Bullseye with Jesse Thorn
Episodes
Sarah Jessica Parker & Dwayne Kennedy
28 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse talks with Sarah Jessica Parker about her long, dynamic career, including her star roles in Sex and the City and the new HBO series Divorce. Plu...
Padma Lakshmi & Colin Quinn
21 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse talks to Colin Quinn about his time on Saturday Night Live and his new Netflix special, New York Story. Padma Lakshmi, host of Top Chef, model a...
Jemaine Clement & Jonathan Ames
15 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Comedian Jemaine Clement tells Jesse about growing up in New Zealand, being mixed race, and his time as a member of Flight of the Conchords, the hit H...
Willem Dafoe, Paul Schrader & David Crosby
08 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Actor Willem Dafoe and writer / director Paul Schrader tell Jesse about their new movie, the gritty and wild Dog Eat Dog. Then, Jesse talks with the l...
Patton Oswalt & Fresh Off The Boat
01 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Comedian Patton Oswalt tells Jesse about the years he spent almost completely indoors - pitching failed sketches in writers rooms, going to the movies...
Norman Lear & Riz Ahmed
24 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Norman Lear, the Godfather of American sitcom, tells Jesse why he decided to make All In The Family and how he drew stories from his own life and thos...
Armando Iannucci & Sharon Horgan
17 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Interviews with Veep creator Armando Iannucci and the writer behind Sarah Jessica Parker's new HBO show, Sharon Horgan. Plus stand-up comedy from Josi...
Cameron Esposito & Rhea Butcher, Jeff Garlin
10 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butler met at a comedy night in Chicago five years ago. Rhea was new to comedy and still had a day job. Cameron had been a...
Kaitlin Olson and Jeff Chang
03 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin Olson plays Sweet Dee on the long-running sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Dee is the only female member of "The Gang", a bunch of de...
Danny Fields & Judith Light
26 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Danny Fields is a music manager and publicist who was instrumental in signing and promoting some of the biggest names in Punk Rock history. This week,...
Hasan Minhaj and Margaret Wappler
19 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Jesse sits down with Hasan Minhaj, comedian and Senior Correspondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. They discuss stand up comedy in o...
Spike Lee & High Maintenance
12 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse sits down with acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee. He tells us about how addiction is made explicit in his movie, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, how he rea...
Felicity Huffman & Anthony Michael Hall
05 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
While actor Felicity Huffman is probably best known for her tenure as Lynette Scavo in Desperate Housewives, she has played many beloved characters th...
Nick Kroll and John Mulaney & Airto Moreira
29 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
John Mulaney and Nick Kroll are well seasoned comedians who have made a name for themselves in many different forms of media. Jesse sits down with Mu...
Sarah Paulson & Shuggie Otis
22 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Actress Sarah Paulson is best known for playing numerous characters on American Horror Story and Marcia Clark on The People v. O.J Simpson. Sarah sits...
Lynda Barry & Pop Culture Happy Hour
15 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Lynda Barry is a self-identified "freak", a cartoonist, a writer, and for the last couple of years, she's also been a college professor teaching inter...
Nikki Glaser and Dave Holmes
09 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Nikki Glaser is a comedian and host of the Comedy Central series Not Safe with Nikki Glaser. Nikki sits down with Jesse to talk about developing her C...
Chuck Klosterman & W. Kamau Bell
01 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Chuck Klosterman has written countless articles for GQ, ESPN, The Washington Post, Esquire, The Guardian and more. His new book, But What if We're Wro...
Keegan-Michael Key & Tituss Burgess
26 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
[r] Keegan-Michael Key talks to Jesse Thorn about creating characters for his sketch show Key and Peele. Plus, Tituss Burgess from Unbreakable Kimmy S...
Danny McBride & Miroslav Vitous
19 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Danny McBride is comedic writer and actor who started his career starring in the cult classic comedy, The Foot Fist Way. Although the film went to Sun...
