Judge John Hodgman
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A Danderous Precedent
Should allergy-prone Mike get allergy shots so his family can indulge their love of fuzzy wuzzy pets?
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Veranda Rights
What is the appropriate porch furniture of the day? Judge John Hodgman decides.
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Seating Arraignment
Chris brings the case against his sister-in-law, Jenna. For many years, their extended family has had kids and adults tables at holiday gatherings. Chris thinks that since the kids are all grown up, they should abandon the kids table. Jenna thinks the table should retain its sovereignty. Who's right? Who's wrong? Only one man can decide.
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A Room With a Feud
This week, with guest bailiff TOM SCHARPLING of The Best Show on WFMU. Should this couple attempt an unorthodox living arrangement?
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Dischord is Now in Session
Andrea and Scott bring their dispute before the Judge: must singalongs be conducted with careful attention to pitch and key? Expert witnesses Jonathan Coulton and David Rees weigh in.
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Trivial Peer Suit
Steve says he's been the acting team captain of his local trivia team, and wants to make it official! His teammate Claire begs to differ. Can the Judge resolve this trivial dispute?
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To the Victor Goes the Spoiled
With Expert Witness Alton Brown! Natalie brings the case against her husbandHugo. She wants to throw food away when she decides it's spoiled or too old.Hugohates waste, and is aghast that Natalie throws away moldy but "perfectly usable" items. Who is right? Who is wrong?
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The Birthday Suit
Aldo brings the case against his partner Sean. They decided to plan trips for each other's birthdays, but make each destination a surprise. But the secrecy is making Aldo anxious, and now he wants to know where they're going! Should Sean reveal their itinerary, or must Aldo wait for his birthday surprise? This week, with Bailiff Jesse Thorn and Monte Belmonte!
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Gas, Grass or Justice
Ruthie brings the case against her boyfriend Chris. Chris promised to get his driver's license years ago, but he's still in the passenger's seat.
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Justice Abhors a Vacuum
Friends quarrel over a borrowed (and broken) shop vac and its more expensive replacement.
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Courtlandia
Is hipster a dirty word? We'll find out.
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The Book Case
Is Jason a book hoarder, keeping unread books from being used and loved? Or will he work his way, steadily and surely, through the stacks?
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Judge and Jewry
Rebecca brings the case against her sister Jessica -- do their Jewish roots make them PART JEWISH?
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All Dogs Go to Trial
Coming to you live and direct from SF Sketchfest! Brianne, Zach and their dog Shilo go to trial. Plus a musical performance from John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats and live snap judgments!
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Possessions in Nine-Tenths of a Car
Andrea brings the case against her friend Joe -- she claims he's taking a minimalist lifestyle to an extreme degree. Must Joe acquire some creature comforts?
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Bench Warrant
Should a couple sit on the same side of the booth while brunching, or will Judge Hodgman mandate a great divide?
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Polly Wanna Justice?
Kim and her husband Chris co-habitate with a pet parrot. The bird adores Kim but behaves badly around her husband and son. How far should they go to accomodate the parrot?
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Bleached and Mounted Bones of Contention
Nick and Sara are a married couple who disagree on interior design -- namely, should Nick be allowed to display a collection of bones and taxidermied animals within their home?
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Rhapsody in Blue
Please note: explicit language in this episode! Eric and Elizabeth are a married couple who make their living doing performances together. They disagree on when it's necessary and appropriate to use curse words in art. Elizabeth objects to their use, and Eric thinks they can add necessary emphasis to his songwriting. Who is right, and who is wrong?
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Grow v. Blade
Brad and Kyra disagree - when is the time to cut their toddler's hair?
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Coming Out of the Supply Closet
Ben and Sara are co-workers, friends, and most recently, romantically entangled. They've kept their officeromance a secret for months, and Ben says it's time to go public. Sara thinks it's more fun to sneakaround and wants to keep their relationship a covert operation.
