[workjuice]

Some of your Thrilling Adventure Hour pals will be at San Diego Comic-Con this week! Schedule below.

Please stop by the Boom booth (ideally, Thursday between 2-3pm) and pick up both TAH: A Spirited Romance, collecting for the first time the previously published Image Comics “Beyond Belief” series and origin issue #0 by Acker & Blacker and Phil Hester, and TAH #1, featuring an all new “Beyond Belief” series illustrated by MJ Erickson. Above is the SDCC exclusive variant cover for TAH #1 featuring the cross-over you thought you’d never see! (Crossover does not appear in the story).

Both of these books are available in comic shops this Wednesday.

In October, TAH: A Spirited Romance will be published in a fancy collector’s edition with extras, including an annotated script of issue #0.

THURSDAY:

2-3pm: Signing at Boom Studios booth #2229 with Ben Acker, Ben Blacker, and Hal Lublin.

4:45-5:45pm, Ballroom 20: “The Great Debates” with Janet Varney, Aisha Tyler, Felicia Day (Mystery Science Theater 3000), Joe Manganiello (Rampage), Adam Savage (MythBusters), Orlando Jones (American Gods), and John Barrowman (Torchwood).

FRIDAY:

5-6pm, Room 23ABC: “Pop Culture Witches” panel. Ben Blacker discusses his new Vertigo Comics series, HEX WIVES (out 10/31) with Nell Scovell, creator of the Sabrina the Teenage Witch TV show from the 90s; Jessica O'Toole & Amy Rardin, the creators and showrunners of the CW’s Charmed reboot; Ruth Connell who has played the witch “Rowena” on many episodes of Supernatural; Tomi Adeyemi, author of Children of Blood and Bone; and Juliana Crouch, who is an actual practicing witch.

6-7pm, Room 23ABC: DC/Vertigo panel with Hex Wives creator Ben Blacker and artist Mirka Andolfo; video game developer and programmer Zoe Quinn (Goddess Mode); Nine Inch Nails art director Rob Sheridan (High Level); writers Bryan Hill (American Carnage) and Eric Esquivel (Border Town); and more!

7:30pm, Observatory North Park: Adventure Zone Q&A and reading with Hal Lublin, Travis McElroy, and more. Ticketed event (sold out)

SATURDAY

1-2pm, Room 7AB: Stan Against Evil season 3 panel with Janet Varney, Dana Gould, John C. McGinley, Deborah Baker, Jr., and Nate Mooney.

5-6pm, Grand 1&2, Marriott Marquis: Don't Go Broke Collecting panel with Hal Lublin, Joseph Gordon (Into the Wormhole: A Star Trek Podcast), Vince Moore (Total Recall: Life on Mars; former comics retailer), and more.

SUNDAY:

10-11am, Grand 1&2 Marriott Marquis: Nerd for a Living panel with Travis McElroy (The Adventure Zone; My Brother, My Brother and Me), Susan Eisenberg (voice of Wonder Woman in Justice League and Justice League: Unlimited), Tomi Adeyemi (author of Children of Blood and Bone), and more! We’ll talk about how to turn your passion into $$$.

[workjuice]

Our Nazi-Smashing Benefit recorded in November is now available for download! Starring Nathan Fillion, Autumn Reeser, Paul F. Tompkins, Paget Brewster, Busy Philipps, Joshua Malina, Marc Evan Jackson, The Good Place's Jameela Jamil, and all of your Thrilling Adventure Hour pals!

A portion of the proceeds from your purchase go to the Anti-Defamation League of Los Angeles.

DOWNLOAD PARTS 1 & 2 HERE!

photos by Liezl Estipona

[workjuice]

Thanks for making our benefit for the Anti-Defamation League a sell-out! If you missed out on tickets but still want to support the ADL, please give.

There are still lots of opportunities to see the WorkJuice Players and friends this fall.

On Friday, Oct 6, at the Bell House in Brooklyn, it’s the Variety Show celebrating Acker & Blacker’s second STAR WARS book! Featuring Jonathan Coulton, Jean Grae, Paul & Storm, Hal Lublin, Mark Gagliardi, and lots more NY pals. TICKETS

Star Wars: Escape from Vodran is released Oct 3. Acker & Blacker also have a short story about the stormtrooper who bumps his head in the Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View 40th anniversary collection.

