WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.560 Welcome back to the Deep Dive. Today we are strapping 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:05.599 in for quite a ride looking at a really unusual 00:00:05.599 --> 00:00:08.160 career path. I mean one that's been consistently 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:11.640 successful somehow across like two decades and 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:13.220 maybe half a dozen different media platforms 00:00:13.220 --> 00:00:15.359 and it's all built on this foundation of two 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:17.120 people who just happen to look exactly alike. 00:00:17.260 --> 00:00:19.559 So our mission today based on all these sources 00:00:19.559 --> 00:00:22.219 you've gathered is to really unpack the well 00:00:22.699 --> 00:00:25.420 The vast, multifaceted career of Randy and Jason 00:00:25.420 --> 00:00:28.199 Sklar. Identical coin comedians, actors, everything. 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:30.219 They're kind of the ultimate case study in finding 00:00:30.219 --> 00:00:32.439 a super specific niche, right? That spot they 00:00:32.439 --> 00:00:34.359 call the intersection of sports, comedy, and 00:00:34.359 --> 00:00:35.979 indie rock. We're going to try and map out how 00:00:35.979 --> 00:00:37.679 they moved, pretty seamlessly it seems, from 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:40.960 like 90s sitcoms and stand -up. all the way to 00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:43.259 guest spots on shows like Better Call Saul and 00:00:43.259 --> 00:00:45.579 building this whole podcast empire along the 00:00:45.579 --> 00:00:47.840 way. It's fascinating, isn't it? It's not just 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:49.780 the sheer amount of stuff they've done, the breadth 00:00:49.780 --> 00:00:54.960 of it all. It's the foresight, maybe, the adaptability 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:57.460 you'd need to jump between platforms like that 00:00:57.460 --> 00:01:00.079 and keep your core brand solid. We're talking 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:02.640 about a career that goes from hosting cheap seats 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:05.040 on ESPN Classic, which was pretty niche. Yeah, 00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:07.859 I love that show. doing really deep personal 00:01:07.859 --> 00:01:11.019 stuff on NPR's This American Life and like winning 00:01:11.019 --> 00:01:14.219 awards for web series way back when nobody was 00:01:14.219 --> 00:01:16.260 really doing that. So succeeding in stand up 00:01:16.260 --> 00:01:19.180 and sports commentary and this long form podcasting 00:01:19.180 --> 00:01:22.060 thing, it just shows how resilient that unique 00:01:22.060 --> 00:01:25.620 twin host identity really is. That kind of media 00:01:25.620 --> 00:01:27.939 hopping and sustaining it. That's incredibly 00:01:27.939 --> 00:01:30.700 rare. Okay, let's get into it. Let's unpack this. 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:33.480 Start with the basics, their identity, where 00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:35.819 they came from, and how that twin thing first 00:01:35.819 --> 00:01:38.319 became a professional tool. All right, so these 00:01:38.319 --> 00:01:40.659 guys, they're real Midwesterners, born January 00:01:40.659 --> 00:01:44.079 12, 1972. St. Louis, Missouri, grew up in the 00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:46.459 suburbs, Jewish family. And what's interesting, 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:48.480 the sources say the comedy decision wasn't like 00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:50.500 a whim after college. It was something they decided 00:01:50.500 --> 00:01:52.540 on and really firmed up during their time at 00:01:52.540 --> 00:01:54.290 the University of Michigan. Both went there, 00:01:54.370 --> 00:01:56.629 both in Alpha, Epsilon, Pi. Right, that shared 00:01:56.629 --> 00:01:58.930 experience, that shared goal in Ann Arbor that 00:01:58.930 --> 00:02:01.069 really set the stage. They didn't just, you know, 00:02:01.069 --> 00:02:02.609 wait around for an opportunity. They went out 00:02:02.609 --> 00:02:05.450 and made one. So 1994, they've got their degrees, 00:02:05.549 --> 00:02:08.469 but they're clearly focused on performing. They 00:02:08.469 --> 00:02:11.090 make that move, the classic move. To New York 00:02:11.090 --> 00:02:13.169 City. And that's where they started hammering 00:02:13.169 --> 00:02:15.849 out that style, you know, that coordinated back 00:02:15.849 --> 00:02:18.349 and forth, super high energy stand up thing and 00:02:18.349 --> 00:02:21.530 all the clubs and that environment. It kind of 00:02:21.530 --> 00:02:22.990 forced them pretty quickly to figure out how 00:02:22.990 --> 00:02:25.409 to use their biggest asset. The fact that they 00:02:25.409 --> 00:02:27.310 were identical, that synchronized thing. And 00:02:27.310 --> 00:02:29.169 it worked, didn't it? Yeah. That New York grind 00:02:29.169 --> 00:02:32.389 paid off surprisingly fast. Got them that first 00:02:32.389 --> 00:02:35.110 big TV break. Crucial one. Established them as 00:02:35.110 --> 00:02:37.949 writers and performers. It was 97, right? With 00:02:37.949 --> 00:02:41.729 that MTV show. App2F. Short -lived, but pretty 00:02:41.729 --> 00:02:43.750 influential from what I gather. Oh yeah, we need 00:02:43.750 --> 00:02:46.009 to pause on App2F for a sec. Even though it was 00:02:46.009 --> 00:02:48.370 just one season, you gotta understand why it 00:02:48.370 --> 00:02:51.750 mattered so much. Late 90s MTV. They were trying 00:02:51.750 --> 00:02:54.090 all sorts of things, right? Blending sketch, 00:02:54.430 --> 00:02:57.490 stand -up, sitcoms, trying to grab that young 00:02:57.490 --> 00:03:01.849 audience. App2F gave young comics this huge national 00:03:01.849 --> 00:03:05.750 stage, and for the Sklars, starring in it, writing 00:03:05.750 --> 00:03:08.860 for it. It let them show off their writing chops 00:03:08.860 --> 00:03:12.110 and that twin dynamic. all at once it wasn't 00:03:12.110 --> 00:03:14.090 just a break it was like a national audition 00:03:14.090 --> 00:03:16.969 tape that said hey these guys are a package deal 00:03:16.969 --> 00:03:19.409 and they're smart they're funny they get it that 