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The Chastity Bet
Jason and Kenan made a gentlemen's agreement with several of their friends as teenagers regarding the advances of the opposite sex, but there's one thing that was never clarified. Who can help them find the solution? None other than Judge John Hodgman.
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Away With the Manger
Marisa brings the case against her husband Jay. They've blended atheist, Jewish and Catholic traditions for their household, but they've reached an impasse on holiday decorations. They both agreed to a Christmas tree, but Jay objects to a nativity scene for both religious and aesthetic reasons. Should Marisa be allowed to display a traditional nativity scene?
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Probable Claus
Judge John Hodgman decides Santa's fate in a married couple's household.
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Thanks, But No Pranks
Patrick and Wyatt are housemates, and their shared house was caught up in a prank war. Neighbors from each house on their street pulled pranks on one another until one final act put Wyatt over the edge -- and he took to social media to put a stop to the practical jokes. Patrick thinks Wyatt overreacted, and wants to rev up the prank war again.
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The Statute of Physical Limitations
Shumanay has a chronic illness that's limited her physical activity in the past, but she's recently been able to take up running. Now she has her heart set on an endurance race to take full advantage of her newfound abilities. Her husband Jon objects to her participation. Jon worries about the risks to her health, and thinks she should save her energy for a more worthy form of exercise. Should Shumanay run the endurance race?
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Ipso Lacto
Justin actively avoids dairy, claiming to HATE cheese, butter, and cream. His friend Angela is irritated by the avoidance, alleges that Justin has consumed and enjoyed dairy in the past, and thinks he should own up. Who is right in this food fight?
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Dog Duty
Zoe brings the case against her mom, Rochelle. They brought home a new puppy last summer and Zoe took the lead in training and caring for the dog until she left for college. Now Zoe is thousands of miles away, but wants to retain her say in the puppy's day-to-day life. Her mom says Zoe needs to stop meddling from afar.
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A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Slob and...
Our second live show at WNYC's Greene Space, with musical performances from Jean Grae, Mela Machinko and DJ Mr. Len. Please note: this week's episode contains some explicit language.
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The Obligatory Name Drop
Family-issued nicknames and a clash between two sisters! Evelyn hates the nickname that followed her into adulthood and demands that the family stop using it, but Frances loves her sister Evie (and the ability to use the name as she sees fit!). Who is right?
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Irre-console-able Differences
Jessica gave away most of her possessions when she left for the Peace Corps -- including a video game system that went to her sister Eden. The system broke under Eden's care and she says she's not obligated to return a working system to Jessica. Is restitution due?
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The Mother Tongue
Matthew and Y want to raise their children to be bilingual in English and in Y's native language, Vietnamese. Matthew's Vietnamese is pretty rusty, so he thinks Y should teach him and their children at the same time. Y thinks that Matthew needs to study on his own until he can keep up. Who is right?
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Passing the Bar
Erin brings the case against her co-worker Abby, whom she accuses of ducking out of pre-planned happy hour events.
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Snooze Control
Ben brings the case against his wife Jenna, who insists on wringing every last bit of sleep she can before arising for work. Ben's partial to a gentle wakeup and says his wife's approach stresses him out. Who is right?
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Cigarettiquette
YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE: This episode contains some talk that may not be appropriate for children, including discussion of smoking and drug use. Robert brings the case against his friend Bradley, who's given up tobacco cigarettes for e-cigarettes. The electronic cigarettes are technically allowed where "real" smoking isn't -- so where is it "appropriate" to smoke them?
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The Split Screen Decision
Raj brings the case against his girlfriend Surita, claiming her high-falutin' taste in movies is getting in the way of their shared enjoyment in entertainment.
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Gavelbangers Ball
THIS WEEK: with guest bailiff Monte Bailiff Belmonte and a SECRET expert witness. Caroline brings this case against her boyfriend Will, who's been trying to sell her on his favorite metal bands to no avail.
