Watch Big News Episode 317: “Topic Thunder”

Thursday, June 18, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, Video
Tags: A Prairie Home Companion, Adam Fisher, Alan Thicke, Andrew Motion, Applebee's, April 15, Artemis Pebdani, Billy Greer, bo, Britain’s Got Talent, C'mon Ride It (The Train), Captain Phillips, Car Talk, Carry On Wayward Son, Chesley Sullenberger, Click and Clack, Cuba, Danny Ricker, Davenport, Desi Arnaz, Doug White, East Moline, Elmo, Erich Eilenberger, Ethel, Flight 1549, flooding, Fred, Garrison Keillor, Gregg Lopez, I Love Lucy, I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Ira Glass, Jay Starr, Jim Coughlin, Jim Nieb, Joanna Quraishi, John Madden, K-Fed, Kansas, Kevin Federline, Lucille Ball, Lucy, Matt Moore, Melissa Okey, Michael Hughes, Moline, North Dakota, NPR, Oklahoma, Paul Potts, Phillip Wilburn, piracy, pirates, poet laureate, Quad City DJ's, Ray Magliozzi, Ricky, River City North Dakota, Rock Island, Rod Blagojevich, Roxana Saberi, Sean Cowhig, Shamwow, Steve Walsh, Sully, Susan Boyle, Tappet Brothers, Tax Day, teabaggers, teabagging, This American Life, Tom and Ray Magliozzi, Tom Magliozzi, Tom Repetto, Topic Thunder, Tropic Thunder, United Airlines, Vince Offer, Vince Shlomi, Virginia Madden, Vivian Vance, weight limits on planes, William Frawley

BIG NEWS EPISODE 317: “Topic Thunder”
Starring Sean Cowhig, Adam Fisher, Gregg Lopez, Matt Moore, Jim Nieb, Melissa Okey, Artemis Pebdani, Danny Ricker and Phillip Wilburn
Special Guest: Jim Coughlin
Directed by Michael Hughes

Watch Big News Episode 316: “The iO’Reilly Factor”

Saturday, June 13, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, Video
Tags: Abdullah Gul, Allison Reynolds, Ally Sheedy, Amy Scott, Andrew Clark, Anthony Michael Hall, Armenia, Armenian genocide, Artemis Pebdani, Bailee DesRocher, Barack Obama, Billy Bob Thorton, Bosley, Brian Johnson, Bristol Palin, Charlie's Angels, Claire Standish, David Doyle, Don't You Forget About Me, earthquake, Easter, Easter Bunny, Emilio Estevez, Farrah Fawcett, Flavor Flav, genocide, George Caleodis, Gregg Lopez, Italian earthquake, Italy, Jaclyn Smith, Jason Kelley, jesus, Jimmy Guidish, Joaquin Phoenix, Joe Biden, John Bender, John Hallmann, John Hughes, Judd Nelson, Julia Gaudette, K-Fed, Kal Penn, Kanye West, Kate Jackson, Kevin Federline, Kipleigh Brown, L'Aquila, Leon Panetta, Levi Johnston, Lindsay Lohan, marshmallow Peeps, Matthew Harris, Michael Hughes, Molly Ringwald, Musicians Roundtable, Neil Garguilo, Neil Garguilo in his underpants, Neil Garguilo in his underwear, Peeps, piracy, pirates, Pookie, Rahm Emanuel, Ringo Starr, Scott Garner, Sean Cowhig, Shashi Bhatia, Simple Minds, Somali pirates, Somalia, Stevie Nicks, The Breakfast Club, Tom Repetto, Tommy Bechtold, turkey, Tyra Banks, VH1, VH1 Classic, Watchmen, White House Easter egg hunt, Young Turks

BIG NEWS EPISODE 316: “The iO’Reilly Factor”
Starring Kipleigh Brown, George Caleodis, Sean Cowhig, Bailee DesRocher, Neil Garguilo, Jimmy Guidish, Matthew Harris, Jason Kelley, Gregg Lopez and Artemis Pebdani
Special Guest: Shashi Bhatia
Directed by Michael Hughes

