Patreon Newsletter #5: March 2022!

From Arnie:

A shorter update for a shorter month. Been busy, mostly with work, but also shoveling a lot of snow. A transitional month. In some ways still recovering from the holiday season but also getting ready for some eventful months ahead.

TV – The tv I watched this month from favorite to least favorite.

1. Bluey s1 – We finished season 2 so we went right back and started season 1 again.

2. Ozark (s3) – I have a bad habit of being a season behind on shows I like and the release of a new season reminds me to watch the previous season.

3. Reacher

4. Master Chef Junior (s6 I think?) – The kiddo and I dip in and out of watching old seasons of this show occasionally. Is it odd that this is the only cooking show I’ve ever really watched?

5. Pam and Tommy – 2 episodes. Interesting but never got back to it.

6. The After Party – Same as above. Great cast. I want to watch more.

7. Celebrity Big Brother – Since it’s on three times a week it ate up a lot of my tv (and movie) watching time this month, and honestly, it was a slog. I didn’t even bother to watch the last week of the show.

But really the best TV in February for me was just remembering how much I loved watching Station Eleven in January.

Movies – Same deal: best to… least best. I actually fairly enjoyed everything I saw this month. And I’m excited that the new Wes Anderson movie, The French Dispatch is now on HBO Max. I already saw it in theaters but I generally enjoy his movies more the second time around.

1. The Piano – A podcast I faithfully listen to, Blank Check, is currently doing the films of Jane Campion. So watch this space for me watching more of those movies in the next month.

2. Kimi

3. Werewolves Within

4. Hitch

Games – Like most of the online world I played Wordle every day. But I gave up on Lewdle (dirty Wordle) and every once in a while I’ll play Dordle (two Wordles at the same time). But not Quordle (four Wordles at the same time). I am not making any of that up.

Even before the New York Times bought Wordle this month, I started tip toeing into their crossword puzzles for the first time in my life. The Mini is great (a bite sized crossword, about 9 clues). The Midi is even better (medium-sized, about 30-ish clues). I’ve even started doing the full-sized crossword a bit… the easy days… but I still have to google at least a third of the answers.

The video games I played (mostly with my daughter). In no particular order.

· Sackboy’s Big Adventure

· Overcooked

· Pokemon Snap (mostly watched)

Appearances – Does this warrant a whole section? Usually no, but I have a fair amount of podcast appearances (both with the other guys and by myself) coming up in the next few months, so might as well get in the habit. I like guesting on other podcasts when I have time. I enjoy hosting Magic Tavern immensely, it means a lot to me, but it’s also ironic that on some level I prefer not being the person tasked with keeping things on the rails… and it’s nice to just luxuriate in being a good guest.

· Project for Awesome – This was my second time on Hank and John Green’s yearly 48 hour charity stream. Last time I made Hank play a papertest of a rejected Jackbox pitch of mine called Poop Cake. This time I just hung out and chatted with Hank and watched him (and his son) try to pop balloons. I also mentioned to him an idea I’ve had for a while of some kind of video stream where you play a full length YouTube video of a train trip (the type you see on YouTube all the time, usually mounted on the top of the train and they’re hours and hours long) and improvise along as if you’re on that train the whole time.

And… that’s it. I recorded a few other things but they’re not out yet.

7th Anniversary – Beyond thankful that people still listen to our very silly show. And that it means enough to folks to support the team here that makes it happen. Thank you. Our anniversary show is coming up in about a week I think. We brought back some guests from one of our funniest episodes ever and I’m excited for you to get to hear it. No real big promotional blitz coming for the anniversary, but as always, if you think there’s someone you know who would enjoy the show, it always means a lot when you work up the courage to try to explain this dumb show to someone you care about.

One Last Thing – In the comments share the name of a food that you genuinely like that you think no one else will post saying they like the same food item.

Arnie

From Matt:

Another month already…

As I’m typing this, I missed 1. a reminder from Adal and 2. my own calendar reminder. I’m usually early, but for some reason I can’t get it through my thick skull to write my part of the newsletter.

Ramping up to celebrate Adal’s pending nuptials by taking a trip with some friends soon. I’ve offered to help with the cooking and I’m sure I’ll end up running some board games, but what should I bring? It’s a biggish group, but some folks probably won’t want to play (or will play but not be particularly invested). Which is fine. I hope that sometimes my enthusiasm for board games rubs off on others, but I think sometimes it does the opposite. I’m thinking Horrified, Kingsburg, and Smash Up? Probably can’t bring them all, but stuff that’s a bit easier to pick up and play.

Finished watching the reboot of Duck Tales from 2017. That. Show. Is. GOOD. Great cast. Legitimately funny. Watch it. Started rewatching Batman: The Animated Series. The early episode are a bit uneven in terms of quality, but when the animation is working, it’s so stylish and cool. And the storyline of the full DCAU is one of my all time favorite things. Also some new Would I Lie To You? episodes are finding their way on to YouTube to my delight. Also, on the ole YT, SortedFood. Great British YouTube channel about making food accessible and sustainable with a bunch of funny knuckleheads.

