Lance and Ray get real with Xmas legends Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, the Grinch, Jesus Christ, Christmas Suzy, and more. Best to listen to this one while cuddled up close with your loved ones.
And be sure to stay tuned after the interviews for a special Easter egg from Lance and Ray! Yeah, that's right: a Christmas Easter egg.
Special thanks to Harrison Chad, Tim Shea, Lauren Marcus, Jason SweetTooth Williams, Bill Coyne, Will Roland, Taylor Trensch, and Molly Hager. And also to Cait Weisensee (we're sorry; we should have been cleaning) and the entire cast and crew of the 7th Annual Joe Iconis Xmas Spectacular.
“That sounded wiser than it was.”
In this Very Special Episode, Lance and Ray talk with EACH OTHER, getting real about their own lives and careers.
They talk about the way Ray's life happens in 2-3 year markings, Lance's leap from acting to writing, and what it means to be comfortable.
Also, Fountains of Wayne's "I've Got a Flair," Lance and Ray's Theories About Serial, and Ray and Lance talk Kardashian, Cosby, and Nichols.
“Even Bette Midler can, like, doubt herself.”
Lance and Ray talk with the hilarious and lovely Liz Wisan, an actor/singer/improviser who they met at Williamstown Theater Festival. You can catch Liz in People Improvising on November 30th at The PIT (123 E. 24th St. in Manhattan) on November 30th. And follow her on Twitter!
They talk about running lines with Bette Midler, being a Mayflower Jew from Harlem, auditioning to be Girl With Muffin Top, and the good and bad of being a Broadway understudy.
Also, Liz sings the aptly-titled "The Actress Sings Her Song" (from La Ronde; lyrics by Rainer Maria Rilke, music by Nathan Roberts), Ray Interviews for a Job as a Doctor, and Ray and Lance talk about Chillsgiving and the existential question of understudies.
“You don’t need anybody’s permission to go create what you want to create.”
Lance and Ray talk with Charlie Todd, the founder of Improv Everywhere, a joyful prank collective responsible for dozens of amazing public pranks, including The No-Pants Subway Ride and Frozen Grand Central. Check out the terrific documentary We Cause Scenes on Netflix for Improv Everywhere's full origin story.
They talk about the connotations of the word prank, the scariest moment in Improv Everywhere history, why Charlie wishes he'd chosen a different name for the group, and one of his all-time favorite IE missions.
Also, composer Tyler Walker's "Teenage Time Traveler" (his score for Back to the Future in Real Life), Intergalactic Open Mic, and Ray and Lance talk about peanut-butter smoothies and going your own way.
“You’re gonna get slapped in the face by your heroes.”
Lance and Ray interview the sweet and talented Patrick O'Neill, an actor Ray has known for over ten years. Patrick has been on Louie and Boardwalk Empire and can currently be seen on an E-surance commercial playing real-life candy crush with a wacky lady. (You can view that commercial at: www.patrickhoneill.com)
They talk about when Ray and Patrick met at Downtown Art (an East Village teen theater company), Patrick's experience playing young Louis CK in a Season 2 episode of Louie, and which actor's career he would most like to emulate.
Also, The Living End's "Roll On" (from a CD Ray encouraged Patrick to buy ten years ago), Top Five Lost Audio Clips from History, and Ray and Lance talk about ebola, getting older, and a bad movie premise.
“Everything’s so short, so you might as well enjoy yourself.”
Lance and Ray talk with the fantastic Daniel Everidge, a Drama Desk-nominated actor/singer who's been seen on Broadway in Grease and Off-Broadway in Falling.
Daniel's currently in Found, a new musical with the Atlantic Theater Company co-starring Nick Blaemire (past L + R guest!) and Danny Pudi (Community!) at the Linda Gross Theater (336 W. 20th St) through November.
They talk about Daniel being nominated in the same category as Tom Hanks for his role as a severely autistic young man in Falling, an encounter he had with Tracy Letts, tearing his ACL onstage during a performance of Grease, and why he respects teachers so much.
Also, Daniel's performance of "Moonin'" from Grease, The 15 Favorite Movie List Your Friend Made That Confused You, and Ray and Lance talk about not drinking 40's, not sweating the small stuff, and not respecting the old lyrics to "My Favorite Things."
“I would just wanna go to Canada just so that I can not be worried about my body anymore.”
Lance and Ray talk with the lovely Tara Koett (formerly Sampson), a high school drama teacher and improviser and the FIRST CANADIAN TO EVER APPEAR ON THIS PODCAST. She can be seen with the Rapid Fire Theatre (http://rapidfiretheatre.com/) in Edmonton, Alberta.
They talk about what led her to take an improv intensive in NYC in 2011 (where she met Ray), her personal struggles with FOMO, and Canada's low crime rate and universal healthcare system.
Also, Canadian band Union Duke's "Knew It All Along," Some of Ray's Favorite Canadians, and Ray and Lance talk about Robin Williams, deep philosophical questions, and going to Canada.
“People don’t understand we don’t all look like Sofia Vergara.”
Lance and Ray talk with charming actress/comedian/writer Suni Reyes. She performs stand-up and improv all over the city, and her one-woman show Hardware Dreams was performed at the PIT and Theater for a New City. She'll be appearing at the Boston Comedy Arts Festival in September. For more info, check out: http://sunireyes.weebly.com/.
They talk about the challenges of being in New York City when her family is in Puerto Rico, her father's famous invention, how Latinas in TV and movies are still--more often than not--relegated to playing the maid or the slut, and working with Lena Dunham and Gillian Jacobs while shooting an episode for the upcoming season of Girls.
Also, Owl City's "To the Sky" (from unironic Ray favorite The Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole), 15 Seconds of Exclusive Pre-Podcast Conversation Audio, and Ray and Lance talk about Lance's upcoming Ewing Jesus year and their cultural identities as, respectively, a Puerto Rican and a Jew.