Watch Big News Episode 315: The Skituation Room: “G20, Blagojevich 16″

Saturday, June 13, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, Video
Tags: Artemis Pebdani, Bailee DesRocher, Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Bennie Arthur, Bert the Chimney Sweep, Big Stan, Brian Vestal, Buckingham Palace, Carl Showalter, Chicago White Sox, college admissions, Daphne Moon, David Cook, Dick Van Dyke, Donald Trump, Dora the Explorer, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, ER, Erich Eilenberger, Fargo, flooding, Frances McDormand, Frasier, Frasier Crane, Friends, G20, Gaear Grimsrud, General Motors, George Caleodis, GM, Gordon Brown, Gregg Lopez, Hamburgler, Hillary Clinton, Jane Leeves, Jason Alexander, Jerry Lundegaard, Jim Nieb, John Hallmann, Kelsey Grammer, Kim Jong-il, Kipleigh Brown, Kristina Adelmeyer, Lisa Kudrow, Marge Gunderson, Matt Manser, Matthew Harris, McDonald's, Melissa Okey, Michael Hughes, Michael Vick, Michelle Obama, Michelle Obama touches the Queen, Mike Funt, Nicolas Sarkozy, Noah Wyle, Ozzie Guillen, Peter Soby Jr., Peter Stormare, Phillip Wilburn, Phoebe Buffay, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II, Rahm Emanuel, Rick Wagoner, Rocket Man, Rod Blagojevich, Ron West, Rush Limbaugh, seinfeld, Steve Buscemi, Steve Stone, The Apprentice, The Skituation Room, Tim Geithner, Timothy Geithner, UCSD, University of California at San Diego

BIG NEWS EPISODE 315: THE SKITUATION ROOM: “G20, BLAGOJEVICH 16″
Starring Kipleigh Brown, George Caleodis, Bailee DesRocher, Matthew Harris, Michael Hughes, Jim Nieb, Melissa Okey, Artemis Pebdani, Brian Vestal and Phillip Wilburn
Special Guest: Mike Funt
Directed by Ron West

Watch Big News Episode 314: “Hope Floats?”, with Nicholas D’Agosto and Aaron Krebs!!

Friday, June 12, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, The Biz
Tags: "George Bush", Aaron Krebs, Al Gore, Alaska, Andy Nordvall, Artemis Pebdani, Barack Obama, Bobby Jindal, Christopher Biewer, Chuck Norris, CNN, Current TV, David Crosby, Dead and Gone, economic crisis, Ed Salazar, Elijah Suleman, Facebook, farting, farts, Fired Up, George Caleodis, George Foreman, George Foreman grill, Gregg Lopez, I Love L.A., Jade Goody, Jason Kelley, Jimmy Guidish, Julia Gaudette, Just Dance, Justin Timberlake, Kim Jong-il, Lady GaGa, Lakeview Florida, Laura Ling, marijuana, Matt Blitz, medical marijuana, Melissa Okey, Michael Hughes, Nadia Suleman, Natasha Richardson, Neil Garguilo, Neil Garguilo in his underpants, Nicholas D'Agosto, North Korea, Octo-Mom, Octomom, Phillip Wilburn, Poker Face, Ray Stakenas, Rod Blagojevich, Sarah Palin, T.I., The Situation Room, Tom Repetto, volcanos, WLS, Wolf Blitzer

Back in March, Nicholas D’Agosto, star of the hit film “Fired Up,” and Aaron Krebs, one of the great teachers at iO West (and one of the folks behind the new M.I.’s Westside Comedy Theater just off the Santa Monica Promenade), guested with our cast in a show that turned out to be one of [...]

Watch Big News Episode 313: “Town Hall of Presidents”

Friday, June 12, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, Video
Tags: abstinence, AIG, Antonio Villaraigosa, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bailee DesRocher, Barack Obama, Barney Frank, Ben Bernanke, Boots the Monkey, Bristol Palin, Chachi, Charles Nelson Reilly, Dan Reber, Dora the Explorer, Dr. John Casson, economic crisis, Ed Salazar, Erich Eilenberger, Facebook, Federal Reserve, Fonzie, George Caleodis, Gregg Lopez, Hannah Gansen, Happy Days, health care, I Love You Man, James Warfield, Jay Leno, Jim Nieb, Jimmy Guidish, Joanie Cunningham, Joe Biden, John Hallmann, Julia Gaudette, Kara DioGuardi, KJ Middlebrooks, March Madness, Marion Cunningham, Match Game, Matt Moore, medical marijuana, Melissa Okey, Mrs. C., myspace, NCAA Tournament, Neil Garguilo, Neil Garguilo in his underpants, Neil Garguilo in his underwear, new Facebook, Nickelodeon, Obama on Jay Leno, Obama town hall meeting, Paula Abdul, Peter Soby Jr., Phillip Wilburn, Ponzi scheme, Pope Benedict, Potsie, Rahm Emanuel, Ralph Malph, Randy Jackson, Richie Cunningham, Rick Paulas, Ron West, Ryan Seacrest, sexual frustration, Simon Cowell, Swiper, Taylor Swift, The Barney Frank Show, Tom from MySpace, Tom Repetto, town hall, town hall meeting, Twitter, VI, William Shakespeare

