Podcast Summary: "Blake Anderson on Games With Names with Julian Edelman"

This Is Important – iHeartPodcasts
April 10, 2026

Episode Overview

In this crossover episode, comedian and Workaholics star Blake Anderson joins Julian Edelman and the crew from the "Games With Names" podcast for a deep (and deeply funny) exploration of Bay Area sports fandom, pivotal moments in sports history, behind-the-scenes stories from the world of comedy, and a detailed rewatch of Game 4 of the 2022 NBA Finals (Golden State Warriors vs Boston Celtics). The conversation ranges from improv league championships in high school to the emotional significance of Bay Area sports, topped with classic banter around "quarterback brain," snack strategy, and the existential importance of a good appetizer.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The "Quarterback Brain" of Comedy and Sports (06:23 – 08:03)

• The group discusses what makes a "quarterback brain"—the person who conceptually understands all moving parts, whether in sports or making comedy.
  • Anders Holm is nominated as the "quarterback" of their comedy team for breaking down the formula of jokes and scenes and leading group dynamics.
  • Quote: "There's is definitely the quarterback." – Blake Anderson (07:59)

2. Bay Area Sports Fandom & Identity (13:24 – 18:19)

• Blake and Ders exchange stories about growing up in the Bay, discussing their childhood teams (49ers, A’s, Warriors, Sharks) and the heartbreak of Oakland losing sports franchises.
• The emotional toll and sense of lost community from losing teams like the Raiders and A’s is highlighted.
  • Quote: "What's going to happen to Oakland? ...It's so sad. It's like ripping the heart out of the Bay." – Ders (17:21)

3. High School Improv & Theater Sports Rivalries (13:53 – 16:27)

• A surprising thread on Devil Mountain Improv League, improv rivalries with storied football schools, and the genuinely competitive—if unorthodox—nature of high school performing arts.
  • Quote: "You have to approach acting not as an art. It is a sport." – Ders (14:59)
  • Note: Their improv trophy? A bottle of Goldschlager, quickly confiscated by their teacher.

4. Comedy as Team Sport: The Origins of Workaholics (38:44 – 43:11)

• The origin story for Workaholics is traced back to community college improv, meeting Adam Devine, and hustling sketches out of the "trunk" on MySpace and YouTube.

  • Quote: "It was very, too short in that way... we got it out of the trunk, man." – Ders (40:44)

• Living the sitcom: The crew really did live together in Van Nuys, using their own house as the Workaholics set—an entrepreneurial move when Comedy Central picked up the series.

  • Quote: "If we film at our house, will you pay the rent? ...We're shooting here." – Ders (59:09)

5. Game 4, 2022 NBA Finals – The Deep Dive

(From 59:35 onward, with lead-up and key detail, revisited throughout the last hour of the episode)

• Ders, a lifelong Warriors fan, takes the crew through his experience of the 2022 Finals, focusing on the pivotal Game 4:
  • The emotional context: post-COVID sports "renaissance", the feeling of life returning for fans.
  • The stakes: Celtics were up 2-1, Warriors needing a win to avoid going down 3-1.
  • Steph Curry’s legendary performance: 43 points, a signature “battery” moment.
  • Analysis of Celtics roster and team trajectory, shifting NBA fandom dynamics, and how All-Star Games have lost their old-school luster as moments of cross-fandom unity.
  • The infamous Draymond Green–Jordan Poole altercation, the leak, and how team-family disputes are different in the camera-phone era.
  • Quote: "We could have run it back, but Draymond punched Jordan Poole at practice, and then they leaked the footage." – Ders (75:39)
  • Quote: "This was the most fulfilling series win—just felt good for Steph to have this moment." – Ders (101:03)
  • Signature Name for the Game: "The Chef’s Kiss." – Ders (105:45)

Key Segment Timestamps

• [59:35] – Return to 2022 Finals, Game 4 setup and why the year mattered.
• [82:05] – Leadup and playoff context for Celtics and Warriors.
• [86:50] – Quarter-by-quarter highlights of Game 4; tactical swings, turnovers, Curry’s dominance, coaching techs, and momentum.
• [99:50] – The unsung Warriors heroes: Otto Porter Jr., Looney, Gary Payton II.
• [101:03] – Emotional significance for Bay Area fans and Steph Curry’s legacy.
• [105:45] – Naming and rating "The Chef’s Kiss": score, star power, gameplay, cultural relevance.

6. Sports, Snacks, and Superstition (52:12 – 55:58)

• Blake reveals his "love language" is ordering food for people, breaking down the science of appetizers—healthy, crowd-pleasers (wings, mozzarella sticks, thin pizzas, kale and Caesar salads), and special picks.
  • Quote: "I think food’s my love language." – Blake (52:41)
• Extended debate on the proper salad (Team Ranch vs. Team Caesar), and the overlooked power of the crouton.

