The Severance Podcast with Ben Stiller & Adam Scott

Episode: Tournament of Fripperies (Live with the Cast and Creators of Severance)
Date: August 21, 2025
Podcast by: Audacy, Red Hour, Great Scott

Overview

This live episode brings together the creators and leading cast of the Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning show Severance for an evening of laughter, behind-the-scenes stories, and a fiercely goofy Severance-themed game show competition. Co-hosts Ben Stiller and Adam Scott are joined by creator Dan Erickson, and stars Britt Lower, Zach Cherry, John Turturro, Patricia Arquette, and Tramell Tillman, with guest host Patton Oswalt leading the cast through a “Tournament of Fripperies”—a comedic, knowledge-testing game. The event blends reminiscence, rapid-fire quips, and spirited contest, offering a unique look at the show’s collaborative heart and comic spirit.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Welcome & Evolution of the Podcast

[04:31 - 05:41]

• Adam and Ben reflect on the podcast’s journey from episode recaps with cast, crew, and superfans, to broader conversations about inspirations and cultural touchpoints—expanding the “Severance” universe for fans.
• Tonight marks a new venture: a live game show drawing the cast and creators into friendly rivalry.

2. The Importance of Play (“Kier’s Lesson”)

[05:29 - 06:03]

• Adam and Ben recite the Kier Egan “importance of play” quote, setting the episode’s playful, communal tone:
  • Ben Stiller (05:49): “The act of play can unite humans from varying levels of intelligence and circumstance and aid them in forming lasting, valued friendships.”

3. Set Stories & Introduction of Contestants via “Bendo” Photos

[07:08 - 19:35]

• The cast and creators are introduced to the audience one-by-one, using behind-the-scenes photos taken by a mysterious set photographer, Bendo.
• Ben and Adam joke about Bendo’s mysterious origins (“he just sort of appeared…with his little fanny pack thing and Leica film camera” [07:13-07:56]).
• Highlights from each guest:
  • Dan Erickson (Creator/Judge): Remembers chaos of on-set rewrites amidst torrential rain and goats eating shoelaces during takes.
    • Adam Scott (09:53): “You don’t get co-stars eating your shoelaces all that often.”
  • Tramell Tillman (Milchick): Reflects on his “best friend Kier” photo, comedy on set, and getting stuck in the “bathroom on the severed floor” (12:01).
  • Britt Lower, Zach Cherry, John Turturro: Recount shooting at the “tallest waterfall in the world”, the challenge of heavy coats and built-in heating packs, and the admiration for Tramell’s cool wardrobe.
  • Patricia Arquette: Shares her candid reaction to a set photo taken during a costume test, sparked by a real-life commotion outside the Bronx studio.

4. Panel Banter & Podcast Shoutouts

[15:46 - 17:11]

• Lighthearted discussion about an imaginary “Soup and Smoothies” podcast.
• Britt Lower (17:00): “If Chris Walken was here, he would just say, ‘Ah, soup. Yeah. Soup.’”
• The cast riff on their food preferences and (imagined) podcast spin-offs.

Tournament of Fripperies: The Game Show

Hosted by Patton Oswalt [22:48 - End]

Rules & Format

[23:13 - 25:43]

• Three rounds: first as individuals, then teams, culminating in a tiebreaker.
• Creator Dan Erickson acts as judge and scorekeeper, wielding both authority and mock-corruption.

Notable Game Quotes

• Patton Oswalt (23:25): “You may know me from other streaming-centric game shows like Sopranos Family Feud and Emily in Jeopardy. But tonight we are playing the Tournament of Fripperies.”
• Dan Erickson (25:03): “You feculent thespians.”

Round One: Who’s Who?

[25:59 - 37:15]

• Panelists guess which fellow cast member a specific, quirky fact belongs to.

Memorable Moments

• Zach Cherry’s High School Role (26:58):
  • Zach was “Sad Man on Train”; led to speculation, strategy, and confusion about who’s answering as their character or actor.
  • John Turturro (28:59): “I told my family to look out for that scene and said, at a certain moment, I will look directly at you…”
• Highlights about John Turturro’s childhood Knicks dream, team basketball preferences, and Britt’s high school basketball history.
• “If this Audi were a door, they’d be a screen door”—oddest fact goes to Britt Lower, with a runner-up for “circus tent flap” (34:09-36:16).

