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Happy Labor Day! We are still laboring on a project we can't tell you about (yet) but we have worked mightily to find some bad ideas on the Internet and think that you'll enjoy the results!  First, Gabriel brings us an Am I The Asshole post full of culinary spite that we turn into a fractured fairy tale where ritual matters, at least to the eldritch abomination that lives in the lake. Then, Sarah brings us a tale of extreme sports fandom and we turn it into a complex thriller of celebrity and identity (with apologies to Elizabeth Olsen).  Plus: the ultimate in 'senpai, notice me, please,' strong villain energy, real legal troubles, some mythic mythbusters, and a subtle tomato vibe.  Today's Bad Idea: Idea #1Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apologies for the delay in this one - travel, work on new projects, and some health road bumps (everyone is okay!) kept this one from being done properly until right now! Today in No Bad Ideas: self-expression! Grumpy men! Aggressive sea animals! And more! In our first bad idea today, Zach brings us the story of a French man who fought for his right to not be fun at work. The squad works to turn it into a comedic battle of workplace manners. Then, in the second idea, Sarah gives us the gift that keeps on giving: a chance to talk about the surfboard-stealing otter that has been terrorizing the shores of Santa Cruz. The gang turns it into the story of a tricksy otter that teaches an aspiring surfer how to master the art of riding the waves.  All of that, plus: 24-year-old party animals, bon vivants, grape crushing, aquatic homeownership, and cozy remakes of Jaws.  Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on No Bad Ideas... Wedding planning! Service Industry workers! Big purchases! TLC's new show My Surprise Bris! And more! For our first bad idea, Gabriel brings us the story of someone who had to walk out on their surprise nuptials. The gang turns it into a fast-paced, Jacques Tati-esque romantic comedy about two waiters who have to hold a wedding together. Then, Zach keeps the episode on theme with the tale of someone who had to reckon with their wife surprising them with the news that they bought a yoga studio. The squad works to turn it into a heart-warming story of a beleaguered spouse who has to turn a yoga studio profitable to keep her marriage afloat. All of that, plus: unconscious wedding planners, inciting assholes, Uncle Jimbo, George Clooney cameos, and moments of super-sizing.  Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy July! We return from our month-long hiatus with two ideas that are the exact opposite of summer fun, but we're going to try and turn them into some hot hot IP anyway.  First, Zach brings us a Texas tragedy and we Tarantino it up a notch into a three-part (plus interludes) hunt for buried treasure where the Ennio Morricone score will be pumping. Then Sarah tells us a magical tale of petty corporate overreach, and we turn it into a spy comedy where a very special card that could spell nuclear annihilation requires a quest to win it back.   Plus: The problem with KaibaCorp, a straight-up Breaking Bad reunion, full Terminator mode, literally over a million Magic cards, and Yosemite Sam on Bumble.  Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on No Bad Ideas... Dogs! Arrests! Fake kidnapping! And news that we're taking the rest of June off! In our first bad idea, Gabriel brings us the tale of a man who, when faced with hardship, tried to sell out man's best friend. The trio turns it into the newest hit animated film about a talking dog. Then, Zach brings us the story of a man who, to get out of his job, took the very reasonable measures of... arranging his own (fake) kidnapping. The gang turns it into a story of bored, minimum-wage laborers trying to one-up each other to get out of the worst day of the year at their otherwise sweet job. All of that, plus: treasure buried out in the desert, Beckett-esque plays, Rat Race mosaics, off-grid places, and Bad Dog Things! Also note: the No Bad Ideas gang are going to be taking the rest of June off to work on... a new, big, upcoming project! But new episodes will return on July 4th! Stay tuned, both for new bad ideas and for news about the new thing we're working on! Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on No Bad Ideas: nuclear subs! Naked landlords! Court cases! Ashton Kutcher and Sean William Scott! And more! First, Sarah brings us an article about the unlikely place where some classified documents wound up. Gabriel is horrified that they actually find a narrative arc in the silly comedy of errors they come up with. Then, Gabriel presents the story of a German landlord who loves to share everything with his tenants. The gang turns it into - what else? - a combative romantic comedy.  All of that, plus: visits to ex-girlfriends' houses, little red hats (not worn on the head), inspired cameos, the worst Where's Waldo of Zoom, someone who is just Mark Strong. Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're back and we're jumping right into some supernaturally awful badness this week!  First, Gabriel brings us the story of a very unconventional crime-fighting strategy and we turn it into the story of a young priest who gets in way over his head – although with hardened criminals or the demons of hell, TBD. Then Zach draws on the occult powers of the Am I The A*****e subreddit to tell the story of a woman who takes on a dubious personal responsibility that divides her family, and we adapt it into the story of multiple secrets that all come out... in the bedroom.  