Joel Radio #167: #OscarsSoLame
Mar 1st
After doing a bang up job recapping the best movies of 2015 last show, Joel and Corey Hall have their review of Hollywood’s official movie show – The Academy Awards 2016. Unfortunately, the show was a joyless mess of preachy speeches and liberal guilt. While the guys love Chris Rock, his one-note “it’s all white people!” shtick got old quick and ultimately didn’t have its desired effect. The were also speeches about global warming, gay rights, date rape and a Kevin Hart speech that was basically Chris Rock without the jokes. Even though they largely got the winners right, the show had the tone of a funeral and not a celebration – a giant waste of time for both the participants and the viewers. In happier news, Joel has a serendipitous run in with the E Street Band in Cleveland, much to Corey’s dismay. Hear how Joel’s love of The Beatles and Bruce Springsteen collided in front of Ringo’s drum kit. Also, there’s a glut of new TV shows both on cable and streaming. Hear the guys’ reviews of 11.22.63 on Hulu, Love on Netflix, Vinyl on HBO, and the very best of all: American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson on FX. Plus, the return of old favorites HBO’s Girls and Togetherness and how the latter show has an important lesson we should learn about relationships, according to Joel. All this and a special message to superfan Cam from Yellowknife – get well, buddy.
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The best actors celebrate their whiteness backstage at the Oscars 2016
Joel Radio #166: Movie Mania 2016
Feb 9th
It’s Joel Radio’s annual recap of the best and worst movies of 2015, as Corey Hall sits down to chat with Joel who furiously watched nearly a movie a day to bring you his list. It was a down year for movies, but each guy gives you his list of 15 faves plus others they liked including tons of good documentaries, with Joel reviewing every movie nominated for an Academy Award in the major categories. There’s the worst movies, too, like the mess that was The Hateful Eight, the “Oscar bait” movie that is actually cringe-worthy camp, and Johnny Depp getting picked in the worst by both guys – for two different movies! The guys also do their Oscar predictions and tell you why Sylvester Stallone won’t win. If you’re looking for something good to watch, let this show be your guide, and even though it’s long it’s still shorter than The Hateful Eight! Remember to take an intermission!
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Some of the images of the best movies of the year. There’s no room for the 70mm Hateful Eight! Just kidding – it sucked.
Joel Radio #165: The Trial of Amy Schumer
Jan 29th
The topic of joke thievery has been covered extensively on this show. Joel even made peace with Carlos Mencia back on show #159. So when Amy Schumer, comedy’s newest superstar, was accused of joke thieving this week Joel decided to put together a blue ribbon panel to investigate. Due to unforeseen circumstances, that panel ended up being only Joel and fellow comic Corey Hall. But it turned out OK, as both Joel and Corey have had jokes stolen from them, and genuinely hate when it happens. But is there more to it? Is this just an Amy Schumer backlash? Who are the guys coming up with the accusations? Hear the jokes in question and the guys’ verdict on the whole thing on this show. The results might surprise you. Also, Glenn Frey died this past week, and after the giant Bowie tribute last show, some words deserve to be said – well not by Corey. Hear the debate about if The Eagles were actually any good, Joel’s personal playlist of stuff he likes that’s worse than The Eagles, and Bruce Springteen’s lovely tribute to Glenn which Joel was lucky enough to see in person. Plus, Making a Murderer is just another paranoid conspiracy, local TV has Joel making friends and freezing his ass off at the zoo, and a local comic gets his big break on national TV – even though you heard him here first.
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This took a goddamn long time to do in photoshop – hope you laughed!
