1309 – Multiplex Toy Catalog

Episode 1309 – Multiplex Toy Catalog

 

[START OF RECORDING]

 

SCOOTER: Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, oh boy, is it time…an exciting time to not be excited, 'cause it’s…I don't know why I said that, but it’s time to start a sleep podcast that’s here to take your mind off of stuff and put you to sleep. If you’re new, welcome to Sleep With Me. It’s a podcast that’s really here…if you’re new and you’ve been looking for something to help you fall asleep, to take your mind off of stuff, that’s fun, lighthearted, like a friend or a friendly voice, welcome to Sleep With Me. It’s a bit…this podcast is a bit different, which is kinda good news, right, because there’s a ton of people who are listening right now, and they’re rooting for you to get the sleep you need, and they’re hoping this podcast is a good fit.

 

But it does take some getting used to, 'cause this is a podcast that…you listen to it a couple times and you go, oh, okay, I had no idea something like this was out there. If it works for you, you say, I’ve been looking for this my whole life. I didn’t even think something like this could exist. If it doesn't work for you, don't worry. We have a way to get you to another sleep podcast that could help you out at sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou. But as so many listeners have said, I really hope you give this a few tries, see how it goes, so I can help you fall asleep. This show is…it’s just here to be your friend in the deep, dark night.

 

I started the show based on…when I was a kid, I listened to comedy radio to take my mind off of stuff, of what was keeping me awake, and the idea…the pressure about falling asleep, that I should be able to make myself fall asleep. I didn’t really like how that made me feel or felt during the day, and a whole lot of other stuff. I don't want to get too deep into it. I’m just here to tell you I’m really glad you’re here and I really hope this show can help you out. What we got coming up; support, and that’s how the podcast stays free for everybody, then, totally separate from the support after that, though, is a long, meandering intro that’s there to ease you into bedtime. It’ll introduce what the podcast is.

 

It’ll be some rambling banter mostly like this, where…half-words and stuff like that, and then there will be — later on — kind of a bedtime story based…this will be something new we’ve never done before. Oh boy, will it be meandering. It’s gonna be the launch of a imaginary toy catalog that we’ve been working on, so…or the Cusacks have been, for us. So, I’m really glad you’re here. I work really hard, and thanks again for coming by, and thanks to everybody that supports the show directly whether they support the sponsors or support the podcast or you just are friendly, spread the word about the show. Whatever app you listen in, make sure you follow or subscribe to the show, the free version, I mean, if you’re…because that way, you get the episodes right when they come out. But anyway, I’m glad you’re here. I look forward to putting you to sleep, and here’s a couple ways we’re able to do it for you twice a week.

 

INTRO: [INTRO MUSIC] Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press Play. I’m gonna do the rest. What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever’s keeping you awake, whether that’s thoughts on your mind, thoughts about the past, the present, the future…I like to say ‘thinking thonks’. Things that go ‘thunk’ in the night, man, those thoughts. Could be thoughts, could be…might be feelings, though.

 

It could be thoughts and feelings, feelings related to those thoughts, feelings that are there, feelings that are about something coming up or something you’re going through, it could be physical sensations, changes in time, temperature, routine, you could be going through something, getting over something. Whatever it is, I’m here to keep you company and take your mind off of it so you could fall asleep, which is a bit different, right? I’m not so much here to put you to sleep. The only reason I run through some of the things you might be dealing with…'cause some people, it’s work schedule, some people, they need a break during the day, some people, they start listening when they wake up. Some people listen all night.

 

There’s a lot of different reasons people listen and a lot of different ways people listen, but there is something we share here in the deep, dark night, and I hope you get a sense of connectedness or companionship, 'cause it is real. One, it is real that you’re welcomed here and that I hope this is a place where you could get some rest and you say, oh, okay, I found what I was looking for. Or if you don’t find what you’re looking for, that you say, well, at least that was a nice stop on my way to find what I was looking for. At least I feel like somebody out there gets me. Those are kind of words a lot of people use all the time. I’m not using it as fill…I’ll use plenty of filler words, don't worry, but this is not filler.

 

The fact of the matter is even though I don't know exactly what’s keeping you awake, I can speculate that I may be able to relate to some of how it feels. Even if you say, no, no, no, you don’t know how it feels, man, you don’t know what this is like, here’s the really good news, and it might not feel like good news right now; there’s enough people that listen to this show or that just deal with this stuff or…there’s enough…there’s people out there and there is someone listening right now who knows how you feel, who’s been through something if not similar, pretty close, and they can really relate to the feelings. They’re nodding right now, and their heart is open. You know, ‘cause we all listen to the sleep podcast…you say, whoa, whoa, whoa, just a bit.

