Ragnarok On. June 20, 2013 5:05 PM Subscribe
Congratulations to MetaFilter's Own™ John Hodgman on today's release of his charming standup special John Hodgman: Ragnarok.
His latest standup special straight, Ragnarok, is available online, exclusively from Netflix. In the hour-long film — which began streaming today — Hodgman takes the stage at Brooklyn's Bell House barefoot, with a pair of aviators on, and sporting a mustache that would make Magnum P.I. proud.
Hodgman's new comedy special is a part of Netflix's push to produce more original programing.
His latest standup special straight, Ragnarok, is available online, exclusively from Netflix. In the hour-long film — which began streaming today — Hodgman takes the stage at Brooklyn's Bell House barefoot, with a pair of aviators on, and sporting a mustache that would make Magnum P.I. proud.
Hodgman's new comedy special is a part of Netflix's push to produce more original programing.
How did he wind up rolling on matt's trashcan again? I can't remember.
Also, I would totally be down with meta filet videos.
posted by boo_radley at 5:29 PM on June 20, 2013
Also, I would totally be down with meta filet videos.
posted by boo_radley at 5:29 PM on June 20, 2013
Hodgman's got a surprisingly low user number. Not that, you know, low user numbers imply those users are instrinsically better, stronger, faster, smarter, more worthy of praise or even worship, blessed with superior genetic makeup, funnier, capable of growing more impressive moustaches (including the rare and prized lady-moustache), more inclined towards acts of bravery and might, cleverer, firmer around the jowls, less likely to smell like cheese and diesel, or in any way more deserving of our approbation than anyone else.
I'm just surprised a little, that's all.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:41 PM on June 20, 2013 [10 favorites]
I'm just surprised a little, that's all.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:41 PM on June 20, 2013 [10 favorites]
Huh, yeah. He's been a member for 12 years. That's long before I'd ever heard of him.
posted by octothorpe at 5:47 PM on June 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by octothorpe at 5:47 PM on June 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
The Dead Authors Podcast, Chapter 20—featuring Paul F. Tompkins as H.G. Wells and John Hodgman as Ayn Rand
Came here to post that! It's good stuff.
posted by painquale at 6:13 PM on June 20, 2013
Came here to post that! It's good stuff.
posted by painquale at 6:13 PM on June 20, 2013
He's been a member for 12 years. That's long before I'd ever heard of him.
He used to introduce himself as a "former literary agent" (to some laughs) and then do comedy. He signed up back when he still was working as an agent.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 6:22 PM on June 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
He used to introduce himself as a "former literary agent" (to some laughs) and then do comedy. He signed up back when he still was working as an agent.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 6:22 PM on June 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
One of my best memories of MaxFunCon #1 is being in a defendant in a seminal Judge John Hodgman performance. It's on video somewhere in the MaxFun universe.
My daughter Crystalinne brought suit. Spoiler: Judge Hodgman handed me my ass.
Mr. Hodgman is consistently funny, bright, and entertaining. Can't wait to watch this!
posted by The Deej at 6:39 PM on June 20, 2013 [3 favorites]
My daughter Crystalinne brought suit. Spoiler: Judge Hodgman handed me my ass.
Mr. Hodgman is consistently funny, bright, and entertaining. Can't wait to watch this!
posted by The Deej at 6:39 PM on June 20, 2013 [3 favorites]
As somebody who lives in Omaha now, and has, on and off, for quite a few years, I want to take a moment to commend Hodgman on creating what I think is the only really Omahan piece of speculative fiction -- his story about actuaries at Johnny's Cafe in south O. It's not just that its set at an actual, and astonishing, Omaha location, it's that insurance is a really big business in Omaha and so it's the sort of job Omahans do have, and it's that he based in on a lunch he had with Omaha's Alexander Payne, who himself once told a story about an actuary at Johnny's Cafe in one of the opening scenes of About Schmidt.