Round Two: Teams & “Real or Rickon?”

[37:16 - 45:13]

• Teams form with whimsically chosen names: The Icebergs, We Are Going to Lose, and Z Pack.
• Players guess whether philosophical quotes are from “Keir Egan,” “Ricken,” or real-world self-help books.
  • Bonus round reveals a quote from Ben Stiller and Janeane Garofalo’s “Feel This Book,” surprising the crowd:
    • Zach Cherry (44:16): “That last quote is from Janine Garofalo and Ben Stiller’s self-help book... Feel This Book, An Essential Guide to Self Empowerment, Spiritual Supremacy, and Sexual Satisfaction.”

Round Three: Big Words & Simplifying Lingo

[48:41 - 54:13]

• Challenge to define obscure or polysyllabic words used in Severance.
  • “Fetid”: widely interpreted as “rotten; spoiled,” with bonus points for use of examples and bribes (51:03).
• “Felicitations commemorating the occurrence of one’s emergence into corporate real” simplified by all teams to “Happy Birthday.”

Tiebreaker: Two Egans and a Lie

[54:24 - 57:47]

• Final multiple-choice question about Kier’s fourth appendix—only one body part “did not change at Woe’s Hollow”: the mouth.
• The victory is decided in part based on artistry (literally a drawing on an iPad)—the “Icebergs” win after a judge’s tie-breaking ruling.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• The Importance of Play:

  • Ben Stiller & Adam Scott [05:49]:
    “The act of play can unite humans from varying levels of intelligence and circumstance and aid them in forming lasting, valued friendships.”

• Game Show Chaos:

  • Adam Scott [28:12]:
    “Ben, I think we need to start cheating.”
  • John Turturro [28:59]:
    “I told my family to look out for that scene and said, at a certain moment, I will look directly at you during the scene. And then I did do that.”

• Game Host Patton Oswalt:

  • [23:25]:
    “You may know me from other streaming-centric game shows like Sopranos Family Feud and Emily in Jeopardy. But tonight we are playing the Tournament of Fripperies.”

• Dan Erickson, Mock-Corruption as Judge:

  • [49:03]:
    “I mean, they have all paid me differing amounts of money backstage. And it’s going to be a factor.”

Segment Timestamps

• [04:28] Live show introduction (skip ads)
• [05:29] The importance of play - Kier Egan’s wisdom
• [07:08] Introduction, backstories, and Bendo set photographer mystery
• [09:53] Goat chaos on set (“You don’t get co-stars eating your shoelaces…”)
• [15:46] Discussion of food podcast spin-offs (“Soup and Smoothies”)
• [22:48] Introduction of guest host Patton Oswalt
• [23:13] Tournament of Fripperies rules and start
• [25:59 - 37:15] Round One: Who’s Who?
• [37:16 - 45:13] “Real or Rickon?” team quotes round
• [48:41 - 54:13] Expounding Polysyllabically: vocabulary round
• [54:24 - 57:47] Tiebreaker: Two Egans and a Lie
• [57:47] Icebergs named champions
• [59:16] Post-credits: note about a video version and ruling on the true “frippery champion”

Episode Style & Takeaways

• Tone: Playful, self-aware, quick-witted—a blend of insider humor, warm camaraderie, and a love of the show’s lore.
• Highlights for Fans:
  • First-hand anecdotes about the challenges and quirks of Severance’s set.
  • Cast “in-jokes” and running gags about characters, real-life personality quirks, and podcast spillovers.
  • The game show brings out the cast’s friendly rivalry and sharp humor, offering a new lens on their off-screen personalities.
• Insider Treat:
  • Look for the video version on YouTube to see the Bendo photos, Patricia's artistic answers, and Randy George’s theremin performance of the Severance theme.

For Listeners New and Old

This episode is a celebration of Severance’s creative community, packed with exclusive cast moments not seen on screen, and a testament to the show’s fandom and enduring workplace-absurdity spirit. Whether you’re deep into the Severance lore or just dropping in, this energetic, live episode is a reminder that even in the world of Lumen, the act of play truly unites.