00:03:19.409 --> 00:03:21.969 makes sense that early exposure kind of moved 00:03:21.969 --> 00:03:23.969 them beyond just being oh look twins you know 00:03:23.969 --> 00:03:25.949 made them into something casting directors could 00:03:25.949 --> 00:03:27.810 actually use and when you look at their acting 00:03:27.810 --> 00:03:29.969 roles that twin status is often right there at 00:03:29.969 --> 00:03:32.069 the center sometimes taken to like really wild 00:03:32.069 --> 00:03:34.669 extreme exactly casting directors saw the shortcut 00:03:34.669 --> 00:03:36.689 the narrative shorthand they offered like the 00:03:36.689 --> 00:03:38.650 most memorable early example maybe the weirdest 00:03:38.650 --> 00:03:41.270 is when they played conjoined characters think 00:03:41.270 --> 00:03:44.110 about uh the oblongs that animated show they 00:03:44.110 --> 00:03:46.310 did eight episodes as biff and chip oblong wait 00:03:46.310 --> 00:03:49.289 conjoined twins yeah playing conjoined characters 00:03:49.289 --> 00:03:52.229 instantly gives you this level of like physical 00:03:52.229 --> 00:03:54.949 comedy and weird relationship stuff that's hard 00:03:54.949 --> 00:03:57.330 to get any other way and they did it again didn't 00:03:57.330 --> 00:04:00.210 they in live action on gray's anatomy peter and 00:04:00.210 --> 00:04:02.930 jake weitzman that's the one one episode but 00:04:02.930 --> 00:04:05.509 super memorable it's a casting choice that's 00:04:05.509 --> 00:04:07.930 inherently specific you know memorable physically 00:04:07.930 --> 00:04:11.400 demanding Plays right into that weird kind of 00:04:11.400 --> 00:04:13.599 synergistic humor they have. But it wasn't always 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:15.879 about being literally attached, right? They could 00:04:15.879 --> 00:04:18.519 use that twin dynamic in other ways. No, definitely 00:04:18.519 --> 00:04:21.560 not always attached. They're great in those recurring 00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:24.579 duo roles where they're basically two halves 00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:27.759 of the same personality coin. Perfect example, 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:29.939 Better Call Saul. Season three, they run that 00:04:29.939 --> 00:04:32.459 music shop, ABQ and Tune. Oh, those guys. Yeah, 00:04:32.500 --> 00:04:34.500 they were brilliant. When Jimmy's suspended trying 00:04:34.500 --> 00:04:37.399 to make commercials. Exactly. And the humor comes 00:04:37.399 --> 00:04:40.379 from their specific energy. Right. Slightly aloof, 00:04:40.379 --> 00:04:42.560 perfectly in sync. These kind of quirky small 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:44.360 business owners. Yeah, that was great casting. 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:46.680 And it keeps happening. The sources show this 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:49.519 dynamic is still getting used today in big comedies. 00:04:49.579 --> 00:04:52.439 They popped up as Kobe and Bran on What We Do 00:04:52.439 --> 00:04:55.259 in the Shadows in 2022. Right. And they're going 00:04:55.259 --> 00:04:58.560 to be Ryan and Brian on Night Court in 2025. 00:04:59.079 --> 00:05:02.240 So whether it's an obscure music shop in Albuquerque 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:05.740 or dealing with vampires on Staten Island. Their 00:05:05.740 --> 00:05:08.839 identity as the twins, this like stable, built 00:05:08.839 --> 00:05:11.660 -in comedic unit, that's the key thing for casting. 00:05:11.860 --> 00:05:14.199 Gives you immediate visual clarity, relational 00:05:14.199 --> 00:05:17.649 dynamics. Very few other actors can just bring 00:05:17.649 --> 00:05:19.750 that. And I think that energy, that synchronized 00:05:19.750 --> 00:05:22.310 delivery, that rapid fire thing, they honed in 00:05:22.310 --> 00:05:25.149 acting and sketch. That feels like the perfect 00:05:25.149 --> 00:05:27.110 training ground for what came next. Right. The 00:05:27.110 --> 00:05:28.790 whole sports commentary world. That's absolutely 00:05:28.790 --> 00:05:31.529 spot on. That quick witted back and forth practice 00:05:31.529 --> 00:05:34.089 over years of stand up and sketch. It translated 00:05:34.089 --> 00:05:36.449 perfectly into the rhythm, the demanding pace 00:05:36.449 --> 00:05:38.689 of sports media. OK, so this is where it gets 00:05:38.689 --> 00:05:40.750 really interesting, I think, where they carved 00:05:40.750 --> 00:05:43.189 out that signature niche, that brand identity 00:05:43.189 --> 00:05:46.360 that's lasted this like. deep dive into merging 00:05:46.360 --> 00:05:49.319 comedy and sports yeah the commitment to it is 00:05:49.319 --> 00:05:51.779 pretty remarkable and it found its like perfect 00:05:51.779 --> 00:05:55.660 tv home with cheap seats ran 2004 to 2006 on 00:05:55.660 --> 00:05:58.639 the espn classic four seasons became this huge 00:05:58.639 --> 00:06:02.779 cult hit and the premise was so simple but uh 00:06:03.810 --> 00:06:05.990 strategically brilliant, they played these fake 00:06:05.990 --> 00:06:08.089 ESPN research assistants. Right, down in the 00:06:08.089 --> 00:06:09.990 archives. Exactly. And their job was just to 00:06:09.990 --> 00:06:13.029 provide this rapid fire, funny commentary on 00:06:13.029 --> 00:06:16.389 the weirdest, sometimes the most obscure historical 00:06:16.389 --> 00:06:20.350 sports moments from ESPN's massive library. You 00:06:20.350 --> 00:06:22.449 know, the stuff gathering dust. He was definitely 00:06:22.449 --> 00:06:25.029 must -see TD for a certain type of sports fan. 00:06:25.209 --> 00:06:27.189 Yeah. The kind who appreciated the absurdity 00:06:27.189 --> 00:06:29.089 of it all. But let's dig into the structure for 00:06:29.089 --> 00:06:30.350 a minute because this connects them to something 00:06:30.350 --> 00:06:32.709 bigger in comedy history. Your sources are clear. 00:06:32.779 --> 00:06:35.120 Cheap Seats basically lifted its format directly 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:37.720 from Mystery Science Theater 3000. Oh, explicitly. 