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The Nominative Case
Jordan and his friend Charles bring an unresolved bet, instigated by a discussion of the DC comics villain Mr. Myxlptlk. Could Jordan's friendstrick him into say his own name backwards? namdgoH nhoJ egduJ rules!
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Probable Cos-Play
Donald, Jessie and their son are planning a trip to a Star Wars convention for their family vacation. Donald thinks Jessie should him and their son Josh in costume; Jessie thinks she's doing enough simply by attending. Who is right? This week: guest bailiffed by Monte Belmonte!
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The Golden State Debate
Harry says his best friend Dan is spinning his wheels back in their hometown, and should come join him in Los Angeles. Should Dan venture to LA or stay put? Only one man can decide.
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Night Food Court
Trips for late night fast food and fraternal bonding cause a rift in a relationship -- and only one man can help repair it.
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The Cluck Stops Here
Lauren foresees a Green-Acres type situation for her new suburban backyard, but her husband's vision differs.
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Call in the Family
Katy brings this case against her older brother Steve, who refuses to leave voicemails.
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Antisocial Networking
Lauren brings this case against her friend work-spouse Mike. When is it rude to use your phone in the company of a friend? How much texting is too much? Only one man can decide!
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Crumber vs. Crammer
Scott and Jennifer are a married couple who both admit they're kind of messy -- but who's the real slob here?
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A Quashed Plot Never Spoils
BE WARNED: If you're sensitive to spoilers, be ready to turn down the volume! Andrew and Adam are roommates and avid media consumers. Andrew badgered Adam to start watching one of his own favorite shows, and Adam eventually gave in. However, Adam says an off-hand comment from Andrew -- spoiler alert! -- ruined one of the character's story arcs for his friend. Should Andrew be held responsible for ruining his friend's viewing experience?
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Nature Versus Nerd-ture
Alex and Kristina are a couple of admittedly nerdy people, and they disagree about where to send their future children for summer camp -- to nerd camp to indulge in whatever geeky pursuits they desire, or to a typical summer camp to play Capture the Flag.
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My Dinner with Ennui
Holly and Todd are writing partners who meet at the same restaurants every week. Holly feels their habitual meals are stifling her creativity; Todd thinks it frees up his mind to focus on other things. Who is right?
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Sibling Drivalry
Luis insists his big sister Alejandra monopolizes the use of their shared vehicle. Alejandra says Luis refuses rides and then pouts. Who is right?
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Chevy Case
Patrick and his his girlfriend Hannah moved to Portland, Oregon last year and used Patrick's trusty Camaro to get there. Hannah has since bought Patrick's car from him to use on her commute to work, and sees it as a strictly utilitarian possession car washing is unnecessary. Patrick is rankled by her lack of care for the Camaro's appearance and thinks she should show some pride of ownership. Who is right?
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Spare the Hodg, Spoil the Child
Gail believes she and her nephew Ray are similarly sensitive kindred spirits. As a loving aunt, she thinks she should be able to comfort Ray when he's upset, even over rule-breaking, and help him handle his feelings. Her sister Aimee believes Gail is unnecessarily coddling Ray and encouraging him to become an overly emotional child. Who is right? Only Judge John Hodgman can decide!
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Rashomom
Rebekah, her mother Denise and grandmother Gloria have a case regarding memory -- specifically, is the memory of a child or an adult more reliable? Denise insists that a grey house stood next door to her childhood home; Gloria says that's simply not true, and that the house must be a figment of Denise's imagination. Rebekah's been dragged in to adjudicate their dispute before, but she's got issues of her own with her mom's recollections of past events. Who is right, who is wrong, who can...
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Judge John Hodgman 57: A Wing and A Player
Michael and Patrick have been best friends since high school. Michael likes to think of himself as Patrick's wingman, helping alert him to interested ladies when they're out together. Patrick thinks his friend lacks the subtlety to be a wingman and also misjudges politeness for romantic interest. Is Michael helping his friend find love and happiness, or is he steering him in the wrong direction? Only the Judge can decide.