Ben Blacker and musical director Jordan Katz helped produce this benefit for Muzack, which helps gets instruments into the hands of kids who need them, on Saturday, Oct 7. The show features Paul F. Tompkins, Ted Leo, Aimee Mann, Natalie Morales, Thomas Lennon, Patton Oswalt, Angelo Moore (of Fishbone), John Wicks (of the Records), Clemmie Williams, Dan Wilson, Tony Thaxton, Zach Sherwin, Billy Bragg, and lots more. It’s an all day carnival. TICKETS & INFO HERE

Sunday, Oct 8, Hal Lublin and Mark Gagliardi and special guests bring their hit podcast “We Got This” live to New York Comic-Con. Acker, Hal, Mark, and lots of WorkJuice Players and pals will be at NYCC all weekend, so check their Twitters for appearances. TICKETS FOR “WE GOT THIS”

Saturday, Nov 12, at Largo, LA, is another Dead Pilots Society, the live show and podcast produced by Ben Blacker and frequently featuring WJ Players and Friends. The Nov 12 show stars Patton Oswalt and David Koechner in scripts by Rob Schrab (co-creator, The Sarah Silverman Program) and Adam McKay (Anchorman; The Big Short) & Chris Henchy (The Campaign). TICKETS HERE

We’ll be sure to keep you updated on as many of the WJ Players and pals’ goings-on as we can. In the meantime, thanks so much for your continued support and interest.

[workjuice]

Adventurekateers! We’re coming out of retirement for one night only to punch Nazis in the face!

Please join us at our Benefit for the Anti-Defamation League on November 4 at Largo at the Coronet. CLICK FOR TICKETS

Starring all of the WorkJuice Players in your favorite freedom-fighting episodes of Jefferson Reid, Ace American and Amelia Earhart, Fearless Flier.

Proceeds benefit the Anti-Defamation League, combating anti-Semitism and bigotry of all kinds in the Los Angeles area. If you cannot attend the show but would like to support the ADL, please give here.

This will be our only show this year!

[workjuice]

While there won’t be any official Thrilling Adventure Hour presence at San Diego Comic Con this year, you CAN catch some WJ Players and personnel at the Con. Come on down and say hello!

Thursday, 7/20

11-12, Rm 28DE: Breaking Into Comics and Staying There. Featuring Ben Blacker, Matt Gagnon (editor-in-chief, BOOM! Studios), Bryce Carlson (managing editor, BOOM! Studios), Felipe Smith (All-New Ghost Rider), David F. Walker (War for the Planet of the Apes), John Allison (Giant Days), Dan Mora (Saban’s Go Go Power Rangers), and Jackie Ball (Goldie Vance).

2-3pm, Indigo Ballroom Hilton Bayfront: Colony Season 3 Revealed. Moderated by Ben Blacker. Panelists include creators Carlton Cuse and Ryan Condal, and cast members Josh Holloway, Sarah Wayne Callies, Peter Jacobson, Tory Kittles, and Wes Tooke.

2-3pm, Room 5AB: Stan Against Evil panel with Janet Varney, John C. McGinley, and Stan creator and TAH pal Dana Gould.

7pm at the Music Box Theater: Comedy Bang! Bang! Live with Paul F. Tompkins and TAH pals Scott Aukerman, Lauren Lapkus, and more. TICKETS REQUIRED.

Friday, 7/21

12-1pm, Rm 7AB: Lucasfilm Publishing: New Star Wars Stories… With Ben Blacker (STAR WARS: JOIN THE RESISTANCE), Christian Blauvelt (Star Wars Made Easy), Cullen Bunn (Star Wars: Darth Maul), Christie Golden (Battlefront II: Inferno Squad), Claudia Gray (Leia: Princess of Alderaan), Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Star Wars Jedi Academy: The Force Oversleeps), Cavan Scott (Star Wars Adventures), Beth Revis (Star Wars: Rebel Rising), and Landry Walker (Star Wars Adventures).

2:45-3:30, Ballroom 20: Con Man, Cons, and Fandom Culture with TAH pals Alan Tudyk and Amy Acker, composer Jonathan Dinerstein, and more.

4-5pm, Neil Morgan Auditorium, San Diego Central Library: Best of Earwolf with Paul F. Tompkins, Scott Aukerman, Paul Scheer (How Did This Get Made?), Lauren Lapkus (...with Special Guest Lauren Lapkus), and Kualp Vilaysack & Howard Kremer (Who Charted?).

7-9pm, Ballroom 20: World Premiere of Batman and Harley Quinn with Paget Brewster as the voice of Poison Ivy! Paget joins the panel with Bruce Timm (Batman: The Killing Joke), Kevin Conroy (Batman: The Animated Series), Loren Lester (Rock ’n’ Roll High School), director Sam Liu (Teen Titans: The Judas Contract), and co-screenwriter Jim Krieg (Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox). 

