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Check latest episodes from The Marx Brothers Council Podcast podcast

89 “A Night at the Opera Reorchestrated” featuring The Marx Brothers Council

2026/01/27

The guys respond to insightful audience comments on the brothers’ MGM classic. Is the film actually more like their Paramount work than we give it credit for? Does the brothers’ career trajectory resemble that of Picasso—or Elvis? And did Margaret Dumont actually land a joke? These and other truly life-altering questions are debated, dissected, and delightfully overthought.

88 “The Joy of Marx” featuring Joy Harmon

2025/12/22

Matthew and Noah take a closer look at “Tell It to Groucho”, the short-lived 1962 successor to “You Bet Your Life”. Though nearly identical in format, the series curiously never found its footing with audiences and was quickly cancelled. The guys are joined by the delightful Joy Harmon—Groucho’s assistant on “Tell It…” whom he first met when she appeared as a contestant on YBYL. Joy shares how she landed the role and reflects on her warm, affectionate working relationship with Groucho.

87 “At’sa Some Joke, Eh, Boss?” featuring Elliott Kalan

2025/11/30

Award-winning writer/comedian and longtime Marx Brothers obsessive Elliott Kalan ("The Daily Show", "MST3K", "The Flop House", and the new book, "Joke Farming") takes us deep into the craft of professional comedy writing with a nice dose of Marx-inspired examples. Elliott details the difference between satire and parody, defends the noble pun, and tells the story behind his delightfully chaotic Marx-flavored children’s book, "Sharko and Hippo".

86 “Duck Soup Reheated” featuring The Marx Brothers Council

2025/10/30

Council members weigh in with their takes on the 1933 classic. We dive into the big questions: Is the film genuine satire or just anarchy in disguise? Which supporting characters truly “deserve” the wrath of the Marxes? And why is there not even incidental sound in the famed mirror scene? We’ll also discuss the difficulty some folks apparently have in fitting the entire movie on a VHS tape. Join us as we spin our wheels trying to find logic in the brothers’ most illogical film.

85 “That’s a Rodeo You’re Thinking of”

2025/09/30

In this episode, we listen to and examine some of Groucho’s, Chico’s, and (yes, even) Harpo’s most notable radio guest appearances. We discuss how, while much of their radio work was pedestrian, when paired with the right writers and co-stars, the brothers could flourish. These guest spots also let the brothers experiment in ways they couldn’t elsewhere — and even when the results were uneven, they were always fascinating.

84 “Traveling Sohlo” featuring Brad Sohlo

2025/09/03

Alexander Woollcott authority Brad Sohlo returns to explore the celebrated critic’s influence on Harpo’s life, career, and legacy—and the surprisingly equal role Harpo played in Woollcott’s. Brad also shares stories from his visit to Woollcott’s Neshobe Island retreat, where Harpo and fellow Algonquin Round Table regulars gathered to unwind, rough it, and battle it out over croquet.

BONUS EPISODE: Horse Feathers Unredacted

2025/08/11

A complete collection of listener submissions from episode 83, "Horse Feathers Reeducated". Because of time constraints and overlapping content, not every comment made it into the original episode. Now, you can enjoy the full, uncut versions of every clip we received—packed with great stories and fascinating insights. Enjoy!

83 “Horse Feathers Reeducated” featuring The Marx Brothers Council

2025/07/28

Council members weigh in on one of the Marxes’ greatest films. Hear about a botched screening, why Jennings might be the dumbest gambler in history, and one member’s detailed dissent on Chico’s piano solo. You’ll also get mixed takes on the football finale, learn who holds the title of show business’s most ridiculed performer, and find out how Halle Berry’s name managed to enter the conversation.

82 “Bob & Noah & Matt & Elliott” featuring Elliott Gould

2025/06/18

Screen icon Elliott Gould joins the guys for a heartwarming and at times profound conversation about his friendship with Groucho. From deli lunches to hospital antics to reflections on Mae West, Erin Fleming, and the meaning of legacy, Elliott offers deeply personal stories with warmth and wit. You’ll even learn what Groucho considered Elliott’s greatest performance.

81 “Ten Annotated Years”

2025/05/27

We're celebrating the tenth anniversary of Matthew Coniam’s “The Annotated Marx Brothers: A Filmgoer's Guide to In-Jokes, Obscure References and Sly Details”. In this retrospective, we explore how the book came to be—and how it ultimately became something quite different from what the title might lead you to expect. What sets it apart from other books on the Marxes? Is an updated edition on the horizon? And does Matthew still hate “Duck Soup”? These and other pressing questions will be lightly dodged before we inevitably try to sell you a copy.