 

They have a gentle, positive intention for you, is what I mean, and in a real way, not in some…I don't know. This isn't meant to be high-minded or anything like that. This is true. There’s someone out there; they might not know you, but they know how you feel, and they care. They hope that one day you will be like, holy cow, this was the podcast I was looking for. I didn’t know I wanted something like this. Then one day, you’re the one holding the space for the new listener and sending them…whatever you want to call it, that energy, or you’re just thinking of them in a positive way in your head; wow, I’m really glad you’re here. I hope this podcast can help you like it helped me. So, that’s why I go through that stuff.

 

The other side, or underlying that, is the fact that you deserve a bedtime…you could get the rest you need and the sleep so that your life feels more manageable, that you could be out there living your life and that you don’t have to dread bedtime, that it could be something you look forward to. Oh, I got that goofy podcast guy, or at least you could feel neutral about it. So, yeah, I really hope this podcast can help you out. What I’m gonna do is I’m gonna send my voice across the deep, dark night. I’m gonna use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents, which means I’m gonna go off topic, I’m gonna get mixed up. As we’ve already seen, I’ll double back, I’ll repeat myself, I’ll use filler words.

 

My voice is not traditionally soothing, but I am here to kinda keep you comfortable and take your mind off of stuff. As I said earlier, this podcast does take some getting used to. One of the main reasons is you’re out there, and if you’re anything like any of us, you’ve been trying to get some sleep, trying to find something that works for you. If you’re anything like me and a lot of other listeners, you’ve spent a ton of time and money and that kind of stuff, and then you heard about this show or it came up in a search or whatever, and you say, what is going on here? I say, well, I got no idea. That’s what every person says; well, I don't really know, but he…it’s not half-bad. So, yeah, if you’re skeptical or doubtful or frustrated, that totally makes sense, because why wouldn't you be? I’m here to earn your trust, to build some rapport.

 

Really, I’m here to earn your trust so you could stop listening to me, which is a bit different. So, yeah, just give it a few tries. If you already know the podcast is not gonna work for you or you say, well, I just don’t…you know what? No offense, but I don't like you. That’s totally cool. I’ve been doing this a long time. I have a website set up…I’ve had it for years, actually; sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou. Just go to that website. It’s got other sleepy stuff on there and a bunch of other sleep podcasts. So, check that out. What else do you need to know? This is a podcast, but it’s kind of a podcast that you kinda just barely listen to, kinda like background noise or a TV on in the other room or a picture that’s out of focus or a friend talking to you on the phone for your benefit. You say, hey, I’m gonna put you on speaker.

 

I’m gonna put you on, and I’m just gonna barely pay attention to what you’re saying. Can you tell me about rivets in a non-riveting way? Oh boy, can…oh boy, I could tell you about rivets in a non-riveting way. What about…can I mix in some ribbets? As long as it’s non-ribbeting. Hardy-har-har. Okay, that should be the last riveting thing we say, then. Okay, great. Maybe just keep it to rivets, then. What about rivets? Okay, maybe…yeah, I guess, maybe…maybe…yeah, 'cause are those fictional rivets? They could…yeah, they’re…are those rivets with berets? Rivets? No…well, if there’s a silent B in there, I guess they would be. That could be a new form of art, 'cause if it was a rivet like I’m picturing on jeans, they would fall off. I mean, maybe not, though.

 

Maybe I should stop the podcast and just make my own…what do they call that when you…? Sneakers and jeans…enhancements? I don't think that’s the right term. But you say, are those miniature berets on your jean rivets? Well, so many…so few people use the term ‘jean rivet’ that I know we’re meant for each other. And, yes, these are berets. Are those raspberry berets on your jean rivets? You say…well, who could write this type of dialogue but a sleep podcaster? Why, yes…oh, this…here you go, this is a nineties, eighties…why, yes, these are raspberry berets on my…what are those…Bugle Boy jean rivets. Why, yes, these are raspberry berets on rivet…riveted raspberry berets on the Bugle Boy jeans I’m wearing. That’s like it was a commercial. Sorry. I had to indulge there.

 

I forgot what I was…oh, this is a podcast you don’t really listen to, like a friend, and you have…by the time your friend gets to…especially 'cause most of you weren’t from the nineties, right? The cool thing is you could look it up at some point. I don't think it’s that…I wonder what…I mean, here’s a question; what happened to Bugle Boy jeans? I mean, I’m not trying to be…‘How did we even get Bugle Boy jeans?’ would be the better question. I mean, I can't even picture…I’m sure there’s a good reason. But you say, well, what’s the name of…? Well, it’s gonna be rebellious. We’re gonna take jeans…well, there’s already a jean company that’s associated with rebellion. Okay, it’s gonna be like the Wild…no, there’s already a jean company that’s got that down, too. We’re gonna be edgy. Okay.

