Comedy Bang Bang: “A Coy Boy and a Soy Boy”

Podcast: Comedy Bang Bang: The Podcast
Host: Scott Aukerman (Earwolf)
Guests: Tatiana Maslany, Tawny Newsome, Carl Tart (as Barry White, Hollywood Sign, and others)
Air Date: January 12, 2026

Episode Overview

On this episode, Scott welcomes two highly notable actors, Tatiana Maslany (“Orphan Black,” “She-Hulk”) and Tawny Newsome (comedian, “Star Trek: Lower Decks”), both involved with the new series “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.” The episode starts with classic Bang Bang banter—filled with wordplay, playful antagonism, and absurd riffing on pop culture and themselves—then veers into an extended and hilarious character segment as Carl Tart appears as ‘Barry White’ and ‘The Hollywood Sign.’ The show features in-depthly silly, referential discussions about Star Trek, the entertainment business, writing, and Los Angeles iconography.

The episode is a quintessential “Comedy Bang Bang” blend of satire, callbacks, and improvisational character craziness, making it a must-listen for comedy and pop culture fans.

Main Discussion Topics & Key Segments

1. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (03:07–24:17)

• Tawny Newsome & Tatiana Maslany’s Roles:
  • Tawny discusses her move from acting (voice and screen) on Star Trek shows to writing for the “Starfleet Academy” series.
    • “You have catapulted from being in front of the camera to being behind the camera.” — Scott (09:44)
  • Tatiana joins “Starfleet Academy” in a mysterious ‘mom’ role, with recurring jokes about NDA restrictions and TV parenthood.
• Setting and Canon:
  • Tawny explains the show is set post-“The Burn,” 120 years after the San Francisco Academy last operated (07:15), in the 32nd century, and how it handles established Trek lore.
  • Tawny on Trek canon: “Every show's a spinoff from the original series, you know what I mean?” (06:14)
• Inside Jokes & Spoof Pitches:
  • Banter about possible absurd opening scenes, how Mariner (Tawny’s previous character) might reappear, and Scott’s failed audition as a nude janitor (09:10).
    • “You thought your body was like a green screen.” — Tawny (09:23)
• Improvisation to Writing Transition:
  • Tawny says her improv-laden performance on a previous Trek crossover wowed the producers enough to bring her into the writers’ room (11:59).
  • “They said, hey, all those gems you’re dropping for funsies, what if you sat in a room and did it?” — Tawny (11:59)
• Trek Deep Dives:
  • Discussion of DS9, Voyager, and TNG viewing orders; Tatiana's recent “Deep Space Nine” binge with Tawny as her “doula” (12:51).
    • “I went deep on Space Nine. Yeah, I binged it. And Tawny was my doula throughout.” — Tatiana (12:51)
• Writer’s Strike, Production:
  • Tawny covers writing during and after the strike, jokes about AI costumes and casting older actors as young ones (15:22).
• Production Details:
  • Cast includes Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti (“Paul Giamatti is the villain in season one. I’m reading.” — Scott, 15:45), plus a tease of Robert Picardo returning as The Doctor from Voyager (31:31).

2. Hollywood, Fame, and Silly Industry Commentary (24:06–25:29)

• Fashionable Casts & Set Stories:
  • The hosts riff on the style and “coolness” of young cast members, compare to their own experiences.
    • “They all dress better than anyone I’ve ever seen.” — Tatiana (24:12)
• Meeting Famous Co-Stars:
  • Tawny confesses she never really got to hang out with Holly Hunter, jokingly demotes their interactions to “workplace” acquaintanceship (24:17).
• Aging & Industry (and the eternal YA trend):
  • Tawny and Tatiana reflect on age, on-screen roles, and Sigourney Weaver as a precedent for older actors playing younger (“Sigourney Weaver… plays a little 12 year old in Avatar.” — Scott, 10:48).

3. Tatiana Maslany’s Marvel Crossover Drama (16:44–19:13, 73:35–73:54)

• Wet, Wild Marvel Satire:
  • Ongoing, surreal riffing that Tatiana was fired by Ryan Reynolds from “Deadpool,” took Disney to court “in character” as She-Hulk, and turned down offers to return.
    • “Never fire someone who plays a lawyer.” — Scott (17:26)
    • Later, a fake “cover story” reveals she’s actually playing Deadpool in the next Marvel movie (73:54).
• Woke Agenda & Feminism Riffs:
  • Jokes skewering “woke agenda” talking points and the media.
    • “I was mad. … I was like, how dare you cast a woman in this role?” — Tatiana (18:26)

4. Surreal Character Improv: Barry White & the Hollywood Sign (32:51–61:02)

Barry White Reads Ad Copy (32:59+)

