Spoony superenthusiast Emily-ann Herrington thought that appearing as a guest on the show would be a good for a lark. how wrong she was. But with an onslaught of japes aimed at everything from her country of origin to her pop culture preferences raining down upon her, she serves it right back with wit and gusto. Also, she's the earliest late guest the show has ever had, so bonus points for that. Other topics include the end of film, life on the potato picking line, Winnipeg's surprisingly high murder rate, and the never-ending nomenclature war between soda and pop. Music by Kelly's Heels, Jensen Bell, and 7 Deadly 5.

Bill Funt injects himself into the mishpoche this week, and the important questions follow: what is the difference between Emergency and Emergency One? Who can sum up Marty Kroft in a single sentence? Why are some transgender operations trickier than others? When does good become TOO good? Along the way, friends of the show call in to wish us well and wage their wares, and everyone learns a lesson about vetting heroes and defending villains. Plus, the Westboro Baptist Church’s food sucks… and such small portions, too! Music by The Cretones, The Mockers, and Any Trouble.

Perhaps love is a many-splendored thing. Perhaps love is a battlefield. Perhaps love is a snowmobile racing across the tundra and then suddenly it flips over, pinning you underneath, and at night, the ice weasels come. Perhaps love just stinks. Whatever your perspective, the men of The Spoon and special guest Jenni Rosen have you covered on this pre-funk to Valentine’s Day, along with ruminations on the fall of Whitney Houston, the rise of E-readers, and the legacy of Jerry Lewis being so thoroughly sodomized that it could use a charity telethon of its own. Music by The Adventures and The Caulfields.

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Whatever the answer for Allen Lulu, he’s more excited to be a guest on this week’s show than the mind can comfortably conceive, and at the end of the day he weathers the conversational storm in fine form as we barrel through the surprising economics of football, the disturbing banality of the porn industry, the magical synergy of making music, and yet another trench run at that sweet, sweet Subway money. Plus, who started the Borscht talk? Not Me! Music by Throttleback Sparky

Rob’s girlfriend Jenni is here to do some mythbusting on male/female relations, but not before the show plows through a raft of Facebook flamings, DMV woes, movie cries, college tutoring, and a random rummage through the studio’s filing cabinet in search of the wily and elusive Bell Of Insult. Eventually, education and elucidation do ensue, and are all the sweeter for being hard-won. Presumably. Also, Rob gets frisky with the felines, Chris drops anvils on his bulldog, and Thom has no pets, just a hole in his heart where The Rick Emerson Show used to be. Music by The Little Girls, The Wonderstrucks, and Stian Rafto.

Can the show - nay, the Universe itself - survive all three members of Nice Guy Eddie being in the studio together? Find out, as Dave Shalansky joins us for a whirlwind of topical palaver, with affection for Yiddish, antipathy for celebrity baby names, and ambivalence about the return of Van Halen all present on the conversational menu. Plus, the Zen of Vegas, Dueling McCartneys, and this week’s Sodomizing A Legacy gets meta-muddled, in glorious fashion. Music by The Paul Collins Beat and Great Buildings.

Quinton Flynn forgoes his duties as the Spoon’s Suave Shalansky long enough to let his magnificent coif down and delve into the nerdery of anime conventions, at which he appears frequently and with much fanfare. Also, the axiom of never meeting your heroes seems to have at least one exception, which is watching your hero meet THEIR heroes, and just how white can the men of The Spoon sound whilst pitching a TV show about African-American rock musicians? The answer is none. None more white. Music by Cliff Hillis, Martin Briley, and The Sugarplastic.

It’s all about filters this week: whether it be the mist of nostalgia, the blood-rush of tribalism, or the constantly shifting sands of cultural propriety, it cannot be denied that perception colors reality, and reality gets pretty weird as a result. Are the men of The Spoon able to pierce this veil and see things as they truly are? Maybe not, but it’s fun listening to them try. Plus, Rob can finally talk about his new voiceover gig, and 1982 was a pretty damn good year for movies. Music by Trip Shakespeare,The Rainmakers, and Skooshny.

And the men of The Spoon wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer. Thus, on the second day of the first month in the year of our lord two thousand and twelve, they turned the full glare of their conversational lens in toward one another, and began upon a campaign of self-promotion and self-destruction, largely centered around what kind of bands they dig. Will this righteously indignant kick-off lead them to madness or perdition? Only time will tell. Music by Nice Guy Eddie,Sons Of Nothing, and Wonderboy.

Past, present, and future collide as the men of The Spoon assess their own story so far (complete with audio flashbacks!) and look toward the chapters yet to come, all while giving 2011 the arse-kicking out the door that it so richly deserves. Plus, the director's cut of "Billy Squier: Sodomizing A Legacy" is finally aired, and anthropological answers to your cuisine-related questions. Enjoy! Music by Candypants and The Brothers Figaro.

They may be overeager to put 2011 in the rear-view mirror, but the men of The Spoon still have room in their hearts (and time on their hands) to dissect caroling culture, Canadian winter, the anti-cool of A Capella groups, a permanent geographical fix for the Northeastern US, one of the worst "bad date" stories in the history of ever, and even spare a thought for their favorite Christmas memories, as they toggle smoothly from resentful to accepting of the Holiday fatigue that attends us all. Plus, poems and songs. Happy Birthday, Jebus! Music by Elton Duck, Love Nut, and our fair trio themselves.