 

I don't think you’re listening to me, but tell…so, tell me about…more about your vision…well, we’re gonna call them Bugle Boy jeans. Okay, did you hear that silence? ‘Cause, actually, the whole board room was hysterically laughing. Like, tell us about your main…well, like the guy that makes a sleep podcast, he uses too much hair gel. You know, the same person who buys purple-neon hair gel, that would be our main…okay. So, more of like an Ames shopper. That was me. That’s where I got my…well, I’d get my jeans if they made it to Marshalls or TJ Maxx or Ross after, which is probably where they were. But I just wondered, because I say, yeah, no, no, fast cars, hair gel, surfers, skaters…okay, what’s…? Again, can you tell me the name of the company you’re thinking? Bugle Boy. Okay. You got your…is it set on that?

 

Oh yeah, because…I mean, then you say…I mean, I guess maybe it was some sort of irony? You say, oh yeah, these are Bugle Boy jeans I’m wearing. Anyway, like, I’m…I say that all with a sense of parody and irony or whatever I’m…satire. I mean, I…here’s…I probably did aspire to own Bugle Boy jeans, but if they weren't at one of those stores, they were probably out of my range. So, I was never…I mean, and if I did own a pair of Bugle Boy jeans, I got them on the…whatever you call that, the secondary market, 'cause that time, I don't even think I was a…TJ Maxx shopper. I was, whatever, Ross or…oh no, it was called something else, right? I almost had it. So, anyway…now if you’re not confused about what this show is about, you’re obviously…you may be in the right place.

 

‘Cause tomorrow, for a regular listener, even a new…say, honey, what was that sleep…that new sleep podcast you checked out? Did you give it three tries? Oh yeah, I was ready to give up on it last night, but then I fell asleep. Well, what was he…what does he talk about? Well, I know in the past he’s talked about Bugles before. Oh, like a bugle that you blow? Well, no, like a Bugle…a corn Bugle, like a snack. He does talk about pretending those are bugles, but I don't know if that’s what he was talking about or not. I can't remember now. So, okay…well, you look great. Oh, I’m rested. Thanks. Could you ask him to move on with the introducing of the podcast, though? Sure, he could move on.

 

The other thing he wants you to know is that it’s not a…it’s a sleep podcast that doesn't put you to sleep. I’m here to keep you company while you fall asleep. There’s no pressure to fall asleep with this show. I’m gonna be here over an hour so you don’t have to think about it. You say, okay, I got plenty of time. There’s 600+ episodes in the archives, so, you don’t gotta worry about falling asleep. I’m here to the very end whether you’re awake or asleep, whether you need a break during the day, whatever it is, whether you need to listen all night long. I’m here to take your mind off of stuff and keep you company to the end, 'cause there’s people who are listening who can't sleep.

 

I’m here to be your bore-friend, your bore…your Bugle Boy, your bugle bore-friend, Bugle Boy bore-friend…Bugle Boy…bore-friend, your bore-bestie, your neigh-bore, your Borbie, your bores, your bore-bruh, your bore-sib, your bore-cuz, your bore-bestie f’eva, your bore-bor, your bore-bruh. Who wears Bugle Boy jeans? Your bore-bruh does. But, yeah, I’m here to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff so you could fall asleep, to be your friend in the deep, dark night. That’s a Bugle Boy friend…the bugle bore-friend. That’s the most boring…that’s…those aren't jeans, though. They’re the flannel pants I had on earlier. Or like…they’re not like sweatpants; they are sweatpants. So, yeah, those are a couple things I need you to know.

 

The other thing I like to explain is the structure of the show 'cause it really throws new people off, understandably, because you probably came to the show and, thus far, saying it’s defied your expectations is probably not accurate. It’s like, not at all what you expected in a way that’s…it’s not like…'cause ‘defying expectations’ sounds positive, where it’s more like you’re…it’s like the side-eye version of expectations, this show, so…and I mean, some people may even barely know what I’m talking about. So, I explain what the structure is. There are a bunch of different ways people listen to the show. A large number of people really like listening to this ad-supported, free version linearly. So, we make this version and then you can kind of adjust, and I’ll explain it real quick.

 

Everything we do, ideally, has a beginning where we say, friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and then I say something silly so you feel seen and welcomed in. You say, okay, I might check that show out. It seems pretty welcoming and friendly and goofy. Then there’s support in this version. If you prefer a version without any ads, you can get that on Sleep With Me+ or through our referral program. But most people, they like that the show is supported. So, then, after that, totally separate from the support, is this intro. The intros are around twenty minutes or so long, and while a small percentage of people fall asleep during the intro, most people are easing their way into bedtime or winding down, getting comfortable, or getting ready for bed. That’s why the intro’s like, twenty minutes.

