The Bit Players Podcast Network

Ho boy, this was a tough one. Chevy slouches his way across the finish line for his first week by barely engaging Kathleen Turner, rushing through a surprisingly good Robert Townsend interview to get to a stupid game, and spending the approximate running time of Tarkovsky's Stalker on a bit with a guy who eats hot dogs. Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/C5W68tbKIbs?si=YlAtl3JOW3GQ57jz Theme...

Our Summer Shark Special goes out with the wimpiest of whimpers with JAWS: THE REVENGE, the sorriest excuse for a sequel to the greatest summer movie of all time. Join Andy, Lobo, Amy, JT, and Jim as we follow Jaws all the way from Martha's Vineyard to the Bahamas for some mild ocean thrills and poorly conceived family drama, along with a vague psychic sub-plot remaining from an earlier screenplay...

Welcome to our first ever episode of WATCH ALONG WITH THE BITS, continuing our Summer Shark Special with a New Dimension of sharkitude! Come with us on a journey all the way from Martha's Vineyard to central Florida, then cue up your copy of JAWS 3 (or JAWS III, or JAWS 3-D), pause it at 00:10, and unpause it on our cue for Bit Player commentary by JT, Lobo, Amy, Jim, and (for a half hour) Tim: th...

This week Andy, Lobo, Lori, JT, and Jim continue our SUMMER SHARK SPECIAL with 1978's JAWS 2, not directed by Steven Spielberg and not featuring the more interesting characters from the first movie, but thankfully upping the ante in (1) Explosions and (2) Trying to kill a shark with a handgun. What damage did JAWS 2's box office success do in ensuring that every hit movie immediately gets a sequel...

On this edition of AND YOU'RE NOT, Jim, Devon, and Tim look at episode 3 of the notorious Chevy Chase Show, in which Martin Short and Harry Anderson try dutifully to humanize their host. We discuss what we liked about this episode (surprisingly, a lot!) and the friction between Chevy Chase the character (very funny) and Chevy Chase the person (awkward, dull, and mean). Rob Lowe's short-lived serie...

THE BIT PLAYERS MOVIE CLUB RETURNS!!! Join us for our SUMMER SHARK SPECIAL, in which we discuss all four movies in the JAWS franchise. Today Jim, JT, Corey, Amy, and Lori gather at Caleb & Broad, Newport's best restaurant that's right near the theater (https://calebandbroad.com/), over hot 'gansetts to discuss the original masterpiece, JAWS. Is JAWS the Quint-essential American movie? How is JAWS...

In anticipation of The Bit Players' NAUGHTY BITS premiering this Saturday 6/20 at 10pm, please enjoy this re-release of this Bits Per Second episode where THE SHIT PLAYERS were born. Jarrod, Jim, Kevin, and Justin discuss vulgarity in comedy, though the most vulgar thing here is Jim's mistaking of Debarge for Gloria Estefan and it actually gets pretty damned highbrow when Kevin brings some wine fo...

On the second episode of AND YOU'RE NOT, Jim, Devon, and Tim take a look at Chevy's sophomore outing, an interview with Jason Priestley that zaps all energy out of the room, plus a conversation with Beverly D'Angelo that comes the closest to humanizing Chevy thus far. Everybody shut up and watch Episode 2 of THE CHEVY CHASE SHOW here: https://youtu.be/5n1aGE9MV9w?si=aej6L6DIoiTDt3EQ Air date: Sept...

Today on our inaugural episode of AND YOU'RE NOT, Jim, Devon, and Tim begin their examination of every episode of THE CHEVY CHASE SHOW, Fox's 1993 whiff of an attempt to leech some viewers after the Late Night Wars divided America. This episode has it all: self-congratulatory non-jokes, unsuccessful physical gags, and an appearance from Oliver Hudson that provides the unintentional funniest moment...

We have new shows coming soon! Stay tuned! And while you're at it, check out the BIT PLAYERS SUMMER SCHEDULE at the Firehouse Theater in Newport, RI Regular shows Fri & Sat @8pm Family Friendly Funnies - Sat. 6/27 7/25 8/29 @6pm Naughty Bits Late Night - Sat. 6/20 7/18 8/22 @10pm And much more! Check bitplayers.net and follow The Bit Players on Facebook/Insta for updates Music by DorisDuke, the ba...

On the inaugural episode of WELCOME TO AMERICA, our mime extraordinaire Vlad talks about some of his favorite musicians to come out of France and Canada, including Edith Piaf, Yves Montand, Mireille Mathieu, and many others. Some of Vlad's favorites: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3CVrgf5sfTtWbtSF5QD0Sc?si=7ead2e8c16694541 Vlad also recommends this Yves Montand Music Hall special: https://www.y...