00:06:37.800 --> 00:06:40.100 Yeah. They took that whole riffing on bad media 00:06:40.100 --> 00:06:42.639 framework and just applied it wholesale to old 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:44.600 sports highlights, bloopers, weird forgotten 00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:47.560 games. The MST3K connection is huge. It really 00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:51.139 is. And the beauty of it was how it sort of legitimized 00:06:51.139 --> 00:06:54.379 sports fandom as a topic for smart comedy. They 00:06:54.379 --> 00:06:56.879 weren't just laughing at a bad game. They were. 00:06:57.339 --> 00:06:59.899 analyzing the inherent weirdness of it all the 00:06:59.899 --> 00:07:02.560 human failings captured on tape and the tone 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:05.139 was key it was super enthusiastic like they genuinely 00:07:05.139 --> 00:07:07.949 loved this stuff Deeply knowledgeable, but also 00:07:07.949 --> 00:07:11.410 totally irreverent. The pacing was just relentless. 00:07:11.550 --> 00:07:14.529 Perfect for their twin dynamic. Setting up jokes, 00:07:14.769 --> 00:07:16.589 spiking them, finishing each other's sentences. 00:07:16.970 --> 00:07:19.670 Total sync. Yeah. That was basically the practice 00:07:19.670 --> 00:07:21.769 field, the high -speed training for all their 00:07:21.769 --> 00:07:25.009 later podcast work. That rapid -fire riffing. 00:07:25.089 --> 00:07:27.009 And the ultimate validation, the seal of approval, 00:07:27.110 --> 00:07:29.350 came from the MST3K guys themselves, didn't it? 00:07:29.410 --> 00:07:31.129 It absolutely did. They didn't just approve. 00:07:31.410 --> 00:07:34.170 They kind of formalized it. Season 2 opener of 00:07:34.170 --> 00:07:36.949 Cheap Seats, the original MST3K. MST3K characters 00:07:36.949 --> 00:07:39.769 Mike Nelson, Crow T -Robot, Tom Servo showed 00:07:39.769 --> 00:07:43.029 up in silhouette. Yeah. Making fun of the Sklar's 00:07:43.029 --> 00:07:46.290 own host segments. And the sources point out 00:07:46.290 --> 00:07:48.050 this is actually a pretty big deal in comedy 00:07:48.050 --> 00:07:50.860 history. It was the only time those specific 00:07:50.860 --> 00:07:53.500 characters and actors, Mike Nelson, Bill Corbett, 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:56.579 Kevin Murphy, appeared together as the MST3K 00:07:56.579 --> 00:07:59.079 cast after the original show got canceled. Wow. 00:07:59.459 --> 00:08:01.339 It's like getting knighted by comedy royalty. 00:08:01.579 --> 00:08:03.500 Pretty much. Confirmed they'd mastered the format, 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:06.899 earned the right to, you know. Carry that torch. 00:08:07.100 --> 00:08:10.259 Incredible. OK, so beyond ESPN Classic, their 00:08:10.259 --> 00:08:12.519 sports media footprint is also really tied up 00:08:12.519 --> 00:08:14.579 with Jim Rome, right? Yeah. That whole connection, 00:08:14.699 --> 00:08:16.660 the Jim Rome cinematic universe, as you called 00:08:16.660 --> 00:08:19.579 it. Huh. Yeah. That connection was vital. It 00:08:19.579 --> 00:08:22.399 gave them consistent high volume stage time, 00:08:22.540 --> 00:08:24.939 basically. Which you need to keep your comedy 00:08:24.939 --> 00:08:26.879 sharp. They were constantly filling in as guest 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:29.079 hosts on his syndicated radio show, first Premier 00:08:29.079 --> 00:08:32.059 Radio, then CBS Radio. Think about that, stepping 00:08:32.059 --> 00:08:34.259 into that intense hot take radio environment 00:08:34.259 --> 00:08:36.340 day after day and holding that audience. It's 00:08:36.340 --> 00:08:38.519 a totally different skill than scripted TV. And 00:08:38.519 --> 00:08:41.340 Randy specifically was on Rome's ESPN TV show, 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:44.440 Jim Rome is Burning. A lot, right? As a forum 00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:47.860 guest. Numerous times, yeah. That constant visibility 00:08:47.860 --> 00:08:51.259 on all of Rome's platforms really cemented them 00:08:51.259 --> 00:08:53.600 in the minds of sports fans as these reliable, 00:08:53.820 --> 00:08:57.659 sharp, funny voices commenting on sports absurdity. 00:08:57.779 --> 00:09:00.120 And it all kind of culminated with that recurring 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:02.820 segment they had on Rome on Showtime called Sklard 00:09:02.820 --> 00:09:05.360 for Life. Sklard for Life, perfect name. And 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:08.330 that segment was basically... Just roasting the 00:09:08.330 --> 00:09:10.370 craziest sports adjacent stories of the month. 00:09:10.490 --> 00:09:13.629 Exactly. Rome would tee up the six to eight weirdest 00:09:13.629 --> 00:09:16.710 stories, sports screw ups, arrests, viral clips, 00:09:16.909 --> 00:09:18.710 weird photos. And the brothers would just go 00:09:18.710 --> 00:09:21.070 to town on them, skewer them with that signature 00:09:21.070 --> 00:09:23.250 energy. Showtime gave them that premium cable 00:09:23.250 --> 00:09:25.330 visibility, too. Right. Put them in front of 00:09:25.330 --> 00:09:27.389 a, you know, maybe a slightly more sophisticated 00:09:27.389 --> 00:09:31.769 sports audience. Reinforce that brand. The go 00:09:31.769 --> 00:09:34.590 to comedians for analyzing sports culture's weird 00:09:34.590 --> 00:09:37.840 side and doing that. regularly having to come 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:40.340 up with fresh sharp commentary on topical stuff 00:09:40.340 --> 00:09:42.860 under pressure that was essential practice for 00:09:42.860 --> 00:09:45.179 the conversational flow of podcasting that ability 00:09:45.179 --> 00:09:47.740 to just riff endlessly on some dumb news story 00:09:47.740 --> 00:09:50.379 they were perfecting it right there and we can't 00:09:50.379 --> 00:09:52.940 forget their roots gotta mention their st. Louis 00:09:52.940 --> 00:09:57.059 pride and that ESPN to special utility men The 00:09:57.059 --> 00:09:59.159 quest for Cooperstown. Oh, yeah. Utility Man. 