 

It’s similar every time where I follow the same structure, but I talk about something different and I get…I mean, I know I’ve probably gotten distracted about Bugle Boy jeans before, but it’s probably been a few years. Or it’d be like, no, it was two weeks ago, Scoots. I say, okay, interesting. How did I…? I mean, I could see. So, yeah. I mean, the funny thing about making stuff for the internet is…and it’s cool, I mean, I guess in this sense. I’m guessing there’s at least fourteen good deep dives into Bugle Boy jeans on YouTube, or deep-dive videos I could find and look up. So, I don't know if I’ll do that. I’ll probably procrastinate on that. But the intro goes on and on and on to introduce new people to the show, to be familiar but unexpected in a way that whatever keeps you awake is constantly distracted, and you could just barely listen.

 

So, you know you could listen at any point if you need to. You just don’t have to listen, 'cause I was talking in a non-riveting way about jean rivets, and I…and then I got off topic about that idea, which was not good, either, about putting berets on jean rivets. Oh, and then calling them rivets. So, yeah, that’s the kinda person making the show, but I’m making it for you to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff. So, that’s what the long intro is. It’s not self-congratulating. It’s not support. It’s just a meandering start to the show, a show within a show. Believe it or not, there’s a large number of people on Sleep With Me+ that only listen to intro episodes. But you could kinda see as you become a regular listener what works for you, and it may change over time.

 

So, that’s why we’ve worked so hard this past decade plus to have so much variety, 'cause I’ve learned that’s important to helping you fall asleep. So, after the intro is support, then it’ll be a bedtime story. Tonight it’ll be a unveiling, or I think a proofing…the imaginary Cusack family — not the real Cusack family — they sometimes do designing for this podcast, and they’ve…I’ve been working with them…of my dreams of having a toy catalog. They just laughed hysterically when I got on the…it was an imaginary Zoom within my own mind, and still they laughed. Just like that…maybe that’s where that…is that arch…? A boardroom laughing hysterically is archetypal within my own internal makeup. So…but they said, okay, we’ll come out. We’ll try. We’ll present you with a variety of ideas.

 

I said, okay, as long as it’s something like…kids are playing with it or could play with it. Then, again, there was silence, but I could hear them holding their hand over the speaker phone while they were laughing. So, it should be good. I’m excited. So, yeah, that’ll be about fifty minutes. So, all told, the show’s about a hour. If, at some point, you decide you just like the stories from the show, you could get story-only shows on Sleep With Me+, or there’s a free podcast, ad-supported podcast, Bedtime Stories from Sleep With Me, that has them as well. So, check either one of those out. I think that’s it. I’m really glad you’re here. I work really hard — so do a team of people — on this show so it consistently can be here to keep you company in the deep, dark night, because you deserve a good night's sleep, and I know what it’s like out there. So, I’m really glad you’re here and I really hope we can help you fall asleep. Thanks again for coming by, and here’s a couple ways we’re able to do this for you twice a week.

 

Alright everybody, this is Scoots here. This is a little bit different episode than we’ve done before, though we’ve done something similar. We’re having…we’ve had the Cusack family on before. Now, on Sleep With Me podcast, they’re the famous Cusacks, but they’re not the same as the famous Cusacks of screen, stage, and film. I mean John and Joan, but they still are…they’re famous to me, and they’re a team, a family, that works together. They kind of designed stuff for Sleep With Me before, and they came to me with a very out-of-the-box idea based on the catalog episodes. They said, let us design a catalog for you. I said, for…what do you mean? They said, trust me. So, that’s all I know. They’re gonna be unveiling this, and they said it was gonna be a very nice surprise. So, they’re handing it over to me, so, I’m gonna hand it over to Reginald Cusack and we’re gonna go from there.

 

Well, good evening, Scooter. It’s I, Reginald Cusack. Good evening, friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. Scooter, I’m really happy to present our catalog. Now, it’s not a traditional catalog. It’s prepared by Al Cusack. That looks like…is that…? That looks like AI Cusack. Al Cusack, Scooter we’re calling…okay, and Al has prepared a variety of catalog pages for you — and we think you’ll be very happy — based on some episodes of Sleep With Me, some intros and some episodes of Multiplex, which Al is a big fan of. We’re just gonna turn it over to you, Scooter, and we want you to read it just like you would a catalog. Okay, will I be able to ask questions, though? Oh yeah, Scooter. I’ll turn things over to Al for answering the questions.

 

But here’s the first page, and you could just scroll through and skip pages if you need to. There’s quite a few pages. Okay, so, this one…probably based on an intro. Oh boy, this does look like a catalog, a toy catalog, or toy-esque catalog. Strolling the Meanders of My Mind…and this one is very cloudy. It’s got pinks and blues and a doll wearing, I don't know, a nice sweater, long, blue-and-pink hair that looks very soft and comfortable. On the cloud, it looks like some sort of pink llama made of yarn. This is a very yarn-like thing. The doll, it…it’s got long hair. We don’t know much more about the doll or the toy, and they are dreaming of a pink cloud with different things in it. Then there’s this cloud with…looking down. There’s also a few rainbow bridges, but they’re in kinda pastel rainbows, which I like.

