Podcast Summary: How Did This Get Made? – The Avengers LIVE! (w/ Tom Scharpling)

Podcast: How Did This Get Made?
Episode: The Avengers LIVE! (w/ Tom Scharpling)
Date: March 10, 2026
Hosts: Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, Jason Mantzoukas
Guest: Tom Scharpling
Location: Casper Podcast Lounge, New York City

Episode Overview

This live episode takes on 1998's "The Avengers"—not the Marvel blockbuster, but the infamous adaptation of the British TV spy series, starring Ralph Fiennes, Uma Thurman, and Sean Connery. The hosts and guest Tom Scharpling dissect the film's nonsensical plot, baffling choices (bear costumes, anyone?), missing cuts, sexual chemistry (or lack thereof), and a general sense of "how did THIS get made?" The show features classic HDTGM banter, audience Q&A, and even a proposal!

Main Discussion & Key Points

1. Intro: Setting the Scene

[03:41] The hosts are back in NYC, podcasting from daybeds (“Casper daybeds”) in the cozy Casper Podcast Lounge.
Lighthearted speculation about Casper mattresses being stuffed with “double ghosts” sets the silly, tangential tone.

2. What Movie Are We Even Covering?

[07:38] Paul: "The Avengers. It's a remake of the British TV show."
[08:10] Much confusion over which "Avengers"—Jason & June joke about "Thor," "Ultron," etc.

3. Background & The Source Material

[09:13] Three female leads on the original show (Honor Blackman, Diana Rigg, and another).
[09:27] Paul: Signs of a bad movie—if it can't make 90 minutes. "This one comes in at a tight, like, 84."
[09:48] Jason: “If you had told me I had spent the last four hours watching it, I’d believe you.”

4. The Plot: Or the Lack Thereof

[10:18] Multiple hosts (“You missed nothing”) confirm the plot is incomprehensible—rewatch yields even less clarity.
[11:00] Paul: "It feels like a Jenga tower…all the important structural pieces have been removed."
[12:05] The villain’s (Sean Connery, Sir August) weather-controlling plot is revealed comically late and delivered with little sense.

Notable Quote:
“The weather is no longer in God’s hands, but in mine… You buy your weather from me.” – [13:23], Jason (as Connery)

5. Villains, Costumes, and Bizarre Choices

[13:39] Connery’s various outfits (including a “giant kilt”), plus bagpipes punctuating villainy.
[16:19] The hosts speculate Connery is playing himself—“The closest to actual Sean Connery, the man.”
[16:25] Connery’s entrance—grabbing women by the throat (“and a ton of sexual innuendo”), but ZERO sexual chemistry between leads.

Notable Quote:
“I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen less—almost negative—sexual chemistry between two people…” – [16:52], June

6. Casting What Ifs & Cut Footage

[19:18] Original cast was to be Mel Gibson and Nicole Kidman; director could have been David Fincher.
[23:10] The film was cut down from 120 minutes to 85 after a disastrous Spanish-language test screening, removing key exposition and further mangling the plot.

7. Character & Plot Absurdities

[24:22] Debates over Tuma Thurman—a cloned (or robot) version of Emma Peel. Clarity is unachievable.
[25:10] “No one in this movie reacts to anything.” (Jason)
[26:15] Secret service logic: suspect seen on video breaking in, so…make her a secret agent instead of arresting her.
[27:22] Wonderland Weather, the villain’s “corporation,” is confoundingly underexplained.

8. The Iconic Bear Costume Meeting

[34:35] Bear costume scene is universally mocked. Why are security and villains dressed as Teddy bears?
[36:04] June: “Once you're in that bear head, you're seeing, like, a tiny tiny bit of the wall.”

9. The Movie's Empty, Clean World

[43:01] Movie features an eerily empty London: “There are no extras… I love London, but I hate the people, the traffic and everything about it.” – [44:02], Jason imitating producer

10. Sex Robots, Boot Foreplay, and Oddities

[45:03] Paul reveals Tuma Thurman was meant to be a robot; studio changed it to “clone” in confusion.
[31:58] The infamous boot scene is broken down: “I've never seen a foreplay scene where boots are going on, not off.” – June

11. The Film’s Bizarre Logic & Artifacts

[41:10] The opening "super-spy obstacle course" discussed; random potted plants as weapons.
[48:29] Lackluster fight scenes, endless hedge mazes, and hot air balloon getaways.

