Comedy Bang Bang: Bonus Bang – 2016 Tour, Vancouver
Date: May 26, 2016 (recorded), December 11, 2025 (released as bonus)
Location: Vogue Theatre, Vancouver
Host: Scott Aukerman
Guests & Characters:
- Lauren Lapkus as Ho Ho the Elf
- Paul F. Tompkins as Santa Claus
- Mike Hanford as John Lennon
- Tim Baltz as Randy Snuts
- Dan Mangan (himself, musical guest)
Episode Overview
This bonus episode, released from behind the paywall for the holidays, celebrates the final stop of the 2016 Comedy Bang Bang North American tour in Vancouver. The night blends improvisational character work, goofy audience interaction, and live music. Highlights include the chaotic rapport between regular favorites (Ho Ho the Elf and Santa), absurd interviews, original music from Dan Mangan, and a memorable “anthems” sing-along to close out the tour.
Theme: Holiday cheer meets unhinged stage energy, with layered character work, audience engagement, and irreverent musical and comedic tangents.
Episode Structure & Highlights
1. Opening & Vancouver Banter
[03:40–09:33]
- Scott greets Vancouver, banters about his love for the city, and reflects on getting engaged there.
- Jokes about the legendarily short travel stools and backstage chaos.
- The mood is silly, loose, and self-referential with tour fatigue setting in.
Notable Quote:
“When a stool is this high, it’s just a chair with no back.” – Scott Aukerman [05:16]
2. Ho Ho the Elf Takes the Stage
[09:38–25:39]
Lauren Lapkus as Ho Ho the Elf
- Ho Ho enters with immediate raunch: “Oh, good. A toilet for me to shit on in front of people.” [10:03]
- Scott and Ho Ho riff on the differences between elves and dwarves, Santa’s management style, and Ho Ho’s side business arming “bad” kids.
- Ho Ho claims she's in town to “shoot a pilot... in the face” [11:01], then pivots to saying she’s starring in a Punky Brewster reboot with Santa.
- The “children’s TV show” comic riff explores adoption, dirty jokes, and the North Pole’s barter economy (“You gotta suck Rudolph’s dick” [18:18] if you want treats).
Memorable Exchange:
Scott: “Why do you wear a diaper?”
Ho Ho: “Cause I shit my pants otherwise.” [22:37]
3. Music Segment One – Dan Mangan Performs
[25:50–33:02]
- Scott introduces Dan Mangan: “He sells out huge places just like this all by his lonesome.” [25:58]
- Dan plays his then-new song "Race to the Bottom," a contemplative tune about generational nostalgia and loss.
- Comic whiplash as Ho Ho follows the song with, “That song made me hard. So sad.” [33:38]
Notable Lyrics:
“We don’t know what we got or if we got it / and what we had, we already forgot it. / The race is evidently to the bottom.” – Dan Mangan [30:33]
4. Interview – Dan Mangan & The Realities of Musicianship
[33:14–39:41]
- Discussion of how fans send Dan toddler bath performance videos (“I have all these videos of toddlers in baths, naked … I don’t want this on my computer.” [27:17]).
- Dan talks about Canadian government music funding, album leaks, and mellow Canadian healthcare politics.
- The group touches on the differences between album/EP production in Canada vs the US, riffing on the cultural "leak" of music.
Notable Quote:
“If you can’t suck a reindeer’s dick, you can’t get in.” – Dan, on his band’s “litmus test” [29:14]
5. John Lennon Arrives (Mike Hanford)
[41:33–62:33]
- “John Lennon” enters as a deeply confused Beatle-back-from-the-dead with a fixation on library cards, slow motion movies, and breakfast avoidance.
- John discusses Ringo, fishing trips, being dead and resurrected, and “never eating breakfast."
- Dan Mangan and John duet on "I Will," with John offering unwanted vocal additions and “rap.”
Memorable Exchange:
John: “You know, I have a lot of money, but purchases like that, where I can get it for free at the public library, it’s just not being smart with your money.” [45:32]
Ho Ho: “John Lennon invented rap.” [58:54]
6. Santa Claus Explodes Onto Stage (Paul F. Tompkins)
[64:06–86:31]
- Santa barges on angry with Ho Ho, railing against her “lies” about a TV pilot and her North Pole absenteeism.
- Santa is cranky, profane, and in heavy opposition to the softened, commercial image of St. Nick (“I’m Santa Claus. I’m not gonna faint if I see some cartoon M&Ms, goddammit.” [77:07])
- They riff on Canadian Christmas (in May), their relationship to elves, toy production, and Santa’s deeply personal views on immortality.
