Comedy Bang Bang: “A Thanator Around Your Neck”

Host: Scott Aukerman
Guests: Anna Konkle, Griffin Newman, Connor Ratliff, Anna Bezahler (as herself and “Leaf Clover”)
Date: January 19, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Comedy Bang Bang blends signature absurdity and meta-comedy as Scott welcomes Anna Konkle (Pen15, The Drop), along with returning character guests “James Cameron” (Griffin Newman) and “Jake Sully” (Connor Ratliff) from Avatar, plus “Leaf Clover” (Anna Bezahler), a somatic therapist. The show covers Anna’s new movie and memoir, an extended satirical “press conference” for the underperforming Avatar: Fire and Ash, and a parody therapy session, with the freewheeling tone, dense callbacks, and gleeful bits that define Comedy Bang Bang.

Key Segments and Discussion Points

1. Anna Konkle Interview: “Untitled Home Invasion Romance” & Memoir

(00:44 – 25:26)

• Anna’s New Movie

  • Anna discusses her role in the comedy-thriller "Untitled Home Invasion Romance," a directorial debut by Jason Biggs.

  • Plot revolves around a couple’s crumbling marriage and a staged home invasion that goes horribly wrong.

  • Anna plays the small-town sheriff—a role she jokes is “the only thing [she] could be in that town.”

    Quote:
    “So basically, Jason and the character that Jason plays... surprises [his wife] by going back to her hometown... [He] stages a fake home invasion that then goes wrong in order to play the hero.”
    — Anna Konkle, 09:39

• On Being a Sheriff

  • Anna riffs with Scott about law enforcement onscreen vs. her personal beliefs.
  • Talks about her “hippie” upbringing in Vermont and Massachusetts.

• The Evolution of the Film’s Name

  • Jokes about whether “Untitled Home Invasion Romance” would ever get a real title; conclusion: that IS the title.

• Anna’s Memoir: “The Sane One”

  • Out May 5, with Random House.

  • Memoir explores her parents’ divorce, her childhood, and her estrangement & reconciliation with her dad.

  • She admits the title is ironic: “I’m not the sane one. Spoiler.”

    Quote:
    “We didn’t speak for a year. We didn’t see each other for five years... I’m not the sane one. Spoiler.”
    — Anna Konkle, 18:57

• Other News

  • Appearance in upcoming season of “Hacks.”
  • New film at South by Southwest: Joe Swanberg’s The Sun Never Sets.

Memorable Moment:

• Scott and Anna’s riff on never dying:
  “I run pretty fast. I can outrun Lady Death.”
  — Scott Aukerman, 15:00

2. Avatar Segment: James Cameron & Jake Sully Press Conference

(31:12 – 54:08)

• The Bit:

  • James Cameron and Jake Sully (in character) join to address the “failure” of Avatar: Fire and Ash (satirically noting “only” $1.5B box office).

    Quote:
    “In less than one month, Avatar: Fire and Ash has only made $1.5 billion… It’s embarrassing.”
    — Jake Sully/Connor Ratliff, 35:07

• Industry Satire

  • They bemoan being “box office poison,” plan to “release” Avatars 4 and 5 as a press conference since interest has evaporated.

• Plot Reveals & Meta-Humor

  • Unchecked, they spoil future sequels, riffing that Avatar 5 would let Spider bring “every character from every movie ever” onto Pandora—including Kramer vs. Kramer, the Cool Runnings team, minions, and even “the door from Titanic.”

  • Plans for every film character to become a Navi, satirizing IP crossovers.

    Quote:
    "In Avatar 5, Spider has the ability to bring every character in the history of movies back to life."
    — James Cameron/Griffin Newman, 46:01

• Anna’s Parodic New Role

  • She's offered “the door from Titanic” and jokes through contract terms.

• Recurring Meta-Bit:

  • The segment gleefully drags, with guests repeatedly noting its excessive (even by CBB standards) length.

