Comedy Bang Bang: "Bonus Bang: Lassie is Benji"

Featuring: Scott Aukerman (host), Rhys Darby, Paul F. Tompkins, Matt Apodaca
Original release: May 10, 2020 (re-released Feb 5, 2026)
Format: Rare "Comedy Bang Bang After Dark" remote episode (due to pandemic/Zoom era)

Overview of the Episode

This episode is a "Bonus Bang" re-release from behind the Comedy Bang Bang paywall, showcasing an all-star comedic lineup as Scott Aukerman hosts a Zoom-era, late-night recording. The show features frequent guest and master improviser Rhys Darby, Paul F. Tompkins reprising his fan-favorite character Alimony Tony, and comic Matt Apodaca as the unique small-business owner Albert Rowe. The episode delivers classic CBB energy: pitch-perfect absurdism, running bits about grocers and double meanings, and plenty of fourth-wall-breaking meta comedy. The main topics include Rhys Darby’s podcast "Aliens Like Us," the art of double meanings, Alimony Tony’s love for divorces, and the surreal daily life of a grocer who kisses all his products—plus a lot of running gags, digressions, and in-jokes.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Opening and Context

• Scott introduces the episode as part of the "Even More a Moni Tony" bonus series, highlighting the rarity of an after-dark session and the logistical quirks of recording with Rhys in New Zealand.
  • (03:05) “This is a rare, rare Comedy Bang Bang after dark... because Rhys was in New Zealand.”
• Playful banter sets up what time it is in each place, foreshadowing running time zone jokes.

2. Rhys Darby: The Art of Double Meanings & "Aliens Like Us"

• Rhys explains the double meaning behind his podcast title “Aliens Like Us,” riffing on how "double meanings" are an art form in his comedic approach.
  • (06:08) “That title, it’s the old Darby double meaning—what?”
  • (07:04) “I try to put double meaning into a lot of things… It's the ying and the yang of speech.”
• Anecdotes about his career in double-entendre projects, including short-lived shows like "Walking and Talking" and "Fishing for Answers."
• Comedic exploration of Rhys’s green card process as an “alien with exceptional abilities” in the US, joking that his mastery of sound effects (like creaky doors and helicopters) was the clincher versus Michael Winslow.
  • (11:46) "That is the longest, creakiest door I think I’ve ever heard. That is a masterclass in a creaky door.” – Scott
  • (13:33) Rhys's helicopter sound effect earns him "the green card."
• Explains the premise of "Aliens Like Us," a Spotify exclusive podcast about UFOs, with both real and comedic guests. He muses on the theory that UFOs could be time-traveling humans.
  • (14:19) “‘Aliens are like us because aliens are us. … One of the theories about UFO craft is that they are time traveling humans from the future.’ – Rhys”
• Running bits with his “green card officer” checking on his hilarity level, setting a “minimum of 7 out of 10.”

3. Meta & Absurdist Banter

• Layered jokes about the vetting process for guests, lucid-dream joke writing, and Scott’s envy of Rhys’s talented co-host selection.
• Extended riffing on sound effect "duels" (Michael Winslow, Police Academy) and the impossibility of being funny while sleeping.

4. Dog Movie Tangent: Lassie vs. Benji

• Classic CBB discussion on who is the "Jesus of dogs," playfully debating the cultural status of Lassie and Benji.
  • (23:53) "Benji might have been the Jesus of dogs when you think about it…" – Scott
  • (24:01) “If you discount Lassie for sure.” – Rhys

5. Paul F. Tompkins as Alimony Tony & "Weirdămoney Alimony Tony"

• Alimony Tony, a flamboyant serial divorcee, relishes writing alimony checks to his many ex-wives, funded by his “gaseous paper” inheritance.
  • (48:07) “I love paying alimony. I love writing those checks. I love it.”—Tony
• Introduction to his “Weirdămoney” musical parody persona, awkwardly parodying pop songs with titles that do or (laboriously) do not rhyme with the original.
  • (28:09) “So, you take the house—how’s that go? Shallow, Shallow, Shallow. … Where’s the aloe?” – Tony
  • (45:01) Scott: “Meat and potatoes.” / Tony: “Well, that's pretty good. Meat and potatoes…”
• Increasingly convoluted process for choosing parody titles leads to a running meta joke about Scott bullying guests into pointless bits and Tony feeling “very small and stupid.”
  • (46:16) “I don’t want to do this. It’s making me feel very small and stupid.” – Tony

6. Relationship, Divorce, and Murder Philosophy

• In-depth explanation of Tony’s compulsion to marry for love, only to inevitably seek joy in alimony.
• Comedic riffing on murderers, manslaughter, and “future murderers” as a Sphinx-style human lifecycle.
  • (50:05) “They start out as people…some people make the choice to become future murderers.” – Tony

7. Matt Apodaca as Albert Rowe, the Grocer

• Introduction of Albert Rowe, owner of Kissy’s Local Grocery (“Because I kiss every item in the store”)—a signature CBB oddball character.
  • (70:03) “I kiss each item in the store. And then I polish it. ... And then I polish it off again so it’s nice and shiny.” – Albert
• Store has no door, its walls are all glass ("just like Willy Wonka's elevator").
• Ongoing pandemic jokes: Albert refuses to observe any CDC guidelines and continues to kiss everything, despite admitting he has contracted COVID-19 "many times."
  • (80:07) "Are you transmitting this to every customer with every product on your shelf?" – Scott
  • (79:10) “If you don’t want something kissed, get the fuck out of my store.” – Albert
• The “coming for my neck” catchphrase and Albert being known around town more for vandalism than grocery.