7. Comedy Cruise Stories & Fan Interaction (28:28 – 34:59)

• The This Is Important podcast crew’s live cruise is recounted: unexpected good vibes, surprising fan normality, pot sticker and buzzball diet, and the regulatory challenges of smoking at sea.
  • Quote: "It was a great time... You just come out of it being like, yeah, man, this can work. People can be cool and it can rock." – Ders (31:33)

8. Appetizers: A Mount Rushmore

Quick App Rankings (53:14 – 54:13)

• Blake's List: Hummus, mozzarella sticks, three-flavor wings, thin pizza as an appetizer, kale & Caesar salads.
• Ders's Additions: Blooming onions, Tex Mex egg rolls, pot stickers/gyoza, French onion dip.
  • Quote: "You just said one of the most gangster ass things I’ve ever heard. You said a pizza is an appetizer." – Ders (55:12)

9. Cultural Nuggets & Memorable Moments

• Who is the "Steph Curry of comics"? Jim Carrey, per Ders, with Will Forte as Klay Thompson and Rodney Dangerfield as Draymond Green. (80:04)
• High praise for Bay Area slang and E-40’s never-published dictionary.
• Bay Area "group chat" for celebrities—still only a dream.
• Blake's identity as "Bay Destrian" ("It's 100% Bian." – Ders, 113:23)
• How losing sports teams—and the accompanying sense of place—is akin to ripping one’s guts out.
  • Quote: "It’s my identity. Sports are so intertwined with the pride of the Bay Area and the pride of who I am as a person." – Ders (113:33)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Team Dynamics:
  "When you meet people from other schools, it creates almost like a cool competition. Steel on steel... That makes everyone better." – Blake Anderson (41:00)

• On Superfan Rituals:
  "Steph Curry only makes threes when I jump in the pool. So I'd just be cannonballing in the pool every time he shoots." – Ders (95:09)

• On Draymond Green:
  "He's the straw that stirs that drink on keeping the ship going... this was the one time I was like, I can't back Draymond anymore. I kind of wanted him off the team after that." – Ders (76:56)

• On the significance of the 2022 Finals:
  "This was the most fulfilling series win. Just felt really good for Steph to have this moment." – Ders (101:03)

• On Bay Area Pride:
  "It's our culture. It's who we are. So, like, when we talk about teams leaving Oakland, it really is like ripping our guts out." – Ders (113:33)

Episode Timeline

• [06:23] – Quarterback brain explained, comedy team roles.
• [13:24] – Blake and Ders discuss Bay Area sports roots and the loss of Oakland teams.
• [14:59] – Acting as sport, Devil Mountain Improv League.
• [38:44] – Origin of Workaholics: improv, MySpace, YouTube, and house-as-set.
• [59:35] – NBA Finals 2022, Game 4 – context and emotional backdrop.
• [82:05] – Playoff breakdown, Celtics/Warriors journey to Game 4.
• [86:50] – Game 4 play-by-play: Curry’s heroics, quarter swings, unsung heroes.
• [101:03] – Legacy discussion, Curry’s Finals MVP, emotional impact.
• [113:33] – What Bay Area sports mean to Ders.
• [105:45] – Game naming & rating: "The Chef’s Kiss"
• Sprinkled throughout: Appetizer science, cruise experiences, comedy/athletics analogies, shoutouts to legends, snack debates.

Final Reflections

The episode blends humor, nostalgia, sports insight, and personal identity into a warm, winding conversation full of laughter and genuine appreciation for teams, friends, and the power of great athletic (and comedic) moments. For fans of the Warriors, the Bay Area, or Workaholics, it's a love letter to how sports and creativity overlap—and how being a true fan (or friend) means celebrating the victories, grieving the losses, and always being ready with snacks for the crew.

Highlight Reel

• (07:59) "Ders is definitely the quarterback." – Blake Anderson
• (13:24) "What's going to happen to Oakland?" – Ders
• (41:00) "Steel on steel... That makes everyone better." – Blake Anderson
• (76:56) "Kind of wanted him off the team after that." – Ders, on Draymond/Poole incident
• (95:09) "Steph only makes threes when I jump in the pool." – Ders
• (105:45) "The Chef's Kiss." – Ders, naming the game
• (113:33) "It's just intertwined with the pride of the Bay Area." – Ders

If you missed this episode, you got not just a breakdown of a classic NBA Finals game, but a hilarious tour through Bay Area sports and comedy culture—a reminder that fandom, friendship, and food are all best enjoyed together.