BIG NEWS EPISODE 313: “Town Hall of Presidents”
Starring George Caleodis, Bailee DesRocher, Neil Garguilo, Jimmy Guidish, Gregg Lopez, KJ Middlebrooks, Matt Moore, Jim Nieb, Melissa Okey and Phillip Wilburn
Special Guest: Hannah Gansen
Directed by Ron West

Watch Big News Episode 312: “7800 Weekends at Bernie’s” with Nick Bush!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, Video
Tags: Alec Baldwin, Anne Murray, Artemis Pebdani, Bailee DesRocher, Barack Obama, Ben Boodman, Bernie Madoff, Bert, blue penis, Bo Vine, Chris Brown, Corey Hart, Dr. Manhattan, economic crisis, Ernie, Geddy Lee, Glengarry Glen Ross, Gregg Lopez, Grover, Hillary Clinton, Iceland, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, Jeff Cosgrove, Joanna Quraishi, Julia Gaudette, K-Fed, Kevin Federline, Kids' Choice Awards, Kipleigh Brown, Lindsay Lohan, March Madness, Matt Blitz, Matt Champagne, Matt Moore, Matthew Harris, Michael Hughes, NCAA Tournament, Neil Garguilo, Neil Peart, Nick Bush, Nickelodeon, Peter Soby Jr., Phillip Wilburn, Pookie, Popozao, Rachael Drummond, Ray Stakenas, Rhianna, Rush, Rush Limbaugh, Scott Garner, Sean Cowhig, Sesame Street, Sesame Street layoffs, stem cell research, stem cells, Sunglasses at Night, the Count, Tom Repetto, Viacom, Watchmen, Weekend at Bernie's

BIG NEWS EPISODE 312: “7800 Weekends at Bernie’s”
Starring Kipleigh Brown, Nick Bush, Sean Cowhig, Bailee DesRocher, Rachael Drummond, Neil Garguilo, Matthew Harris, Gregg Lopez, Artemis Pebdani, Ray Stakenas and Phillip Wilburn
Special Guest: Matt Champagne
Directed by Michael Hughes

Watch Big News Episode 311: “There’s a Kind of Rush All Over the World”

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, Video
Tags: Adam Fisher, Al Franken, Amelia Earhardt, American citizenship, Animal Planet, army recruiting, Artemis Pebdani, Back to You, Barack Obama, Barbara Bush, Books, Brian Vestal, Chirstopher Cross, Christopher Biewer, CIA, Commerce Secretary, Corey Smith, Danny Ricker, Dateline NBC, Detroit Lions, Elizabeth II, Endangered Species Act, Fool's Gold, Fort Benning, Fran Drescher, George Caleodis, GOP, Greg Shouse, Gregg Lopez, Jason Mesnick, Jimmy Hoffa, Judd Gregg, Julia Annelise von Arb, Karl Rove, Kate Hudson, Kelsey Grammer, Kipleigh Brown, Marquis Cooper, Matt Moore, Matthew Harris, Matthew McConaughey, Melissa Okey, Michael Hughes, Michael McDonald, Michael Steele, Molly Maloney, Norm Coleman, Oakland Raiders, Patricia Heaton, Phil Gingrey, Phillip Wilburn, Phoeni, Queen Elizabeth II, Republicans, Republicans apologize to Michael Steele, Robin Williams, Rod Blagojevich, Rush Limbaugh, Secretary of Commerce, Stone Phillips, The Bachelor, The Nanny, Tintern Abbey, Tom Repetto, torture tapes, Vince Cramer, Will Bleakley, wind power, Wordsworth

BIG NEWS EPISODE 311: “There’s A Kind of Rush All Over the World”
Starring Kipleigh Brown, Christopher Biewer, George Caleodis, Adam Fisher, Matthew Harris, Michael Hughes, Gregg Lopez, Melissa Okey, Artemis Pebdani, Danny Ricker, Brian Vestal and Phillip Wilburn
Special Guest: Ron Babcock
Directed by Ron West

Watch Big News Episode 306: “Furlough, Sweet Chariot”