Aparna Nancherla & Clams Casino
12 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Though most people find it difficult to find anything funny about depression and anxiety, comedian Aparna Nancherla. has used her own struggles with m...
Mary Roach & William Bell
05 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Though she didn't earn a degree in the sciences, author Mary Roach has a knack for writing about them with insight and wit. Whether she's describing w...
Lisa Hanawalt & Wyatt Cenac
28 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse Thorn sits down with comic book author and the designer of Netflix's Bojack Horseman, Lisa Hanawalt. He also talks to comic Wyatt Cenac about h...
Rachel Bloom & Esperanza Spalding
21 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
This week Jesse interviews Rachel Bloom,the star and co-creator the CW show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Also, Esperanza Spalding tells us about the song tha...
John C. Reilly & Shamir
13 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
[r] Jesse Thorn talks with John C. Reilly about Reilly's open-hearted and blustery comic creation, Dr. Steve Brule. Reilly shares stories from the sum...
Rashida Jones, Ramiro Gomez & Lawrence Weschler
07 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse Thorn talks to Rashida Jones, from Parks and Recreation, The Office and Angie Tribeca - which just returned for its second season. Later Lawrenc...
Joe Bataan & Ali Wong
30 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse Thorn talks to comedian and Fresh Off the Boat writer Ali Wong, who recorded her new comedy special Baby Cobra, while seven and a half months pr...
DJ Quik
24 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
[r] Jesse Thorn talks to DJ Quik - one of the most prolific figures in West Coast hip hop. They'll talk about why a leaked record and a couple of guns...
Maria Bamford & Wanda Sykes
17 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Maria Bamford sits down with Jesse to talk about her own experiences as a patient of various Los Angeles mental health facilities, finding love and ma...
Margaret Cho & Whit Stillman
10 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Margaret Cho sits down with Jesse to talk about beginning her career during the 90s comedy boom in San Francisco, growing up in a Korean immigrant fam...
Geena Davis & Louis CK
02 May 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse Thorn talks with GeenaDavis about her acting career, The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and how taking up archery changed her life. Pl...
Mike Judge & Sharon Horgan
26 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse Thorn talks to Mike Judge, the comedy writer behind shows like Beavis and Butthead, Office Space, King of the Hill and Silicon Valley. Later he ...
Nick Hornby & Luis Guzmán
19 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Author and screenwriter Nick Hornby made his name with books like High Fidelity and About A Boy. His latest novel, Funny Girl is about a British actre...
Ellie Kemper & Glen Weldon
12 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse Thorn talks to Ellie Kemper, star of Netflix's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and discusses Batman with Pop Culture Happy Hour's Glen Weldon. Plus, J...
Thao Nguyen & Lance Bangs
05 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse Thorn talks to musician Thao Nguyen from the band Thao and the Get Down Stay Down and to the filmmaker Lance Bangs. Plus Jesse thinks it's time ...
Bob Odenkirk & Rickey Vincent
29 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
[r] Jesse Thorn talks to the comedian, writer, director and actor, Bob Odenkirk, plus the historian, author and DJ Rickey Vincent tells us why Parliam...
Dick Van Dyke
22 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse Thorn talks to Dick Van Dyke, legendary star of stage and screen, memoirist and now bodybuilder. Plus pop culture critic and writer Margaret Wap...
Zach Galifianakis & Michael K. Williams
15 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse Thorn talks to comedian and actor Zach Galifianakis about his new TV show Baskets, and to Michael K. Williams from Boardwalk Empire and The Wire...
Ricky Jay & Bruce Boyer
08 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse Thorn talks to the magician, sleight-of-hand artist and historian Ricky Jay, about his new book Matthias Buchinger: The Greatest German Living. ...
Gillian Jacobs & Jonathan Gold
01 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
[r] Jesse Thorn talks to Gillian Jacobs about her time starring in Community and to the restaurant critic, Jonathan Gold.Learn more about sponsor mess...
Jason Sudeikis, Paul F. Tompkins & Sarah Vowell
23 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse Thorn talks to actor Jason Sudeikis and comedian Paul F Tompkins. Plus Sarah Vowell shares the piece of work she wishes she'd made and Jesse tal...
