What Ho...A Rat!!

The boys are back with our favorite RADICAL FAR LEFT LUNATIC, Dr. Robin Kello, in our final discussion of Coriolanus, Shakespeare's fascist Roman play beloved by the Nazis. We discuss hearts and assholes, homoeroticism, and whether or not we can ever be "authors of ourselves" apart from a community. Rey and Mikey take the time to narrate the entirety of First Blood again, because Ro...

Rey and Mikey sit down with scholar, writer, and teacher Paul Franz to discuss Shakespeare's Coriolanus and its unlikely parallels with First Blood. The boys imagine Glenn Danzig arguing with his Homeowner's Association, and a definitive answer is reached about whether Hamlet or Coriolanus would win in a fight.

This is the last episode in THE RAMBO OF ROME, which covers the end of Act Five. The women of Rome arrive, and Coriolanus' mother tries to end his rampage with an epic guilt trip. Will she succeed? Will he cry at the end like John J. Rambo? Also, Rey recalls an old friend who he hasn't seen in years. 

In the penultimate episode of the season, Rey and Mikey enter Act 5 of Shakespeare's Coriolanus, and witness the Roman nobility scrambling to save their city as a war-mad Coriolanus bears down on them with his new Volscian allies. The moral of the story: treat your veterans well, or they may just return to destroy the nation they once helped protect. Or maybe the moral is: democracy doesn&apo...

Things are getting hot and heavy in Antium, as Coriolanus has a surprisingly homoerotic bro-down with his arch-nemesis Tullus Aufidius. After joining forces, Coriolanus leads the Volscian army on the warparth toward Rome, and his previous friends and enemies scramble to do damage control. This episode covers the end of Act 4.

Coriolanus faces the tribunes and the rabble they represent, only to be banished from his beloved Rome. The end of Act 3 and beginning of Act 4 are discussed, along with digressions about hot dogs, The Road Warrior, and, once again, Warrior Milk.  

Coriolanus prepares for his big public apology in Act 3, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's play. Will he insult his own nobility by kneeling before the filthy, ignorant commoners? Derril weighs in. New products are imagined, for both moms and bros.

The boys get political in this one, as they discuss Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's Coriolanus. Coriolanus is accosted by a mob on his way to the capital, and tells them what he really thinks about representative government. Rey goes on a tirade about onions.

In this episode, Rey spends a lot of time wondering what Romans ate. Coriolanus Act II, Scenes 2-3 are discussed. Coriolanus' ascension to a consulship is approved by both the senate and the people, though the Tribunes may have other ideas about the matter. (Note: our apologies that the audio on this episode got a little fucked up).

Rey and Mikey get into Act 2 of Coriolanus. Menenius provides a Shakespearean insult fest, and Rey pines for a hot dog with relish. Not much ground is covered.

Rey and Mikey finish Act 1 of Coriolanus. Caius Martius gains his cognomen, and spends most of the episode covered in the blood of his enemies. Roman siege techniques, the Visigoths, and rabbit stew are discussed. A very manly episode.

In this episode, Rey is surprised to learn about Roman child-rearing practices. Also, Mikey begins to outline his theory of how Coriolanus parallels the story of John Rambo from the film First Blood. Act I, scenes 3-6 are covered.

In this extra-long first episode on Shakespeare's Coriolanus, Rey and Mikey wrestle with questions about corn and try to navigate a shitload of similar-sounding Roman names. Act I, Scenes 1 and 2 are discussed. Bathhouses are mentioned.

In the last episode of this season, Rey and Mikey answer voicemails and open letters from listeners and friends of the show. 

Rey and Mikey welcome Shakespeare scholar Dr. Robin Kello into the studio to have a few beers and discuss The Tempest, post-colonial readings of Shakespeare, and Fantasy Island.

The conclusion of Rey and Mikey's discussion of Shakespeare's  The Tempest , in which Prospero finally confronts those who've wronged him and finds it in himself to forgive. Act V of the Tempest is covered in full in this special long series-ending episode, in which Rey and Mikey consider the fallout of Prospero's revenge plan and the origin of "Bronzini" as a term fo...

Rey and Mikey discuss the most batshit act in an already batshit play: Act IV of The Tempest, in which Prospero drops the magical revenge plot for a moment to have his spirits disguise themselves as Roman goddesses in a musical about the benefits of chastity for young couples.

The conclusion of Uzodinma Okehi's visit to the studio. Mikey, Rey, and Uzo finish up with Act III, Scene 3 of The Tempest, in which some really weird shit starts to happen on this island. 

Uzo drops by to hang with Rey and Mikey as they discuss Act III of The Tempest. Nobody knows what a mooncalf is, and there are startling revelations about bathhouses and the music of John Cougar Mellencamp.

Rey and Mikey discuss Act 2 of The Tempest...Gonzalo explains how to rule without government, and Caliban happens upon two new characters, one of whom is wasted. Rey has more to say about colonialism, and also something about the connection between bath houses and the Vatican.

Rey and Mikey finish off Act I of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Rey has some concerns about the needless complexity of Prospero's plan, and someone wears a 'nymph outfit', whatever that is.

Rey and Mikey begin discussing Act I of The Tempest. There is a shipwreck, and a wizard, and some magic shit, and the liberal arts. Rey discusses the beheading of Magellan, which has not been fact-checked.

Rey and Mikey discuss chapter 4 of Don Quixote, in which our hero fails to right a wrong and then gets his ass beat.

Derril attempts to sort out some technical difficulties as Don Quixote finally receives the order of knighthood. Rey and Mikey continue to consider the ethical dimensions of gelding. 

Rey and Mikey attempt to discuss chapter 2 of Don Quixote, but are waylaid by a lengthy discussion about animal husbandry.