Santa Climax:
“Listen up, assholes. I’m immortal, but I know that for you, life is short. You gotta be good to each other … and be good to kids, for Christ’s sake.” [116:36]
7. Randy Snuts Joins the Party (Tim Baltz)
[86:38–108:16]
- “Busboy” Randy Snuts barrels on with sordid tales of ex-girlfriends, meat-centric BYOM restaurants, and his high-speed love life (“I’ll say I love you before the appetizers come.” [94:08]).
- Earnest yet clueless about relationships, Randy monologues about drama, bisexuality, and his “78% success rate” with his pickup line spreadsheet.
Memorable Randy-ism:
“I think when it gets down to it late at night and it’s you and somebody else, turn out the light and forget what genitalia it is, just go at it.” [118:10]
8. Music Segment Two – Another New Song
[104:49–108:11]
- Dan Mangan returns for a “live leak” of another new, somber song.
- John Lennon jokes about making up lyrics but respectfully sits it out.
9. Unhinged Toy Talk and Santa Lore
[109:33–115:41]
- Santa talks new toy trends (like “Doll So Real”) and the hilarious, questionable requests kids send.
- The crew riffs about weapons for “bad seeds,” elf labor, and lifelike, uncannily soulless dolls.
- North Pole labor mysteries: elves that go mad are “buried alive with chips” (or, as Santa clarifies, live in an “underground facility”).
10. Emotional Wrap-up & Tour Anthem Sing-Along
[116:17–119:17]
- Santa delivers a rare heartfelt benediction (“Be kind and be good to kids, for Christ's sake” [116:42]).
- The cast says their goodbyes (with John advising sports goggles and Ho Ho simply shouting “Candy cane dick!”).
- The tour closes with a raucous sing-along to Icona Pop’s “I Love It (I Don’t Care)”—the anthem of the run.
- Performers are individually announced to rapturous applause.
Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
-
Stool Comedy:
“When a stool is this high, it’s just a chair with no back.” – Scott [05:16] -
North Pole Economy:
Ho Ho: “You gotta suck Rudolph’s dick.” – [18:18] -
Dan Mangan’s Dark View:
“If you can’t suck a reindeer’s dick, you can’t get in.” – Dan [29:14] -
Ho Ho Theorizes Comedy:
“My favorite comedy? The live O.J. Simpson trials.” – Ho Ho [20:16] -
John Lennon’s Existential Dilemma:
“Look, I've seen the British and American Office. I think I know real– not a lot of people can claim that.” – John [48:03] -
Santa Breaks Down Advertising:
“I'm Santa Claus. I'm not gonna faint if I see some cartoon M&Ms, goddammit.” – Santa [77:07] -
Santa’s Heartfelt Exit:
“Listen up, assholes. I’m immortal, but I know that for you, life is short. You gotta be good to each other … and be good to kids, for Christ’s sake.” [116:36] -
Randy’s Relationship Algorithm:
“I'll say I love you before the appetizers come.” [94:08]
Recurring Themes & Running Gags
- Ho Ho’s obsession with bodily functions and deadly toys
- Santa’s cranky disruption of his commercial image and North Pole gripes
- John Lennon’s baffled responses and literary pretensions
- Hyper-literal tangents about TV, food, and Canadian vs US differences
- The ensemble’s devotion to breaking and extending bits, especially sex and North Pole decadence
Musical Highlights
- Dan Mangan: “Race to the Bottom” [30:00–33:02]
- Duet: Dan Mangan & John Lennon – “I Will” [57:19–60:05]
- Dan Mangan: Unreleased Song [104:49–108:11]
- Finale: “I Love It (I Don’t Care)” (Group sing-along) [118:54–120:20]
Episode Tone & Takeaway
An unfiltered, off-the-cuff, and gleefully crass holiday party where improv, music, and absurdity reign. The chemistry between the performers (especially CBB regulars Lapkus, Tompkins, Hanford, and Baltz) is infectious and keeps the live energy sky-high.
For Fans of:
- Smart-dumb, improvisational humor
- Extended character bits
- Unscripted audience chaos
- Holiday episodes with a subversive streak
Useful Timestamps
- [05:16] – Stool banter
- [10:00] – Ho Ho’s first appearance
- [18:18] – North Pole economy (Rudolph’s treat)
- [29:14] – Dan Mangan’s band “litmus test”
- [33:02] – “Race to the Bottom” ends
- [41:46] – John Lennon’s chaotic arrival
- [57:19] – Beatles duet “I Will”
- [64:06] – Santa bursts on stage
- [77:07] – Santa’s rant about commercials
- [94:08] – Randy’s relationship strategy
- [104:49] – Dan’s second song
- [116:36] – Santa’s final benediction
- [118:54] – Tour anthem “I Love It (I Don’t Care)”
For the true holiday experience, this episode delivers a raucous blend of comedy chaos, musical gravitas, and the anarchic anti-warmth that has kept Comedy Bang Bang a cult classic for over a decade.
