Ep 7, Pt 2: Interview with Shawn French - Game Designer, Comic Creator, Filmmaker
A wise man once said, “It takes a special kind of insanity to really just love the complexity of game writing.” And this wise man said it AFTER his house was broken into. That is Shawn in a nutshell. In this installment, we talk about his story, about nonlinear storytelling, open-ended story design, interactive story writing, game design, filmmaking, stunt work, and the importance of perseverance and drive in the art of storytelling.
Ep 7, Pt 1: Four Questions about Troma Entertainment w/ Shawn French
Episode 7 is in full swing with Visiting Professor Shawn French, video-game writer and designer, comic creator, and filmmaker. Molly delivers a two-faced Word of the Day. Bob quizzes the faculty on the king’s of horror camp, Troma Entertainment. We talk about horror films, Andre the Giant, My Dinner with Andre, and a heck of a lot more. We even have CarlaRose Dubois in as a stint as our Temporary Assistant Coach.
Next Week: The Right Guest
Welcome, Visiting Professor Shawn French. Shawn is a video-game writer and designer for Hyperkinetic Studios, lead writer of the RPG Epic Tavern, and writer/creator of Murder on the Midway for the Tales app. Shawn was hilarious in this episode, which makes sense. Before finding his home in games, he paid the bills as a stand-up comic and comedy writer, sports journalist and videographer, and film critic. Shawn is the writer/co-creator of the comic book series Escape from Jesus Island, and the writer/director of the horror flick The Wrong House.
Ep 6 Lie Lie Again Bonus: Did Nate Go to Space Camp?
Bob claims that Nate went to Space Camp. Nate backs him up. Did he? Who knows? Well, Bob and Nate presumably. Did he go? Did he get to see the Space Shuttle? Did he sit in it and accidentally gets launched into orbit? I'm guessing no on those last two parts because if something like that actually happened we'd have heard about it. I have no idea about the other two. What do you think? Find out the truth in this special bonus episode of Balderdash Academy.
Ep 6 After Hours Bonus: The Best of Life With Me (Today)
In this installment we pull out all the stops and go on Vacation and eat toast, go to Work and file stuff, and hey, try Living with me while Dating me during a zombie apocalypse. We also finish with Sex With ME because tradition, that’s why. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy our “prove to us that we can do it” showcase.
Ep 6, Pt 5: Technically Correct with Jeff Peterson
Whether you’re deadheading or inspecting holes, make sure you take time to watch this final installment of Jeff Peterson’s episode. Don’t pull a Nate and regret your decision!
Ep 6, Pt 4: Mask Charades with Jeff Peterson
We learn a lot in this episode of Balderdash Academy with Visiting Professor Jeff Peterson. We learn that Magic Johnson's tweets are something else. We learn that pineapple upside-down cake was a fad years ago. We learn that when dribbling, swimsuits, and Godzilla are involved, Steve can only make it 40 seconds... and that, my friend, breaks a record.
Ep 6, Pt 3: Lie Lie Again with Jeff Peterson
Marie is hard. Steve thinks actors and actresses get naked. Nate struggles reading. Molly has Blue Balls. And this description has nothing to do with what you think it does. Seriously, get your minds out of the gutter. Check it out in this installment of Balderdash Academy.
Ep 6, Pt 2: Interview with Jeff Peterson
Fork some tuna on saltines and settle in as our faculty interviews hiker, musician, should-be funnyman, and WGME news anchor Jeff Peterson! Get personal with this rugged family man full of high school spirit and vegan jerky as we talk about his career, his kids, and how his milkshake brings all the retirees to the lobby. You don’t wanna miss it.
Ep 6, Pt 1: Four Questions with Jeff Peterson
It’s the first installment of Episode 6 with special guest WGME news anchor and all-around great guy Jeff Peterson. Buckle up for Sally’s Satan Siren, aggressive square dancing, and a whole lot of Cheetos dust.
Next Week: The Anchor You’re Looking For
On August 24th Balderdash Academy welcomes Emmy Award-winning journalist, singer, trombonist, hiker, vegan, and man-who-missed-his-comedy-calling, Jeff Peterson of WGME and Fox 23. Jeff took the time to stay up late and join us as our Visiting Professor.
Ep 5 Bonus: Behind the Scenes
We have a ton of fun shooting these. There are times we go off on tangents, have bits that run too long, or cut material for time. What I'm saying is that we have some shows with a ton of extra material. This is one of them. I've compiled some of the good ones here in this short bonus episode.
Ep 5 Lie Lie Again Bonus: Molly’s Last Meal
Molly says that she knows what she’d have for her last meal. Is she telling the truth? Look, we don’t have lie detectors, so we can’t say for sure. We’re way too broke for that. In this case, all we have is our keen intuition… which, honestly, kinda blows when it comes to figuring out if Molly is lying or not. Can you spot her “tells”?
Ep 5 After Hours Bonus: Sex With Me
That's right, we cherry-pick some topics in this one. Why? because we're funny and smart. Besides, the Balderdash Randomizer landed on Sex With Me. We had to focus on how we relate Sex with Me to everything from tomatoes and French Cooking to Lloyd Bridges and Jaws 2.
Ep 5, Pt 5: Technically Correct with Dr Hal Cohen
In this special episode of Balderdash Academy, we get the deets on the eggs and the seamen who love them. Professor of Home Ec & Wellness, Marie Stewart Harmon, teaches us about egg substitutes. Plus, Bob shares his recipe for Vegan Nut-free Pancakes.
Ep 5, Pt 4: Mash Charade with Dr Hal Cohen
Things get feisty when Molly forgets the Golden rule. Will Hal let that slide? Betty White and Betty Davis fight it out with Betty Wont officiating, probably. Does anyone actually ever read these things?
Ep 5, Pt 3: Lie Lie Again with Dr Hal Cohen
We figure out how to get a little more Rumi by brushing aside some dead leaves and Ghosting Molly. It’s UDDERLY ridiculous, CHECK IT OUT! “Smiley face emoji.”
Ep 5 Pt 2: Interview with Dr Hal Cohen
Leave it to physician Dr. Hal Cohen to tell you all about the fictional sex therapist that lives in his mind, Wiffle ball with a son-of-a-cousin and the history of the very first Karen in this episode of Balderdash Academy.
Ep 5, Pt 1: Four Questions with Dr Hal Cohen
Quality sweat. What the heck does that even mean? I have no idea, but it comes up in this episode. It could be a detailed discussion into the intricacies of perspiration, could be an off-hand joke made by a member of the faculty, could be a medical issue from Dr. Hal Cohen. Which one will it be? I’m not telling. Watch the episode to find out. It’s why I spend my Saturday writing these things.
Next Week: The Doctor is In.
On August 10th, 2020 Balderdash Academy welcomes longtime friend and the triple threat of physician, actor, and playwright, Doctor Hal Cohen. Hal is a playwright known for the plays Leonora Rabinowitz, I Love You which played at the Footlights Theater in Falmouth, Maine, 27, which was a part of The Doors of Misperception in t” in the 2019 PortFringe Festival in Portland, Maine. He’s also a well-loved actor, sometime improviser, and all the time physician in Southern Maine.