 

It almost looks like the thing is kissing its fingers and saying, hey, I’m thinking about the meanders in my mind. The meander is a pink cloud and then a bunch of shapes, kind of like a cornucopia of soft thoughts. Then you have kind of imaginary things in the catalog like other play sets, but they’re a little bit out of focus. I like that. So, it kinda…this one does feel like it’s from one of those catalogs. Okay, this next one…okay, this is definitely from an intro, 'cause it says, Spirit of Simon and Garfunkel in My Imagination. Nothing looks like Simon or Garfunkel, but they…you still have the same…it’s laid out like a catalog. They’re on either side of a door which looks like a combination of French doors and stained glass, or a giant stained-glass window. One has its arms crossed.

 

Both of them have…their hair is both otherworldly Art Garfunkely, 'cause it looks like rose…drawings of roses of many different colors, at least on the Art Garfunkel one. On the Simon, his is more swirls, but kinda like…kind of rose-like. His hands are on his hips, and he has red pants and red shoes on. The Art character has blue pants and blue shoes. They both have vests and yellow shirts, rainbow vests with yellow shirts, and they seem to be in a cloud region as well. Okay, and then the next one…oh, a Secrets of Your Success store. This has…so, can you tell me about this? Scooter, I would like you to keep going for a little while and then ask questions, or even speculate. Okay, so, this page is more of a…it’s not exactly like toys, but it looks like it could be in a toy catalog anyway.

 

It kinda shows…it’s in the parking lot, and there’s five people looking at a display. The display is set up in the parking lot kinda like a window display. There’s also a neon sign in the background that says…instead of ‘success’, it says ‘succery’, or S-U-C-C-E-R-Y, and then ‘victory’…instead of ‘success’, it says ‘viccess’, but a lot of ‘victory’. Secrets of Your Success store…$3, $39, and then everything else is out of focus. It’s kinda stuff they may sell…I mean, I don't think they have $3 at the store, but there’s a poster about victory…looks like a record album about victory, a couple suits, a comic book, it looks like a biography. Okay, this next one…oh, interesting. So, this is from that same episode, and this is really well done. It says, The Person Who Can’t Be Seen Arrives. They’re on a bike, but they are invisible. So, I like that.

 

Or, they can't be seen. They’re kind of a glowing blue. Three characters are looking at them, and they’re kind of in a empty mall. So, I guess other than the fact that there’s neon signs…but I guess it’s supposed to be a play set. So, those are like three toys, three toy figures dressed in fairly neony clothes. Then below that, you have different bike toys. So, it kinda…I like the combination of action. Okay, this happened after. This is very on-brand. Okay, this really does look like a combination of a play set and a advertisement. It says, biking through the mall. Now, this is where I start to say, Al, what were you working with? Because there’s one, two, three, four, five, six, seven youth biking.

 

We only see them through the back, which I like, so we can't…for the podcast, that’s pretty good because you can't tell who they…then everybody kinda has the freedom to project onto them. So, I really like that. The bikes do look like they’re from the eighties. Then below that are more kind of catalog specifics about different bikes. There’s a couple pink bikes with blue seats and yellow mag wheels. So, kinda cool. It’s like, oh, you get the bikes, and then you could imagine you’re biking through the mall. There’s also stores; Boullons, Donsies, Pest Bots, Pucey’s…I almost see Success. I like the floor. Okay, this one is…so, this is where I start to say, okay, how…? So, I’d like to ask you, Al…this one’s called Act I Begins, and it kinda looks like it’s set up in a food court.

 

There’s a stage with…whatever the…Pronesium Arch or whatever, and curtains, and then there’s people on the stage. So, it’s kinda like a stage in the middle of a food court, which I could go for. Also, one of the people in the food court’s sitting at a table and they’re looking at the camera. These are all toy figurines. Some of them look like they’re from a band from…the people on the stage look like they’re in some sort of very funky band from another world, kind of like a variety show from the seventies. I can't even…I think the Brady Bunch had a variety show, and even the Brady Bunch would not have been dressed…'cause it kind of is futuristic, retro funk. Very otherworldly. Oh, so, my question…well, I guess…let me look at some more. This one is…no…Acting Camp Awaits. This is a similar set up.