I really like that story. I like that it feels really Omahan, and I commend Hodgman, himself not an Omahan, for having written it. It's from Areas of My Expertise, and while it may be the names of hobos that got everybody else's attention, it was the Omaha story that got mine
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 6:41 PM on June 20, 2013 [5 favorites]
I really like that story. I like that it feels really Omahan, and I commend Hodgman, himself not an Omahan, for having written it. It's from Areas of My Expertise, and while it may be the names of hobos that got everybody else's attention, it was the Omaha story that got mine
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 6:41 PM on June 20, 2013 [5 favorites]
In conclusion, Omaha is a land of many actuaries. Thank you.
posted by maryr at 7:02 PM on June 20, 2013 [20 favorites]
posted by maryr at 7:02 PM on June 20, 2013 [20 favorites]
Judge John Hodgman told me that I was a monster today. I think I'll boycott this until the weekend.
posted by sparklemotion at 7:06 PM on June 20, 2013
posted by sparklemotion at 7:06 PM on June 20, 2013
What did he say you would be tomorrow?
posted by davejay at 7:53 PM on June 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by davejay at 7:53 PM on June 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
I was looking through his fairly sparse posting history, and see that he used to sign his posts with a JH. I think that is quaint.
Todd Lokken
posted by Unified Theory at 8:03 PM on June 20, 2013 [5 favorites]
Todd Lokken
posted by Unified Theory at 8:03 PM on June 20, 2013 [5 favorites]
The new Dead Authors podcast with Hodgman as Ayn Rand is great. Will have to check out Ragnarok.
One of my best memories of MaxFunCon #1 is being in a defendant in a seminal Judge John Hodgman performance.
I caught that episode. Sounds like it would be a blast to be on the show no matter how it worked out.
posted by krinklyfig at 9:01 PM on June 20, 2013
One of my best memories of MaxFunCon #1 is being in a defendant in a seminal Judge John Hodgman performance.
I caught that episode. Sounds like it would be a blast to be on the show no matter how it worked out.
posted by krinklyfig at 9:01 PM on June 20, 2013
I watched this earlier tonight, it was great. I'd heard a lot of those bits over the last year or two at various places I've seen Hodgman perform. He was great and if you've never caught him doing comedy, it's a slam dunk, great way to spend an hour.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:12 PM on June 20, 2013
posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:12 PM on June 20, 2013
Judge John Hodgman told me that I was a monster today.
Wah wah wah.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 10:36 PM on June 20, 2013 [4 favorites]
Wah wah wah.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 10:36 PM on June 20, 2013 [4 favorites]
I think his mustache makes him look like the Monopoly guy.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 11:55 PM on June 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by a humble nudibranch at 11:55 PM on June 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
I was reminded that John Hodgman was MetaFilter's Own™ while listening to his podcast today, and one of the docket clearing cases was about cat-declawing.
As a result I now know that glitter tip cat claw covers exist.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 12:00 AM on June 21, 2013
As a result I now know that glitter tip cat claw covers exist.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 12:00 AM on June 21, 2013
Also, Hodgman needs an 'e' in that name somewhere. The consonantal triplet makes me nervous and, I admit, a little cranky.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:35 AM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 3:35 AM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
I suppose this is as good a place as any to mention that Hodgman interviewed asavage at City Arts and Lectures in San Francisco a couple weeks ago. I went, and it was great. (I silently assumed all the other audience members were also Mefites. It was the least intimidating SF crowd ever.) I totally meant to let y'all known when the local public radio station, KQED, was going to broadcast it, but ... uh, it was this week and I forgot.
City Arts and Lectures doesn't podcast, but perhaps the recording exists somewhere out there on the wider internet?
posted by purpleclover at 5:39 AM on June 21, 2013
City Arts and Lectures doesn't podcast, but perhaps the recording exists somewhere out there on the wider internet?
posted by purpleclover at 5:39 AM on June 21, 2013
Has he even been here since 2007? At least asavage participates occasionally.
I guess my standards for "mefi's own" are a bit more stringent than most.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 6:23 AM on June 21, 2013 [4 favorites]
I guess my standards for "mefi's own" are a bit more stringent than most.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 6:23 AM on June 21, 2013 [4 favorites]
I guess my standards for "mefi's own" are a bit more stringent than most.
I considering him "Mefi's own" more than most famous people who pop in. Hodgman was a member before he was anybody. He contributed, unlike Steve Wozniak or Amanda Palmer who only popped in once because we were talking about them. They are not Mefi's Own, even if they did pay $5.00.
posted by bondcliff at 6:37 AM on June 21, 2013
I considering him "Mefi's own" more than most famous people who pop in. Hodgman was a member before he was anybody. He contributed, unlike Steve Wozniak or Amanda Palmer who only popped in once because we were talking about them. They are not Mefi's Own, even if they did pay $5.00.