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Early Man
Troy believes in never being late for an appointment, party, or movie -- but in striving to avoid tardiness, he's swung the other direction and arrives extra-early. His insistence on being early is driving his wife Carmen crazy. Should they stick to their early bird ways, or should Troy live a little less by the clock?
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Battle Royale
Leeman and his wife Rachel are American citizens who have immigrated to Toronto for school and work. They've become permanent Canadian residents, but Rachel wants to go whole hog and become citizens. Leeman finds the idea of swearing loyalty to the monarchy ideologically troubling. Should they form a united front and become citizens together?
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Die Flederhaus
Two brothers, one dilapidated house, and a colony of bats - what could be more scary about this case? Noah and Adam have a bat problem, and they can't agree on how to handle it. Should they run screaming, or man up when a bat comes their way? Only one man can decide!
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Cannery Row
THIS WEEK: Special Expert Witness Alton Brown! Ara and her mom Julia enjoy some mother-daughter bonding time while canning, but Ara insists on following USDA safety manuals, books, and other advice to make sure their canned goods are 100% safe. Julia says Ara's meticulous methods are driving her nuts, and they should rely on her own tried-and-true methods. WHO IS RIGHT?
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The Stick Shift Rift
Is not knowing how to drive a manual transmission in this day and age A CRIME? That's the question for Cosmo and Jen, a married couple who own a manual and an automatic car, respectively.
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The Wedding Clashers
John and Lindsay are a married couple with two weddings to attend on the same day -- John's childhood best friend's and Lindsay's cousin's. Which argument will win? Family obligations, long-seated freindship, the better party? Only Judge Hodgman can decide.
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Double Dog Dare
Marybeth and Paul are a couple of busy animal loving attorneys who already own a dog and a cat. Marybeth would like to add another dog to their family to help their current toy schnauzer, Olive, relax. Paul argues that with their busy schedule, and the already antsy Olive, another dog would only exacerbate the situation. Can Judge Hodgman resolve the pairs puppy problem?
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The Master's Disaster
Jessie and Jason are a happily married couple with a scheduling conflict. Jason is in an intensive master's program and works a full-time job, which leaves him with little to no time for household chores or time for his wife. Jason prefers to schedule his classes in sixteen-week blocks, leaving a "summer vacation" of sorts. His wife prefers that he space out his classes so that she has someone to compliment her changing hairstyles or fix a doorknob. Can Judge Hodgman find a suitable...
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The Wonderful, Terrible, Terrible Towel Trouble
Katie and Bobby are dating and are both fans of Pittsburgh Steelers football. Katie says she was born into the Steelers Nation, while Bobby came to fandom while dating Katie. Their issue is the treatment of the team's signature "Terrible Towel". Katie says it should be treated with the utmost respect as an emblem of the team; Bobby says once it's purchased, you can do with it what you please, whether that's wiping chairs or your feet. Who is right, and who is wrong? Only one man can decide.
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The Carry On Carryings On
Blair and her sister Lisa are frequent flyers. Blair never checks her bags due to the inconvenience of it, opting instead to carry them on. Since shes only 51, she often relies on the generosity of fellow passengers to help maneuver her bags into the overhead compartment. Her sister Lisa feels that Blair and people like her abuse the convenience of a carry-on -- in short, if youre unable to completely manage your belongings on the plane, you should have to check them. Who is right?
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The Clap Trap
Greg and Eric are longtime friends and sometime-bandmates. They disagree on one area of performance; should members of the band ever ask the audience to clap along to their music?
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Apocalypse Row
Carrie and her husband Phillip are planning for the future. A collapse of civilazation under the coming apocalypse to be exact. Carrie and "Sarge" are at odds about where to best survive the end of days and bring the case to Judge John Hodgman.
