Hey Riddle Riddle – Patreon Preview #348: The Comments Section

Release Date: November 7, 2025
Hosts: Adal Rifai (A), Erin Keif (B), John Patrick Coan/JPC (C)
Theme: Improv Scenes Inspired by Internet Comments

Episode Overview

This Patreon preview introduces a new mini-series concept: creating improv comedy scenes inspired by real internet comments. The hosts, Adal, Erin, and JPC, blend their trademark irreverence with meta-commentary about online culture and nostalgia. Rather than traditional riddles or puzzles, the trio uses bizarre and poignant user comments—starting with YouTube—to prompt spontaneous comedic sketches.

Key Discussion Points & Improv Scene Breakdowns

Brainstorming and Bridging to the Theme

• [02:11-05:41]
  • Erin recalls suggesting improv based on internet comments, and Adal gave it a name ("The Comments Section").
  • The group riffs on what exactly counts as a "great comment"—from YouTube to Quora and beyond.
  • Adal clarifies: “We’re going to use these Internet comments as inspiration for improv scenes. Okay, so this is very loose. This is supposed to be fun.” ([03:28], Adal)
  • Notable quote:
    • “Who would win in a battle between an angel and a battleship?” – JPC, illustrating the bizarre edge of Quora ([05:25])

Example Comments as Prompts

• [05:41-06:52]
  • Adal introduces actual YouTube comments to inspire an improv.
    • “Nostalgia is the best and worst feeling at the same time.”
    • “Isn’t it funny? That day to day, nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different.” – (C.S. Lewis, cited by a commenter)

Guess-the-Song Moment

• [06:26-07:12]
  • Before the improv, the group attempts to identify the Coldplay song based on the melancholy, nostalgic comments.
    • JPC: “The Scientist.”
    • Erin: “No.”
    • JPC (trying again): “Yellow?” Adal: “No.”
    • JPC: “Shit, Clocks?”
    • Adal: “Nope. Think more obvious.”
    • Answer: “Viva la Vida” ([07:10])

Improv Scene: Annoyingly Sentimental Early Thanksgiving

• [07:18-09:28]
  • JPC plays a host thankful for “all the kickballs I have, all my windows in my house.”
  • Erin and Adal join, each riffing on increasingly absurd gratitude (“Rocket Money” sponsorship bit; windows as a recurring gag).
  • Notable quote:
    • “That could buy me so many new windows.” – JPC ([08:16])
  • Scene blends a parody commercial with a Thanksgiving vibe.

Improv Scene: Lion-in-the-House Gift Exchange

• [09:28-11:23]
  • Erin gifts JPC a cashmere sweater, but it's inside a lion’s mouth.
  • JPC: “It’s covered in lion inside.”
  • Adal: “Yeah, but it’s $50 and it’s cashmere.”
  • Scene transitions into quick-fire commentary on quality lions vs. quality sweaters, and culminates in JPC being attacked and Erin admiring the sweater despite his peril.
  • “Now I will tame this lion. Oh. Oh, he’s got my leg. At least my cashmere jacket looks nice from Quince.” – JPC ([11:12])

Improv Scene: The “Aged Wine” Disaster

• [11:28-16:17]
  • A couple (JPC and Erin) opens a bottle of Barefoot Zinfandel from their wedding year (2010).
  • The wine is terrible: it smells off, has visible sediment, and even triggers the carbon monoxide alarm.
    • JPC: “Is there a gas leak? What does that smell? Oh, the carbon monoxide detectors are going off.” ([13:30])
  • They look up online whether 15-year-old Barefoot is drinkable:
    • JPC (Erin reading the website): “Hi. If anyone can read this, I gave Barefoot wine to my 21 year old… and everyone’s dead... Please, everyone’s dead.” ([14:33])
  • Closing the sketch with their demise as a news headline read dryly by Adal:
    • “Local couple super dead from drinking a bottle of wine. More at 11.” ([16:06])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Meta-commentary on improv process:
  • “You’re listening for funny scenes. I’m listening for... one weird thing someone says or, let’s be honest, a noise that someone makes. I think it would be impossible to do both our things at the same time.” – Erin ([02:41])
• JPC’s cold read of internet virality:
  • “Was this like going to a Coldplay song and seeing comments like, ‘still listening to this in 2014?’” ([03:44])
• Coldplay fan parody:
  • “CS stood for Coldplay Stand, right? Yeah, Coldplay stand. Louis.” – JPC ([06:17])
• Parodying YouTube and Reddit logic:
  • “Navy here. Battleship.” – JPC, as though replying to an absurd Quora thread ([05:36])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Setup and Concept Discussion: [02:11-05:41]
• YouTube Comments as Prompts: [05:41-06:52]
• Coldplay Guess-the-Song: [06:26-07:12]
• Early Thanksgiving/Financial App Improv: [07:18-09:28]
• Lion/Sweater Gift Scene: [09:28-11:23]
• “Aged” Wine Improv Scene: [11:28-16:17]
• Notable Quotes & Parody Moments: [entire ep; highlights above]

Tone & Style

The banter is rapid-fire, self-deprecating, and referential; the hosts blur the line between main content and targeted parody ads, often mocking their own sponsorships and podcasting tropes. Scenes spiral unpredictably from wholesome to absurd, with recurring jokes about windows, lions, and internet logic. The episode is meta in its humor, frequently referencing previous episodes and the supposed “rules” of good improv—only to break them for comic effect.

Wrap-Up

This Patreon preview introduces a unique twist for Hey Riddle Riddle: improvising from the wild, relatable, and often nonsensical world of internet comments. With pitch-perfect irreverence and the hosts’ deep camaraderie, the episode is a treat for long-time listeners and a friendly entry point for newcomers who love improv and internet culture.

Note: Timestamps begin after ad reads and into main content. "A", "B", and "C" correspond to Adal, Erin, and JPC, matching their roles in each scene and quote. Ads and promo sections have been intentionally omitted for clarity per instructions.