john hodgman

Face front, true believers! It’s the Best of Comic Books special from Go Fact Yourself!

The superheroes of Marvel and DC comics are everywhere in pop culture, so it makes sense that a lot of our contestants over the years would choose them as their areas of expertise.

In this omnibus collection, you’ll hear from guests like John Hodgman and Jackie Kashian discussing characters like Spider-Man and the Legion of Super-Heroes.

In this episode…

Guests:

Jackie Kashian from episode 14

John Hodgman from episode 102

Dylan Brody from episode 38

Hal Lublin from episode 60

Myq Kaplan from episode 132

Experts:

Mark Waid: Comic book author who’s written stories for Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and Boom Studios.

Paul Levitz: Eisner and Inkpot Award-winning writer and editor, who was president of DC Comics and wrote The Legion of Super-Heroes for over a decade.

Chris Claremont: New York Times bestselling author and writer of the bestselling comic book issue of all time.

Matt Forbeck: New York Times bestselling author whose books include Captain America: The Ultimate Guide to the First Avenger.

Marv Wolfman: Legendary and award-winning comic book author and editor, whose career includes creating the character Black Cat for Spider-Man.

Hosts:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience show in Los Angeles by YOU!

This week Mark and Allen break down the Episode where we first hear about the Unity Concert AND we first see Jim O'Heir and Retta in the show's opening credits! With both Pawnee and Eagleton citizens still not happy about the towns merging a few months ago, Leslie goes on Wamapoke County Public Radio to convince people  the merger was both a good idea and a success. After several callers criticized the merger, Leslie determines the merger needs a win, something symbolic and happy for people to focus on. Later, while looking at a local newspaper, Leslie notices a couple from a Pawnee-Eagleton marriage celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. She whips up a plan to use this couple as a symbol that Pawnee and Eagleton can come together and unite, including interviewing them on Pawnee Today. Unfortunately, it becomes clear this is not exactly a loving couple ... in fact, they both despise the other. Meanwhile, Ben plans a big day of celebration with Leslie to commemorate their one-year anniversary, but to surprise her, and to ensure she makes that "dopey surprised face" he always seems to make when she gives HIM gifts ... he decides to do it the day BEFORE their actual anniversary date. Ben enlists the help of Jerry, who has the most successful marriage of the entire gang, to help him orchestrate things. Unfortunately, with Leslie concentrating on all this crazy merger stuff, Ben and Jerry are unable to lure Leslie to the secret events they have set up, and Ben is unsure what to do. Finally, Ron goes to the Pawnee Animal Shelter to adopt a dog for Zoe and Ivy. Passionate about animals, and Director of Animal Control, April helps him out, but is frustrated and annoyed to learn that, once again, Donna has left work without any advance notice. Unsure how to approach disciplining Donna, April talks to Ron, and then finally decides to submit an anonymous bad review via Yelp that chastises Donna for being absent ... Something which Donna is rather unhappy about. As always, we tackle the tough questions, such as ... Does the Pawnee Today interview with Joan Callamezzo go smoothly? Did Jerry screw up any of Ben's plans? How does Donna react to the bad Yelp review? Will the DeMarcos be the symbol of Pawnee/Eagleton unity Leslie is looking for? What gift did Ben ultimately give Leslie? What gift did Leslie ultimately get for Ben? Will April and Donna resolve their differences? Will Derry Murbles murder his new co-host? Who ended up making the dopey surprised face? What idea does all this internet / IP address silliness give Ron? Loyal podcast viewers, can Parks and Rec maintain their quality storylines now that Ann and Chris have left? Tune in to find out! Many thanks to our amazing sponsor, "Thought For Your Thoughts" with host Derry Murbles.

This episode we dip into the not-so-kid-friendly children's movie "Coraline." Such a good book and such a good movie. It's so creepy and is exactly like the kinds of movies we grew up with.  We honestly had no idea so many well known actors lent their voices to this project. We pair it with Melodramatic Macabre, a rich red blend that we thoroughly enjoyed.

Metacritic Score: 80/100

Movie Sync Notes: We watch "Coraline" on Amazon Prime. We start "Coraline" 4:17 into the pod, and push play on part two 1:08:02 into the pod.

William brings the case against his wife Wren. Wren is a member of an amateur boxing gym. William wants to join her gym, but Wren is concerned about him overshadowing her hobby! Who's right?

Thanks to reddit user u/Ironymaiden_ for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at maximumfun.reddit.com!

Clare brings the case against her mother Suzanne and her stepdad David. Every summer, Clare spends a month visiting Suzanne and David at their house. Her visit always overlaps with the Tour de France. Suzanne and David watch every minute of the Tour because they don’t want to miss any of it. Clare says that’s getting in the way of them spending time with her!

Thanks to reddit user u/problembearbruno for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at maximumfun.reddit.com!

It's time to clear the docket! This week, we're joined by Judge Hodgman's regular host in Los Angeles, Janie Haddad Tompkins. We tackle disputes about hosting, guesting, restocking larders, hostess gifts, and more!

This week’s episode was recorded live in front of an audience at the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles! Our first case is LINUS ITEM VETO. Sarah still sleeps with the tattered remains of her baby blanket. Her fiance, Go Fact Yourself co-host J. Keith van Straaten, finds it very upsetting to see and touch. He calls it “The Monster,” and he wants it out of their bed. Sarah wants to keep sleeping with it! 