I’ve been playing Stardew still. Still have FE:TH (Blue Lions) to finish (I know). BUT…I got totally sucked into Pokémon Legends Arceus. It’s got some BOTW vibes that I can’t deny and I’m here for it. Violet and Scarlet just got announced too, and look even better? I guess I’m into Pokémon for real now (just dabbling up to this point). I have a bad tendency to start games/books/shows and not finish them, so I hope everyone can forgive me for enjoying it until I don’t.

Matt

From Adal:

Hey baybees!

February kicked off with a trip to NYC for Jemma’s brothers birthday. We got see Hadestown a 5th time and Company for a 2nd time. I always fear I’m missing out on other shows but there’s something I love about returning to a broadway show I know I like and just gaining a deeper appreciation for it. We checked out Cafe Wha? and the Comedy Cellar which were both super fun. Also had some phenomenal food, especially at a place called L’Artusi which might be the best pasta I’ve ever had.

Next week I head to Tennessee for my bachelor party! I was hoping to do New Orleans but I was a bit worried about logistics and of course Covid and even just getting into restaurants with a bigger party of folks. But I’m super excited for what we have planned which is basically just staying a few days at a friends lake house, play games and sit around a campfire!

Last week I moved my sister and brother-in-law to their new place in Chesterton, Indiana which is right near Valparaiso! If you know the area and have any recommendations please send them my way as they’re looking for what to do in town!

This Saturday, March 5th marks 7 years of Hello From the Magic Tavern! What a cool fucking thing we did! Thank you to all of you for supporting our show and being such creative, kind and nice people! Also a huge thank you to Matt for being incredible and to Arnie for not just being incredible but for creating this world and handing me an invite into it. Arnie quite literally changed my life when he started this podcast. Without him I wouldn’t have made Hey Riddle Riddle or gotten to experience all the insanely cool opportunities that Magic Tavern has unlocked for us. If you have a spare moment in the next few days, send Arnie a DM or email and let him know you appreciate him! He’s the reason I’m typing these words right now! New nickname for him….The Podfather? Let’s keep workshopping.

Other than that just lots of podcast recording, working on several upcoming projects and trying to spend time with friends when possible.

Oh! I had one thought this month which was….can I get into the Guiness Book of World Records for ‘most podcast guest spots?’ is that even a thing and if so, would I even be in the top 10? If anything I’m trying to chase PFT right? I have to somehow track down all the podcasts I’ve ever guested on and compile a list so I have a concrete number. 

Here’s what media I consumed in February -

TV:

• Ghosts (BBC version) - several people recommended this to me and it was ultimately my mom who insisted I watched and everyone was right. It’s brilliant. My favorite characters are the witch and the boyscout leader. Once I finish all 3 seasons of the BBC show I might check out the american remake? Anyone have opinions on that version?
• Reacher - just a real fun time. Not necessarily good but watched it all in one night. Premise is…what if Sherlock Holmes was a pro wrestler?
• Cuphead
• Murderville
• Abbott Elementary
• Fairview - new animated show on Comedy Central starring one of my best friends Joey Romaine! He was Don the Transdimensional Deliveryman on Magic Tavern. On the show he plays a few roles but most notably, Beef the son and Sammy Sugar. I’m incredibly proud of him!
• Love is Blind Season 2 (woof)
• Love is Blind Japan (hooray!)
• Sopranos Season 2
• Gomorrah Season 2 and 3
• South Park Season 25
• Shaq Life Season 2

Movies:

• Jackass: Forever - funny but the older I get the more I’m watching through my hands hoping their ok. SO MUCH TESTICLE TRAUMA.
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• The Kings Man
• Rory Scoval: Live Without Fear - stand-up

Other Stuffs:

• The Quacks of Quedlinburg - board game. This is now in my top 5 all time games! I played it for the first time the other day with some friends including JPC and it’s equal parts deck building (bag building really) and press your luck. Looking forward to teaching this game to Arnie and Matt as soon as I grab a copy!
• Escape Simulator - Escape Room game on Steam! Played with some friends and it was a blast!
• QE - board game
• MIND MGMT - board game
• Mitski’s new album Laurel Hell - it’s fantastic
• Maxine Miles podcast
• You Feel It Just Below the Ribs - about halfway through, really cool book co-written by Jeffrey Cranor

I guested on the following podcasts!

• Welcome To Night Vale podcast - such a dream to get to play Kareem in the newest episode and get to act alongside Erin Keif and JPC!
• What Clicks May Come podcast
• TV Trivia Pod
• The Big Bad Live Show podcast
• Philosophy vs Improv podcast
• The Action Slack Show podcast

Please let me know what you’ve been enjoying so I can check it out!

Love and Don’t Die

Adal

7:17pm