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:01.419 That special perfectly captures their whole thing, 00:10:01.500 --> 00:10:04.179 doesn't it? Their hometown pride, their deep 00:10:04.179 --> 00:10:06.779 knowledge of niche sports history and their stand 00:10:06.779 --> 00:10:10.179 up sensibility all rolled into one. Yeah. It 00:10:10.179 --> 00:10:13.279 was this like funny but genuinely passionate 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:16.279 attempt to argue for Jose Okendo, the Cardinals 00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:18.600 utility player, to get into the Baseball Hall 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:20.919 of Fame. Only they would do that. Exactly. It's 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:22.779 the perfect niche comedy subject. They weren't 00:10:22.779 --> 00:10:24.419 making fun of the Hall of Fame. They were celebrating 00:10:24.419 --> 00:10:27.590 this obscure player that. that only true hardcore 00:10:27.590 --> 00:10:30.149 fans would even know, let alone champion. That 00:10:30.149 --> 00:10:32.610 mix of championing something, celebrating it, 00:10:32.669 --> 00:10:35.470 but also critiquing it with humor. It built this 00:10:35.470 --> 00:10:37.730 brand that felt really authentic to fans, I think. 00:10:37.769 --> 00:10:40.230 It wasn't just jokes about sports. It was comedy 00:10:40.230 --> 00:10:43.470 from diehard, knowledgeable fans. Totally. And 00:10:43.470 --> 00:10:45.769 all this work, this high -volume, rapid -fire 00:10:45.769 --> 00:10:48.070 riffing practice, it just set them up perfectly 00:10:48.070 --> 00:10:51.769 for that next big media shift. Podcasting. Yeah, 00:10:51.769 --> 00:10:53.210 looking at their career path, that move into 00:10:53.210 --> 00:10:56.059 podcasting. It was a... really smart business 00:10:56.059 --> 00:10:59.480 decision. Masterful, even. All that earlier work, 00:10:59.539 --> 00:11:02.159 the casual riffing style from Cheap Seats, the 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:04.340 constant radio hosting with Rome. It was basically 00:11:04.340 --> 00:11:06.360 like a decade -long boot camp for the podcast 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:09.200 format, long -form conversational. And podcasting 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:11.840 gave them two really crucial things. One, much 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:14.399 deeper engagement with their fans. And two, maybe 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:17.139 more importantly, total creative freedom. No 00:11:17.139 --> 00:11:20.850 network notes. And that strategic move led straight 00:11:20.850 --> 00:11:23.309 to their big one, their flagship show, Scarborough 00:11:23.309 --> 00:11:26.070 Country. August 2010, right, on Earwolf, which 00:11:26.070 --> 00:11:27.870 was pretty cutting edge back then. Ran strong 00:11:27.870 --> 00:11:30.029 until 2017. They were definitely early adopters. 00:11:30.090 --> 00:11:32.570 And they defined the show so specifically. The 00:11:32.570 --> 00:11:34.549 intersection of sports, comedy, and indie rock. 00:11:34.909 --> 00:11:37.929 That specificity is so key. It wasn't just a 00:11:37.929 --> 00:11:40.289 comedy podcast. It was aimed squarely at this 00:11:40.289 --> 00:11:43.269 like culturally savvy listener, someone who might 00:11:43.269 --> 00:11:45.470 care about the NFL playoffs and the new Spoon 00:11:45.470 --> 00:11:48.049 album. And that niche, it actually attracted 00:11:48.049 --> 00:11:50.789 a pretty mainstream audience, but still felt 00:11:50.789 --> 00:11:53.230 authentic to their core fans. You see it in the 00:11:53.230 --> 00:11:55.250 guest list, right? Spanned comedy and sports. 00:11:55.389 --> 00:11:57.970 Yeah, huge names. Jon Hamm, Terrell Owens, Rich 00:11:57.970 --> 00:12:01.830 Eisen. Patton Oswalt, Adam Carolla, Diablo Cody. 00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:05.700 Even Richard Simmons. Wow, Richard Simmons. That's 00:12:05.700 --> 00:12:07.700 a get. Right, and the quality was recognized. 00:12:08.389 --> 00:12:11.169 2012, Sklarbro Country gets nominated for Best 00:12:11.169 --> 00:12:13.789 Podcast at the Comedy Central Comedy Awards on 00:12:13.789 --> 00:12:16.509 TV. That's big. Solidified them not just in sports 00:12:16.509 --> 00:12:18.830 media, but in the mainstream comedy world, too. 00:12:18.970 --> 00:12:20.870 But here's where you see the business brain working 00:12:20.870 --> 00:12:24.350 again. They saw the value in, like, more listener 00:12:24.350 --> 00:12:26.710 touch points and maybe testing out a spinoff 00:12:26.710 --> 00:12:28.870 format that didn't rely so heavily on booking 00:12:28.870 --> 00:12:31.529 those huge guests every week. So summer of 2012, 00:12:31.649 --> 00:12:33.889 they launch a second show, Sklarbro County. Right. 00:12:33.950 --> 00:12:36.470 The shorter midweek snack episode, they called 00:12:36.470 --> 00:12:39.129 it. Which feels like. A smart move. Keep people 00:12:39.129 --> 00:12:41.470 engaged midweek. And they brought in Dan Van 00:12:41.470 --> 00:12:43.330 Kirk as a co -host, right? Yeah, Dan Van Kirk, 00:12:43.429 --> 00:12:45.309 up -and -coming character comic. Bringing him 00:12:45.309 --> 00:12:48.049 in was key. And the premise for County shifted, 00:12:48.169 --> 00:12:50.509 moved away from the sports analysis, more towards 00:12:50.509 --> 00:12:54.549 just pure chaos, pure absurdity. Van Kirk's job 00:12:54.549 --> 00:12:57.269 was basically to find these insane news stories, 00:12:57.350 --> 00:13:00.029 people doing incredibly dumb or silly things, 00:13:00.250 --> 00:13:03.330 and the sclars and the guests would just riff 00:13:03.330 --> 00:13:05.990 on them. like a writer's room just tearing stories 00:13:05.990 --> 00:13:09.370 apart. And that format, low effort to produce, 00:13:09.490 --> 00:13:11.649 high absurdity, turned out to be super durable. 00:13:12.169 --> 00:13:13.909 And they basically gave us the mission statement 00:13:13.909 --> 00:13:16.570 for that whole vibe in one perfect insane anecdote. 00:13:16.789 --> 00:13:18.769 They said something like, if there's a 30 -person 00:13:18.769 --> 00:13:21.190 brawl at a Chuck E. Cheese. Oh, yeah. The quote, 00:13:21.230 --> 00:13:23.490 it's legendary. In Tampa at a five -year -old's 00:13:23.490 --> 00:13:25.669 birthday. Yeah. And it skills into the Burlington 00:13:25.669 --> 00:13:27.870 Code Factory parking lot. And ends with someone 00:13:27.870 --> 00:13:30.429 defecating in an ex -boyfriend's hatchback. Yeah, 00:13:30.450 --> 00:13:32.470 they'll be there to make fun of it. That quote, 00:13:32.610 --> 00:13:35.669 it's like, comedic genius in its specificity 00:13:35.669 --> 00:13:38.789 perfectly nails their target. Low -stakes crime, 00:13:38.929 --> 00:13:41.210 high -level stupidity, people just hurting themselves. 