Doctor Vs Comedian

Today, in anticipation of its second season, Asif and Ali discuss the hit Apple TV+ show ‘Severance’ (1:49). They discuss the development of the show, creator Dan Erickson and producer/director Ben Stiller. After several tangents the guys go over the cast, including Adam Scott, the plot and the production design of the show. They give their overall thoughts on season 1 and then Asif discusses the...

Today Asif and Ali catchup on news from the first few weeks of January. They start off by discussing Nikki Glaser and her Golden Globes performance (2:38). They discuss a recent New York Times article about her process and how she practiced her set in front of comedy club crowds over 90 times. They also discuss Conan O’Brien’s thoughts on Nikki Glaser’s work ethic.    Then Asif asks Ali about Ali...

Happy New Year!! Today the guys discuss the career of actor and comedian Jamie Foxx (1:10). The guys discuss his early life and start in stand up comedy. They then discuss his breakout in ‘In Living Color’ and subsequent movie roles including in ‘Any Given Sunday’, ‘Collateral’, ‘Ali’ and ‘Ray’ and his TV show ‘The Jamie Foxx Show’. They then discuss his recent health issues which are discussed in...

NB: We will be off on Dec 27 and Jan 3 and will return with new episodes on Jan 10, 2025.    Today, Ali and Asif review their favourite entertainment from 2024. They discuss the best movies, TV shows, movies and books from the year. Listen to hear what they thought about ‘The Fall Guy’, ‘Ricky Stanicky’, ‘La Cochina’, ‘Past Lives’, ‘Inside Out 2’, ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’, ‘Love Lies Bleeding’, ‘H...

Today, Ali and Asif discuss the career of the late great Norm MacDonald. They start off by talking about his early life, his start in comedy and his breakthrough on ‘Saturday Night Live’. They discuss his other projects and then Asif asks Ali about Norm’s comedy style and Ali’s thoughts on MacDonald’s last Netflix comedy special ‘Nothing Special’.  After a brief discussion of Norm’s gambling issue...

Today, Ali and Asif continue their discussion about the 50th season of Saturday Night Live by discussing the recent movie “Saturday Night” (3:21). They discuss the fast paced format of the movie, which takes place in real time in the 90 minutes before the SNL premiere on Oct 11, 1975. They also chat about the spectacular cast and what is and what is not true in the movie. They guys then watch and...

Some say that 1994 was the best year for movies EVER. As a result, today, Asif and Ali discuss their favorite movies from that year (no medical topic today).  Listen to hear what made their list, what didn’t and what overlap, if they had.    The opinions expressed are those of the hosts, and do not reflect those of any other organizations. This podcast and website represents the opinions of the ho...

This year marks the 50th season of Saturday night live, so today the guys go over their favourite SNL moments from the past half decade (2:37). The guys review their top hosts, top monologues, Top Weekend update anchors, top weekend update correspondents and top 5 SNL skits EVER.    Then the guys discuss how West Nile Virus has been in the news as of late because of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s recent batt...

Today, the guys discuss Hasan Minhaj’s new comedy special “Off With His Head” (despite Asif’s hesitation) (2:18). The guys start off by recapping Hasan’s background and the controversy that swirled around him in 2023, associated with a New Yorker article which resulted in Minhaj losing the hosting role of “The Daily Show”. Then they give their thoughts on the good and bad aspects of his new specia...

Today, Ali and Asif interview the sensational comedian Sterling Scott.  Sterling made history as the first ever BIPOC comedian to win the prestigious San Francisco International Comedy Competition, one of only two Canadian comedians selected for the Netflix is a Joke Comedy Festival earlier this year, and was the first comedian to ever be given the Golden Buzzer as a finalist on the most recent se...

NB: This episode was recorded BEFORE Tony Hinchcliffe appeared at Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally Stay tuned to the end of the episode for Ali’s and Asif’s takes on Tony Hinchcliffe’s jokes from the rally.   Today, the discuss Tony Hinchcliffe and his podcast ‘Kill Tony’ (5:43). They discuss Tony Hinchcliffe’s background, his start in comedy and the influence of Jeff Ross and Joe Rogan....

Today, the guys discuss the 30th anniversary of ‘Pulp Fiction’ (1:23). The guys chat about when they first saw it and their thoughts about their recent rewatch. They discuss the writing in the movie, its development and its stellar cast. They then chat about the classic soundtrack and the legacy of the film.    Then, after the recent death of a child in Ontario from rabies from a bat, Ali asks Asi...