Plus: Photo Day at school, a Die Hard situation, addiction to every single drug, the role that Rachel McAdams wins an Oscar for, and the scale of not badass enough vs. human rights violation.   Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2  Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on No Bad Ideas... feds! Bad ideas! Training days! Birds! Spies! And more! In our first bad idea, Zach brings us the story of an FBI training exercise gone horribly wrong. The gang spins it out into a story of comedic role-play colliding against corporate machinations. Then, in our second story, Sarah brings us news about (horrifying) innovation in the field of techno-necromancy. The team spins out in about three different directions as they're left reeling from the news article, everything from whistle-blower trial cases to sci-fi dystopias.  All of that, plus: LARPing exercises, whodunit-sort-of-a-thing, big news, warped perspectives, and Girlboss CEOs.  Today's Bad Ideas™:Idea #1Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writer, performer, and (comedy) sketch artist extraordinaire Tom Crowley joins the Bad Ideas Squad for two tales from beyond the grave! For our first bad idea, Sarah brings us a witchy obituary like nothing we've ever heard before, and - naturally - the team tries to figure out how to turn it into a story of growth and self-actualization á la Amelie. Then, Gabriel presents the tale of the somewhat ghoulish thing a Belgian town has done with the heart of their mayor, leading the squad to spin up a yarn about a man who couldn't lie in the most improbable way.  All of that, plus: old-school pyramid schemes, husbands of little-to-no importance, ladder embezzlement, oracular aunts from the beyond the grave, and Bentham Football.  Today’s Bad Ideas™: Idea #1 Idea #2 For more of Tom's work, follow him on Twitter, and check out Wooden Overcoats, Victoriocity, and his website, where you'll also find Crowley Time (With Him, Tom Crowley).  Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the show... Art criticism! Pizza! Organized crime! Crap! And special guest stars Bob Raymonda and Jack Marone, co-creators of the Forgive Me! podcast! In today's first bad idea, Gabriel brings us the story of a ballet director who took a rather... unorthodox approach to expressing his displeasure at a critic's evaluation of his work. The gang makes it into a film that gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "giving someone shit." Then, Sarah brings us the story of a mafia boss who foolishly did some press to raise his profile. The squad takes this material and runs with it all the way to a movie about a man who dared to dream about pizza glory despite his criminal upbringing.  All of that, plus: Javert characters, traveling plumbers, mirthful smiles, copycat critics, and the thrill of the spotlight!  Today's Bad Ideas™:Idea #1Idea #2 For more of Bob and Jack's work, check out the Forgive Me! podcast.  Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's even better news than a new episode of NBI? What's EVEN BETTER news than a new 70mm print of Boogie Nights? Film critic extraordinary Ethan Warren has just the qualifications to help us turn horrible ideas into movie pitches, and we're delighted to invite him to the NBI hot seat.  First, Zach gives us a Twitch stream gone awry and we turn it into a truly twisted animated rom-com thriller about two fish (yes fish) with an entire Internet full of possibilities. Then Gabriel offers up an unusual relationship quandry and we turn it into a mumblecore classic of irrational love, and a married couple who both really need to break up and kind of deserve each other.  Finally, we talk to Ethan about the joys of writing about cinema, how to watch attentively, finding the right entrance to a rabbit hole, and just who this Paul Thomas Anderson guy is, anyway.  Plus: the perfect combination of high stakes and ASMR, a convenient paraglider, an overwhelming passion for Arbys, Kids in the Hall candy, and reading through the terms of service.  Today's Bad Ideas™:Idea #1Idea #2 For more of Ethan's work, you can buy his book! Check out The Cinema Paul Thomas Anderson: American Apocrypha as an ebook or pre-order a physical copy now! You can also find more of Ethan's work on his website and also check him out on Twitter.  Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on No Bad Ideas... fraud! Inflatable dolls! Possessed objects! American cinema! And more! For our first bad idea today, Zach brings us an article about some financial crimes inspired by the 1999 film Office Space. The gang decides to turn that into a radical reboot of a very, very different movie: Saw! Then, Gabriel presents the story of a man who used an inflatable Grinch doll in order to use the carpool lane on the highway. The trio turns it into a story of a man who is forced to reckon with his distaste for the Christmas holidays by a very unusual presence. All of that, plus: people riding shotgun, shopping malls burning down, criminal masterminds, bonding experiences, and deep wells.  Today's Bad Ideas™: Idea #1Idea #2 Support the show: http://patreon.com/NoBadIdeas See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.