Story Warz Ep. 086 — Summary
Podcast: Story Warz (LIVE from The Stand Comedy Club, NYC)
Host(s): Big Jay Oakerson & Luis J. Gomez
Guests: Dave Attell, Jamie Lissow, Ian Lara
Date: March 27, 2026
Theme: Entertainment
Episode Overview
This raucous episode of Story Warz puts comedians Big Jay Oakerson and Luis J. Gomez head-to-head with comedic heavyweights Dave Attell, Jamie Lissow, and Ian Lara in a battleground of absurd anecdotes and outright deception. Broadcasting from a sold-out crowd in New York City, the group battles to outwit, out-lie, and out-laugh each other over tales from the world of "Entertainment"—all in hopes of winning a pre-release copy of Luis’s memoir, Knives and Spoons.
Game Mechanics
- Each panelist submits several personal stories (true or false) relating to the theme of "Entertainment".
- One by one, stories are read anonymously.
- Panelists guess who the story belongs to, while the real storyteller tries to deceive the others.
- Points are awarded for successful deception and correct guesses.
- Double points are in play for the final four stories.
Key Discussion Points & Highlights
Introductions & Banter (03:01–05:15)
- Host Luis welcomes first-time guest Ian Lara, and playfully addresses racial tension ("Louis, they say you don't like black people..." — Ian Lara, 02:18).
- Jamie Lissow and Dave Attell are introduced with recurring jabs about industry reputation and personal quirks.
The Stories, Deceptions & Reveals
Story 1:
Fifth Grade Acapella Song Performance
- Panel theorizes about the likelihood of each having performed a cappella as a child.
- Hilarious racial and musical stereotypes are thrown around (“Who said no white person says acapella?” — Luis, 07:54).
- Reveal: Ian Lara authored the story. He describes the “embarrassing” assembly, intended to include dancers but sabotaged by lack of music (15:16–16:36).
Story 2:
Director Hit Me With a Taxidermied Cat; Contracted Cat Scratch Fever
- The panel debates if "cat scratch fever" is real or just a Ted Nugent song.
- Suspicions fly between Jamie and Dave.
- Reveal: Jamie Lissow confesses, describing a chaotic Schneider-set with dead cats as props and real hospital results (22:02–23:25).
Story 3:
Kicked Out of Casino, Returned in Disguise, Kicked Out Again
- Jamie’s history as a problem gambler is joked about.
- Jamie is outed, narrating drunken antics, “I yelled the F-word three times—they have a rule!” (33:17–34:22).
Story 4:
Two Nights Doing Drugs at Hotel with Magicians As Entertainment
- Assumptions abound about which “degenerate” comic this fits.
- A lively debate about drug eras, hotel budgets, and magician pricing.
- Reveal: Luis J. Gomez. His ecstasy-fueled, magician-assisted marathon ended with his mother discovering his journaled exploits (42:43–44:08).
Story 5:
Blurted Incoherent Words to a Celebrity on Set; Fled Scene
- Consensus that it sounds like a Big Jay moment.
- Jay reveals an awkward, real-life encounter with Jennifer Lopez on the set of "Hustlers," where he fumbled his planned quip (53:48–54:55).
Story 6:
Played a Corpse on a TV Show
- Dave Attell is suspected and eventually admits it—a little-known early TV gig, “Shoot the Band,” where he was hauled around as a band member's cadaver (64:48–65:08).
Story 7:
Circumcised in High School; Gave TED Talk to Classmates, Six Others Followed
- Panel debates circumcision norms by religion and ethnicity, playing to stereotypes for laughs.
- Reveal: Ian Lara. Whimsical account of influencing his basketball teammates’ personal decisions (71:18–72:42).
Story 8:
Was in a Movie with an Alpaca (“which is like a llama”)
- “Alpaca” is accused of being a “very white word.”
- Reveal: Dave Attell. On Amy Schumer’s movie set with a reluctant animal co-star, Attell found himself cut from the movie while the alpaca stayed (80:46–81:42).
Notable Quotes & Moments
- Luis J. Gomez: “It’s the most fun you’re ever going to have watching a live podcast, but we are not playing for fun.” (04:52)
- On Ian’s assembly rap:
"They can't dance, there's no music playing, so they was just like..." — Ian Lara, 15:56 - Jamie Lissow (Cat Scratch Fever):
"And because it was low budget, we didn’t have a special guy that would throw the cats. Rob did it." (22:05) - Luis on old drugs:
"We got Bin Ladens. That was the name of the pills. They had little bombs on them because they were the bomb." (43:12) - Dave Attell Deadpan:
“No, I’m doing it right now and it’s a trick question.” (on playing a corpse, 61:46) - Big Jay on losing:
“I stopped playing. Just so you know. Like, in my mind, I'm not even playing.” (73:10) - Luis, repeatedly: “Pre-order Knives and Spoons now on Amazon. Get me on the New York Times bestseller list.” (07:04, recurring)
Scoreboard (Key Updates)
- After Round 1: Ian Lara leads with 4 points (clean sweep).
- Midway: Ian builds a strong lead (up to 8 points), Jamie surges in stories 2–3.
- At Halftime (46:09): Ian leads with 16, Luis only 2 behind at 14.
- Final Story: Ian Lara and Luis J. Gomez tie going into the last round, but Ian clinches the win with 22 points.
Memorable Crowd & Side Moments
- Audience member (“Miss from Yorkshire”) steals the show in the final rounds with enthusiastic participation, winning an advance copy of the memoir.
- Panel riffs on the mechanics of circumcision and cultural taboos (“Corpse is a white role on a TV show.” — Luis, 63:37).
- Running jokes about Luis's tragic family, Big Jay’s defeatism, and Jamie’s Rob Schneider connections throughout.
- Frequent callbacks to recurring humiliations and playful ethnic stereotyping (in the typical tone of Story Warz).
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [02:15] — Introduction of comics and playful jabs
- [07:38] — Story 1: Fifth grade acapella performance
- [17:40] — Story 2: Taxidermied cat/ER visit
- [27:58] — Story 3: Casino ban, disguise, ejection
- [37:21] — Story 4: Drug-fueled hotel party with magicians
- [50:18] — Story 5: Starstruck meltdown on set with celeb
- [61:16] — Story 6: Playing a corpse on TV
- [67:05] — Story 7: High school circumcision
- [74:56] — Story 8: Movie with an alpaca
- [83:00] — Results: Ian Lara declared winner
Final Standings
- Ian Lara — 22 points (winner)
- Luis J. Gomez — 18 points
- Dave Attell — 16 points
- Jamie Lissow — 11 points
- Big Jay Okerson — 6 points
Tone & Style
The episode is wildly irreverent and fast-paced. The comics lean into playful insults, ethnic and generational stereotypes, and deeply personal (and sometimes bizarre) stories—all in good-natured competition. This energy is boisterous, self-deprecating, and wholly in the vein of NYC standup camaraderie.
Closing
- Ian Lara is crowned Story Warrior; much to the delight (and mock consternation) of the group.
- Luis pitches his book, but playwrighting must wait as Ian walks away with the coveted pre-release.
- Dave Attell, Jamie Lissow, and Ian Lara each plug upcoming specials, podcasts, and tours.
- Episode closes with riotous applause and promises of more deceptive storytelling battles to come.
For fans of stand-up, game shows, or just comic mischief, this episode of Story Warz is a masterclass in quick wit, friendly competition, and the celebration of storytelling’s most ridiculous edges.