Johnny Dam is on a mission to educate the men of The Spoon, and provide a rousing wave of slow claps when and if any lessons sink in. Items on the syllabus include the difference between comics and comedians, the downside of human evolution, practical advice on celebrity impersonations, and important criteria for determining the Sexiest Woman Alive. Also, praise for artists who get a second act, and befuddlement over some that got a first one. Music by Johnny Angel Wendell, Chris Von Sneidern, and Vinyl Candy.

The achievements of Bill Holmes are already the stuff of legend,but successfully giving himself a nickname is surely his zenith. Join "Poppy", along with conversational companions Sean "Jilly" Brennan, Chris "Mitch"Jackson, Thom "Who?" Bowers and Robbie "Robbie!!!" Rist, as they plumb the comic cases and whimsical whatnots of movie medication, animal allegories, real-doll relationships, and other alliteratives as well. Plus, C-bombs! Music by Terry Anderson, Rubber City Rebels,Jamie Hoover & Boll Lloyd.

There is joy in Spoonville this week, if for no other reason than our willingness to find humor in the apocalypse -- whether it be of the classic Hestonian variety, or the more contemporary Black Friday flavor. Other topics include the art of canine communication (both telepathic and olfactory), and the importance of having specific goals for 2012. Music by Foxy Shazam, Electric Angels, and an especially spirited performance from our own James Honeyman Smith-Smythe during this week's brand new Sodomizing A Legacy.

Spending the show as a dramaturgical triad for the first time in a couple of months, the men of The Spoon seek shelter from the trials and perils of real life by pondering such questions as what do we mean by “real”, and how can we arrive at an empirical definition of “life”? Also, which is tougher to endure: horror done right, or comedy done wrong? And where have all the non-vanilla sportscasters gone? The answers… may surprise you. Music by Los Abandoned, Kristian Hoffman , and Chris Von Sneidern

Sometimes the men of The Spoon are able to mix the silly and the serious with a deft, neuro-surgical touch, but this week the results are more Frankenstein-esque. Shit gets real over the goings-on at Penn State, throwing what had been a regular round of shenanigans into a debate over power, responsibility, community, and humanity. Plenty of gallows humor to be found here (especially from special guest Johnny Dam) as well as excursions into Oscar politics, Canadian labor, and a healthy round of caller abuse, but in general, this episode has a slightly different tone from what you may be used to. Listen anyway. Music by Drive Til Morning,The Loveless, and Infidels.

Bill "Pappy" Holmes returns to the show on a mission to promote his new radio adaptation of A Christmas Carol, and is only slightly sidetracked by having to spill his entire professional biography as the price of admission. Also, amid tales of pixel blood, eyebrow spikes, horseback drill teams, Spanish verbalization of varying quality and veracity, the Zen of Tim Gunn, and mad love for Stump The Band, a new Spoony drinking game emerges, sure to inspire lawsuits everywhere. Gamut-running-tastic! Music by Ed James, Beat Angels, and The Shazam

It's often been said that The Spoon is a show ahead of its time. That has never been more literally true than this week's episode, broadcast on Halloween but disproportionately concerned with the approaching Christmas season. NDR head cheese Johnny Dam joins us for a rollicking evening of righteous indignation, reflective rumination, and Re-Animator talk. Also, a trick-or-treater visits the studio, and the Fivetober meme just Will.Not.Die. Music by The Ramblers, Elton Duck,and The Surf Piranhas

Tonight, the men of The Spoon are pleased to render for you a highgrade slice of puerility, lovingly sprinkled with non-sequitur, and drowned inan avalanche of What The Fuck. Join us, along with special guests Kerry Kompost and Jerry Beller of Mars Hollow, as we learn that the differences between powerpoppers and progressive rockers are only skin-deep, while their sames go rightdown to the bone. (That's what she said!) Also, this week's Sodomizing A Legacy exposes the darkdeeds of both Christopher Columbuses...Columbesen? Columbi? Whatever. Additional music by Trouble Dolls, and Tom Clark & The High Action Boys.

Although menaced by studio vermin and suffering from such ailments as Facebook fatigue, Gosling fatigue, and Insomnia fatigue (is that even a thing?), the men of The Spoon are game for a conversational campaign on the subjects of Simpsons & Stooges, dots and feathers, testectomies and trailers, and all manner of minutia. Dave Shalansky pops in from the 8th dimension to once again sit in for Rob, who calls in to edu-tain us all with the latest developments in the field of animal-fronted metal bands. Also, the Fivetober is a lie, but the sandwiches remain oh so tasty and affordable. Music by Nice Guy Eddie, Scattered Suns, Hatebeak and Sorrows

Dave Shalansky returns to the show; older,wiser, and brimming with both excitement about his return to stand-up, and stress about his upcoming wedding -- specifically, the dilemma of DJ selection. Rob's girlfriend Jenni calls in to defend his manhood from Dave's spurious send-ups, and Rob himself checks in a little later with an attempt to steer the show toward the thoughtful and relevant topic of Columbus Day...an attempt which does not succeed. Also on the docket: many, many shout-outs to potential show sponsors. Cause that would be swell.Music by Teaneck, The Wonderstrucks, and The Spoon's own Chris Jackson.