8. Meta/Recurring CBB Gags & Callbacks

• Constant cross-references to earlier bits, character catchphrases, New Zealand culture, Halloween Super Stores, and song parodies.
• The running joke of Scott pressing guests for increasingly nonsensical examples (e.g., more grocery chains), and trying to trip up the guests with factual minutiae.
  • (77:41) Tony: “Is Pavilions also observing the six foot [rule]?"
  • (78:02) Albert: “He mentioned Sprouts. … 365 is doing it.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rhys Darby on double meanings:
  "I try to put double meaning into a lot of things, giving the population more chance of understanding it, putting it in their own basket. It’s the ying and the yang of speech." — Rhys Darby (07:04)
• Green Card Sound Effect Duel:
  “I had to go to San Francisco and do a sound effects off against Michael Winslow.” — Rhys (10:53)
  [Performs famously long creaky door]
  “That is the longest, creakiest door I think I've ever heard. That is a masterclass...” — Scott (11:46)
• On hallucinations and comedy:
  “I have a notebook next to my bed with funny ideas... And my lucid dreams, that’s when I hope to actually enter other dimensions.” — Rhys (19:10)
• Alimony Tony’s joy:
  "I love paying alimony. I love it. Love writing those checks." — Tony (48:07)
• Scott derailing Tony’s bit:
  “Do snowmen have bones? I don’t know...” — Scott (61:27)
  "You can use twigs and various sticks as a skeleton and then put the snow over that." — Rhys (61:33)
• Albert Rowe’s unapologetic approach to business:
  “If you want something kissed, come to kissies. And if you want it kissed, I guarantee it'll be kissed.” — Albert (79:01)
  “If you don’t want something kissed, get the fuck out of my store.” — Albert (79:10)
• Albert admitting to both vandalism and illness:
  "I have taken up vandalism. And can I say I'm loving it." — Albert (73:48)
  "Have you contracted COVID-19?"
  "Many times. And it's fine." — (79:59)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:05] — Scott explains the Zoom era and big time zone jokes
• [06:08]-[10:00] — Rhys on double meanings and green card–winning skills
• [11:46] — Rhys performs THE creaky door
• [14:19] — Rhys on podcast premise: “Aliens Like Us”
• [24:01] — The Lassie vs. Benji debate begins
• [28:09]-[32:29] — Alimony Tony’s parody process goes off the rails
• [45:01]-[46:42] — Scott and Tony duel with nonsense song parodies; meta-commentary on comedy process
• [48:07] — Alimony Tony relishes paying alimony
• [61:27]-[62:19] — Bone-filled snowmen and Indiana Jones-style heart pulls
• [70:03]-[80:30] — Albert Rowe’s unorthodox grocer philosophy and pandemic denial
• [77:41] — Scott and Tony name increasingly obscure grocery stores as Albert reacts
• [80:57] — Rhys pitches "Coming For My Neck" as a new show title/metaphor
• [82:12] — Albert reveals he's undercover in high school, "Never Been Kissed"–style

Closing and Plugs

• Plug themes and banter about what each character wants to plug:
  • Rhys: "Aliens Like Us" podcast, New Zealand’s official mask/disguise shop.
  • Tony: The institution of marriage/divorce, other Paul F. Tompkins podcasts.
  • Albert: Kissy’s Grocery (no COVID precautions!), Matt Apodaca’s "What’s With These Homies Talking About Weezer" podcast.
• Scott encourages viewers to binge “Comedy Bang Bang” TV show before it’s gone from Netflix and highlights “Bajillion Dollar Properties” on Pluto TV.
• (89:15) “It was intense. Yeah, a great length too.” — Rhys on the Plug Bag remix
• Concludes with time check and a final round of gratitude and in-character goodbyes.

Episode Summary & Takeaways

This episode encapsulates everything that makes Comedy Bang Bang tick: lightning-fast comedic pivots, improvisational deep dives into the absurd, and seamless blending of reality (actual plugs, pandemic references) with character-driven lunacy. Whether it’s Rhys Darby’s dry but surreal Kiwi wit, Paul F. Tompkins’ intricate character work, or Matt Apodaca’s deadpan surrealism, fans—and even those new to the show—will find an hour and a half packed with layered jokes, memorable voices, and some of the best nonsense in podcasting.

For New Listeners

• No prior CBB experience needed—just buckle in for improv comedy with recurring CBB flavors: straight-faced parody, off-the-wall characters, and meta commentary on both podcasting and pop culture.

Essential Quotes Index

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-------|---------| | 07:04 | “I try to put double meaning into a lot of things… It's the ying and the yang of speech.” | Rhys | | 11:46 | "That is the longest, creakiest door I think I've ever heard. That is a masterclass in a creaky door.” | Scott | | 23:53 | “Benji might have been the Jesus of dogs when you think about it.” | Scott | | 48:07 | “I love paying alimony. I love it. Love writing those checks.” | Tony | | 79:10 | "If you don’t want something kissed, get the fuck out of my store.” | Albert | | 89:15 | “It was intense. Yeah, a great length, too.” | Rhys |

[End of summary. Listen to the full episode for the complete comic anarchy.]