In our look back at 2023, Jim, JT, and Amy reflect on an awesome year in bitstory, Amy recounts her improv intensive in the UK in which she workshopped with (swoon) JOSIE LAWRENCE, and the three discuss Christmas songs that deserve to be added to the canon. JT's choice: Sabrina Carpenter, "Santa Doesn't Know You Like I Do" https://youtu.be/ZWzpFdr-KDw?si=ucTAPfLAzVmkXQGe Amy's choice: Jo Anne Worl...

Jim, Karl, JT, and departing musician Drew try to count the number of Bruins jerseys Karl has bought and discuss other purchases we've regretted over the years. We also wrap up the summer season and talk about weird shows we'd like to produce soon, our first theater experiences, our first R-rated movies, Weird Al, Andy Dick's football comedy, and very current celebrities such as Chris Hansen and S...

On a long-delayed episode of the Bit Players Movie Club, Jim, Chase, and Kenney talk EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE, which swept the Oscars shortly after we recorded this. Then Jim quizzes the others on Best Picture winners that have lost their relevance. Apologies for the inconsistent audio quality. We're returning soon with new episodes and a new microphone. Stay tuned! Find out where to watc...

Today on the season finale of DISCOVERING AMERICA, Vlad tells of the change in status that happens when a Russian immigrant comes to the U.S. Vlad performs improv comedy most Friday and Saturday nights with The Bit Players at the Firehouse Theater in Newport, RI. Tickets available at www.bitplayers.net Theme music is by Damien Baby, featuring Bit musicians Devon and Chase: damienbaby.bandcamp.com/

Today on DISCOVERING AMERICA, Vlad starts with a rundown of all the Soviet holidays, then segues into some stories about his childhood home. Featuring a brief special guest appearance by Karl, of the I CAN TEACH HISTORY podcast! Vlad performs improv comedy most Friday and Saturday nights with The Bit Players at the Firehouse Theater in Newport, RI. Tickets available at www.bitplayers.net Theme mus...

On this week's DISCOVERING AMERICA, Vlad discusses employment in the Soviet Union and how it differed from that in the U.S., with a brief detour into the mashed potato experience in both countries. Vlad performs improv comedy most Friday and Saturday nights with The Bit Players at the Firehouse Theater in Newport, RI. Tickets available at www.bitplayers.net Theme music is by Damien Baby, featuring...

In honor of Marcel Marceau's 100th birthday, we're reposting Vlad's excellent talk about the history of the great mime, as well as Vlad's training with him.

In this week's DISCOVERING AMERICA, Vlad talks about how he learned the language and how it was connected to every part of his American experience. And why he can't ask for a fork or a sheet, or go to the beach. Vlad performs improv comedy most Friday and Saturday nights with The Bit Players at the Firehouse Theater in Newport, RI. Tickets available at www.bitplayers.net Theme music is by Damien B...

Today Jim talks to all his fellow performers in the COMEDY CORNER STANDUP NIGHT: Andy Syron, Karl Magner, Vlad Tenenbaum, Devon Mello, and Kim Tingle. We all discuss our influences as well as the most unanswerable question: why would anyone want to do standup? See us all do standup this Thursday, March 16, at 8pm at The Firehouse Theater in Newport, RI. Suggested admission $10 at the door. The Bit...

Welcome to DISCOVERING AMERICA, where the Bit Players' resident Russian mime Vlad tells Jim about his experiences adjusting to American life after growing up in the Soviet Union. Today he talks about his first impressions of the country and why the airport represented his first taste of freedom rather than the hellscape of bureaucracy it represents to us. Vlad performs improv comedy most Friday an...

This week we watched Jim's suggestion, 2007's crime thriller THE LOOKOUT, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Then Jim leads the group in a game based on the seven other movies in the 8-movie DVD set on which THE LOOKOUT appears (it's also available here: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-lookout). The Bit Players Movie Club is a part of THE BIT PLAYERS PODCAST NETWORK. Continue to check this feed...

Today the Movie Club discusses SUMMER WARS, a 2009 Japanese animated film suggested by Kenney which we all liked very much. SUMMER WARS is available to watch here: https://www.bilibili.tv/en/video/2006716773 Kenney's genealogy for the family in the movie, as well as the hideous image Karl references at ~27:00 can be found here: https://imgur.com/a/0Q0IHKV The Bit Players Movie Club is a part of TH...

Today on I CAN TEACH HISTORY, History teacher Liz teaches her comedian husband Karl about the Progressive Era, Teddy Roosevelt, ketchup, and Ida Tarbell, as well as muckrakers, who were in many ways the paparazzi of their day. Meanwhile, Karl teaches Liz about the movie with the cars. Karl's I Can Teach History videos are visible on his TikTok @kahlmagnah91. I CAN TEACH HISTORY is a member of the...

Hi Bits Per Second subscribers! Although we've changed our title to THE BIT PLAYERS PODCAST NETWORK, this is still your home for BITS PER SECOND and all Quittin' of Bitsin'. Now when you search for "Bit Players" on your podcast app, the first thing you see is us instead of someone like Scoot McNairy or Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. Check back for more podcast silliness, and come see The Bit Players at the...