Happiest 32nd birthday to Ray No-Middle-Name Muñoz!
“And I knew, like, as an eight-year-old, that I was going to remember this forever.”
Lance and Ray talk with the uber-talented and infinitely delightful Molly Hager, an actor and singer most recently seen Off-Broadway in Heathers: The Musical, which just ended its run yesterday. She performs often with Joe Iconis and Family (check out her rendition of "Broadway, Here I Come") and was in the film It's Kind of a Funny Story.
They talk about playing H-O-R-S-E with George Clooney on the set of ER, going to college with Lady Gaga, and what it was like understudying 8 separate roles in Heathers.
Also, Molly Hager and Ian Kagey's "Oh Well," Lance and Ray's WAR OF THE WORLDS, and Ray and Lance celebrate their ten year friend-i-versary.
“Smile more.”
Lance and Ray talk with the charming and knowledgeable Jorge Garcia, a science teacher at an all-girls' middle school in the East Village and one of Ray's best friends since elementary school.
They talk about the number of hours Jorge and Ray spent together when they were growing up, which students have the privilege of referring to Jorge as Mr. G instead of Mr. Garcia, and how Jorge responded when a 5th-grader asked him where exactly in the universe God is.
Also, J&R Music World--Jorge and Ray's music duo--does a cover of Third Eye Blind's "Motorcycle Drive By," Our List of Fun Things to Do in New York City in the Summertime, and Ray and Lance talk about Sly's first swim lesson and friendship.
“Gutu. Gurrustunda. Poonta, fulaboozi.”
To celebrate their 35th episode, Lance and Ray talk with and about Ray's cat, Dora. She is a beautiful cat who has been with Ray and his family for ten years.
They talk about how Dora got her name, Ray's gibberish cat language, how she expresses happiness, and similarities between having a cat and a baby.
Also, Bloo's "Tomorrow" (from their album Land Mimes), Ray Tries to Prank Call Lance Multiple Times, and Lance and Ray talk about celebrities on Twitter like Pat Sajak, Joss Whedon, and Carmelo Anthony, Facebook statuses from Phil Wedo, Bill Coyne, Amanda Nicastro, and Molly Hager, and titles of movie sequels.
“Oh baby, I smell a sequel!”
Lance and Ray talk with the funny and lovely Dawn Harris, Ariella Knight, and Christine Piñeiro, performers from Navy Blue Seals, Ray's house improv team at the People's Improv Theater (PIT). You can catch their free show there every Monday night at 9 PM.
They talk about how Ariella's pregnancy gets worked into the dynamic of the team, the ephemeral nature of house teams, how they each found their way to the PIT (be it Kristen Schaal, a magical feeling, or a need to avoid an ex), and the things they aspire to do outside of improv.
Also, The Argument's "Grudge," Lance and Ray exchange a series of letters, and Ray and Lance talk about Lance's move/Ray's ideas for new inventions and run into a nice man from the PIT named BJ.
“Then throughout the season I went back and hunted the guy down who gave me the bad drugs…and made him take them.”
Lance and Ray talk with uber-charming actor/musician/writer Eric William Morris, whose TV credits include arcs on Blue Bloods and Golden Boy, as well as guest-starring appearances on Law and Order: SVU and Royal Pains. His stage credits include Mamma Mia and Bloodsong of Love.
They talk about how Eric is always cast as good guys onstage and as dicks on film/TV, a crazy spontaneous moment that happened in his fourth performance of Mamma Mia, and the borderline-depressing advice he has for aspiring actors.
Also, Ray and Jorge Garcia's two-man band J & R Music World performs a cover of "Killer Tofu" (originally heard on Nickelodeon's Doug), The Lance and Ray-laxation Tapes, and Ray and Lance talk about why players must love being in the NBA, Hugh Grant's romcom partners, and what ever happened to Andie MacDowell.
“[baby burp]”
In this Very Special Episode, Ray interviews Lance, his wife Katie, and their newborn son Sly about what life as a new family has been like thus far.
They talk about Katie consuming her own placenta, Sly's desire to be back in the womb, Ray's confusion about middle names, and sleep-deprivation dream hallucinations.
Also, Lance attempts to record one of Sly's burps for posterity.
“What do I look like naked on film?”
Lance and Ray are reunited with their old pal Matt Shear, an actor/great dude who they met at the same time they met each other, in the summer of 2004 as apprentices at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
They talk about the last time Matt ran into Ray, taking Lewis Black's stand-up comedy workshop together, Matt's first film role in Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock, and a new top-secret movie he's in.
Also, LANCE AND RAY'S TOP 13 MOVIES of 2013!
And Lance tells a joke.
NOTE: This episode was recorded a few days before Lance and his wife Katie had their baby, an awesome little guy named Sylvester, who will be discussed in future episodes.
It was also recorded several days before Philip Seymour Hoffman passed away (which is a relevant piece of info once you listen to the ep).
“There are no elevators in cars.”
Lance and Ray talk with the charming and delightful Ashley Ward, an improviser, teacher, actor, and singer. Ashley performs with various long-form improv groups, including Big Black Car and Taco Supreme at the PIT, as well as musical improv group Baby Wants Candy. She is one of the co-writers and co-stars of 50 Shades! The Musical!, opening Off-Broadway in February.
They talk about Ashley's experience as a Jeopardy! winner, why she thinks she'll be doing improv for the rest of her life, and the actor whose career she'd most like to emulate.
Also, Prateek Kuhad's "Savera" from his EP Raat Raazi, Lance and Ray debate Cars Vs. Buildings, and Ray and Lance talk about Ray's beautiful foggy bike ride, Lance's future baby, and their new year's resolutions.