Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

Joe Cappa is the creator and primary voice actor of the show Haha, You Clowns. Like many Adult Swim shows, it features a very distinct style of animation. However, underneath the somewhat disconcerting visuals is a wholesome and sweet show. Cappa joins Bullseye to talk about his fascination with comedically buff characters, learning animation while working at an ad agency in Oklahoma, and borrowing from real life to create his first show.

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Shonda Rhimes is one of the most accomplished TV writers and producers of our time. She’s written shows like Scandal, How To Get Away With Murder, and Grey’s Anatomy. In 2023, Shonda spoke with correspondent jarrett hill about creating shows without the restraints of network television and the insecurity that accompanies success, no matter how big you make it.

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A new HBO Max documentary just dropped called Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! It’s about, well, Mel Brooks! And yes, he turned 99 this past June. We’re revisiting our 2013 conversation with the film and comedy legend, where he chatted with us about fighting in World War II, the genius of Gene Wilder, and much more!

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Elliot Kalan has been the head writer on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and the Mystery Science Theater 3000 reboot. Now he’s written a book about joke writing. It’s called Joke Farming: How to Write Comedy and Other Nonsense. He talks to Bullseye about developing a process for writing jokes reliably, writing topical jokes, and writing jokes for voices other than his own.

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Susan Orlean has spent a lifetime noticing the little details about others when she writes. The Orchid Thief followed an obsessive outlaw who collected rare flowers. The Library Book was a history of LA’s central library and particularly the suspicious fire that nearly burned it down. For once, she’s pointed her attention at herself in her memoir Joyride.

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