12. Audience Q&A & Best/Worst Moments

Key live moments with the audience:

[51:48] Why is Invisible Jones fourth-billed? (Because he's played by the original "Avengers" actor.)
[52:35] What are they actually avenging? Nobody knows.
[56:02] Tea references are supercut—mocking the film's British stereotypes.
[57:07] Audience claims to spot lines of cocaine in a Thurman scene (“maybe scientific molecules”).

13. Notable Laughter and Callbacks

[61:04] Is Connery’s sauna nudity a sexual power move? Is he waiting to show off to Uma Thurman?
[62:08] Worry about reading newspapers in the sauna (“would get soggy so fast”).
[63:58] Multiple audience members try their Sean Connery impressions.

14. Running Gags & Meta Commentary

Running debate over Uma Thurman and Ralph Fiennes’ heights.
[70:40] “F/Marry/Kill” segment with Sean Connery (“Zardoz”), Dolph Lundgren, Roddy Piper.
[76:19] Grace Jones’ Bond-theme knockoff “Strange Weather” closes the credits.
Obsession over how few people appear in the film; the movie is compared to a dystopian wasteland.

Outstanding Memorable Quotes

“If this movie was a cup of tea, it would be coffee.” – [01:24], Paul Scheer
“To me, the most fuckable character is the old lady. Alice.” – [17:06], Jason Mantzoukas
“Why does security need to be in bear costumes?” – [35:44], Jason Mantzoukas
“If you told me this was written by a weather-obsessed eleven-year-old… now I get it.” – [29:28], Jason Mantzoukas
“No one in this movie reacts to anything.” – [25:30], Paul Scheer
“I've never seen a foreplay scene where boots are going on, not off.” – [30:54], June Diane Raphael

Important Segments & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:41 | Hosts banter about Casper mattresses and weird podcast setups | | 07:38 | Introduction to "The Avengers" (1998), confusion about source | | 11:00 | First serious breakdown of the plot’s incoherence | | 12:15-14:20| Villain’s weather-controlling plan read verbatim, audience cracks up| | 19:18 | “What if” casting and lost Fincher version discussions | | 23:10 | Story of movie being cut after bad test screening | | 34:35 | Bear costume meeting scene discussed in detail | | 43:01 | On London's emptiness and the producer’s weird quote | | 45:03 | “Clone or robot?” debate about Tuma Thurman | | 51:48 | Audience Q&A begins, Invisible Jones question | | 56:02 | Supercut: Number of tea references in the film | | 61:04 | The sauna scene breakdown (“is he waiting naked for her?”) | | 70:40 | “F/Marry/Kill” segment with ridiculous options | | 73:45 | Reading customer “third opinion” Amazon reviews | | 76:19 | Grace Jones' “Strange Weather” Bond-esque theme song | | 67:35 | Proposal from an audience member during the Q&A |

Notable Audience Interactions

Multiple hilarious audience Q’s about the film’s logic
[67:35] On-mic marriage proposal (she says yes!), celebrated by hosts

Final Thoughts, Critiques, and Sign-Off

[77:39] The hosts note the characters are bad spies, make stupid choices (splitting up, getting distracted by umbrellas).
[78:55] Criticism of impractical hot-air balloon getaway.
[80:05] Final plugs for the hosts’ TV work and podcasts.
[76:19, 69:22] Shout-out to Blake Harris’s deep-dive articles on “How Did This Get Made” website.
[73:00+] Amazon reviews—most positive accidentally for Marvel’s Avengers.
[76:19] Ends by marveling at the Grace Jones theme (“Strange Weather”) as the ultimate Bond knockoff.

Closing

The cast wraps with shout-outs, plugs, and gratitude to NYC fans—a wild, delirious breakdown of one of the most nonsensical "big" movies they've ever watched, with plenty of laughter, great quotes, and classic HDTGM energy.

For anyone who hasn’t seen "The Avengers" (1998), this episode is the perfect antidote: it’s funnier, infinitely more coherent, and answers the critical question—how DID this get made?