Joel Radio #164: Bowie’s In Space
Jan 14th
Nothing is more agonizing for a comedian than doing new material. Except for maybe doing new material with 50 other comics in the room, and for only two minutes. That was the dilemma that Joel faced recently, as he was invited to perform at “50 First Jokes” last week in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Hear why Joel didn’t want to do the show, how Joel tried to involve Corey Hall in the proceedings, and how he was triumphant anyway when Corey let him down. Oh, and you’ll hear Joel’s joke, so you can decide for yourself. Also, the world lost a music legend in early 2016, as David Bowie passed at age 69. Joel and Corey eulogize the transcendent rocker, listening to his greatest hits, his early singles and his legendary collaborations. You’ll also hear about Tin Machine, but that’s not because you want to. Plus, the Golden Globes get dirty with Ricky Gervais. Hear Joel’s solution for airing the show uncensored, how the Hollywood Foreign Press rejected Corey and and why it’s simply impossible to follow all the TV shows that were nominated. If that wasn’t enough, find out exactly what it’s like backstage a Gallagher concert. The mallet, the table, the watermelon, hear all the secrets revealed! Just remember to bring a can opener.
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A young Davie Jones (soon to be David Bowie) in his “Liza Jane” Days
Joel Radio #163: Assholes of the Year 2015
Dec 30th
The annual year-end parade of scum and villainy has returned with Joel Radio’s Assholes of the Year countdown for 2015. Joel and Corey Hall select the worst people of the year from idiot politicians to greedy pharmaceutical executives to race-baiters to bullies. The lists were hard to make this year, too. Which Republican Presidential candidate to choose? Which obnoxious sports star? From singers, to movie directors to late-night talk show hosts, the guys have it covered this year. There was a lot of assholery to go around in 2015, so listen to this show, or you might be the asshole of the year for 2016.
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Believe it or not, there’s one person who wasn’t picked as an Asshole of the Year!
Joel Radio #162: Star Wars: The Force Awakens Review
Dec 18th
Joel Radio is the first(?) podcast to have a complete review of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. In fact, it’s so complete it’s almost as long as the movie! Don’t worry – there are NO SPOILERS – for 20 minutes anyway, and then there’s a METRIC TON OF SPOILERS after that, so maybe listen to a little before and the rest after seeing the movie. Joel and Corey Hall compare the actual film to last show’s hopes about it, break down what works and what doesn’t, describe the nerdy scene at the theater, and generally whoop and holler about all things Star Wars in a post-George Lucas universe. Also, find out the characters that don’t work at all and why one character’s weight gain is especially hilarious – it’s not who you think! Whether you loved or hated the movie, there’s something for you on this show, and its eventual sequels.
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Joel can’t bear the sight of the nerds in the Star Wars line – and we’re pretty sure that’s just a bathrobe
Joel Radio #161: The Manifesto
Dec 10th
You can’t say you’re not a nerd when you write a page and a half written diatribe about the Star Wars saga – a review of the previous films and a preview of the new one coming out. That’s exactly what head nerd Joel did for this week’s podcast, sharing his thoughts with fellow geek Corey Hall, dissecting what they love, hate and everything else about Star Wars. From the excellence of the original trilogy’s design to the awful acting of the prequels, hear the good and the bad, like which two characters ruin the overarching plot of the series, why Darth Vader ceases to be a bad guy in Jedi and why everyone became a lizard after a certain point. The guys also make predictions about the Force Awakens including what review score they’d be happy with, the various characters that will or won’t appear, and the awesome plans they’ve made for a screening and podcast review. Also, Joel’s scary Charlie Sheen update, “experts” say Bernie Sanders will become president, see ya Scott Weiland, and a Big Bird documentary that will make you cry. Plus, Bill Murray’s holiday special falls flat. Find out how big stars, good musicians, and a ton of hype made for this year’s great entertainment disappointment – until, perhaps, The Force Awakens.