Then, Jordan Morris joins to hear TATER TORT: Lucas calls himself “the humble son of a potato farmer.” His wife Laura says this is wrong because his father was actually a manager for a large American potato chip company!

Thanks to reddit users u/Ironymaiden_ and /KillerPotato_BMW for naming this week’s cases! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at maximumfun.reddit.com!

What better way to celebrate a MaxFun Crossover than with one of the Maxiest, Funniest, Crossoveriest(?) people around, Mr. John Hodgman? It’s a smorgasbord of topics and delight in this special episode. This episode was originally published in 2021.

Cameron brings the case against his friend Shooka. When Cameron and Shooka were in college, Cameron was obsessed with Pokémon Go. One day, Cameron was distracted with Pokémon Go, so Shooka took his phone and deleted one of his favorite Pokémon! Shooka says it’s only a game. But Cameron wants justice!

Thanks to reddit user u/lexfri for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at maximumfun.reddit.com!

It's time to clear the docket! This week, we're tackling disputes about the theater, and we have two very special expert witnesses: the award-winning duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Bobby Lopez! Between the two of them, they've made some of the most memorable musical theater works of the modern era: Frozen, The Book of Mormon, Avenue Q and so much more. They've come by to lend their expertise to settle disputes about the ending of Pippin, post-show etiquette in community theater, and – of course – lots and lots of Sondheim.

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Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why beavers are secretly incredibly fascinating. Special guest: John Hodgman.

Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode.

Come hang out with us on the new SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5

Leann brings the case against her daughter Abbie. Abbie has a collection of creepy dolls in their living room, on top of their piano. Leann thinks the dolls are TOO creepy! She wants Abbie to move them to her room. But Abbie wants them to stay where they are! Who's right?

Thanks to reddit user u/Junk_Mutluck for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at maximumfun.reddit.com!

Can you feel it? The changing of the seasons? The crispness of the air? The ever-growing magnetic pull in the back of your head that urges you toward the mythical land of western Massachusetts? That can only mean one thing: the return of the one and only Summertime Funtime Bailiff MONTE BELMONTE! He joins us to clear the docket and dispense justice on issues relating to wrapping paper, the game of Blank Slate, hometowns, and more. PLUS: A letter from the mysterious ROBIN HOOD CAMP!

It’s time to clear the docket! This week, we get what we get and we cast a wide net, dispensing justice on topics like umbrella etiquette, what to wear to a rock star birthday party, a smelly sewer museum and more! PLUS: who would win – Batman or Darth Vader?

It’s time to clear the docket! This week, we're taking on NAMING DISPUTES! Who has the naming rights to an inflatable dinosaur? What to name a mullet? And how many names of different Alpha Flight members can John and Jesse come up with?

This week’s episode was recorded live in front of an audience at the Sydney Goldstein Theater! Our first case is SCOTTISH RITE OF WAY: Nate brings the case against his partner Chan. The two live together in a building that once was a Masonic lodge. One of the rooms in their apartment has a strange door that opens onto a dark and mysterious hallway. Nate wants to investigate the hallway. Chan wants him to leave the mystery door alone!

Thanks to reddit user u/acone419 for naming this week's main case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at maximumfun.reddit.com!

It’s time to clear the docket! This week, we have a good old-fashioned GRUDGE MATCH! You wrote in with your long-festering grudges against teachers, strangers and crummy cousins, and we're dispensing some long-awaited justice!

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This week’s episode was recorded live in front of an audience at the Gothic Theatre in Denver! Our first case is BUY ME SUBPOENAS AND CRACKERJACK: Paul brings the case against his friend Chris. Chris has stopped believing in baseball superstitions and jinxes. He says his behavior can’t affect the outcome of a baseball game. But Paul says his friend’s carelessness has jinxed his team! PLUS: Swift Justice featuring the legendary David Gborie!

Thanks to reddit user u/ScrotalMigraine for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at maximumfun.reddit.com!

Tanya brings the case against her husband Thomas. During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Tanya read a news story about wedding venues being booked years in advance. She asked Thomas if he wanted to get married. He said yes. Thomas interpreted that as a proposal. But Tanya says it was just a question about logistics, NOT a proposal!

Thanks to reddit user u/teabiscuit54 for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at maximumfun.reddit.com!

This is the second week of this year's MaxFunDrive! Go to maximumfun.org/join to become a member, or upgrade or boost your membership, and support the Judge John Hodgman podcast. And to all of our members, both new and returning: a hearty, sincere THANK YOU from all of us at JJHO and MaxFun!

Emily brings the case against her cousin Jess. When Emily was 3, her uncle chased her around a family gathering while wearing a Mr. Peanut costume. This traumatized her! Jess was present at the event, and she still sends Emily pictures and memes of Mr. Peanut. She says it “wasn’t that bad.” Emily wants Jess to stop because she still finds it upsetting! Who's right? Who's wrong?

Thanks to reddit user u/PR0T0G3N for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at maximumfun.reddit.com!

This is the first week of the MAXFUNDRIVE! Go to maximumfun.org/join to become a member, or upgrade or boost your membership, and support the Judge John Hodgman podcast. And to all of our members, both new and returning: a hearty, sincere THANK YOU from all of us at JJHO and MaxFun!