Tuesday, June 9, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Big News Writers, Humor, News, News & Commentary, Video
Tags: Phillip Wilburn, Osama bin Laden, Republicans, Artemis Pebdani, Gregg Lopez, Katie Couric, Christopher Biewer, recession, Susan Deming, Michael Hughes, Super Bowl, Jimmy Guidish, Ron West, Kipleigh Brown, Melissa Okey, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Erich Eilenberger, Tom Repetto, George Caleodis, The View, Barbara Walters, economic crisis, Twilight, California budget, Rod Blagojevich, GOP, Nadya Suleman, Octo-Mom, Octomom, Dan Reber, Matt Baetz, furloughs, Chelsey Sullenberger, Sully, Flight 1549, Al Michaels, John Madden, Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, Quinn Callens, Pfizer, Wyeth, Steve Carell, John Rubano, Bart Starr, VInce Lombardi, Super Bowl I, octoplets, Lynn Jenkins, Michele Bachmann, Marsha Blackburn, Eric Cantor, Righteous Brothers, You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling, Antenna City, digital TV, LIII, Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers

BIG NEWS EPISODE 306: “Furlough, Sweet Chariot”
Starring Christopher Biewer, Kipleigh Brown, George Caleodis, Susan Deming, Jimmy Guidish, Michael Hughes, Gregg Lopez, Melissa Okey, Artemis Pebdani and Phillip Wilburn
Special Guest: Matt Baetz
Directed by Ron West

Watch Big News Episode 305: “Inaugural Ball and Chain”

Tuesday, June 9, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, Video
Tags: Phillip Wilburn, Dick Cheney, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, "George Bush", Paris Hilton, Bill Gates, Artemis Pebdani, Gregg Lopez, Aretha Franklin, Campbell Brown, Christopher Biewer, Barbara Bush, Michelle Obama, David Paterson, Laura Bush, Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, Rachael Drummond, Michael Hughes, Jimmy Guidish, Sean Cowhig, Scott Garner, Tammie Smalls, Ron West, Matt Moore, Melissa Okey, Dianne Feinstein, Rahm Emanuel, Joe Lieberman, Greg Shouse, Caroline Kennedy, John Hallmann, inauguration, Peter Soby Jr., Jill Biden, KJ Middlebrooks, Shawn Carlow, George H.W. Bush, Obama Inauguration, John Roberts, John Faga, Tom Vilsack, Kirsten Gillibrand, Revenge of the Nerds, All in the Family, Spencer Pratt, Nikki Hilton, Kyle Isao, Inauguration Parade

BIG NEWS EPISODE 305: “Inaugural Ball and Chain”
Starring Christopher Biewer, Sean Cowhig, Rachael Drummond, Jimmy Guidish, Gregg Lopez, KJ Middlebrooks, Matt Moore, Melissa Okey, Artemis Pebdani, Tammie Smalls and Phillip Wilburn
Special Guest: Shawn Carlow
Directed by Ron West

Watch Big News Episode 303: “Oh! Drama, Obama!”

Tuesday, June 9, 2009 in Big News Episodes, Humor, News, News & Commentary, Video
Tags: "George Bush", Amy Winehouse, Ann Coulter, Artemis Pebdani, Barack Obama, Barbara Bush, Betty Ford, Beyonce, Bill Clinton, Blake Fielder-Civil, Brian Vestal, Christopher Biewer, Dan Dominguez, Debbie Stabenow, Dianne Feinstein, Dick Durbin, Dr. House, Dr. Mario, Dr. Phil, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, economic stimulus package, Erich Eilenberger, First Ladies, Gaza Strip, George Bush Sr., George Caleodis, Gregg Lopez, Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, House, Jesse James, Jill Biden, Jimmy Carter, Jimmy Guidish, Joe Biden, Joe Francis, Joe Lieberman, John Hallmann, Julia Gaudette, Kipleigh Brown, KJ Middlebrooks, Larry Flynt, Laura Bush, Matt Blitz, Matt Lauer, Melissa Okey, Michael Hughes, Michelle Obama, Mike Carona, My Sharona, Nancy Reagan, Orange County Sheriff, Phillip Wilburn, porn stimulus, pornography, Ray Stakenas, Roland Burris, Rosalynn Carter, Sanjay Gupta, Single Ladies, stimulus, The Knack, Tom Cruise, Tom Repetto

BIG NEWS EPISODE 303: “Oh! Drama, Obama!”
Starring Christopher Biewer, Kipleigh Brown, George Caleodis, Jimmy Guidish, Gregg Lopez, KJ Middlebrooks, Melissa Okey, Artemis Pebdani, Brian Vestal and Phillip Wilburn
Directed by Michael Hughes