The men of The Spoon have vowed never to do re-runs, but tonight they take a shot at their first Best-Of episode. The 127 Hours/baby lube discussion from ep25 is here, along with the first recorded airing of Rob's Disney Princess rant, from all the way back in ep2. Plus, classic SALs of Lucas and Lohan, and live commentary -- of sorts -- provided by Chris & Thom. Music by The Andersons, Sorrows, and Nice Guy Eddie.

It cannot be denied, the show is weird this week. The men of The Spoon seem to be caught in the grip of a strange, unusually mellow energy field, gliding through the proceedings in a laconic – for them – fashion, and constantly quoting song lyrics for no apparent reason. Fortunately, Quinton Flynn is there tohelp polish the amorphous humor blobs into diamond-edged zingers, and James Honeyman Smith-Smythe returns to remind us what the "M" in Mtv used to stand for, before it's Legacy was thoroughly Sodomized. Music by Anny Celsi, Lane Steinberg, and Barely Pink.

Experiencing some quasi-hangover after last week's comedic cliff dive, this installment finds the men of The Spoon in a more reflective mood, pondering the slippery, volatile nature of supply and demand, and the odd predicament of those who start out as part of The Solution but eventually go on to perpetuate The Problem. Plus, the gig that saved Rob's life, and the wounds that Thom receive from a giant spider. Sort of. Music by The Spongetones, Continental Drifters, and The Vipers.

The Spoon is always a bit of a high-wire act, and we've bragged in the past of episodes that test the limits of the human attention span, but this week...whoah. Follow, if you will, our fair trio and their special guest Bill Holmes, as they plunge headlong down a rabbit hole of tumultuous, confrontational comedy, laced with a potent dose of What Is This I Don't Even. Any continuity of conversation is purely coincidental, but you know what? Linear thinking is for the weak. Listen up, and be strong. Music by The Crazy Squeeze, Rubber City Rebels, and Boris The Sprinkler

Quinton Flynn sits in as things get meta in the Spooniverse, with 2% jokes as the order of the day, MST3k and Frank Zappa being checked as influences, and suggestions of performing the show solely through subtext and/or song being taken at least semi-seriously. Also, the mainstreaming of pr0n, the pretentiousness of the extra U, the emotional minefield of zoological work, and what were the last names of the Archies, anyway? Music by Odds, The Now, and What The...?

Travis Randall’s journey from football player to junkie to bassist to audio technician to gastronomic entrepreneur is a impressive one, and in that true renaissance spirit, his presence brings the show's tone from its usual simmering ADHD tendencies to a white-hot boil of topic-hopping psychosis. Also, two unrelated decrees: food is over, and Betty White must be destroyed. Music by Tramps & Thieves, Dead Hot Workshop, and Ghetto Cowgirl

It's The Spoon's one year anniversary, but in typical dude (and, let's face it, typical Spoon) fashion, our fair trio gloss over commemoration of this important date to focus on different concerns, such as the misadventures of Paul Reubens, the misuse of place name acronyms, misaimed fandom of chick-flicks, and the misery of recently-single guest Quinton Flynn. Also, someone seems to have misplaced the air conditioning. Music by Nickel, Groovy Rednecks, and Brian Seymour.

No guest? No show prep? No problem! The men of The Spoon kick into old-skool gear for a rollicking discussion of tall hugs, phone bricks, cult followings, the nomenclature of The Netherlands, the inevitability of techno-fatigue, the dysfunctional evolution of country music, and the true arrival of summer. Also, a moment of silence please for poor Alyssa, who lies...akimbo. Music by Michael Shelley, The Travoltas and Nice Guy Eddie.

Things are a smidge off-balance this week: both an extreme lack of prep time and the truth-to-power presence of James Monosmith of LTD Art Gallery weave their spells, causing world views to collide in a scatter shot, haphazard conversation where every answer only leads to another question. But, amid the chaos, a champion rises to save us all: Zombie Pat Morita! (and his sidekick, MacCulkin...or is it the other way 'round?) Music by Stratocruiser, Kristian Hoffman, and Trinket.

Linda Horwatt has car stories on her mind -- understandable, since she's just driven cross-country for 53 hours (or 4 days, if you're a DJ) -- and she's happy to share them, along with other bits of wit, wisdom, and the sexy-joyful sounds of her band The Orion Experience. Other topics include funereal culture, the subjectivity of beauty, fun with accents, and the secret world of the ladies' room. Additional music by Jeff Caudill and Suzy & Los Quattro

The men of The Spoon are feeling especially feisty and demonstrative this week. Whether expressing outrage, glee, frustration, amusement, or even exhaustion, the message is clear: go BIG, or go home. Special guest Seth Gordon of The Mockers and a few very brave callers hold on for dear life through the deluge of crazed, topic-hopping glory launched from the show's verbal fire hose, and emerge on the other side... changed. Music by Roger Joseph Manning Jr., Walter Clevenger & The Dairy Kings, and Wayne Resnick's Trigger Finger.