Dwayne Kennedy & Noel Fielding
16 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse Thorn talks to comedians' comedian, Dwayne Kennedy and our producer Julia Smith sits down with acclaimed British comic Noel Fielding. Plus Jesse...
Todd Glass & Raffi
09 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
[r] Jesse Thorn talks to comedian Todd Glass, about his memoir The Todd Glass Situation and with the beloved children's performer, Raffi. Plus author ...
Ray Suarez & Dan Deacon
02 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse Thorn talks to journalist, Ray Suarez and musician Dan Deacon, plus stand-up comedy from Phoebe Robinson. This episode was recorded in front of ...
Roger Angell & Aya Cash
26 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse talks to Aya Cash from the TV comedy show You're the Worst and to New Yorker writer and editor, Roger Angell.Learn more about sponsor message ch...
Joel Hodgson & Dr Robert Hicks
19 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse sits down with creator of Mystery Science Theatre 3000, Joel Hodgson and is experimented upon by director of Philadelphia's Mütter Museum, Dr R...
Kaitlin Olson & Jeff Chang
12 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin Olson plays Sweet Dee on It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. She'll talk about morally broken comedy characters and whether it's a good idea to...
Neko Case & Herb Alpert
05 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse talks with singer-songwriter, Neko Case and to bandleader and record label founder, Herb Alpert.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcas...
Best Comedy of 2015 Special
29 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Our selection of the greatest comedy albums from the last year with stand-up from veterans, newcomers and even a set recorded live in the woods at Max...
Barney Frank & Mission of Burma
22 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Former congressman Barney Frank and punk band, Mission of Burma, plus comedy from Lamont Price. Recorded in front of a live audience at Oberon in Camb...
Rob Halford & Ronnie Spector
15 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Bullseye Holiday Special with Judas Priest's Rob Halford and Ronnie Spector from the Ronnettes.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoice...
David Cross, Tavi Gevinson & Pharoahe Monch
08 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Interviews with David Cross of Mr. Show and W/Bob & David and Tavi Gevinson of Rookie Magazine, plus comedy from Aparna Nancherla and music from Pharo...
John Cleese & Dee Dee Penny
01 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
[r] Jesse Thorn talks with John Cleese of Monty Python and Dum Dum Girls founder Dee Dee Penny.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoice...
Live with William H. Macy, Brian Huskey & Matt Walsh
24 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse Thorn talks to William H Macy, Brian Huskey and Matt Walsh, plus comedy from Baron Vaughn and music from Chicano Batman. Recorded live at the Ma...
Allison Janney & Ishmael Butler
17 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
[r] Actor Allison Janney and musician Ishmael Butler of Digable Planets and Shabazz Palaces join Jesse Thorn to talk about their work. Plus director M...
Ethan Hawke & Michaela Watkins
10 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse sits down with the actor and novelist Ethan Hawke to talk about playing a divorced dad on-screen, and being one in real life. Hawke's experience...
Margaret Atwood and Matt Braunger
03 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Comedian Matt Braunger sits down with Jesse Thorn to talk about class clowning as a kid, why it's important to try and fail and... his teenage rap car...
Elvis Costello & Elizabeth Banks
27 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Singer/songwriter Elvis Costello shares his musical influences, which include his father, an accomplished singer and performer. Plus Elizabeth Banks t...
Brad Bird & Ernie Isley
20 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse Thorn talks to director of The Iron Giant and The Incredibles, Brad Bird, and to Ernie Isley of the Isley Brothers.Learn more about sponsor mess...
Tig Notaro & John Darnielle
13 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
[r] Jesse Thorn talks to comedian, Tig Notaro about the worst few months of her life and how stand up helped her get through them. Later he sits down ...
Constance Wu & Ron Nyswaner
06 Oct 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Guest host Guy Branum talks to Constance Wu from Fresh Off the Boat and to the Academy Award-nominated screenwriter behind Philadelphia and the new mo...