 

It looks like there’s two people kissing in this food court. Again, it’s set in the food court, and there’s four figures on the stage, and then there’s also figures looking at the stage. So, again, I like that we’re seeing mostly the backs of figures. So, I think…yeah, I think this is good stuff. Not a lot going on. Okay, this one is…these are interesting. So, these ones are…one’s called Trust Exercise and another one’s called Improvisation Exercise. The Improvisation Exercise seems to be shot with actors like a picture, and they seem to be doing some sort of improv warm-up. But the advertisement seems to be for some sort of kids’ thing you’d play on, like a indoor slide that’s very small. So, something more for a toddler, and it looks like it’s a pink head of a plush.

 

It’s not plush, though; it’s plastic, and its tongue is the slide, and it’s smiling, so it’s like you could slide down out its mouth down the tongue. It has a big, orange tongue. But this one almost looks like it’s…so, there’s a bunch of characters that I’m not familiar with. Three of them look like they’re related, and they’re…one guy’s looking surprised. Another…two guys are looking surprised. Like, one’s lying on the floor kind of in the…doing the Sphinx. Like, I don't know if you’re familiar with that, but not a plank, actually. So, I guess more of a Upward-Dog Sphinx, but his look on his face is of, like, what’s that? He’s looking to the left of the stage, but above him is somebody looking to the right of the stage. He’s looking at someone else. These guys all look like they’re related.

 

The guy’s looking…he’s doing something silly with something in his hand that’s blue. Then there’s a woman looking at the man doing something silly, but she more has P-I-T-Y, P-I-T-Y in her eyes for him. Like, oh, I feel bad for you. Like, she’s improving that face. Then on the left side of the screen are the people really going for it. There’s a woman in purple satin pants, a pink satin jacket, and a giant tie, and she’s kinda singing or…and she’s squatting as she’s leaning in. Then behind her is another person. He’s in blue sweatpants, then a suit vest, a bow-tie, and a suit jacket with a black pocket square that matches his black tie, bow-tie, and he’s making a silly face. Sounds…seems like he would be making sound effects. Yeah. Then the Trust Exercise…both of them seem to be in libraries pretending to be food courts.

 

So, I’m interested to find out. But in this one, it’s a man in a pink suit with a yellow shirt, dress shirt. So, he has a pink fedora, a pink jacket, pink pants, and a yellow vest and a blue tie, and he kinda looks like the guy…there was once a guy called the Scatman, and he had one or two…he had a hit called The Scatman, and he kinda looks like that. He’s doing some sort of trust exercise with a floating guy in a yellow shirt, red suspenders, blue jeans, and a blue sweater. Okay, what else do we have? Scene Stealer; so, this is another improv one. I guess it’s for the…one of the toys, which is dressed as a superhero. Oh, so, yeah, this is performing. Okay, I get it, and there is…this is another food court.

 

This one looks like a food court, and they’ve got on their table some French fries, some sodas, a salt-and-pepper shaker, maybe a kombucha. The Scene Stealer, though, is jumping into the scene dressed as a superhero with a wild look on his face. Then his friend is just like, what’s up with that? Then the next one’s called Backstage Confusion. Now, this is really creative, so, I’m really…this is where I really have some questions for you. It’s two toys. I would say…I don't know what the shared vocabulary is. They would be…they’re…they both have long…perm-like, long hair. One has a headband on. The two in the foreground are both males. They definitely…they look like they…it could be the eighties, 'cause, again, the one guy is in a neon-pink suit with a headband and wrist…what are those called?

 

Wrist warmers or wrist…sweatpants that go on your wrist. He also has a butterfly chain necklace, a turquoise shirt, like a turquoise muscle shirt, and his hand is on his head like he’s confused. Then his friend, his arms are out. He’s confused. He has on…he just looks like he’s in eighties’ clothes, like jeans, a yellow shirt with a heart on it, and then a vest that…it matches his jeans, but it’s some very eighties’ strange print. He’s saying, backstage confusion. The other guy’s holding a box that says Backstage Confusion. Then there’s some cars similar to Matchbox cars. This is the catalog part, which is interesting. They’re all listed with prices. Then, they also have a box full of toys, which are kinda hard to identify. Then in the background, there’s a couple other…there’s a couple people shopping.

 

There’s one other person who’s looking at something. He’s confused. There’s also a portrait of the man on the left, but it’s Backstage Confusion. So, if I had to guess, you gave out…so, this seems like someone made this picture based on what they had on a prompt of ‘backstage confusion’? Okay, Scooter, that’s a good way to look at it. Why don’t you keep going? Okay, the next one’s the Curtain Call, and it just shows people bowing; toys, action figures, though they’re dressed like teachers or professors, and they’re bowing on stage. Again, it’s in a food court. There’s someone saluting them. He looks like he’s dressed as a baseball player, and there’s other people clapping. Ooh, this one I like.