Which is your favorite conflict: Man vs Nature? Man vs Man? Man vs Himself? We've got all the classics covered in this week's wildlife-wary, alpha-manly, cannibal-happy, politically nihilistic dose of righteous indignation, leavened with a goodly helping of Douglas Adams references, and color commentary by Johnny Dam (aka The Thundertaker.) Music by Steve Barton, Sparkle*Jets UK, and The Orion Experience.

Singer-songwriter, digital musical impresario, and self-described "corporate motherfucker" Tim Quirk braves Los Angeles traffic to stop by and extol the virtues of both attention-based economy and passive-aggressive public relations. Johnny Dam joins us again, this time to inaugurate the new studio. And Rob's recent venture into cautious optimism seems to be paying off, if recent setbacks for Rupert Murdoch and The Black-eyed Peas are any indication. Music by The Donnas, The Benjamins, and Wonderlick.

On the eve of their final broadcast from the old studio space, the men of The Spoon manage to wrangle executive producer and New Dissident Radio overlord Johnny Dam for a conversation chock full of raucous, rambling ruminations. No ball is left un-busted as we prepare to leave our radio chrysalis and step into the bright shiny future of NDR. Color commentary by David Lee Roth.

Rob, Chris, Thom, and Andru tackle childhood obsessions, gastronomical taboos, and the age old conundrum of whether it's better to be cautiously optimistic or completely miserable, while the art of the Anthony Weiner joke reaches a blazing apotheosis in this week's SAL. Tune in to Episode 14 of The Geek Agenda for the thrilling conclusion! Music by The Piper Downs, The Pills, and The King Bees.

Who else but the men of The Spoon can bring you the death of Ryan Dunn, the genius of Sparks, reactions to AMC's The Killing, the price of a Cosby sweater, religion as political capital, movie theaters as quasi-churches, the safety (?) of nuclear power, the future of celebrity sex tapes, the cannibalistic nature of rock, the personification of chaos, and the ancient art of cuckold-costuming, all in under an hour, barely pausing for a breath? No one else, that's who. As far as conversational cornucopias go, this is one for the record books. Dig in! Music by Battery Life, Steve Barton, and Suzy Y Los Quattro.

The men of The Spoon are interested in the future, for that is where they are going to spend the rest of their lives. Sure, all the great themes may have been used up and turned into theme parks, but one can still make hay out of commenting on that realization... right? Patrick McGrath sits in for a discussion of the many wonderful disappointments that await us all. Plus, Arnold Schwarzenegger gets roasted in this week's strangely literal SAL, and the shocking facts of lobster people from Utah are revealed! Music by Beat Farmers, Lane Steinberg, and Willie Nile

It's a Brady mini-reunion with Susan Olsen stopping by for a discussion that ranges from animal rescues to alien encounters, while covering the highs, the lows, the just plain weirdness of a life in the arts. Also, the Valley is an underrated musical wellspring, there aren't enough songs about dead cats, turtle sex is adorable, someone needs to make an Easy Rider porn parody, and we all miss Andrew Gold. Music by The Dickies and the Cave Dogs.

The men of The Spoon go guerrilla with this special remote podcast from Rob's studio, as the NDR premises are closed for Memorial Day. Audio wizard Scott Peets sits in for a discussion largely centered on problems of varying sizes, shapes, colors, textures, smells, sounds, tastes, and levels of surrealism, and how one might go about assessing &/or addressing them. We'll be back live next week, June 6th! Music by The Orion Experience and Wonderboy.

Rob is absent this week, so you may thrill to the sounds of panic masquerading as comedy, as Chris and Thom gear up to generate a show's worth of entertainment in the absence of their beloved Overhost. Many a topic of conversation meets with our duo's aggressive ambivalence, including but not limited to: birthday celebrations, online communications, pirates, muppets, break-ups of all shapes and sizes, and fallout over the apocalypse that wasn't. Music by D.L. Byron, Cosmo Topper, and Dean Friedman.

Rob would like to apologize for his being under the weather, making him slightly less effervescent and topic-laden than usual. Thom would like to apologize for mangling the lyrics to the Boondocks Theme, thus hurling the show into karmic vapor lock. Chris would like to apologize for the other two maroons getting in the way of his comedic golden-godhood. But nobody, and we mean nobody, would like to apologize to Kevin Costner, the subject of this week's Sodomizing A Legacy. Music by The Rebel Pebbles, Single Bullet Theory, and 20/20.

It's a mistake to think you can solve all major problems with pop culture, but the men of The Spoon give it a bloody good try, using their love of movies as a lens (so to speak) through which to view issues personal, professional, and political. If your life is a bit like a rainy Saturday afternoon right now, think of this episode as a Thriller Theater double feature with a pack of Red Vines on the side, and dig in accordingly. Music by Dash Rip Rock, The Sun Sawed In Half, and The Rubinoos.

The times, they are a’ fractious, but the men of The Spoon are here to soothe your woes with tales of their own suckitude and misery. Chris is in a post-breakup haze, Rob is lamenting his legacy, Thom is in permanent techno-fail mode, and we're all strangely ambivalent about the reaction to that guy getting killed yesterday, but there is ample comedic catharsis under our banner for all who seek it. Join us. Music by Mach Five, the Greenberry Woods, and Gameface.