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:43.840 through sheer dumbness. It's the absolute peak 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:47.340 of the dumb people genre. Nailed it. And because 00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:49.940 that format was such a hit when Sklarbro Country 00:13:49.940 --> 00:13:53.059 wrapped up in 2017, they just transitioned smoothly 00:13:53.059 --> 00:13:54.919 into what they're doing now, which is arguably 00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:57.360 even bigger, Dumb People Town. Dumb People Town. 00:13:57.539 --> 00:14:00.679 Still going strong, twice a week now. Basically 00:14:00.679 --> 00:14:04.200 the Sklarbro County model, so Dan Van Kirk, structure's 00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:06.139 pretty efficient, right? Get a comedian guest, 00:14:06.340 --> 00:14:07.879 talk about their stuff for a bit. Right, keeps 00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:09.830 the comedy connection. And then... Dive into 00:14:09.830 --> 00:14:12.090 those outrageous news stories. But now they're 00:14:12.090 --> 00:14:14.730 mostly sent in by listeners through social media. 00:14:14.889 --> 00:14:17.470 Exactly. Which shows their mastery of the modern 00:14:17.470 --> 00:14:20.470 media game. They essentially crowdsourced an 00:14:20.470 --> 00:14:22.929 infinite supply of content. The listeners find 00:14:22.929 --> 00:14:25.669 the absurdity for them and choose the show never 00:14:25.669 --> 00:14:28.710 runs dry. And the focus is totally on people 00:14:28.710 --> 00:14:31.389 messing up, hurting themselves, doing things 00:14:31.389 --> 00:14:34.129 that just make no sense. That low stakes, high 00:14:34.129 --> 00:14:36.789 entertainment sweet spot. It's their hallmark 00:14:36.789 --> 00:14:40.519 now. They figured out their core skill was dissecting 00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:43.279 human stupidity with humor, and they built this 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:45.799 whole self -sustaining podcast universe around 00:14:45.799 --> 00:14:47.879 it. It really is a blueprint for how you can 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:51.340 monetize a very specific, critical voice. Okay, 00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:53.659 let's switch gears, though. From the weekly grind 00:14:53.659 --> 00:14:56.120 to their big, high -concept stand -up specials, 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:58.539 those really prove how committed they are to 00:14:58.539 --> 00:15:00.799 integrating their whole brand. All right, moving 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:03.039 beyond the podcast and the sports stuff, we got 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:04.279 to look at their stand -up specials because these 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:06.120 aren't just, you know, stand -up shows. They're 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:08.220 these uniquely framed, high -concept productions 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:10.460 that really lean into their whole brand. They've 00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:12.679 done three main specials, right? Two half -hours 00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:14.940 for Comedy Central Presents. Yeah, one in 2001, 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:17.740 another in 2009. Those were more standard showcases. 00:15:17.799 --> 00:15:19.620 Good stuff, but pretty typical format for the 00:15:19.620 --> 00:15:21.840 time. But the one we really need to dig into 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:25.100 is their first hour -long special. What are we 00:15:25.100 --> 00:15:28.840 talking about? Netflix, iTunes, 2014. That one. 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:31.539 Yeah. The production wasn't just clever. It was 00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:34.740 like total immersion. The ultimate fusion of 00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:36.840 their stand -up and their sports commentary careers. 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:39.700 They framed the entire thing like an NFL playoff 00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:42.460 game. Recorded it at the Majestic Theater in 00:15:42.460 --> 00:15:45.179 Madison, Wisconsin. But it wasn't just like hanging 00:15:45.179 --> 00:15:48.639 a few pennants. They went all in. That had to 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:50.720 be expensive, right? High production value. Oh, 00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:52.820 absolutely. The commitment to the concept was 00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:55.419 total. They basically turned a stand -up taping 00:15:55.419 --> 00:15:57.840 into a mock sports broadcast. And the special 00:15:57.840 --> 00:16:00.539 had these specific, really targeted cameos from 00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:02.759 the sports world. Treating the comedy show like 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:05.120 it was some high stakes game. Think about the 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:07.399 logistics building and running a whole NFL Network 00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:09.779 style set for a comedy special. And who did they 00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:11.659 get involved? It was some big names, wasn't it? 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:14.519 Significant names. Rich Eisen, anchor for the 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:16.480 NFL Network. He hosted a roundtable discussion. 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:19.179 Analyzing their comedy? Yeah. Analyzing their 00:16:19.179 --> 00:16:21.519 jokes with actual NFL players, Dwight Freeney, 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:23.539 Terrell Thomas and the actor Omar Dorsey, who 00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:26.100 has a football background. That's wild. It creates 00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:28.100 this amazing meta commentary, right? They weren't 00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:30.159 just bringing sports guys on. They were having 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:33.580 these serious analysts apply that over the top 00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:37.879 sports rhetoric to like. joke construction. Plus, 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:39.980 they had sideline reporter Bonnie Bernstein doing 00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:42.059 pre - and post -show interviews with the brothers. 