 

This one is in…taking place in a diner, and Wyatt’s guiding an actor back to his scene in a noir food court, helping an actor find his scene. They’re both dressed in a noir outfit. So, I don't know who Wyatt is. But one character is sitting down and another character…these are toys, though. These are dolls. I mean, I don't know. The figure…can we just use this as shorthand, Al? Sure, Scooter. What do you want to use the shorthand…? So, I don't know…'cause…something like a Barbie, but not only Barbies…I’d call a doll in this case, even though I know there’s a lot of different dolls. Then, something that’s smaller would be an action figure. Okay, that will probably be…that’s good for a sleep podcast, Scooter. Okay. So, these two are more Barbie-sized, and their clothing is very detailed. I think that’s another thing.

 

They have real clothes versus…an action figure’s clothes are painted on. Okay, that’s helpful, Scooter. So, if you say a doll, they probably have removable clothes. Yeah, they may. These two both have fedoras on, jackets, pants. Maybe their shoes come on and off. But this one is really good in its simplicity, one of the best ones so far, if there was…if you just gave these out and people were just…you said, hey, come up with a scene for this. Okay, this is another interesting one. This one has a character in the foreground, and it says, Lost in the Script. They’re reading a paper that says that. A mall…a two-story mall atrium is behind them, and it’s filled…there’s a lot going on. It looks like the mall has become a flea market. They have a look on their face like they’re lost.

 

Then, this one is called Improv Gone Wrong, and it shows…it says…Retro Flicks is one of the stores. Pretzel Play, Pretzel Plaza are some of the stores, and there’s two giant burgers. It looks like…they’re bigger…as big as life, and some giant pretzels and a giant soda cup. I guess somehow the improv with those props went wrong, or maybe that’s the improv group, Improv Gone Wrong, and then they use props. So, one person is sleeping. Another person’s covering the other person’s eyes. This next one’s called A Quick Costume Change. I like this one. It’s mannequins wearing costumes, but then laid out in the foreground are other costumes you could put on the mannequins. So, that one’s also very simple, very eighties. The Director’s Chair; this one has a character just sitting in a director’s chair.

 

Actually, there’s some repeats, though, and also in the scene are two noir-style characters. We could see the cineplex. There’s also…called the P-O-O-P House, something, and something…oh, Cineplex Classics. There’s someone sleeping in this picture, too. So, this one’s kind of a combination. There’s just a director with a bullhorn looking serious, but behind them are two noir characters on the right trying to get their attention, and then two kinda sillier characters from their…from improv. Acting in Circles; this just has…so, this one could have been…there’s a improv studio…Circle of Life Food Court; I like that. This just has characters strutting like they were gonna be strutting in a circle. This one’s The Final Scene. This is very…this one seems like you do a lot of. It’s…they’re characters on a stage.

 

There’s a small audience, but there’s a lot of people on the stage. One person kinda looks like Jim Gaffigan. Another…yeah, so, you got some different personality types. Maybe there’s some sort of final scene. Comedy Club; don’t know what it has to do with Sleep With Me, but I like it. This would be fun. This might be a fun play set, because the characters are very unique-looking. So, they all look like they could be different stand-up comedians. No one’s dressed plainly, though. A couple people are formally dressed. Well, everybody’s wearing layers except for one character in the background. His arms are crossed. He has a t-shirt on. But, yeah, it could be The Final Scene Comedy Club, 'cause then there’s a stage door. It does look like a play set because, again, it has pricing and stuff like that.

 

Okay, this is the same characters…oh, formally dressed, and it seems like this one is…everybody has a bow-tie, but…and it says, Take A Bow. So, maybe you got confused with this one, Al. Scooter, how did you know I got confused with that? Well, because they all have bow-ties on. They’re on a stage. It says, A Unlikely Encore, Take A Bow, and then it has the food court again, which you seem very focused on. Now, what’s good about this is there’s some…I mean, it looks like a play set. It wouldn't be the most interesting…but if you had these characters, this is probably the best you could do. They’re all dressed like…they look like characters 'cause they have bow-ties and suits.

 

One person has a very long coat on, suspenders…so, even though they’re in a 1980’s mall food court, they kinda look like they could be presenting at a World’s Fair in the 1910s or ‘00s or something. So…and then the crowd loves it. Again, I like it when you have the backs of the toys so that we can use our imagination. But I can see…I mean, I like the chairs, too. Another one with improv, Improv Madness…Mad Props; I like that one. Rapid-fire improv scenes at the food court, Mad Props. Improv…this is cool; the Improv World play set. This would be fun. It even has…this, again, is like…everybody’s acting like…again, I guess it would be another advertisement for Improv Madness. This next one is called When the Stage Closes Up. Pizza Galore, Pizza Paradise, Props Galore…Cool GPT…you know, PGT; that’s what it says.