Quinton Flynn returns to the show to fill Chris's big floppy clown shoes as Guest Underhost for the week, and does not disappoint. With tales of Robbie's semi-sordid past combined with his own recent foray into the world of the paranormal, he leads the show into a spiral of madness which results in torrents of upset girlfriend calls, rampant throwing of friends under buses, and perhaps most heinous of all: the return of Ein Gummibar! Music by 3D Picnic and Parthenon Huxley.

Writer Dan Epstein stops by for an all-too-brief discussion of the freak flag glory that was 70s baseball, Robbie laments that the wrong people keep dying, Thom shares a tale of bus-bound Hollywoodism, Cousin Frankie (who we've always known about!) calls in with suggestions for a Regis replacement, and Chris wins the show with a paradigm-shattering SAL for the ages. Of course, none of this will matter much if the apocalypse ends up occurring on May 21. But, uh... try and enjoy the show anyway. Music by Big Hello and The Wondermints.

The occasion of Robert's 47th birthday prompts the men of The Spoon to reflect on the meaning of life, the futility of death, and the importance of using time travel to retroactively change one's fashion choices. Also, the show is deluged with phone calls for the birthday boy from friends, well-wishers, and a surprising number of celebrity impressionists. Aflac! Music by The Knack, Material Issue, and The Little Girls.

In psychoanalysis, it's called "transference" -- the unconscious redirection of feelings from one subject to another. Such a phenomenon has gripped The Spoon in spades this week, as the Honey Badger meme awakens Thom's mammalian loyalties, Chris gets some extra venom out of his system with a scathing, Deustch-y SAL, and Robbie takes out his general frustrations with the world and its gas prices on all manner of pop culture targets, including special guest Quinton Flynn -- who, while admittedly arriving in a tardy fashion, manages to win an extra 5 minutes of showtime for the entire crew by showing up at all. Other topics include: panicky prison populace privatization, ambitiously amorous anime adventures, ham-handed humorous horseplay, and frenzied frightening fan-fiction. Also, math jokes. Music by the aforementioned Mr Flynn, as well as Slow Motorcade.

It may be true that "nothing lasts, nothing is complete, and nothing is perfect," but after six weeks apart, the dramaturgical triad of Rob, Chris, and Thom are back in the same room together and all seems right with the world again... at least for the next 50 minutes or so. In addition to an extended meditation on the existential empowerment of everyone's favorite 1920's cartoon sailor, our fair trio slash and burn through such topics as: grammatical faux pas in rock lyrics, the (literally) unbelievable story of Sambo's Restaurant, extinct fast food joints and their oversized mascots, the final wishes of Gigi Allen, the evolution of the alternative-sexuality lexicon, the unlikely new career of Bryan Adams, the abandonment of art, and the virtue of sucking. Also, Rob and Chris ridicule Thom constantly and mercilessly over the debut of The Geek Agenda, but only because he really, really deserves it. Music by The Goldbergs, Dingo Fish, and Bowling For Soup.

The world is off-kilter. You can feel it in the air, and hear it on The Spoon. Robbie returns to find that comic fodder is in shorter supply than when he left, which leads into some serious discussion on earthquake preparedness, led by special guest #1 Jenni Rosen. Thom's head is more jello-encased than usual as he juggles his regular duties in addition to laying out a manifesto for The Geek Agenda, the new show that he is preparing to host with special guest #2, R Andru. Chris is absent in the flesh, but makes a vocal appearance via Skype and provides the show a much-needed injection of the spicy semi-sequiturs at which he so excels. Can this ongoing series of alternate configurations be broken? Will our fair trio ever be fully reunited again? Perhaps in the future, but for now... courage. Other topics include: Jedi kittens, fantasy acceptance speeches, relationship vaguery, grammatical nerdery, surprisingly versatile applications of The Human Centipede, and the unbridled awesomeosity of this week's featured GSYNH artists, The Piper Downs. Plus, how many words can you think of that rhyme with Funt? Additional music by The Mockers.

The Sheening of America continues unabated! Chris and Thom are reduced to helpless, hypnotized, somewhat snarky bystanders as Charlie's awesomeosity continues to roll out over the land like a big rolling thing, and not even the ebullient presence of special guest Dave Shalansky can stop the coming Winpocalypse! Other topics (yes, there are a few) include the sad, Bixby-esque retirement of Phil Collins, the time-traveling goofiness of David Lee Roth, the parsing of copyright law as it relates to words vs phrases, belated kudos heaped upon The Karate Kid remake, and a hearty round of subtitle-font snobbery. Plus...McDavid's? Music by Harvey Danger and FADE.

Chris takes over hosting duties while Robbie is overseas, Thom returns from his Deseret sojourn, and friend of the show Dave Shalansky arrives to inject his keen insight and conversational rocket sauce to a post-mortem of Oscar night, what might end up as a pre-post-mortem of Charlie Sheen, and an attempt at putting all of the show's communications-related ducks in a row (which plays out a little more like a herding of cats.) Also, this week's Sodomizing A Legacy is an mighty epic of vocal contortion, featuring a quote of an impression, wrapped in a caricature of mimicry. WINNING!!! Music by the The Goldbergs, The Wonderstrucks, and Glen Burtnik.