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Corey in his domain with a mini R2-D2 in one hand and Joel’s Star Wars manifesto in the other
Joel Radio #160: Composite Friends
Nov 18th
It took a an awful, tragic event to bring Corey Hall back to the show. We’re not talking about Paris either, instead an 89-year-old comedian went viral with a stand-up set that was too good to be true. Turns out it was, as most of his jokes were stolen from the internet to a shameless degree. Hear the old codger’s performance, the internet sources for said jokes and Joel and Corey’s analysis of him and the various mistakes that rookie comedians make and why a comedy class setting shouldn’t have allowed this to happen. Also, to the surprise of no one, Charlie Sheen is HIV+ and Joel may or may not have been in contact with him within weeks or months of his diagnosis. Can you get HIV from a microphone? And there was a terror attack this week, as Corey shares his memories of visits to France and Joel wonders if Eagles of Death Metal’s support of Israel played in to the attacks. Plus, Star Wars won’t screen for critics, Back to the Future gets really annoying, Tiny Tim’s debut album is genius (says Joel), Marlon Brando’s dark new documentary, and Aziz Ansari’s Master of None gets the guys thinking about who they’d be in each others’ semi-autobiographical single-camera sitcom.
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Joel Radio #159: I Love Carlos Mencia
Oct 30th
Comics accused of stealing is a big deal in the world of comedy, and this week Joel and his guest comedian Bill Bushart attempt to get to the bottom of the most recent controversy of Amy Schumer being accused of lifting material from the late Patrice O’Neal. Did Amy steal material that seems to been available in the public domain for years? Can you even steal a street joke? The guys look at this issue and Joel’s theory that comedy nerds and their accusations of theft are ruining comedy. Speaking of stealing, Joel spent a week watching the infamous “joke thief” Carlos Mencia working a comedy club, and had some surprising takeaways. Find out why Joel thinks Carlos was an excellent performer, a shrewd businessman, and why Joe Rogan’s smear videos on Carlos from a few years ago make Joe look like an asshole. Plus, how comedian and 9/11 liar Steve Rannazzisi fits into all this and why his involvement shows that Mencia really has gotten a raw deal. If that wasn’t enough, the guys talk the importance of comedy classes, why it’s great to work gigs in Florida, why opening for big acts kinda sucks, and the night Joel fired Jamie Kennedy. Also, The Walk and The Martian get reviewed and 3D formats get put to the test, Adam Ruins Everything is a show you should watch, and why your comedy “showcase” isn’t helping anybody and a real-world example of why that is.
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Amy, Patrice, Carlos, Joel, and Bill. The great comedy festival line-up that will never happen
Joel Radio #158: Rock, Roll, Murder and Clowns
Oct 14th
Steve Miller is the man that wrote the book about Detroit Rock ‘n Roll. He’s actually written about a lot of things – things that Joel likes, too which makes him an excellent guest for this installment of Joel Radio. Joel enjoyed Detroit Rock City: The Uncensored History of Five Decades of Rock ‘n Roll in America’s Loudest City and has million questions about The MC5, The Stooges, Ted Nugent and Bob Seger and more. Was Grand Funk Railroad really a big deal? Why does everyone hate Nugent? Was Bookie’s really the CBGB of Detroit? What really happened when Jack White started that fight? There’s a lot to cover, but Steve either lived it, or talked to those who did and it makes for a fun, fascinating discussion. If you lived or enjoyed the Detroit Rock scene from the 1960s through the 2000s, you’ll like this show. There’s even some Ramones, Johnny Thunders and Bruce Springsteen talk shoehorned in to the conversation. Also, Steve’s latest book tackles the bizarre Bob Bashara murder case, and the guys talk about how a rich a guy with a secret BDSM life had his wife killed for money and how the whole thing looks like a Coen Brothers movie. Plus, Steve has book coming next year about Insane Clown Posse and their Juggalo fans, hear Joel’s opinion on why most mainstream writers get their coverage wrong, why Mike E. Clark is a genius and his importance to ICP, and Joel’s message to the Juggalos and why his association with ICP has been nothing but a good thing. This is a great talk on so many levels, so listen to this, then bust your Raw Power vinyl and keep rocking.
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Author Steve Miller (inset) with two of his books discussed on this show
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