Jagbags

In the latest recap episode, Len provides the post-Oscar recap and details all his adventures at the various post-Oscar parties. The Cavs overcome a 22-point deficit to beat the Celtics in Boston, and Beave has officially contracted serious Cavs Fever. Plus Bulls and other NBA news. The Illini lurch to the NCAA tournament, while Northwestern fights to even make the Big Ten tournament. Beave recomm...

On the latest Jagbags, in support of the new Aretha Franklin Facebook bracket, we discuss her career and her musical impact. Was she the greatest cover artist of all time? What songs are your favorite? Does she have a classic album? Did you like her comeback songs in the 80s? Where does she rank on the All-Time Music Pantheon? Tune in for the full discussion of all things Aretha.

In the latest recap episode, Len recounts his day at the five-Best-Picture-Nominee marathon in Woodridge, IL. We also talk NBA and college hoops, including the new Northwestern mini-resurgence. We have our "I Recommend" section, where Beave recommends the baseball book "July 2, 1903", and Len recommends some SNL-related books, including Norm McDonald's "Based On A True Story", Martin Short's "I Mu...

Beave and Len go through their favorite albums and songs of 2024, and also go through their most pleasant surprises and biggest disappointments. We go through new LPs by Dua Lipa, Black Crowes, Blue Oyster Cult (!!), Liam Gallagher and John Squire, Sleater-Kinney, and much more! Tell us your favorite albums as well.

We discuss the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary schedule in detail, and comment on our favorite sketches and cameos. We also talk through various Best Picture nominees, including The Brutalist, Emilia Perez, and Dune Part Two. The NBA All-Star Weekend came and went without much fanfare or fan interest. Plus, "I Recommend", Beave reviews the new Guided By Voices album, Len receives his 100th an...

Beave and Len give you their annual Academy Awards preview episode for 2025. They go through nominees for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Actress, Best Director, Best Animated Feature, and Best Documentary (before they grow too depressed). They assess each category and predict who may win and also who they want to win. Can Demi Moore break through and win? Will Ke...

In the latest recap episode, Len laments the ascension of George Carlin as winner of the standup comedy bracket. He also laments the Chiefs' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. Beave laments the Northwestern Wildcats, who lost Brooks Barnhizer to injury and whose season is likely over. The guys discuss the Cleveland Cavaliers' trade for DeAndre Hunter. Beave struggles with Gravity's...

The tremendous Amy Seeley is back and this time the subject is right in her wheelhouse: COMEDY. We talk the legendary work of the absurdly brilliant Monty Python, whose "Flying Circus" and subsequent movies dominated the 70s. We talk our favorite performers, favorite sketches, favorite lines, and favorite movies. We also get into a discussion of their influence, and talk a bit about comedy in gene...

Super Bowl LIX is upon us and Jagbags has your ultimate Super Bowl analysis! Len also reveals he will not have a notebook out for Kendrick Lamar's halftime show, nor will he serve any "Chiefs cake". Beave encourages Len to trash talk EVERYONE WITH IMPUNITY should the Chiefs win. We also discuss the Dallas Mavericks' stunning trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Da...

Super Bowl LIX is all set for February, and we talk through the Kansas City Chiefs' status as Ultimate Villains. We also talk brand new Hall of Famer Billy Wagner (as Len celebrates at Girl & The Goat), NBA and WNBA, and college hoops. They briefly touch on Oscar nominations, plus Beave has book recommendations, and Len talks through "Life of Brian", which he had never seen, and "Splendor in the G...

Friends of the podcast Lizzy Mosher and Ryan Hake join the podcast and the topic is the best books we read last year! This is a popular annual topic and we each go through our ten favorite favorite books we read last year (or in Beave's case, eight). Lots of horror (Lizzy reads her very first Stephen King novel), lots of sports, and a bio of Albert Einstein as well! Tune in for ultimate literature...

The AFC and NFC championship games are upon us, and Len and Beave go through the divisional playoff games that got us here. Plus the Cavs hit the inevitable lull in their schedule -- can they get back on track? The Bulls and Zach LaVine trade rumors continue. Beave reviews the Dashiell Hammett novel "The Maltese Falcon". Beave and Len talk about Iris DeMent's 1994 album "My Life". They also talk a...

