Episode 6: Why Scott Aukerman Loves Spielberg/Williams

Hey Nong Man!

Maybe it was hearing Scott Aukerman sing his silly version of “Cantina Band” with his funny pal Paul F. Tompkins for the umpteenth time on Comedy Bang! Bang! Maybe it was how, after I first interviewed Scott (almost exactly ten years ago) and told him that I mostly wrote about film music, and he said, “Oh, like [COMPOSER’S NAME REDACTED]?” and I made an obvious scoffing sound… and then realized he had worked with and was friends with said composer. Or maybe it was when I interviewed him again for a semi-recent profile about CBB’s legacy, and the subject of movie soundtracks came up once again… Or maybe I just like talking to him!

Whatever the reasons, when I came up with the idea for Why We Love Spielberg/Williams, I marked Scott down as a dream guest. And, to my delight, he was the first yes.

For the uninitiated, Scott Aukerman is a veteran comedy improviser and podcast host, an alumnus of Mr. Show with Bob and David, creator of the Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast and TV series, co-creator of Between Two Ferns and writer/director of Between Two Ferns: The Movie. A great culture writer once dubbed him “the Lorne Michaels of character improv.” (That writer was me.) He’s funny, absurdly quick on his feet, one of the O.G. podcasters, and he’s a fan of Spielberg/Williams (and Danny Elfman, and musical theater, and just plain bein’ silly).

This episode is much lighter (and more irreverent, and slightly more PG-13) than the previous ones, but I truly had a blast talking to Scott about his history with these two artists and just the general appeal of film music and catchy themes… and also Pee-wee Herman, and David Letterman, and sundry other topics. Scott made fun of me and movies that are sacred to me… but he also made me laugh. If you’re like me, and I know I am, then I think you’ll enjoy the show!