Saturday, 7/22

11-12, Lucasfilm booth 2913: Ben Blacker signs STAR WARS: JOIN THE RESISTANCE (and anything else you bring).

Sunday, 7/23

1:30-2:30, Dark Horse Comics booth 2615: signing with Janet Varney and Legend of Korra’s Michael Dante DiMartino and Irene Koh. (wristband required)

[workjuice]

Adventurekateers! Our own founding WorkJuice Player Mark Gagliardi is putting up Tales from the Black Lagoon for one night only in NY! Here’s a message from Gags himself:

Hello, Thrilling fans! I have some exciting news for our east coast folks.

I, like you, miss hearing Acker & Blacker’s stories told from the stage by nicely dressed performers.  When some friends told me they were raising money to build schools in Malawi I thought this seemed like a great reason to gather some of my favorite WorkJuice East Players and have a Thrilling night at the Bell House, our New York home. And what a story we have for you! 

Do you remember our serial Tales from the Black Lagoon? It’s a trio of noir stories about Hollywood’s Golden Age and one of my favorite segments we ever did, so we’re gathering those serial episodes into one seamless story of glamorous intrigue.

It will be on May 17th at 7:30 at The Bell House, our favorite theater, to raise money for a good cause. I hope to see you there!

CLINK FOR TICKETS

Thanks to the brilliant Chris Samnee for this art! Check him out.

[workjuice]

We’ve raided the old WorkJuice Vaults to bring a you a “new” podcast today. But more exciting is the information that comes with it! This Thursday, May the Fourth, you can watch our entire STAR WARS-THEMED BOOK RELEASE VARIETY SHOW-SLASH-BENEFIT FOR PUBLIC COUNSEL! It’s an amazing show that stars Workjuice Player Busy Philipps, our pals “Weird” Al Yankovic, Matt Gourley, Mark McConville, Janina Gavankar, Open Mike Eagle, Sara Watkins, Gaby Moreno, and MORE. It was an incredible night of music, comedy, and fun. Get the video, audio, and mp3s of the songs on Thursday at our website!

Today’s “lost” podcast is a studio recording we did back in 2006. It’s a version of the first and third episodes of Beyond Belief that we originally performed at M Bar in 2005. 

As always, starring Paul F. Tompkins and Paget Brewster as those married mediums Frank and Sadie Doyle. Also starring Hal Lublin as the Spooky Narrator; Marc Evan Jackson as the President; Crissy Guerero as the President's daughter; Mark Gagliardi as another president; Craig Cackowski as Agent Garvey; and Toby Huss as Buddy Holly. Written by Ben Acker & Ben Blacker Directed by Toby Wilkins Produced by Dave Gruber Allen Engineered by Tommy Chan with assistance from Jillinda Palmer Music produced and composed by Andy Paley. "Here's To Us" by Andy Paley & Acker & Blacker

itunes // nerdist

Some thoughts about this episode from co-writer/co-creator Ben Acker:

In the early days of the Thrilling Adventure Hour, back when it was The Thrilling Adventure and Supernatural Suspense Hour, it was a stage show and not a podcast. This episode of Beyond Belief was our very first one. It was the first one we wrote, the one we dropped on Paget's doorstep, the one we sent Paul, that first time. It was the first one we staged, it only made sense that it be the first one we record, in our first attempt to record the show. Why did we make this recording? To what purpose, you might ask? It was for the same reason as we did the show - we did not know, but it seemed like fun. The opportunity arose due to generosity from friend of the show Tommy Chan, whose studio we used and who engineered the recording and from the generosity of founding WorkJuice player Dave (Gruber) Allen who produced the thing. As you can hear, Beyond Belief at its inception was a different animal. Frank and Sadie were con artists. They had an enemy in the form of a secret service man named Garvey, with whom they had a history. They also had history with famous ghosts. The idea of famous ghosts, while fun initially, wasn't something we ended up with, in that it planted the Doyles in time, which didn't turn out to feel right. We found better outlets in the show for celebrity impressions and America stuff. You can also hear in this recording the things that were there at the start of the Doyles, the things that lasted all the way through. Not just their love for each other and booze and their banter and their clink, but the chemistry that Paul and Paget had at the core of those characters. It got richer over the years, but it was there before we were writing it. We hope you enjoy listening to the early days of it. 

[writerspanel]

This line up!

Jenny Slate (Obvious Child; Bob’s Burgers) and composer Michael Giacchino (Rogue One; Inside Out) #JoinTheResistance on March 8 in a benefit for Public Counsel, providing pro bono law services to LA’s underserved communities.