Russell Simmons & Carl Wilson
29 Sep 2015
Contributed by Lukas
[r] Jesse Thorn talks to co-founder of Def Jam Records, Russell Simmons about the early days of hip-hop and discovering meditation. He also sits down ...
Bill Withers & Joe Randazzo
22 Sep 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse Thorn talks to the singer/songwriter Bill Withers, of Lean on Me and Just the Two of Us fame, about making it in the music business and then ret...
Jesse Eisenberg & Brian Regan
15 Sep 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse talks to Academy Award-nominated actor and now also short fiction writer, Jesse Eisenberg about acting and writing. Eisenberg also reveals his i...
Andy Daly & Jean Grae
08 Sep 2015
Contributed by Lukas
[r] Jesse talks to comedian Andy Daly about his Comedy Central show Review and to rapper Jean Grae. Plus the greatest bootleg tape of all time - and i...
Chiwetel Ejiofor & Allison Jones
01 Sep 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Star of 12 Years a Slave and the new movie Z for Zachiarah, Chiwetel Ejiofor talks to Jesse about dealing with creative ambition and getting into a Ji...
'Playing House' Creators & Hari Kondabolu
18 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
[r] Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham, creators of the TV show Playing House, talk about their real-life friendship and the marathon improv sessions...
Keegan-Michael Key & Tituss Burgess
11 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Keegan-Michael Key pulls the curtain back on writing and performing for Key & Peele. Then, Tituss Burgess from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt tells about g...
Wet Hot American Summer's David Wain & Michael Showalter
04 Aug 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Comedians David Wain and Michael Showalter join Jesse to talk about their new series Wet Hot American Summer: First Day Of Camp. Plus 30 Rock's Toofer...
What Happened, Miss Simone? & Oliver Wang
28 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Director Liz Garbus joins Jesse to talk about her new Nina Simone documentary, What Happened, Miss Simone? Later Oliver Wang talks to Jesse about his ...
Shamir & Pete Rock
21 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse talks to singer-songwriter Shamir about high school, musical genres and his new album Ratchet, plus hip-hop producer Pete Rock discusses his bes...
Judy Greer & Ishmael Butler
14 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
[r] Actress Judy Greer joins Jesse Thorn to talk about her roles in Archer and Arrested Development. Her book I Don't Know What You Know Me From: Conf...
Penelope Spheeris & Bhi Bhiman
07 Jul 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse talks to movie director, Penelope Spheeris. She directed Wayne's World, but before that was best known for her music documentary series, The Dec...
Spike Lee & the Creators of 'High Maintenance'
17 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Jesse talks to acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee. Spike tells us about his new movie, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, how he really feels about Larry Bird and ab...
Rene Russo & Dan Gilroy of 'Nightcrawler'
10 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Writer/director Dan Gilroy and star Rene Russo of 'Nightcrawler' talk about exploring the seedy business of TV news, collaborating as a married couple...
John Oliver & Larry Wilmore
03 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
[r] Two late night hosts and Daily Show alums! Jesse talks to John Oliver about why it's sometimes weird to make jokes about American politics when yo...
Judy Greer & Richard Ayoade
13 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
The reason you might not be able to place Judy Greer is because she never really plays the lead. She's come to terms with that, and she's had supporti...
Best Comedy of 2013 Special
31 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Take pity on our poor intern Brian. We sat him down in front of a computer with a stack of comedy CDs as high as an elephant's eye. He sifted through ...
Mel Brooks & Aimee Mann
24 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
[r] It's hard to imagine what American comedy would look like without Mel Brooks. Jesse talks to Brooks about about fighting in World War II (where he...
2013 Holiday Special
17 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
[r] This holiday season, listen back to Jesse's interview with Ronnie Spector. As the lead singer of the Ronettes, she recorded some of the most iconi...
Jack Black and Bun B
10 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Jack Black will talk to guest host Susan Orlean about which came first, the acting or the music. He'll also talk about why he'd like to work with Davi...
