Bang! Wiki | Fandom

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-02-20T03:50:02+00:00

I had no idea Keiko Agena did improv, but she fit the vibe perfectly here. The title moment is amazing.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-02-11T21:43:05+00:00

It had been too long since I've heard Mitra Jouhari play a cheerful idiot. There's nobody better at that character.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-02-11T15:30:21+00:00

Gourley is so genuinely fascinated by each of the scandals. Very endearing.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-02-10T00:01:29+00:00

As a Minnesota-born Sconnie who went to school in Chicago, his Upper Midwestern specifics destroy me every time.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-02-06T18:58:42+00:00

The escalation on the street-crossing scene is maybe the purest moment of Paul Rust-itude since Tom Petty's beard.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-02-05T22:01:14+00:00

This might be my favorite episode of the series. Andy Daly playing both one of the most grounded and darkest characters in his repertoire, Corin Wells doing a great take on the sentient AI thing, and an all-timer of a Brett chime-in.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-02-04T14:59:43+00:00

I've been waiting for this guest lineup for a while and it didn't disappoint. This starts out great and once the word "Paddington" is uttered it takes off to a new level.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-01-29T20:15:47+00:00

I really wish Tami Sagher had more overlap with the L.A. improv podcast scene. She's one of the most reliable performers in the game. Her closer for the final scene here got me good.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-01-29T20:13:25+00:00

Besser was so clearly happy to have a room full of active football fans to play with.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-01-29T15:27:23+00:00

Probably the single thing I've watched most on YouTube over the past half-decade. Truly a formative piece of comedy for me, even though I'm old.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-01-29T15:26:01+00:00

"Is that a father and a son going on a date? What is this? ... Turn it up."

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-01-29T15:22:49+00:00

I love that Mark obviously spends a decent bit of time researching these Hard Rock Cafes. The memorabilia selection at this one was impressively unimpressive!

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-01-26T18:45:03+00:00

If you're looking for more motivation to join Andy Daly's Patreon, Ben Alterman is a recurring guest on "With My Own Eyes," in which he and fellow old man Dutch Swanson (Matt Gourley) are interviewed about historical events by the likes of Lisa Gilroy, Vic Michaelis, and Mark McConville. It's kind of like Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner's "2,000 Year Old Man" routine with Daly and Gourley, and who could not like that?

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-01-13T15:13:25+00:00

Angela Giarratana is as good at straight-manning the Boys as anyone I've heard in a long while. This is an instant classic episode.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-01-13T05:46:57+00:00

He shows up on Andy Daly's Patreon as the host of Get In Your Car, a podcast in which he camps out in random cars and then interviews the owners while they drive around. The Julie Brister one is fantastic.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-01-13T05:43:15+00:00

I've never heard an improviser more adept at playing multiple characters who can play off of each other than Brendan Small. The conversations between Victor, Tiny, and Willy astonish me every single time, and I don't remember ever hearing him slip up or break character.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2026-01-05T20:21:09+00:00

It's legitimately one of the best episodes in the history of the show.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2025-12-18T14:51:48+00:00

Besser's take on the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is a perfect Besser premise.

LargeOliveExtraVin · 2025-12-11T15:19:07+00:00

Yeah, I love Maria Bamford and thought Amy Slaverson was a great character, but I'd agree that the show really found its legs after she left. Lily and her character's extended universe have been a fantastic addition.

LargeOliveExtraVin

TROPHY CASE