They join previously announced guests Weird Al Yankovic, Janina Gavankar (Sleepy Hollow; True Blood), Doug Benson (Doug Loves Movies), Busy Philipps (Cougar Town), Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks!), Matt Gourley (I Was There Too; Superego), comic/rapper Zach Sherwin, music from Sara Watkins, and Open Mike Eagle!

Don’t miss this amazing night of music and comedy, all for a good cause.

CLICK FOR TICKETS

[workjuice]

Join Acker & Blacker and this all-star line up for a night of Star Wars-themed comedy and music!

[workjuice]

Where can I find my favorite WorkJuice Players at SF Sketchfest this weekend?

Well, the most WorkJuice bang for your buck is

WORKJUICE IMPROV: Friday 7:30pm

WorkJuice Players Craig Cackowski, Mark Gagliardi, Marc Evan Jackson, Hal Lublin, Annie Savage, Paul F Tompkins and Little Janet Varney improvise scenes based upon monologues by international hip-hop icon and NY pal Jean Grae.

WJ Improv TICKETS

What else?

Ben Blacker’s newest podcast and live show, Dead Pilots Society, features live reads of TV pilots that were bought and developed but never produced. On Sunday 1/15 at 1pm they’ll perform pilots by TAH pals Andy Richter (Conan) and by Steve Agee & Rob Schrab (co-star and co-creator, respectively, of The Sarah Silverman Program)!

Starring WJ Players Paul F. Tompkins, Joshua Malina, and Janet Varney and TAH pals Wyatt Cenac, Dave Foley, Matt Gourley, Mark McConville, Christopher McCulloch, Tawny Newsome, and more!

Dead Pilots Society TICKETS

Speaking of podcasts, Hal Lublin and Mark Gagliardi bring their MaxFun hit We Got This to SFSF on Saturday 1/14 at 1pm. Mark and Hal settle disputes and promise lots of WorkJuice guests!

We Got This TICKETS

Looking for something to do after the WJ Improv show on Friday night? At 10:15pm head over to the Brava Theatre to see WJ Player Craig Cackowski and WJ Player-in-Law Carla Cackowski and friends in Orange Tuxedo. Guaranteed great improv.

Orange Tuxedo TICKETS

As usual, Paul F. Tompkins is all over SF Sketchfest. In addition to WJ Improv on Friday and Dead Pilots Society on Sunday, Paul’s has sold out Spontaneanation and Superego shows (though, you never know, maybe just show up?). On Friday night after WJ Improv see Paul in Wheels Off: The Rhett Miller Show for music, comedy, and fun times.

Wheels Off TICKETS

And on Sunday, Paul joins hosts Vanessa Ragland and Cole Stratton for Pop My Culture LIVE for their final episode. Other guests include our pals Samm Levine and Rhett Miller.

Pop My Culture TICKETS

What’s more, be sure to check the SFSF schedule for shows by lots of TAH pals, including John Hodgman, Paul & Storm, Jean Grae, Jonathan Coulton, Adam Savage, and others.

[workjuice]

#TBT to perhaps 2013, Acker & Blacker planning some episodes. Did any of these happen?

[liezlwashere]

Thrilling Adventure Hour | The Theatre at Ace Hotel | 12.17.16 So long Sparks Nevada.

[workjuice]

Thanks to everyone who came out to last night’s special holiday show at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel! It was a special night for all of us.

Thanks to the WorkJuice Players: @paulftompkins, Marc Evan Jackson, Paget Brewster, @hallublin, Mark Gagliardi, Craig Cackowski, Joshua Malina, Annie Savage, Autumn Reeser, Janet Varney, and Busy Philipps.

Thanks to our special guests: Timothy Omundson, Chris Tallman, and Open Mike Eagle.

Enormous thanks to Jordan Katz and the Elements of Style, featuring composer Jonathan Dinerstein. And thanks to Rhett Miller and Ted Leo for the amazing new songs.

Thanks to our director Aaron Ginsburg. And thanks to Ben Acker & Ben Blacker who created, wrote, and produced the show. The doors are closed for now, but they aren’t locked.

[workjuice]

New episode!

The Thrilling Adventure Hour #235: Beyond Belief, "Snakes in a Mane"

Starring Paul F. Tompkins and Paget Brewster as those married mediums Frank and Sadie Doyle. Also starring Hal Lublin as the Spooky Narrator; Annie Savage as a gorgon; Mark Gagliardi as Pterodactyl Jones; and Autumn Reeser as Bloody Mary.