00:16:42.299 --> 00:16:45.220 The whole special had a pre -game show, halftime 00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:48.120 report, post -game analysis, featuring this very 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:51.480 specific, recognizable sportscast. That level 00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:54.379 of concept, that framing, you just don't see 00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:55.940 that in stand -up specials. It's totally unique. 00:16:56.139 --> 00:16:58.279 It guaranteed the special wasn't just about their 00:16:58.279 --> 00:17:01.299 jokes. It was about their entire brand. Cemented 00:17:01.299 --> 00:17:03.940 them as the voices where sports and comedy meet. 00:17:04.250 --> 00:17:06.349 Absolutely. Now, OK, sharp turn here just to 00:17:06.349 --> 00:17:08.069 show the incredible range they have. We need 00:17:08.069 --> 00:17:09.529 to talk about their time on the History Channel 00:17:09.529 --> 00:17:12.690 and then that really unexpected NPR piece. 2012, 00:17:12.990 --> 00:17:15.549 they hosted United States of America on History. 00:17:15.730 --> 00:17:18.650 Right. The by the numbers show mixed stats about 00:17:18.650 --> 00:17:21.250 the U .S. with stunts and comedy bits that required 00:17:21.250 --> 00:17:23.750 a different gear. Right. More informational host 00:17:23.750 --> 00:17:26.069 than just comedian. Totally. They had to be factual, 00:17:26.230 --> 00:17:28.940 engaging, but still funny. And yeah, it only 00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:31.660 ran one season, went on indefinite hiatus, but 00:17:31.660 --> 00:17:33.819 it showed they could handle that host role, mixing 00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:37.420 smarts, timing, and genuine curiosity. Skills 00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:40.539 you need outside pure comedy. But then the NPR 00:17:40.539 --> 00:17:43.259 thing, This American Life, that feels like the 00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:45.940 most unexpected, maybe the most vulnerable thing 00:17:45.940 --> 00:17:47.619 they've done. Definitely the opposite end of 00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:50.220 the spectrum from Dumb People Town or Cheap Seats. 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:53.599 This was serious audio journalism. The episode 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:56.339 was called Sklarcross Brothers, and it was about 00:17:56.339 --> 00:17:59.980 this deeply personal, lifelong family mystery. 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:03.039 Which was? A rumor, a suspicion, really, that 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:05.079 had apparently persisted in their family forever, 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:07.539 that their mother might have accidentally switched 00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:09.339 their identities when they were babies. Whoa. 00:18:09.619 --> 00:18:12.390 Okay, wait. Going from jokes about sports gloopers 00:18:12.390 --> 00:18:14.269 to investigating whether your mom mixed you up 00:18:14.269 --> 00:18:18.029 at birth on NPR, that's a huge tonal shift. How 00:18:18.029 --> 00:18:19.650 risky was that for their brand? What did that 00:18:19.650 --> 00:18:23.009 prove? Massive risk, yeah. But it paid off because 00:18:23.009 --> 00:18:25.589 it showed their storytelling was authentic. They 00:18:25.589 --> 00:18:27.589 were willing to put the fundamental question 00:18:27.589 --> 00:18:30.789 of their own identity out there for a compelling 00:18:30.789 --> 00:18:33.269 story. Showed they weren't just joke machines. 00:18:33.329 --> 00:18:37.230 They were like... genuine explorers of the human 00:18:37.230 --> 00:18:39.890 condition, even when it involved their own mom 00:18:39.890 --> 00:18:42.529 maybe messing up big time. And they actually 00:18:42.529 --> 00:18:45.390 found an answer, scientifically. They did. They 00:18:45.390 --> 00:18:48.410 hunted down the records, got an expert to compare 00:18:48.410 --> 00:18:50.750 their actual baby footprints from the hospital 00:18:50.750 --> 00:18:53.569 with their adult feet. Yeah. And the verdict 00:18:53.569 --> 00:18:57.130 was, no mix -up. They were who they thought they 00:18:57.130 --> 00:19:00.049 were. It's this really sweet, very specific piece 00:19:00.049 --> 00:19:02.710 of audio that confirms their place and just adds 00:19:02.710 --> 00:19:05.150 this whole other dimension to what they do. Amazing 00:19:05.150 --> 00:19:07.089 story. OK, one last thing just to round out the 00:19:07.089 --> 00:19:08.769 picture of them trying basically everything. 00:19:08.890 --> 00:19:11.430 Their brief dip into reality TV competition. 00:19:12.069 --> 00:19:14.569 2021, they auditioned for America's Got Talent. 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:17.759 Season 16. Have that go. Well, their comedy act 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:19.420 got them through the first audition round, proved 00:19:19.420 --> 00:19:21.339 they could still win over even tough judges like 00:19:21.339 --> 00:19:23.660 Simon Cowell, probably. But they didn't get invited 00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:25.980 back for the quarterfinals. Still, just showing 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:28.599 up there. It shows that consistent willingness 00:19:28.599 --> 00:19:32.299 to put their act, their brand, in front of literally 00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:35.779 anyone, even the most mainstream, sometimes challenging 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:38.460 audience. Okay, so zooming out now, looking at 00:19:38.460 --> 00:19:41.160 the whole career, the whole model, it's clear 00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:43.619 they weren't just... The twin guys, right? They 00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:46.220 had serious writing chops, individual acting 00:19:46.220 --> 00:19:48.720 range. They proved they could do more than just 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:51.619 play identical characters. Oh, absolutely. And 00:19:51.619 --> 