Go Fact Yourself

Louis Virtel is a comedian and a co-host of the podcast Keep It . He’s also the winner of Jeopardy, whose Double Jeopardy  celebration went viral shortly after it aired on TV. Laraine Newman returns to Go Fact Yourself , this time as a contestant. Newman is best known as an original cast member of the Not Ready for Primetime Players on Saturday Night Live, and she was a founding member of the lege...

Jonathan Ames created several TV shows, including Bored to Death and Blunt Talk . He’s also the author of many books, including You Were Never Really Here , which was recently adapted into a movie . Janet Varney stars in the TV show Stan Against Evil and hosts of the podcast The JV Corner . In this episode, we’ll learn about Jonathan’s experience with having his book transformed into a movie and w...

Susan Orlean is a staff writer for the New Yorker and the author of books like The Orchid Thief . Paul F. Tompkins is a comedian whose voice you’ll recognize as the character Mr. Peanutbutter on Bojack Horseman . In this episode, we learn about why Paul can’t stop spoiling upcoming episodes of Bojack Horseman for his wife, and why he should be considered the king of coining new catchphrases. And w...

In this episode, we learn about the time Jackie Kashian’s father hit on Maria Bamford. It was at Jackie’s wedding. To find out how Maria reacted, take a listen. Also, if anyone books a guest-starring role on NBC’s Speechless , John Ross Bowie will not only have your back, but he’ll show you where the craft service table is on set. Plus, if you ever wondered, “What’s it like growing up in the Theat...

In this episode, J. Keith van Straaten is reunited on stage with fellow thespian Andrea Savage. You may recognize Savage from her starring role on TruTV’s I’m Sorry , and dozens of Angelenos will recognize her from a junior high production of a pirate musical, which also starred J. Keith himself. Alas, Fred Willard did not appear in that seminal musical. He was probably off filming This Is Spinal...

In this episode, actor and comedian Drew Droege faces off against Chelsey Crisp of “Fresh Off the Boat”. We learn lots of interesting facts about Drew and Chelsey in this episode. Chelsey, now a vegan, recalls what it was like eating leeches on Fear Factor . Before Drew began starring in the Charles Busch play Die, Mommie Die! , he was most recognized for his Chloe Sevigny videos . Ever wonder wha...

This week, actress Edi Patterson and comedian Wayne Federman will go head-to-head, answering such biting trivia as the difference between a cemetery and a graveyard, the politics of Beverly Hills and the finer points of childbirth. It’s a competition as funny as it is eclectic! But first, Edi will explain how her time at the Impro theatre primarily leads to the creation of full-length, fully impro...

This week, radio host Stephanie Miller and  Let’s Make a Deal ’s Jonathan Mangum compete to determine who’s the facting champion of  Go Fact Yourself ! But before they show off their trivia prowess, they talk a little about who they are. Stephanie explains how she decided to channel her frustration with politics into a comedy tour and Jonathan discusses why he wants to continue producing  Let’s Ma...

This episode is SO MUCH FUN! Pete Holmes and Annabelle Gurwitch grace Go Fact Yourself with their wit, joy and, yes, abject frustration. And we learn fun facts about the performers. For example, Pete Holmes reveals that The New Yorker rejected his avocado cartoon, and calls into question the magazine’s editorial judgment. J. Keith reminds Annabelle Gurwitch that they both appeared in a pilot toget...

In this episode, we have the hilarious Lennon Parham of  Playing House  and the podcast  Womp It Up  . She faces off against TV & film’s Paul Scheer, who also co-hosts the popular movie podcast  How Did This Get Made?  J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong will test whether or not Scheer and Parham are as knowledgeable as they claim to be. Did you know that Paul knows a lot about Disneyland, parent...

In this episode, J. Keith and Helen play host to Kirsten Vangsness (Penelope Garcia on Criminal Minds) and Jason Kravits, who is very recognizable from his many many appearances on the big screen and the small screen, as well as Broadway. We learn that Kirsten considers herself an expert on Duran Duran, female sexual anatomy, and vegetarian food. Jason fancies himself an expert of intercontinental...

In this episode, J. Keith and Helen play host to comedians Lizz Winstead and Alonzo Bodden. Lizz is the founder of Lady Parts Justice and was the co-creator and head writer of  The Daily Show . Lizz’s topics of expertise were: fitted sheet folding, Scrabble, and the 1980s Minneapolis music scene. Winstead also demonstrates that loose lips sink...one’s chances to succeed at game shows. Alonzo won t...

In this episode, writer, comedian and  International Waters  host Dave Holmes competes against  Save Ferris ’ Monique Powell. Holmes shares his number one piece of advice for game show host newbies like J. Keith, and Powell tells us about her hard-partying ways on last year’s Warped Tour. Monique’s areas of expertise include: cat behavior, home remedies, and brisket. Dave’s areas of expertise are:...

In this episode, Maz Jobrani reveals how much he makes per episode on  Superior Donuts, and Cristela Alonzo leads the audience in a sing along of one of her favorite songs. In What's the Difference, Cristela and Maz share their theories on the difference between  eternal  and  everlasting, and  prison  and  jail. M az's claimed areas of expertise are: Iran, shaving one's head and bad accents. Cris...

In this episode, comic book author and  Moana  screenwriter Pamela Ribon faces off against former  Daily Show  correspondent and host of  The Frank DeCaro Show , Frank DeCaro. Ribon’s three areas of expertise are:  The Goonies ,  The Outsiders , and Beastie Boys lyrics. DeCaro professes a deep knowledge of  The Munsters , the original  Batman  TV series, and Broadway musicals. Who’s the better exp...

In this episode, Ologies podcaster and CBS science correspondent for Innovation Nation , Alie Ward, and actor Phil LaMarr ( Mad TV , Family Guy ) are grilled about bugs, baseball and bicycles. Can either of our charming guests tell the difference between a layover and a stopover, or the difference between corned beef and pastrami? Can YOU?  To find out, pop in your ear buds or tell Alexa to play G...

It's the inaugural episode of Go Fact Yourself!  Hosts J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong test whether comedians Jimmy Pardo ("Never Not Funny") and Beth Littleford ("Dog with a Blog")  are as smart as they think they are about topics they love. For Jimmy , it's 1980s music, the band Chicago and Post-90s Chicago White Sox, while Beth professes in-depth knowledge of old school...