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The Bedding Crasher
When is it appropriate to ask to crash at a friend's place? Should the practice be curtailed when one reaches a certain age or level of financial security? Chris and Emily bring this case against their friend Pat.
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Triple Word Scorn
Jesse and Jessica are used to squaring off against one another when they play games like Scrabble Hangman on their smartphones. In this episode of Judge John Hodgman their rivalry spills into the courtroom as they litigate their literary license. Please use JUSTICE in a sentence!
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Driving Miss Drowsy
Austin brings the case against his good friend Ethan. A year ago, they drove cross-country from Santa Cruz, California to Brooklyn, New York. Austin says that during the trip, he experienced "car lag," a variant form of jetlag. Ethan says the very idea is absurd. The argument has driven a wedge into their friendship.
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Out of REC-order
Strife between two friends -- over DVR recordings. If Anthony requests that Joseph record television programs for him on his personal DVR, is he obligated to come over and watch them?
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The Abuse of Flower Power
Not in MY backyard! Julienne and Emily are neighbors and romantically involved. Julienne has created a garden space but wants to add a particular flower that Emily detests. Emily has threatened to never cross the picket fence again if they are brought in. Who'll win the war of the roses?
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Slash-Friction
What IS a horror movie? Bryan's list of 100 horror movies is all about content. His friend Jay says it's all about the audience's reaction. Who is the master of the macabre? Only one justice of the deceased can decide!
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Pepperoni Pauper
A young couple battle embarrassing behavior and bags of trash in search of unpeeled prize tickets for a shot at redemption. And a free slice of pizza. Or a free Coke.
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Panta-Lunacy
Seth and Stephen are colleagues in a Broadway show. They bring a case of Lost and Found, Finders and Keepers, and Losers and Weepers.
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Beard Science
Guest bailiffed by ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper! Friends Mike, Mike and Dan seek a ruling on a modified but highly charged game of beard chicken.
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Unbanded Brothers
Brothers and bandmates Jack and Jeff bring this argument over tourdates, a wedding and being the boss of the band.
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De Plane
Elisabeth and Melissa are good friends and enthusiastic travelers, who often journey together on planes and in cars across the country. While their traveling styles mesh for the most part, they are divided on a hot-button issue: the correct way to de-plane once you've arrived at your destination. Elisabeth, who prefers to take the aisle seat, believes that the aisle-sitter bears some burden of judgment, and may choose to wait a reasonable amount of time before stepping into the aisle,...
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Hors d'oeuvres in the Court
Mike's three children were enticed to try a foreign food -- bacon-wrapped scallops -- by an offer from their father of $5. However, Mike now claims that since the boys enjoyed the food, he no longer owes them compensation. Mike's wife Ellen represents the boys in court.
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The Cow Beef
Ted brings this case against his father Paul, who has become obsessed with cows. Ted argues that his father's cow collection and his inclination to randomly say the word cow, among other issues, indicate the need to tamp down the cow-talk. Paul argues that his obsession is merited, because "cows are our most important animal friends."
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Garbage Man and Wife
Matt Haughey of Metafilter and his wife Kay split household chores right down the middle, except when it comes to garbage duty. Does the person taking out the trash have "garbage hands" that are only suitable to replace the trash bag and deal with all matters dirty? Judge John Hodgman decides!
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The Ironman Trial-Athlon
Should an endurance event enthusiast (and former couch potato) be allowed to participate in an Ironman Triathlon against the wishes of his wife?
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The Colbert Rapport
When is it appropriate to request a photo with a celebrity seen in the wild? Andrew and Britt bring this case of a Hollywood party, Stephen Colbert, and potential Facebook popularity before the judge.
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Parents Just Don't Understand
Should a father be able to compell his teenage daughter to watch classic films? Or does a 16-year-old deserve autonomy in her entertainment choices?
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PROGRAM INFORMATION
- Los Angeles, CA
- Comedy
- English
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The Sound of Young America
340 Mount Washington Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90065
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