00:19:53.500 we need to really acknowledge their writing skill 00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:56.519 and how early they jumped on digital stuff. They 00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:59.960 co -wrote with Nick Kroll. Way back. And those 00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:02.599 two Streamy award -winning web series are really 00:20:02.599 --> 00:20:05.240 important context. Back on Tops, produced by 00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:07.859 Michael Eisner's company, Voo Guru, won multiple 00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:10.400 Streamys. Back then, early 2010s, that showed 00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:12.440 they were succeeding in web video way before 00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:14.839 podcasting blew up for everyone. Signal that 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:17.160 adaptability years ahead of the curve. They also 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:19.099 wrote that series, Held Up, starring Caitlin 00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:21.460 Olsen. That digital success proves they were 00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:23.640 always looking for the next platform. But the 00:20:23.640 --> 00:20:25.640 acting roles, too, they show they can work separately. 00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:28.480 Jason was on Curb Your Enthusiasm solo, right? 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:31.000 Yeah. Yep. And beyond that, they've got credits 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:34.480 together and apart all over the place. CSI, Law 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:37.880 & Order, Entourage. And maybe most memorably, 00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:40.579 they were the DJs in that classic It's Always 00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:43.500 Sunny in Philadelphia episode. The gang dances 00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:46.140 their asses off. Oh, yeah. They were great in 00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:48.759 that. They're just reliable, versatile character 00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:51.099 actors. They can land a joke perfectly, whether 00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:53.440 they're working together or on their own. And 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:55.440 their legacy, it's also captured on albums, right? 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:57.420 A pretty decent discography that tracks their 00:20:57.420 --> 00:20:59.480 stand -up over the years. Yeah, that catalog 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:01.920 shows their longevity, their consistent output. 00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:05.720 It goes from Poppin' the Hood. back in 2004 then 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:08.480 slar maps in 07 henderson's and daughters in 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:11.740 2011 then the big one what are we talking about 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:14.559 in 2014 and the most recent one hipster ghosts 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:18.460 in 2018. That steady output feeds their touring, 00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:20.559 shows that underneath all the media hopping, 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:22.700 there's still that traditional stand -up work 00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:25.119 ethic driving things. And shifting to a couple 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:27.160 of personal details, which often find their way 00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:29.400 into the comedy, right? Both married to kids 00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:31.359 each, and their spouses are pretty accomplished 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:33.599 too. Yeah, Randy's married to Amy Sklar. She's 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:35.880 a well -known interior designer, was on HGTV's 00:21:35.880 --> 00:21:38.880 Design Star. And Jason's married to Jessica Zucker. 00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:41.119 She's a fertility therapist who got a lot of 00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:44.039 recognition for creating these really sensitive, 00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:47.750 much... knitted pregnancy loss cards. So those 00:21:47.750 --> 00:21:50.130 personal lives, they provide this endless source 00:21:50.130 --> 00:21:53.109 of rich material about marriage, parenting, just 00:21:53.109 --> 00:21:55.910 modern life, which then gets filtered through 00:21:55.910 --> 00:21:58.609 their unique comedic perspective. Keeps the observational 00:21:58.609 --> 00:22:01.740 stuff fresh, grounded in real experience. Okay, 00:22:01.779 --> 00:22:04.640 let's wrap this section with two specific anecdotes 00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:07.019 that just perfectly capture their, like, meta 00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:09.819 -awareness and their absolute willingness to 00:22:09.819 --> 00:22:12.140 throw even their own family under the comedic 00:22:12.140 --> 00:22:14.759 bus. Ah, okay. First, that prophetic, totally 00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:16.920 self -aware moment on After Midnight in 2025. 00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:19.220 This just shows how they're always thinking about 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:21.700 how information works now. Jason Sklar said on 00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:23.900 the show something like, the way chat GPT is 00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:26.240 being used, unchecked, it's going to be the end 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:29.119 of Wikipedia. Okay, bold claim. But the punchline? 