Len and Beave go through their own separate Top Ten Movies of 2024, and then their own Top Ten TV Series of 2024. Tune in as they count down, argue, agree, insult and make up. You won't want to miss the Siskel & Ebert style banter, and hopefully our lists agree with yours! You see, WE WAIT UNTIL THE ACTUAL END OF THE YEAR TO DO OUR "BEST OF" LISTS.

The world has long wondered what Len and Beave think of the seminal DeBarge classic LP "In A Special Way". Wonder no more! The review comes at last! Plus NFL playoffs, Cavs keep rolling through the regular season, CFP is set with Ohio State and Notre Dame, and the Big Ten basketball season kicks off with the usual chaos. Beave reviews a top movie of 2024, "Do Not Expect Too Much from The End of th...

Friend of the podcast Jill Oliver is back with an in-depth discussion of the 2000 Best Picture winner "Gladiator", as well as the 2024 sequel, both directed by Ridley Scott. Which movie is better? Did "Gladiator" deserve the Best Picture Academy Award? Who gave the best performance in either film? What happened to Oliver Reed during filming of "Gladiator"? Is "Gladiator 2" a good movie? Tune in!

We get our NFL playoff predictions to you just as the games begin! Plus the CFP semifinals, the unbelievable Cleveland Cavaliers, the Bulls' Zach LaVine saga, and the gauntlet that is the Big Ten basketball standings. Beave turns to Russian literature while Len naps. Len reviews "Shogun", "Nobody Wants This", and "Man On The Inside". And Len keeps up with The New Yorker flawlessly!!!

In the newest Jagbags, we talk the music of both Heart and Pat Benatar. "Barracuda" won the Facebook bracket over "Heartbreaker". Were you happy with the results? Which artist do you prefer and which songs/albums are your favorite? Do you believe they belong in the Rock Hall? We go through our 45-minute playlists, talk favorite albums, and talk about songs we hoped would do well in the bracket. (B...

Beave and Len talk the end of the NFL season, as well as preview potential playoff matchups. They also discuss the white-hot Cleveland Cavaliers, who have won 31 out of their first 35 games. They talk college hoops, Len's forgiveness of Brad Underwood, and the gauntlet that is the Big Ten basketball schedule. Beave reviews "Nosferatu" and Len reviews "A Complete Unknown", "The Penguin", "Fallout",...

Did you know that Grand Funk Railroad sold out Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles themselves? In the latest Jagbags, we delve into the career and music of Grand Funk Railroad, providing you our favorite albums, first memories, 45-minute playlists, and other delights! Tune in for end of year JAMS!

Len and Beave go through the ten main characters on "The Bear", and rank them from 10 to number one. How would you rank them? Plus NFL, NBA, the Guardians and Cubs' latest trades, "I Recommend", and the golden age of Chicago college hoops continues! Finally Beave forgets the secret top 40 hits, and we discuss David Remnick's pickleball habits. Tune in!

Len and Beave examine the music of the mercurial and prolific Van Morrison, who continues to churn out records even in the 2020s. We discuss our first memories of his music, rank our favorite albums, compose our signature 45-minute playlists, and discuss his work with Them. Tune in!

Beave visits the home studios in Woodridge, IL for a jam-packed recap episode, eats 3,029 Hershey Kisses in the process, explains Mr. Pibb's pulling sponsorship because of his "Shawshank Redemption" review, and then slips into a diabetic coma under the holiday tree. The Bears and Browns are both forgettable, but we still talk NFL and the charmed Chiefs. Who can challenge them for NFL supremacy? Pl...

In the latest literary episode, Beave and Len sit down in their comfy chairs in front of a roaring fire, light their pipes, and educate you on fine literature. Specifically, they talk the New York Times' recent list of the Top 100 Books of the 21st Century. How many have you read? We go through the ones we actually have read, the ones we have on our shelves but have not yet gotten to, and ones tha...

Beave and Len go through the anonymous NFL players who appear on the league's all-time sack leaders. You can't believe how many players we never heard of. The Bears fire Matt Eberflus after another last second loss. The Cavs keep it rolling with a huge win over the Boston Celtics. Beave reviews the movie Wicked. Beave and Len reminisce about Bakers Square and Len discusses his love of rice pilaf....

The new Facebook bracket is here and the subject is Morgan Freeman movies! He has appeared in several classics, including "Glory", "Unforgiven", "The Shawshank Redemption", "The Dark Knight", and countless others. (And who can forget Easy Reader on The Electric Company?) His work ethic is without peer, and he can be seen in the new Paramount+ series "Lionness". Which Morgan Freeman performance is...