With their minister of information away on special assignment, Robbie and Chris are left to grapple with matters technological on their own. Multiple forms of hilarity ensue. As for matters conversational, our dynamic duo are assisted by guests Johnny Dam of Porn Star Pundits and Good Green Witch Rhonda DeFelice whose collective presence supercharges the show to terrific effect -- partly because of the fierce intelligence and witty repartee that they bring to the proceedings, but also because working with the boss in the room really, really seems to wig Rob & Chris out. Topics include: Super Bowl grief as a libido killer, the importance of proper tattoo placement, a historical perspective on coping with extreme cold, speculation on the contents of a Schindler's List blooper reel, the secret to an impervious perineum, existential dread and body horror as depicted in 127 Hours, A Night At The Roxbury, and The Star Wars Holiday Special, the nature of heroism, alternative martial aids, and the most revolting casserole recipe you've ever heard. Plus, Robbie invents a new word: "relationshippily." Music by Dingo Fish, The Sun Kings, and Tube Top

The twists and turns on this week's conversational motor way are acutely sharp, some verging on hairpin, and we recommend that all proper safety measures be taken. Some of the briefly visited rest stops along the way include: The best Super Bowl commercials (one of which never aired, the other premiered days earlier-- go figure), social networking for better theological clarity, the growing (and welcome) backlash against melismatic vocals, the sudden proliferation of the so-called muffin top, and society's inevitable slide into Wall-E inspired sloth. Also, Chris dives into the Twitter-verse, Rob and Thom nerd out about Queen, radio worlds collide as NDR meets NPR for this week's Greatest Song You've Never Heard, and the saga of the Sybian takes on a new wrinkle... err, so to speak. Music by a trifecta of Johns: John Faye, John Hoskinson, and John Flanders & Double Helix. We're #7! We're #7!

Quoth the textbox: "Finally, some ovaries on the show!" And not a moment too soon. Just as Robbie, Chris, and Thom are drifting into a conversational tailspin that threatens to cause serious whiplash to both themselves and the listeners, friend of the show (and girlfriend of the host) Jenni Rosen stops by to inject some much-needed linear thought into the proceedings. Her treatise on the lameness of Valentine's Day -- and instructions to the fellows out there on how to make it less so -- is met with a considerable amount of deflection and puerile humor... which only serves to underscore her message all the more. Also, Eddie Murphy's legacy gets a rogering that neither it nor you will soon forget. Music by Willie Wisely, 3D Picnic, and The Vandalias.

Sport is business. Business is war. War is fashion. Fashion is community. Community is music. Music is sport. On and on, 'till the break of dawn. Don't worry, it will all make sense in context. The important thing is that Robbie, Chris, and Thom manage to weave nearly half a show on the subject of sports and sports fandom, despite -- or perhaps because of -- their abject lack of knowledge and expertise on said subject. Then, heady with power, they move on to tackle other mysteries of the universe, including the connections between fruit juice and school shootings, the questionable origins of "My Sweet Lord," the secret history of NASCAR, the impending retirement of Kevin Smith, and the omnipresent threat of foot-in-mouth disorder. Also, the first installment of The Greatest Songs You've Never Heard, and Robbie unwittingly demonstrates the 100th Monkey Principle via his disdain for George Lucas. Music by Paul Collins, Kitty & The Tree, and Cotton Mather

This week's show is a bit like a pinball game, with the conversation bouncing about at odd angles, running down sometimes unexpected corridors, and banging against the proper surfaces to score a few points, all the while generating a pleasing combination of shiny and loud. The Twenty-Aught-Eleven Grammy nominees set off some grumbling about the music industry's increasingly desperate and misaimed attempts to perpetuate a manufactured Culture Of Cool, which then leads to a broader discussion of whether the direction of pop zeitgeist has ever truly been in the hands of artists, which then leads a Skype listener to demand "more penis vomit talk." (No, really.) The tireless and multi-talented Fletcher Rhoden joins us in the second half to discuss his impressively hyper-prolific career, including his latest endeavor: a stage musical based on the genesis of I Love Lucy. (No, really.) Other topics include the similarities between puppies and Christmas trees, the aesthetic versatility of redheads, and the fateful Supreme Court decision to allow corporations the rights of individuals, which bears bitter comedic fruit in Sodomizing A Legacy: British Petroleum. Music by the aforementioned Mr Rhoden, Ed James, and 20/20.

Joey Cola and Arthur Alexander from New York's legendary Sorrows drop by to bathe the show in effortless cool, shaking our fair trio out of a malaise born of sleep-dep and growing mistrust of the coming year. With tales to tell both cautionary and inspirational, J&A detail their efforts in taking control of their music and obtaining that rarest of atttributes: an un-sodomized legacy. Other topics include: crossbow mishaps, why every band needs an asshole, the importance of not confusing Sybian with Sabian, advice on calming one's inner Travis Bickle, and the riveting sound of three guys passing an iPad back and forth. Also there is a lot of pimping for the Nice Guy Eddie + Sorrows + Neighborhood Bullys + Dirty Eyes gig coming up on Friday Jan 14 ...and everyone is just gonna have to be Ok with that.

