Month: August 2019

• August 26, 2019American Splendor, Dean Haspiel, Episodes, Harvey Pekar, Interviews, Josh Neufeld, Joyce Brabner

  AS 21: Revenge of the Nerds part II: Signs of Trouble (with Whitney Matheson)

  American Splendor scene #21 (53:50 to 56:33) — Harvey, Joyce, and Toby emerge from a screening of Revenge of the Nerds. Joyce finds it inspiring — Harvey finds it insipid. Back at their apartment, Joyce struggles with feeling at home amidst all of Harvey’s stuff. Special guest: pop culture writer Whitney Matheson!
  

• August 19, 2019American Splendor, Dean Haspiel, Episodes, Harvey Pekar, Josh Neufeld, Joyce Brabner

  AS 20: What Kind of Girl Is Your New Bride?

  American Splendor scene #20 (52:19 to 53:50) — the real Harvey and Joyce sit in a fake comic book store, with a pile of American Splendors on the table between them. Joyce talks about what it was like to become a character in Harvey’s stories. Tension is in the air. A machine gun sounds in the distance.
  

• August 15, 2019American Splendor, Dean Haspiel, Harvey Pekar, Interviews, Josh Neufeld

  AS Bonus: World Champion JUDAH FRIEDLANDER Interview

  Josh & Dean chat with comedian and actor Judah Friedlander, who plays Toby Radloff in the movie. Judah discusses how he got the role, hanging with the real Toby, being unrecognizable, and his key scenes in the film. He also talks 30 Rock, those unique trucker hats, his role on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the life of a stand-up comic, and his Netflix specials. Nearly a full hour of Judah goodness!
  

• August 12, 2019American Splendor, Dean Haspiel, Episodes, Harvey Pekar, Josh Neufeld, Joyce Brabner

  AS 19: Escape (Revenge of the Nerds Part I)

  American Splendor scene #19 (49:08 to 52:18) — It’s one week later, and (a strangely chipper) Harvey sees Toby sitting in his car, the dashboard covered in White Castle sliders. Toby is on his way to Toledo to see the new movie Revenge of the Nerds. Meanwhile, Harvey is on his way to Delaware to marry Joyce and help her move out to Cleveland. Harvey steals Toby’s fries. Rupert Holmes sings “Escape (The Pina Colada Song).”
  

• August 8, 2019American Splendor, Dean Haspiel, Harvey Pekar, Interviews, Josh Neufeld, Joyce Brabner

  AS Bonus: Genuine Nerd TOBY RADLOFF

  Josh & Dean chat with Toby Radloff, a key figure in both American Splendor the comic and the movie. (Josh illustrated a couple of Toby Radloff stories.) Toby talks about working with Harvey Pekar at the VA Hospital, what the job of a file clerk was, and hanging with Harvey on weekends. He discusses what it felt like to be a character in American Splendor, and his "delusions of grandeur" after appearing on MTV and in the Killer Nerd films. Toby weighs in on his favorite moments in the film and Judah Friedlander's portrayal of him. The interview concludes with Toby's touching tribute to Harvey, and a mention of the various Cleveland monuments to Pekar's legacy.
  
  

• August 5, 2019American Splendor, Dean Haspiel, Episodes, Harvey Pekar, Josh Neufeld, Joyce Brabner

  AS 18: Skipping the Whole Courtship Thing

  American Splendor scene #18 (44:33 to 49:07) — Harvey takes Joyce to his apartment, where it is abundantly clear that he has a “serious problem with cleanliness.” Joyce shrugs if off, and they sit down on the couch and begin to get… intimate. Suddenly Joyce is overcome with a bout of nausea and vomiting. A concerned Harvey offers her chamomile tea. Charmed, Joyce suggests they “skip the whole courtship thing and get married”!