Today, Ali and Asif debate their top albums of 1994 (1:30) and spoiler… there is not a lot of overlap!   Then Ali, based on his personal experiences, asks Asif about hospital parking (38:38). Asif talks about the situation in Canada and how parking contributes a large amount to the financial bottom line of hospitals. He then contrasts it to the situation in the US and in the UK. He then discusses...

Today the guys discuss the career of actor Kevin Bacon (2:41). They discuss when they were first exposed to him and his early career. Then then discuss his breakout role in ‘Footloose’ and how afterwards he pivoted to become more of a character actor. After discussing his hit movies, then they chat about the party game ‘6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon’. They discuss the origin of the game, what a “Bacon...

Today, the guys discuss the new documentary on the quintessential Canadian band, The Tragically Hip (3:45). They discuss how the docuseries was directed by the brother of Gord Downine (the late front man for the Tragically Hip), Mike Downie. They talk about the numerous talking heads in the doc, the story behind some songs and the lack of success of the Hip in the USA. They also talk about strife...

Today, after a brief quiz, Asif and Ali discuss the career of the late James Earl Jones. Ali goes over Jones’ accolades and the fact that he is one of the few people who have one an EGOT(Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony). They discuss his early life and how some major life events may have contributed to him developing a stutter. They discuss his early Broadway and theater career and then his movie career...

Today the guys discuss the extremely popular HBO docuseries “Chimp Crazy (1:39). The guys discuss the background of the series and director Eric Good (Tiger King) developed the series. They then discuss how the series main subject, Tonia Haddix, got involved with keeping primates as pets in addition to discussing the involvement of actor Alan Cumming in the docuseries. Asif then asks Ali about an...

Today, the guys discuss their top 5 episodes of the classic sitcom ‘Friends’. But they switch things up by doing the medical topic first by discussing Ketamine and its role in Matthew Perry’s death (3:53). Ali starts out by asking Asif about how exactly ketamine was involved in Matthew Perry’s drowning death. Asif then goes over the history of ketamine, how it works and how it is mainly used as an...

Today, the guys discuss entertainment they consumed in the summer of 2024 (2:31). Asif goes first by discussing his disappointment with season 3 of ‘The Bear’, and similarities to ‘House of the Dragon’, ‘The Boys’ and ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 3. He then discusses ‘Time Bandits’, ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ and ‘Love Lies Bleeding’. Asif concludes by discussing a news article about a recent apology from MMA...

Today on the second of a two-part episode, the guys continue their discussion of Steve Martin (1:43). They start off the episode by going through Steve Martin’s filmography, including the Jerk, All of Me, Three Amigos, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Father of the Bride, Roxanne, L.A. Story, Bowfinger, The Pink Panther, amongst others. They then discuss Martin’s other works including his dramatic...

Today on a two-part episode, the guys discuss the career of legendary comedian Steve Martin. The guys start off the episode by discussing the recent documentary Steve! By Morgan Neville, which was actually released on Apple TV + as two different documentaries (Ali also gives a quick personal anecdote about Morgan Neville). At 7:50 Ali talks about Steve Martin’s accolades and then the guys discuss...

Today on a special episode, Ali discusses his recent hernia surgery (5:06). He talks about how our hernia episode from last year prompted him to go for this procedure as well as what tests were done beforehand. He then talks about his consultation with the surgeon and his decision whether or not to do laparoscopic surgery. Asif asks Ali about what prep Ali needed to do for the surgery as well as w...

Today Ali and Asif (who is battling a cold) discuss the career of the late Bob Newhart (1:47). They discuss his early life and how he got started in comedy. They then discuss his phenomenal success with his debut album “The Button Down Mind of Bob Newhart”. They discuss his comedy style and why it has been so hard for others to duplicate it. They also go over a bit of trivia, namely how Bob Newhar...

A  few episodes ago, we discussed the AV club’s top 40 albums of all time. Today Ali gives us a list of his favorite comedy specials that did NOT make the list (1:12). Ali discusses the following albums (not in order):   John Mulaney - BABY J (2023) Norm MacDonald – NOTHING SPECIAL (2022) Patrice O’Neal - ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM (2011)   Chris Rock – BRING THE PAIN (1996) Gary Gulman - NO CAN DEFEND...

Today, Ali and Asif review the new documentary about Louis CK, ‘Sorry / Not Sorry’ (1:53). They start off by discussing Louis CK’s background, his blockbuster success as a stand up comedian and how he changed the financial model of stand up comedy specials. Then then discuss his sexual impropriety as outlined in the New York Times as well as in the documentary. The guys go over what they perceive...