Podcast Summary: How Did This Get Made? – The Avengers LIVE! (w/ Tom Scharpling)

Episode Overview

Main Discussion & Key Points

1. Intro: Setting the Scene

[03:41] The hosts are back in NYC, podcasting from daybeds (“Casper daybeds”) in the cozy Casper Podcast Lounge.
Lighthearted speculation about Casper mattresses being stuffed with “double ghosts” sets the silly, tangential tone.

2. What Movie Are We Even Covering?

[07:38] Paul: "The Avengers. It's a remake of the British TV show."
[08:10] Much confusion over which "Avengers"—Jason & June joke about "Thor," "Ultron," etc.

3. Background & The Source Material

[09:13] Three female leads on the original show (Honor Blackman, Diana Rigg, and another).
[09:27] Paul: Signs of a bad movie—if it can't make 90 minutes. "This one comes in at a tight, like, 84."
[09:48] Jason: “If you had told me I had spent the last four hours watching it, I’d believe you.”

4. The Plot: Or the Lack Thereof

[10:18] Multiple hosts (“You missed nothing”) confirm the plot is incomprehensible—rewatch yields even less clarity.
[11:00] Paul: "It feels like a Jenga tower…all the important structural pieces have been removed."
[12:05] The villain’s (Sean Connery, Sir August) weather-controlling plot is revealed comically late and delivered with little sense.

Notable Quote:
“The weather is no longer in God’s hands, but in mine… You buy your weather from me.” – [13:23], Jason (as Connery)

5. Villains, Costumes, and Bizarre Choices

[13:39] Connery’s various outfits (including a “giant kilt”), plus bagpipes punctuating villainy.
[16:19] The hosts speculate Connery is playing himself—“The closest to actual Sean Connery, the man.”
[16:25] Connery’s entrance—grabbing women by the throat (“and a ton of sexual innuendo”), but ZERO sexual chemistry between leads.

Notable Quote:
“I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen less—almost negative—sexual chemistry between two people…” – [16:52], June

6. Casting What Ifs & Cut Footage

[19:18] Original cast was to be Mel Gibson and Nicole Kidman; director could have been David Fincher.
[23:10] The film was cut down from 120 minutes to 85 after a disastrous Spanish-language test screening, removing key exposition and further mangling the plot.

7. Character & Plot Absurdities

[24:22] Debates over Tuma Thurman—a cloned (or robot) version of Emma Peel. Clarity is unachievable.
[25:10] “No one in this movie reacts to anything.” (Jason)
[26:15] Secret service logic: suspect seen on video breaking in, so…make her a secret agent instead of arresting her.
[27:22] Wonderland Weather, the villain’s “corporation,” is confoundingly underexplained.

8. The Iconic Bear Costume Meeting

[34:35] Bear costume scene is universally mocked. Why are security and villains dressed as Teddy bears?
[36:04] June: “Once you're in that bear head, you're seeing, like, a tiny tiny bit of the wall.”

9. The Movie's Empty, Clean World

[43:01] Movie features an eerily empty London: “There are no extras… I love London, but I hate the people, the traffic and everything about it.” – [44:02], Jason imitating producer

10. Sex Robots, Boot Foreplay, and Oddities

[45:03] Paul reveals Tuma Thurman was meant to be a robot; studio changed it to “clone” in confusion.
[31:58] The infamous boot scene is broken down: “I've never seen a foreplay scene where boots are going on, not off.” – June

11. The Film’s Bizarre Logic & Artifacts

[41:10] The opening "super-spy obstacle course" discussed; random potted plants as weapons.
[48:29] Lackluster fight scenes, endless hedge mazes, and hot air balloon getaways.

12. Audience Q&A & Best/Worst Moments

Key live moments with the audience:

[51:48] Why is Invisible Jones fourth-billed? (Because he's played by the original "Avengers" actor.)
[52:35] What are they actually avenging? Nobody knows.
[56:02] Tea references are supercut—mocking the film's British stereotypes.
[57:07] Audience claims to spot lines of cocaine in a Thurman scene (“maybe scientific molecules”).