80 “Strange Interludes” (“The King and the Chorus Girl” & “Time for Elizabeth”)

2025/04/30

Friend of the podcast Kathy Biehl joins the guys to explore Groucho's only two produced scripts, the 1937 film "The King and the Chorus Girl", and the 1948 play "Time for Elizabeth" - which was later adapted for TV, featuring himself in the lead role. The crew delves into how these collaborations with Norman Krasna mark a conscious shift from Groucho’s signature humor, pondering what might have driven him to this new direction. They’ll guess which lines bear Groucho’s unmistakable stamp, and weigh in on his acting chops in Elizabeth. By the end, you’ll have the answer to the big question: Did Groucho need the funny?

79 “Monkey Business Rekippered” featuring The Marx Brothers Council

2025/03/28

With listener insights, we take another look at the film that marked the Marxes’ Hollywood debut and stands out as the only one featuring a manicurist we can name. This episode highlights the distinctiveness of Monkey Business, as comments explore how it stands apart from both their earlier work and later films. We’ll dive into praise for Thelma Todd and even Zeppo, alongside the random nitpicks Marx fans are famous for. Joe Adamson, Scott Alexander and Eddie Deezen are among those contributing. Jay Hopkins would have as well, if he could figure out how to do it.

78 “What is Your Opinion of Art?” featuring Pat McCaughey

2025/02/26

By all accounts, the brothers acquired their iconic names in 1914 while playing cards with a performer named Art Fisher…but does this story hold water, or even milk? To get to the bottom of this, we welcome master Marx researcher Pat McCaughey...and without spoiling anything, let’s just say, “it’s complicated”. We also reflect on the importance of the stage names and whether the brothers would have been successful without them. Later, Bob and Pat detail obstacles they’ve encountered while searching for the identity of the "Night at the Opera" manicurist.

77 “And Always Zeppo” (our look at "Zeppo: The Reluctant Marx Brother")

2025/01/30

Noah and Matthew dive into Robert S. Bader’s new book, Zeppo: The Reluctant Marx Brother, the first-ever biography of the universally acknowledged youngest Marx Brother. The guys explore Zeppo’s life of career shifts, ties to organized crime, and strained family relationships. They delve into why he didn’t bask in the glory of the Marxes’ 1960’s and 70’s resurgence, and find proof of his rumored great wit. Oh, and Matthew discovers a Groucho “Holy Grail” buried in Bader’s pages... Not too spoilery, this episode is a must-listen whether you’ve read the book or not.

76 “Animal Crackers Reopened” featuring The Marx Brothers Council

2024/12/20

Once again, our audience takes centerstage as we respond to listener comments on the Marxes’ second (or third) film… How is viewing the restored version akin to seeing the team live onstage? What is “insouciant whimsy”? Why is John Tefteller championing a bootleg? These are just a few of the questions we’ll ponder in another meeting of ‘The Matthew Coniam Appreciation Council’. We’ll also discuss why Chico arrives with an instrument he doesn’t play, and learn what famed comedian is not a fan of Lillian Roth.

Read The Marx Brothers Council Podcast podcast reviews

4.8 out of 5

134 reviews

Unisphere64 2025/04/03

Excellent info and excellent hosts!

What more can be said? (I say.)

RogerMcGoon 2025/02/13

Sanity Clause

Essential listening for any true Marx fan!

Jeff, Chicago 2022/11/10

Essential listening and also a lot of fun

It’s definitely a podcast for true Marx Brothers fans. When they do a deep dive, it is a DEEP dive. But always with a great sense of fun. They are sc...

Elian Kaz 2022/02/23

THE Marx Brothers Go-To

By far one of the best sources for all things Marx, presented in a most entertaining format.

Groucho4Life 2022/07/15

A good feeling turned sour

I wanted to listen to a fun podcast about the Marx Brothers, but unfortunately this podcast spends a great deal of time criticizing the Marx Brothers....

drgrdrg 2022/01/29

a fantastic podcast !!

you guys have rekindled my love of The Marx Brothers… as a kid, i received hand-me-downs from my older brother -- books, LP’s & VHS tapes (movies tape...

Erica_L_Sweeney 2021/08/07

A Myst for Classic Film Fans!

As a longtime Marx Brothers fan, I am ashamed to say that I only discovered this podcast a week ago. Hosts Noah Diamond, Bob Gassel, and Matthew Conia...

L. Touchpaper 2021/07/27

Goldmine

Immensely entertaining. Keep up the good work, guys!

Gary zenker 2021/02/27

Awesome entertainment

Love love love and look forward to every episode. This last one was just over an hour. I like really long ones, keep talking, guys. Love the opinions ...

yolaradio 2020/11/19

Better than two hard boiled eggs. Honk! Honk!

Make that three hard boiled eggs. The Flywheel episode in November 2020 was one of the best things I’ve heard in a long time. Absolutely fascinating!...

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