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:32.700 The punchline, the... perfect Sklar moment was 00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:35.359 him realizing, as he said it, that that very 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:37.279 statement, his prediction would immediately, 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:40.339 ironically, end up on Wikipedia itself being 00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:42.599 debated. That's brilliant. The media feedback 00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:45.759 loop in action. Exactly. Commentary becoming 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:48.980 the news itself just captures the speed and absurdity 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:52.259 of digital info today. And speaking of unforgettable 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:55.119 information and maybe the most brutal moment 00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:57.819 in their recorded history. We have to talk about 00:22:57.819 --> 00:23:01.500 the legendary Mother's Day episode of At Midnight. 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:04.099 Oh, God. This one. They brought their mom, Annette, 00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:06.579 on the show. Put her right in the hot seat. Yep. 00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:09.099 And she was asked, point blank, on national television, 00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:12.819 pick your favorite son, Randy or Jason. No. Yes. 00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:15.519 And the sources, the clips, they're very clear. 00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:18.559 Annette, their mom, chose Randy. And apparently 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:21.079 did it without any hesitation. Just boom, Randy, 00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:23.940 brutal, hilariously honest, totally unscripted 00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:26.500 maternal preference broadcast to the world. It 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:29.220 perfectly shows how far they'll go mining, even 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:31.779 potentially painful family dynamics for a laugh. 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:33.660 That really does kind of sum it all up. Okay. 00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:35.839 So bring it all together. Yeah, their contribution 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:38.579 really is creating this model for how to have 00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:42.180 a long, resilient career. They successfully took 00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:44.880 their unique twin thing, their sharp wit, that 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:47.920 very specific blend of sports love and high energy 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:50.680 comedy, and they just translated it across every 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:52.819 new media platform that came along. Cable TV, 00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:56.240 web series, now the whole podcast universe. They 00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:58.700 found that unique voice, that niche, and just 00:23:58.700 --> 00:24:00.900 stuck to it, whether they were riffing on like 00:24:00.900 --> 00:24:03.240 an old wrestling clip from the 80s or some dumb 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:05.619 celebrity tweet. from yesterday? Totally. Their 00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:07.539 blueprint is all about jumping on new things 00:24:07.539 --> 00:24:10.160 early, keeping the brand consistent and strategically 00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:12.819 using that twin identity. So what does this all 00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:15.660 mean for you listening? The Sklar brothers really 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:17.660 show that having that signature, that super -defined 00:24:17.660 --> 00:24:20.519 niche, whether it's using an NFL pregame show 00:24:20.519 --> 00:24:23.579 for your comedy special or dedicating a hit podcast 00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:26.240 to laughing at dumb people's stories, that is 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:28.640 absolutely key. Key to standing out, key to staying 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:31.140 relevant when the media landscape is so incredibly 00:24:31.140 --> 00:24:33.400 crowded. They built this recognizable, sustainable, 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:36.119 adaptable brand around what they were passionate 00:24:36.119 --> 00:24:38.720 about. And the work, the deals, the loyal audience, 00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:41.400 it all followed from that. So let's leave you 00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:44.019 with this. Thinking about Jason's comment, his 00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:46.220 very self -aware take on ChatGPT and the future 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:48.119 of information, consider this, their current 00:24:48.119 --> 00:24:50.279 podcast, Dumb People Town. It thrives on listeners' 00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:53.019 stories, right? Real -world human stupidity, 00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:55.240 human absurdity. It's fueled by genuine human 00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:57.640 folly. What happens to a format like that if, 00:24:57.720 --> 00:25:00.160 or maybe when, AI starts generating perfectly 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:03.099 dumb, but... Totally plausible behavior. Fake 00:25:03.099 --> 00:25:05.160 news reports, fake crime blotters, fake stupid 00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:07.420 action for them to riff on. Will that irreplaceable 00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:09.579 human element, that genuine unpredictable spark 00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:12.559 of real stupidity, always be funnier, always 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:15.119 win out over the digital simulation? Or could 00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:19.099 the lines blur? Something for you to mull over. 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:21.099 Thanks for taking this deep dive with us.