    Quote:
    "I'm no director, but I feel like this segment's been running very long. If I were you… I would have gone to a break by now." — Jake Sully/Connor Ratliff, 53:07

3. Leaf Clover: Somatic Therapist

(57:33 – 71:16)

• Introduction

  • “Leaf Clover” (Anna Bezahler) joins as a self-styled somatic therapist—therapy focused on bodily sensations.
  • Asks guests about their physical sensations, “presses” on Scott, and prompts Anna to Venmo her $1 per minute for therapy.

• Bits & Satire

  • Anna is genuinely enthusiastic about therapy, while Scott is skeptical.

  • The segment parodies the language and quirks of real-life wellness and bodywork trends.

    Quote:
    “Somatic therapy is therapy that focuses on the body… the body keeps the score…”
    — Leaf Clover/Anna Bezahler, 58:18

• Comedic Highlights

  • Jake Sully describes his two “births” (Earth, then as Navi).
  • Literal and figurative interpretations: fortress analogized as emotional boundaries; pushing on the pelvis as therapy.

• Notable Exchange:
  “I feel like the segment needs to wrap up.”
  — Scott Aukerman, 71:33

4. Plugs & Close

(72:17 – 81:10)

• Plug Bag Song

  • An epically long, intentionally overblown song submission leads into the plug segment.

• Plugs

  • Anna:
    • “Untitled Home Invasion Romance” (Jan 27, VOD)
    • Memoir “The Sane One” (May 5)
    • Upcoming “Hacks” episode
    • “The Sun Never Sets” (SXSW premiere; Joe Swanberg film)
  • James & Jake:
    • Reluctantly plug “Avatar: Fire and Ash”
    • Hulu plug for “Blank Check” podcast (which “defends” the new Avatar movie)
    • Griffin/Connor project plugs: “Acting Class” (YouTube), “George Lucas Talk Show”
  • Leaf/Anna Bezahler:
    • “Anna and Isabella Do Improv” podcast
    • “Crazy Story Show” (YouTube)
    • Will Hines’ “Play by Play” (tour Feb 5-9)

• Signature Closer

  • Classic bits and running gags, extended riffing on the absurdity of the plug segment’s length.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Anna on memoir family drama:

  • "We didn't speak for a year. We didn't see each other for five years...I'm not the sane one. Spoiler." (18:57)

• James Cameron on Avatar’s fortunes:

  • "It's a bittersweet day for us... we have to admit in less than one month, Avatar: Fire and Ash has only made $1.5 billion." (35:07)

• Meta humor on segment length:

  • “I'm no director, but I feel like this segment's been running very long. If I were you… I would have gone to a break by now.” (53:07)

• Anna on classic community theater beginnings:

  • "I really came out strong with Annie... No, I was Tessie... Nobody knows who Tessie is." (13:21-13:32)

• Anna’s therapist enthusiasm:

  • "I really love therapy." (57:44)

• Jake Sully’s deepest wounds:

  • "I built a fortress of love around myself." (62:00)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Anna Konkle Interview (Film & Memoir): 00:44 – 25:26
• Avatar: James Cameron & Jake Sully Press Conference: 31:12 – 54:08
• Leaf Clover, Somatic Therapist Parody: 57:33 – 71:16
• Plugs & Closing: 72:17 – end

Episode Tone & Style

Delightfully unhinged, densely referential, and packed with longform bits, this episode features CBB’s core strengths: surreal improvisation, affectionate showbiz parody, satire of Hollywood self-seriousness (especially with the Avatar segment), and recurring meta commentary (especially about the show’s own structure and the patience of its listeners). Animated interplay and playful in-jokes make it accessible—even if you’re unfamiliar with every guest’s whole back catalogue.

By the end, the show’s in-jokes, character commitment, and constant breaking of the fourth wall remind listeners why Comedy Bang Bang remains a podcast comedy institution.