13. Notable Laughter and Callbacks

[61:04] Is Connery’s sauna nudity a sexual power move? Is he waiting to show off to Uma Thurman?
[62:08] Worry about reading newspapers in the sauna (“would get soggy so fast”).
[63:58] Multiple audience members try their Sean Connery impressions.

14. Running Gags & Meta Commentary

Running debate over Uma Thurman and Ralph Fiennes’ heights.
[70:40] “F/Marry/Kill” segment with Sean Connery (“Zardoz”), Dolph Lundgren, Roddy Piper.
[76:19] Grace Jones’ Bond-theme knockoff “Strange Weather” closes the credits.
Obsession over how few people appear in the film; the movie is compared to a dystopian wasteland.

Outstanding Memorable Quotes

“If this movie was a cup of tea, it would be coffee.” – [01:24], Paul Scheer
“To me, the most fuckable character is the old lady. Alice.” – [17:06], Jason Mantzoukas
“Why does security need to be in bear costumes?” – [35:44], Jason Mantzoukas
“If you told me this was written by a weather-obsessed eleven-year-old… now I get it.” – [29:28], Jason Mantzoukas
“No one in this movie reacts to anything.” – [25:30], Paul Scheer
“I've never seen a foreplay scene where boots are going on, not off.” – [30:54], June Diane Raphael

Important Segments & Timestamps

Notable Audience Interactions

Multiple hilarious audience Q’s about the film’s logic
[67:35] On-mic marriage proposal (she says yes!), celebrated by hosts

Final Thoughts, Critiques, and Sign-Off

[77:39] The hosts note the characters are bad spies, make stupid choices (splitting up, getting distracted by umbrellas).
[78:55] Criticism of impractical hot-air balloon getaway.
[80:05] Final plugs for the hosts’ TV work and podcasts.
[76:19, 69:22] Shout-out to Blake Harris’s deep-dive articles on “How Did This Get Made” website.
[73:00+] Amazon reviews—most positive accidentally for Marvel’s Avengers.
[76:19] Ends by marveling at the Grace Jones theme (“Strange Weather”) as the ultimate Bond knockoff.

Closing

For anyone who hasn’t seen "The Avengers" (1998), this episode is the perfect antidote: it’s funnier, infinitely more coherent, and answers the critical question—how DID this get made?

The Avengers LIVE! w/ Tom Scharpling (HDTGM Matinee)

Summary

Podcast Summary: How Did This Get Made? – The Avengers LIVE! (w/ Tom Scharpling)

Episode Overview

Main Discussion & Key Points

1. Intro: Setting the Scene

2. What Movie Are We Even Covering?

3. Background & The Source Material

4. The Plot: Or the Lack Thereof

5. Villains, Costumes, and Bizarre Choices

6. Casting What Ifs & Cut Footage

7. Character & Plot Absurdities

8. The Iconic Bear Costume Meeting

9. The Movie's Empty, Clean World

10. Sex Robots, Boot Foreplay, and Oddities

11. The Film’s Bizarre Logic & Artifacts

12. Audience Q&A & Best/Worst Moments

13. Notable Laughter and Callbacks

14. Running Gags & Meta Commentary

Outstanding Memorable Quotes

Important Segments & Timestamps

Notable Audience Interactions

Final Thoughts, Critiques, and Sign-Off

Closing

Summary

Podcast Summary: How Did This Get Made? – The Avengers LIVE! (w/ Tom Scharpling)

Episode Overview

Main Discussion & Key Points

1. Intro: Setting the Scene

2. What Movie Are We Even Covering?

3. Background & The Source Material

4. The Plot: Or the Lack Thereof

5. Villains, Costumes, and Bizarre Choices

6. Casting What Ifs & Cut Footage

7. Character & Plot Absurdities

8. The Iconic Bear Costume Meeting

9. The Movie's Empty, Clean World

10. Sex Robots, Boot Foreplay, and Oddities

11. The Film’s Bizarre Logic & Artifacts

12. Audience Q&A & Best/Worst Moments

13. Notable Laughter and Callbacks

14. Running Gags & Meta Commentary

Outstanding Memorable Quotes

Important Segments & Timestamps

Notable Audience Interactions

Final Thoughts, Critiques, and Sign-Off

Closing