Music by Jordan Katz & the Elements of Style. Written, produced, and directed by Ben Acker & Ben Blacker.

"Love Ain't No Billy Goat" written by Jonathan Coulton.

Recorded November 12, 2016 at the Bell House in Brooklyn, NY.

itunes // nerdist

Tickets are on sale NOW for the FINAL THRILLING ADVENTURE HOUR show for many years. It's at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles this Saturday, December 17, 2016.

Starring Paul F. Tompkins, Paget Brewster, Busy Philipps, Joshua Malina, all of the WorkJuice Players, and special guests including Timothy Omundson (Galavant; Psych) and rapper Open Mike Eagle!

Tickets here

NY photo Credit: Mindy Tucker

Omundson portrait: Maarten de Boer

[workjuice]

New ep!

The Thrilling Adventure Hour #234: Sparks Nevada, Marshal on Mars, "Still Alive"

Starring Marc Evan Jackson as Sparks Nevada, Marshal on Mars and Mark Gagliardi as Croach the Tracker. Also starring Hal Lublin as the folksy narrator; Paul F. Tompkins as the Gelato Stand; Jonathan Coulton and Paul & Storm as The Jonathan Coultons; Hal Lublin and Annie Savage as androids; Paul F. Tompkins as Paul's Character and Paul's Other Character; and Autumn Reeser as Virginia West.

Music by Jordan Katz and the Elements of Style. Sparks theme by Eban Schletter.

Written and produced by Ben Acker & Ben Blacker.

Recorded November 16, 2016 at the Bell House in Brooklyn, NY.

Tickets are on sale NOW for the FINAL THRILLING ADVENTURE HOUR show for many years. It's at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles on December 17, 2016.

TICKETS

Follow The Thrilling Adventure Hour and its creators, Ben Blacker and Ben Acker, on Twitter!

Bell House photos: Mindy Tucker

Largo gif: Liezl Estipona

[workjuice]

New episode!

The Thrilling Adventure Hour #232: Amelia Earhart, Fearless Flier, "Venus on a Half Shell"

Starring Autumn Reeser as Amelia Earhart. Also starring Annie Savage as Abby Adams; Timothy Omundson as Reichmuth; Craig Cackowski as Cosimo de'Medici; and Jim O'Heir, Rob Benedict, and Richard Speight, Jr. as artists.

Music by Andy Paley and the Andy Paley Orchestra, featuring Jonathan Dinerstein.

Directed by Aaron Ginsburg. Written and produced by Ben Acker & Ben Blacker.

Recorded November 8, 2014 at Largo at the Coronet in Los Angeles.

itunes // nerdist

Tickets are on sale NOW for the FINAL THRILLING ADVENTURE HOUR show for many years. It's at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles on December 17, 2016. Click for tickets.

Amelia photo: Liezl Estipona

Beyond Belief photo: Mindy Tucker

[workjuice]

A new episode!

The Thrilling Adventure Hour #231: Beyond Belief, "Mannequin Episode"

Starring Paul F. Tompkins and Paget Brewster as those married mediums Frank and Sadie Doyle. Also starring Craig Cackowski, Autumn Reeser, Busy Philipps, and Janet Varney as mannequins; and Hal Lublin as a mannequin hunter. Music by Jordan Katz & the Elements of Style, featuring Jonathan Dinerstein. Directed by Aaron Ginsburg. Written and produced by Ben Acker & Ben Blacker.

Recorded October 23, 2016 at Largo at the Coronet in Los Angeles. PLUS: A bonus musical treat recorded at the Bell House in Brooklyn, NY, featuring Paul F. Tompkins, Paget Brewster, Ted Leo, Jean Grae, and the cast!

itunes // nerdist

Tickets are on sale NOW for the FINAL THRILLING ADVENTURE HOUR show for many years. It's at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles on December 17, 2016. Tickets: https://www.acehotel.com/calendar/losangeles/thrilling-adventure-hour-holiday-funaround

[workjuice]

Visit Original Link

A little post-Halloween fun for you recorded at A Halloween Beyond Belief on October 23, 2016 at Largo at the Coronet. Paul F. Tompkins and Paget Brewster perform “Over at the Frankenstein Place” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Backed by Jordan Katz & the Elements of Style and the WorkJuice Players.

We have one more big show on December 17 at the beautiful Theater at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. After that, we’re going on indefinite hiatus. There are no shows planned for 2017 and beyond.

The Thrilling Adventure Hour Holiday Funaround on Dec 17 is the last chance to see us for at least a few years! It means the world to us that we get to see you Adventurekateers one last time, so please get your tickets now!