In the first new installment of 2011, the boys hit the ground running with all guns blazing, full of piss and vinegar, and other cliché metaphors as well! After an opening exchange of pleasantries and congratulations on Robbie's commitment to arrive on time despite obstacles both psychological and auto vehicular, talk turns to a recent essay by Patton Oswalt on the current state of so-called geek culture, and the remainder of the hour blazes by like The Flash on an espresso bender. By turns confessional, confrontational, conspiratorial, and ultimately conciliatory (in a cognitive sort of way) the show's conversational cuisinart tries like hell to process tribalism, consumerism, nostalgia, technocracy, identity, and other conundrums into a media-based 21st century gumbo, with observations about the lack of neckwear for chickens and visions of Jabba The Hutt feeding his enemies to Tony Robbins thrown in for spice and color. Does the resulting dish satisfy? Let us know. Music by Neighborhood Bullys and Sorrows

On this, their final broadcast of 2010, the men of The Spoon take stock of the show's journey from inception to "almost a thing," and speculate as to what adventures the future may bring. SAL focuses on the bizarre series of spilled dominoes that is the life of one Phil Spector. Speaking of weirdness, returning guest Joe Oesterle drops by for more tales of the oddities found in Hollywood, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and the boundless reaches of the human mind. Finally, some much-needed Holiday cheer is supplied in the form of a childhood anecdote roundtable, and the debut of an original Christmas song written by Rob & Chris. All this, plus listener feedback, the cupcake craze, Mormon curse words, and a reverie for the flood plain formerly known as Los Angeles. Additional music by Finland Station, Otis Gibson & The Rockhounds, Steve Mauldin, Scott Michael Minchk, Michael Gigante, and Candypants. Thanks so much for your presence and patronage. See you in 2011!

What, exactly, is a legacy? Where does it come from? What is it for? How can it be sodomized, and why should anyone care? Inspired by the anniversary of John Lennon's death, the men of The Spoon whip out their word scalpels and dissect one of the more important aspects of this show's ethos: the right -- nay, the duty -- to be honest and unmerciful, even if it means killing one's gods. (Metaphorically, of course.) Other items of interest: voice acting advice, the art of the 2% joke, Robbie apologizing for crimes both real and imagined, and for those who prefer the older, funnier take on this week's topic du jour, a classic-style SAL wherein Tiger Woods gets a doozy of a ribbing. Mazuma! Music by The Barracudas, Walter Clevenger & The Dairy Kings, and Stew

The events of this installment unfold like a classically groomed mullet: business in the front, party in the back! In the first half, our fair trio consider changing the name of the show to "The Tip," even as they attempt to circumnavigate the technological, economic, and political iceberg that is the Net Neutrality debate. With that nod toward the show's original mission statement under their collective belt, they set course for an unapologetic excursion into whimsy and geek love. Chris rubs elbows with animation greats, Thom remarks on his pseudo-Floydian adventures, Robbie recalls the horror comics that made him a man (in more ways than one) and all three reveal the films which have the power to reduce them to pitiful, tear-streaked wrecks. Goonies never say die! Music by The Andersons, Manitoba's Wild Kingdom, and Spooky Pie

Don't be fooled. You may think this episode is merely a string of anecdotes about Thanksgiving 2010, or an exploration of satisfying curse-word euphemisms, or even a slice of performance art lampooning the pitfalls of VOIP technology. You could easily be distracted by the mystery of the Poop-tato, or Bret Favre's legacy getting sodomized within an inch of its existence. But these are all smokescreens. Hidden within the swirling conversational chaos is a vibrant through-line, in which our heroes not only outline a foolproof plan for rehabilitating the US economy, but also provide clues to its implementation in the number of comedians referenced during the show. Can you name them all? Take a listen and post your answers to our Facebook page. In the immortal words of Leslie Nielsen: "Good luck. We're all counting on you." Music by Martin Luther Lennon, The Abe Lincoln Story, and Trigger Finger.

Napoleon had a standard battle plan, in two parts: A) Show up, and B) See what happens. In this episode, the men of The Spoon employ the talk radio equivalent of this approach, and the results are...predictably unpredictable. Held together by a loose thread on the joys and concerns of the impending holiday season, Robbie, Chris, and Thom sluice through a truly bounteous selection of topics which it would be folly to even attempt to recount in this forum. We can, however, reveal that this week's Weezer-centric Sodomizing A Legacy contains the best morphologically enigmatic mire poix joke that you're likely to hear for a long, long time to come. Music by Anny Celsi, Too Much Joy, and, lamentably, our fair trio themselves. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

In the first half of this evening's program, Robbie brings to the table his views on the dangers of financial excess, a topic of timeless resonance and near limitless potential for thoughtful discourse...which is promptly dashed upon the rocks of the show's usual nitwittery. In the second half, the Sky Mall catalog is strip-mined for utterly impractical (yet entirely awesome) Christmas gift ideas. Sandwiched in between like a layer of scrumptous, snark-filled nougat, Sodomizing A Legacy keeps on rockin' with a jaunty single-finger salute to Eddie Van Halen. The rest of the proceedings operate much like the conversational equivalent of snakes in a can, with topics blasting out at odd angles and frightening &/or injuring onlookers quite badly. Beware.