Henry Bushkin Talks Johnny Carson
03 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Who WAS Johnny Carson? Guest host Mike Pesca will talk to Henry Bushkin about just that. He was Carson's longtime lawyer and fixer. Carson even once c...
Big Boi and Catherine O'Hara
26 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
[r] Actress Catherine O'Hara talks about her start with the Second City's SCTV, blockbuster success with Beetlejuice and Home Alone, and her perfect e...
Brett Gurewitz and Jimmy Pardo
19 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Guest host Jordan Morris is back to talk with Brett Gurewitz. Not only is he a founding member of Bad Religion, he also owns the juggernaut independe...
Tom Bissell and Greg Sestero Talk About "The Room"
12 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Guest host Jordan Morris sits down with actor Greg Sestero and journalist Tom Bissell. In 2003, Greg co-starred in a movie called "The Room". Its stil...
Bill Hader, June Diane Raphael and The Internet
05 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Take a listen to our show taped live at KPCC's Crawford Family Forum! Bill Hader reveals some of his favorite characters that never made it onto SNL, ...
Elizabeth Gilbert, Gillian Jacobs and Fred Armisen
29 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Elizabeth Gilbert's new novel traces the life of a woman living in the 19th century as a botanist. Jesse will ask Elizabeth about what the reaction to...
Bill Withers
22 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
[r] Tune in for a rare interview with the soul legend Bill Withers. He retired from the music industry in the mid 1980s and, with a few exceptions, ha...
Nick Offerman and The Birthday Boys
15 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Offerman plays Ron Swanson on Parks & Recreation. Swanson is one of the most beloved characters on TV... known for his love of meat, his hatred o...
Nicole Holofcener, Jane Espenson, Brad Bell
08 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole Holofcener has written and directed five films. The fifth, her newest is called 'Enough Said'. It's a sweet and sharp movie starring Julia Loui...
Junot Diaz and Carrie Fisher
01 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Junot Diaz has a book of short stories out now in paperback. It's called 'This Is How You Lose Her.' Junot's book is new, but the protagonist Yunior i...
Stephen Merchant, Co-creator of The Office
24 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Merchant says he didn't get into comedy to become popular. He did it mostly to please himself. But then, with his buddy Ricky Gervais, he made...
Actor Stephen Tobolowsky
17 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
[r] Stephen Tobolowsky is a veteran character actor. Now he's an author, too, but his book isn't about Hollywood stuff. It's about normal stuff from h...
The Influence Of Bob And Ray With David Pollock
10 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
From Bob Newhart to George Carlin, the comedy duo Bob & Ray influenced some of the 20th century's finest entertainers. Jesse will talk with comedy wri...
Jon Mooallem & Elmore Leonard
03 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to sharing the planet with other animals, you might think that we humans are just screwing it all up. Ruining everything. Hogging all th...
Prodigy of Mobb Deep
27 Aug 2013
Contributed by Lukas
[r] First, an interview with the rapper and author Prodigy, one-half of the seminal hardcore hip hop duo Mobb Deep. He'll talk about why his naturally...
Lewis Black & Nikki Glaser and Sara Schaefer
20 Aug 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Hear Jesse's interview with one of comedy's greatest grumps: Lewis Black. He didn't become a stand-up until his mid-thirties. Find out why he left the...
Kumail Nanjiani & Lake Bell
13 Aug 2013
Contributed by Lukas
First up on the show is an interview with Kumail Nanjiani. He has come a long way since we had him do stand up on our show a few years ago. He just pu...
Fred Willard & David Gordon Green
06 Aug 2013
Contributed by Lukas
If a director is looking for the perfect guy to play an oblivious, cocky buffoon then Fred Willard is their man. Jesse talks to Fred about his entire ...
Comedy group Kasper Hauser & David Rakoff
23 Jul 2013
Contributed by Lukas
A lawyer, a writer, a psychiatrist, and a theater professor got together to write a humor book about earning your MBA on the toilet. The group is call...