• Carl Tart as Barry White:
  • A star turn as Barry White, who claims he’s not dead (“Am I dead? Yeah, I’m sitting right in front of you!” — 33:34) and demands to read podcast ad copy.
  • A symphony of ad misreads, malapropisms, and on-the-spot copywriting for CBB’s sister shows, often mixing up show names (“Comedy Man,” “Comedy Girl,” etc.).
    • “Hi, I’m Barry White. You listening to Comedy Man. You ready to laugh at a Comedy man and a comedy girl?” (35:45)
  • Increasingly bawdy, devolving into catchphrases like “get your ass ate with Scott Au” (37:34).
  • Struggles to read producers’ and guests’ names, building recurring bits (Tony Hinchcliffe, “Tatiana Maslani,” “Tony Clifton,” etc.).
  • In-show ads for Simpsons, “Heated Rivalry,” and plugs for random podcasts.
    • “Hi, I’m Barry White. You like gay stuff? Watch Heated Rivalry. They be doing a whole lot of gay.” (44:08)
• Meta Commentary:
  • Scott’s exasperation at Barry’s improvised copy (“I don’t know that I can use…” — 36:58), and running bits about illegible handwriting.
  • “Do you want to do an ad for this episode specifically?” — Scott (45:08); Barry improvises meta-advertisements.

The Hollywood Sign Cries for Help (50:45–62:53)

• Hollywood Sign as a Personified Guest:
  • Carl Tart, now as the personified Hollywood Sign, speaks about the burden of standing upright for over a century, tired and lamenting about having to “stand up” when all other letters lay down.
    • “You got letters all out of this table… What are they doing?” — Hollywood Sign (53:02)
• Begging to Lay Down:
  • Repeated pleas to “let me lay down,” asking the mayor for two weeks off a year, frustrated by lack of sympathy, and questioning its status as a landmark.
    • “I want to plug me laying down. Just let it happen at some point.” — Hollywood Sign (69:16)
• Mayor Karen Bass Phone Call:
  • Scott “calls” Mayor Karen Bass (also played by Carl Tart), who refuses to let the sign lay down, using the “we need you standing strong and tall” civic trope (58:03).
  • Geeky riff: “When’s the last time you looked at me? Any of you? Was the last time you looked at me?” — Hollywood Sign (62:53)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Did any of them actually complete that task and actually do sex [on Facts of Life]?... It was a goon cave, that whole show.” — Tatiana (04:29–04:44)
• “You thought your body was like a green screen.” — Tawny to Scott, on his failed audition (09:23)
• “Instead of Hollywood…what if you just put the word ‘phones’?” — The Hollywood Sign (54:25)
• “Never fire someone who plays a lawyer.” — Scott, teasing Maslany’s ‘She-Hulk’ (17:26)
• Barry White (on The Simpsons): “You see how Marge got that big blue hair?” (41:40)
• “I want to plug me laying down.” — Hollywood Sign (69:16)
• “2026 is an exciting time to be a Tatiana Maslany fan. It sounds like three projects…” — Scott (68:54)
• “I almost had Karen Bass convinced to sit on the shoulders of the Kobe statue for two weeks.” — Scott (65:39)
• Running gags: confusion about character names, NDA restrictions, jokes about old age makeup, and Barry White’s repeated improvisational ad disasters.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Star Trek: Starfleet Academy in-depth & Tawny’s writing (03:07–24:17)
• Marvel Spoof Segment (“She-Hulk”/Deadpool lawsuit) (16:44–19:13)
• Meta-Commentary on Hollywood, Fame, and Industry (24:06–25:29)
• Tatiana on Star Trek fandom binge (12:45–13:12)
• Barry White Ad Insanity (32:51–48:09)
• Hollywood Sign’s Plight & Mayor Bass Call (50:45–62:53)
• Plugs and wrap-up (66:01–73:55)

Language, Tone & Style

The episode features classic Comedy Bang Bang meta-comedy:

• Absurd wordplay, quick reversals, collaborative bit-building
• Self-deprecation and gentle mocking (“I feel like I was back in high school… watching Star Trek and getting made fun of again.” — Scott)
• Tongue-in-cheek jabs at industry trends, LA culture, and media “woke” coverage
• Surreal improv; hosts/guests fully commit to characters and running bits

Concluding Highlights

• “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” premieres with two episodes this Thursday on Paramount+; Tatiana Maslany and Holly Hunter star, Tawny Newsome writes.
• Satirical Marvel drama: Tatiana is totally not in “Doomsday” (or is she?).
• Carl Tart steals the show with wild performances as Barry White and the Hollywood Sign, roasting ad reads, LA politics, and podcasting itself.
• The Hollywood Sign just wants to lay down for a little bit.
• End-of-show plugs highlight Tatiana’s upcoming Sundance films, Tawny’s podcast “Starter Trek,” and shout-outs to CBBWorld.

For listeners and newcomers alike, this episode delivers the layered, breakneck, and completely unhinged fun for which “Comedy Bang Bang” is beloved.