The Dollop: Past Times Ep. 154 with Francesca Fiorentini

Date: December 12, 2025 | Podcast: The Dollop with Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds
Guest: Francesca Fiorentini | Theme: Hilarity and Absurdity in Old News (1922)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Dollop: Past Times features comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds with returning guest Francesca Fiorentini. The trio riff through weird and wild stories from a 1922 edition of the Riverside Daily Press, mixing sharp social observations, absurd improv, and loads of banter. The show is a labyrinth of tangents—touching on everything from right-wing conspiracies to hobo culture—with equal parts mockery and nostalgia for the stranger corners of history.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Francesca’s Return and Right-Wing Rifts

• Francesca’s Work: Dave introduces Francesca, highlighting her news-comedy show “The Bituation Room” and her deep dives into controversial political fractures (e.g., Israel splitting the right) ([00:40]).
• Right-wing infighting: Discussion on bizarre right-wing conspiracies and the chaos caused by the intersection of internet culture and politics, including tangents on Nick Fuentes and Charlie Kirk ([01:10]).
  • Quote (Francesca): “It’s just this guy, this white nationalist named Nick Fuentes, who just happened to have a longstanding beef with Charlie Kirk... Even though the guy who murdered him had, like, dressed up like a Pepe Frog.” ([02:00])

2. Comedy, TV Panels, and Piers Morgan

• Francesca’s combative appearances on Piers Morgan and Gutfeld are discussed, with confessions of going on just to do “bits,” not genuine debate ([04:18]).
  • Quote (Francesca): “I did call him a dingleberry. I also told him to shut the fuck up.” ([04:19])
• They collectively mock the structure of right-wing TV, with references to Tyrus (not Titus), Bill Maher, and the general decline of media credibility ([06:42]).

3. Year Guessing and “Years Are a Vibe” Bit

• They playfully dismiss chronology: “I don’t believe years are real... Years are a vibe. Time is mostly by like the universe tells us when it’s time.” ([07:29], [07:34])

4. Main Newspaper Stories

A. Nature Man Attacks Daly City

• Headline: "Nature man shoots up. Peaceful town." ([08:50])
• Real story: The “nature man” (Otto Herlick) was a hermit living in a cave who attacked locals with a club, not a gun. Hobo/beach living is contextualized. ([11:06])
  • Dave: “The man was a walking goodwill.” ([12:10])
  • Francesca: “This still seems made up... Outrage out of over unhoused people goes all the way back.” ([13:04])
• Brief hobo history and admiration for old-school hobo culture (“soft harmonica playing... dreams in hobo”) ([13:45])

B. Skunk in a Box—Fake Bomb Scare

• Bizarre baggage story: a box marked "explosive" turned out to contain a live skunk, meant for a sports exhibition ([14:55]).
  • Running joke on skunk “ass juice” capacity and medical storage of skunk spray ([19:07])
  • Gareth: “...it would run out of the ass juice eventually. It needs time to build up more stinky butt.” ([19:07])

C. Movie Films to Cure Drunks

• Wives hiring cameramen to shame husbands by filming their drunken returns home ([26:34]).
  • Francesca: “For your drunk husband. This is amazing.” ([27:36])
  • Gareth: “It’s about a sobriety. No, you’re body shaming your husband. ... Just to remind you, you’re a big, fat, sloppy shit, and I’m not letting it go in me anymore.” ([28:50])
• Discussion of “Ring camera wives” and modern surveillance in relationships ([30:04])

D. Radio, Sea, and Exclusion of Women

• Article laments absence of “women wireless senders,” blaming sea tradition and “chivalry.”
  • Francesca: “Is this like... a long wind up to like, that’s why I had to blow a sailor?” ([32:08])
  • Satire on “glorious traditions of the sea,” and the ridiculousness of gender exclusion ([33:08]–[38:25])
  • Francesca: “This is the same argument that like the New York Times is making in the year 2025 that like women just a massive distraction.” ([38:33])

E. Stuffed Owl on Mayor’s Desk

• News about a taxidermied owl as desk decor ([39:55]).
• Extended riff on taxidermy, the lifespans of stuffed owls, and the symbolism of owl decor in political office ([41:14])

5. Random Tangents, Modern Parallels, and Absurdity

• The maraschino cherry industry, class tensions over cherry brands, and the supposed politics of garnish ([45:22], [46:43])
• Playground baseball “records” set in a 23-inning tie between 8- and 12-year-olds—leads into wild parent-bragging tangents ([47:30])
• Satirical bits on contemporary issues (private equity buying Little League, “tinder for organs”), rants about the future, and dark humor ([50:03])

6. “Beauty” Tips from 1922: Bleaching Freckles

• Outdated, dangerous skin lightening “recipe:” lemon and orchard white (likely bleach) ([53:14]).
  • Hosts mock “correcting God’s error” and reflect on modern beauty standards ([54:41])

7. Jazz as Booze Substitute

• Article claims 15 minutes of jazz has “the equivalent excellent kick of seven dry martinis” ([64:39]).
  • The gang jokes about the dubiousness and appeal of the claim.
  • Dave’s evolving gin obsession, Gareth’s martini preferences ([65:20])

Notable Quotes & Moments (With Timestamps)

• On right-wing infighting:
  Francesca: “The one person who really has benefited isn’t Israel. It’s just this guy, this white nationalist named Nick Fuentes...” ([02:00])

• On Piers Morgan appearances:
  Francesca: “I did call him a dingleberry. I also told him to shut the fuck up.” ([04:19])

• On the concept of time:
  Francesca: “I don’t believe years are real... Years are a vibe.” ([07:29])

• On hobo romanticism:
  Francesca: “There’s some dreams in hobo.” ([13:56])

• On modern surveillance:
  Dave: “We could watch game film on an argument... I was like, I never thought about that.” ([30:29])

• On women in wireless/radio:
  Francesca: “This is in the 20s. This is the same argument... that women just a massive distraction.” ([38:33])

• On jazz vs. martinis:
  Dave: “15 minutes of jazz has the equivalent excellent kick of seven dry martinis. I agree.” ([64:43])

• On old beauty advice:
  Francesca: “I’m very pro this... I like when newspapers offer you, like, some little tips, concrete things.” ([53:35])

Highlighted Segments & Timestamps

• [00:40] – Francesca’s introduction and current projects
• [04:19] – Piers Morgan TV exploits
• [08:50] – “Nature man” in Daly City story
• [14:55] – Explosive “skunk” box
• [26:34] – Wives using films to shame drunken husbands
• [32:00] – Women excluded from radio/sea jobs
• [39:55] – Stuffed owl & taxidermy discussion
• [45:22] – Maraschino cherry tangent
• [53:35] – Bleaching freckles advice
• [64:43] – Jazz as booze substitute

Tone, Style, and Energy

The episode is fast, sarcastic, and laden with rapid-fire riffs. Each story from the old paper becomes a jumping-off point for improvised sketches, political satire, and absurdist reimagining. Francesca blends right into the Dollop’s trademark energy—irreverent, biting, and always meta about the act of discussion itself.

Conclusion

If you missed this episode, expect an hour-plus of rolling laughter—covering forgotten headlines, the hilariously flawed wisdom of the past, and the not-so-subtle throughlines to today’s cultural chaos. Francesca Fiorentini’s sharp insights and willingness to play keep the energy high, while Dave and Gareth expertly wrangle the chaos into a form of comedic history lesson/no-holds-barred jam session.

For more:

• Francesca’s “Bituation Room” and live LA shows (see [00:40], [02:32])
• The Dollop's upcoming tour and animated episodes on Lakeside Animation (end of recording)