posted by bondcliff at 6:37 AM on June 21, 2013
I have not had a chance to watch this because of work and am looking forward to settling in and watching it tonight, but he did a little Ayn Rand at MaxFunCon and I was in tears - if you don't normally listen to the Dead Authors Podcast, do catch that one.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:13 AM on June 21, 2013
posted by Lyn Never at 7:13 AM on June 21, 2013
If anyone is interested, John Hodgman (American author and humorist) will be doing an IAmA on the 23rd of June at 9:30 pm on Reddit.
posted by vozworth at 9:29 AM on June 21, 2013
posted by vozworth at 9:29 AM on June 21, 2013
Time to start retiring old user numbers then.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 10:40 AM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 10:40 AM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
The consonantal triplet makes me nervous and, I admit, a little cranky.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken
No wonder you're nervous!
posted by Celsius1414 at 11:39 AM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken
No wonder you're nervous!
posted by Celsius1414 at 11:39 AM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
Watches this last night, it's great. I had no idea it was MeTalk worthy, but clearly it is!
posted by Artw at 11:41 AM on June 21, 2013
posted by Artw at 11:41 AM on June 21, 2013
I had the pleasure of working with him on a tv show last fall. Incredibly pleasant & quick with his improv skills, not a common combination in my experience.
I can't wait to watch this!
posted by rock swoon has no past at 11:53 AM on June 21, 2013
I can't wait to watch this!
posted by rock swoon has no past at 11:53 AM on June 21, 2013
I do kind of wonder if the whale enthusiasts were a plant.
posted by Artw at 1:54 PM on June 21, 2013
posted by Artw at 1:54 PM on June 21, 2013
I do kind of wonder if the whale enthusiasts were a plant.
I knew about ambergris thanks to Encyclopedia Brown.
posted by ColdChef at 2:38 PM on June 21, 2013 [3 favorites]
I knew about ambergris thanks to Encyclopedia Brown.
posted by ColdChef at 2:38 PM on June 21, 2013 [3 favorites]
attempts to exclude folks based on participation rates imply retroactive recision, and I regard such with derisive scorn. please make a note of it.
posted by mwhybark at 9:34 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by mwhybark at 9:34 PM on June 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
I think anyone who had read That Is All would know about ambergris and spermaceti (if they didn't already). Likely they were Hodgman enthusiasts rather than whale enthusiasts.
posted by Brody's chum at 8:26 AM on June 22, 2013
posted by Brody's chum at 8:26 AM on June 22, 2013
You lie! They know him only as PC!
posted by Artw at 9:18 AM on June 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 9:18 AM on June 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
I guess my standards for "mefi's own" are a bit more stringent than most.
I refuse to be a member of any club in which Des Esseintes is not Grand Inquisitor.
attempts to exclude folks based on participation rates imply retroactive recision, and I regard such with derisive scorn. please make a note of it.
less said ± nuff said ± say wha⇔? ⊆ ≈ ⊇ check
posted by y2karl at 7:29 PM on June 22, 2013
I refuse to be a member of any club in which Des Esseintes is not Grand Inquisitor.
attempts to exclude folks based on participation rates imply retroactive recision, and I regard such with derisive scorn. please make a note of it.
less said ± nuff said ± say wha⇔? ⊆ ≈ ⊇ check
posted by y2karl at 7:29 PM on June 22, 2013
The "That is all." at the end of his last two comments on the blue are kind of off-putting. Though perhaps they're meant to be, i.e. don't hold your breath waiting for me to answer if you respond to this comment.
~ Fin ~
posted by George_Spiggott at 10:39 AM on June 23, 2013
~ Fin ~
posted by George_Spiggott at 10:39 AM on June 23, 2013
"That is all.", in the McSweeney's house style, is used to signify the end of your twee piece.
posted by Unified Theory at 10:44 AM on June 23, 2013
posted by Unified Theory at 10:44 AM on June 23, 2013
Aside from the fact that "that is all" is the name of one of Hodgman's books, "that is all" used to be the way radio announcers would end breaking news updates. I am not sure that this is where Hodgman picked it up, although he uses the same pronunciation of "robot" as you will find on old episodes of X-Minus One, so it may have been one of those tweedy affectations that he occasionally demonstrates, and not an attempt to end discussion.
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 12:26 PM on June 23, 2013
posted by Bunny Ultramod at 12:26 PM on June 23, 2013
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The Dead Authors Podcast, Chapter 20—featuring Paul F. Tompkins as H.G. Wells and John Hodgman as Ayn Rand
posted by Atom Eyes at 5:27 PM on June 20, 2013 [4 favorites]