The show is derailed almost before it begins, as our intrepid orators set out to correct some commonly held misconceptions about the world and end up accidentally inventing a few of their own. The etymology of "roofies", the relative height of European dictators, the flavor components of (and magazine market for) cheese, men who fancy women who impersonate men, and the surprisingly prolific career of Right Said Fred are just a few of the topics that spill forth in this conversational cornucopia. Also, a brand spankin' new Sodomizing A Legacy, featuring W. Axl Rose, is unleashed upon an unsuspecting public. Music by Finland Station, Your Favorite Trainwreck, and The Rainmakers

In this special double-sized, civics-minded episode: Robbie Rist returns from the road covered in musical glory, southern infatuation, and sweet, sweet BBQ sauce. There ensues a recap of both his touring adventures and how the show fared in his absence, then talk turns from past to future as the upcoming election is dissected on micro, macro, and meta levels. The definition of the word "legacy" is stretched to taffy-like proportions in this week's SAL, featuring the antics of one Carlos Irwin Estevez (ne Charlie Sheen.) In the second hour, artist/writer/bon vivant, Joe Oesterle, drops by for lively tales of the unlikely and bizarre in our fair city, as detailed in his book Weird Hollywood. Also on display are the comedic ruminations of NDR Overlord, Johnny Dam, in addition to music by The Mockers, The Neighborhood Bullys, and The Negro Problem. Get out and vote!

The show goes more askew than usual this week, but our heroes prevail by running directly towards the crazy. Chris and Dave reaffirm their BFF-hood while engaging in serious conversations about silly topics and vice-versa. Amongst the conversational fodder: the sanctioning of movie star meltdowns, the inequity of gender-based advertising, the plausibility of motorcycle-induced orgasms, and the fine, oft-maligned art of the drum solo. Paul the Doctor makes a long-awaited cameo, and the George Lucas-centric Sodomizing A Legacy is recycled once more (because that particular meta-joke never gets old.) Also, gremlins infest the studio gear, most likely due to Thom unwittingly provoking the wrath of Silver Shamrock. Music by The Mockers and The Neighborhood Bullys.

Dave Shalansky returns to hurl double-fistfuls of WTF, while Chris & Thom do their best to roll with the punches. Robbie calls in from the road with tales of inter-species gig riots and a plug for friend of the show, Kenny Howes, whilst also informing the crew that he'll be absent for one more show. Mixed emotions ensue. Other topics include: the Museum Of Tolerance (but not really), the definition of Pulchritudinous, Classic Sodomizing A Legacy featuring OJ Simpson, why feeling blood is sometimes worse than feeling pain, the curiously predictable pattern of band break-ups, and a burning question about female masturbation that, as of yet, has no answer. Music by The Neighborhood Bullys, Harvey Danger, and The Andersons.

Three guys in a bathtub, Michael Jackson's legacy, Dave's Robbie/Jenni dream, revisiting Mel Gibson's turn on Sodomizing a Legacy, "The Delorean House," Update #2 from Robbie on the road, eating after 9pm, Dave's Blockbuster story and general anti-semitism, dispute over Nick Cage quote, Justin Beiber nail polish, A Triumvirate of Right Wing Dicks. Music by Mary Prankster and Wonderboy.

Chris has the wheel, Dave Shalansky in the house and Thom keeping it all on the tracks as usual. The hows and whys of Twitter, those that are thin, but unhealthy, McNugget Paste, Robbie calls from the road, the return of Sodomizing a Legacy: Elton John, coping with the cats, the origins of Nice Guy Eddie, Fucking someone's soul, and the shocking truth about the Transsexual Bond Girl. Music by Harvey Danger and Kitty in the Tree

Dancing with the Stars, Facebook whiners, My Zoo and other time 'time waster' games, reality show pitches, sexual encounters with Steven Tylerand Robert Plant. Also, Thom and Chris really like that awful Gummibear song. Music by The Dictators, Back Pocket Memory and Mary Prankster.

Kid actors, genetically engineered food, Chris works blue, Thom is our new engineer, replay of George Lucas- Sodomizing a Legacy. Music by Abby Travis, Sorrows and Candypants

Robbie doesn't watch the teevee but still finds visual entertainment from other sources (and Chris tries to educate him). Then a brief discussion on how O.J. Simpson (star of this week's Sodomizing A Legacy) changed the face of American law by getting away with murder. Songs by Martin Luther Lennon and Candypants.

Robbie's girlfriend Jenni is guest for a discussion on why makeup companies use fear to sell their products and why is it men find prurient humor funnier than women. Also Sodomizing A Legacy - Mel Gibson. Songs by Suzy Y Los Quattro, Abby Travis and The Orion Experience.

This weeks guest, therapist Inrgid Oliansky, helps Robbie and Chris analyze America to maybe help it not be so fearful. And then Robbie accuses the Disney Princesses of being bitches.

Robbie starts his first radio show ever with a guest who doesn't call in. Panic ensues until station owner (and host of The Damage Report) steps in to babysit our fledgling hero. Then Paul Goebel calls and everybody talks TV and all is right with the world (until next week).