 

So, that’s kind of what was giving you away, Al. Oh, what do you mean, Scooter? Because you’re…you’ve generated these, right, with…you’re…you’re the artificial intelligence version of the Cusacks. Actually, Scooter, I’m just presenting it. But, yeah, this is…that’s how we designed it, is using your words. We’re trying to make a toy catalog for you. Okay. There’s also…so, this one, the…there isn't actually a stage, but it kinda looks like a hamburger, or a really well-done hamburger, and a soda cup and a few slices of pizza that are eighty times to…no, maybe a hundred time…that somewhere in another world, they came down from the heavens and they landed on the food court, or the stage, in your case. There’s one person crawling in the pizza. That does look like…I mean, they all look like toys.

 

There’s other people kinda looking with looks on their face or as you would with figures, and saying, oh dear, a giant hamburger fell on our food court, and a giant soda bottle…soda cup. So, I like this one. This one I really like. This says, The End of the Performance. Now, these are Barbie-style figures, and they’re sitting at the Take Five food court. Rest and relax at the Take Five’s food court. They have popcorn, sodas, and they’re all lounging. So, I like it. They are rest and relaxing, and they’re taking five. They are dressed like they’re in the eighties, but they’re just sitting around like at the end of a performance. Okay, this one actually has the pages in it. It’s called Behind the Costume…Behind the Curtain Costume Corner. Don’t remember this one. Oh, Behind the Curtain; okay, so, I remember this episode.

 

This was in…there’s Behind the Curtain in that…Spence’s, but there’s no Spence’s here. Prop Palace is another one. Behind the Clump…but it kinda looks like toys looking at a…there’s some toys looking through the curtain. So, that’s kinda fun. There’s another one…The Final Bow, that you got mixed up on, 'cause everyone has a bow-tie, but they’re bowing, too. Then you even have a ad for bow-ties in the final act. So, that’s interesting, too. Thank you, Scooter. Walking off the stage — Wyatt — and leaving the food court. I like this one; Entering the Mall, even though it says it’s supposed to be empty. Sleeping Ball, New Boat…they’re like…there’s some eighties’ lighting from behind the characters again. I do like how you did it behind the characters, but they’re looking into a shopping mall.

 

But it’s set up just like a…like you were playing with it. So, I like that. Smell of Cinnamon…this one is interesting. These are dolls with clothing. There’s a giant cinnamon roll, Cinna Delights…this is dreamy. It’s like every…what if every mall was a cinnamon bun shop? And then instead of at the center of the mall there was a giant fountain, there was a giant cinnamon bun that’s like, two stories, but it’s still steaming off cinnamon-bun smell, and everyone gets an effect from it that makes them laugh hysterically. Okay, this one is really good; Autumnal Movie Memories. It has a movie playing and a bunch of people there watching it. So, it’s almost like a movie theater play set. It has some pumpkins, and one of the dolls is even holding a pumpkin and looking at the camera, which is interesting.

 

But there’s popcorn, there’s neon signs, and everyone’s kinda sitting in a row watching the movie, and the movie does look autumnal. It seems to be animated, or the scene they’re watching is animated. This one’s interesting, too; this one’s called The Magic of Malls in neon. Malls were magical places filled with endless possibilities, according to Wyatt, and it has some arcade games. It looks like they’re generic arcade games. There’s somebody standing there, maybe Wyatt in the future or the current Wyatt, ‘cause he does look like he’s about forty to fifty years old. He’s contemplating things. Cinnamon Roll Debate; you have two characters debating over cinnamon rolls, and one person says, Cinnamon Roll, Moist Smells…? Another person says…they’re standing on the Popcorn side, and I guess they’re objecting.

 

They’re saying, Cinnamon Rolls for $300. So, it’s kinda, do you want cinnamon rolls or popcorn? Also, you have kind of autumnal archetypes. Julius J Juice Concentrate Quest; now, this is a mall named…so, this is a mall that’s kinda like something out of…what is that, that first movie that got made into other movies, where…? The Running of…with…Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the movie based on that. There’s a lot of neon. There’s Julius…I like this Julius J Juice. He’s dancing in front of a orange, and he’s giving a thumbs-up. Like, drink Julius J Juice. Then there’s the backs of the characters looking into the mall, which looks ultra-modern, ultra-neon. Then we got transforming archetypes and cereal mascots again. Looks like you were kinda working on these. These don’t look very done.

 

Let’s see…oh, okay, so, this one I did ask for. So, you have a couple different versions of the Crispy Commander. Yeah, Scooter, this is the first one. Okay, this is a interesting one. So, what I like about this is it’s unexpected, and it’s not exactly how I picture the Crispy Commander, but this doesn't look like anything, because there was other Crispy Commanders you presented to me…I said, hey, that’s too much like other characters. So, this one kinda looks like a toy robot that you would play with. It’s smiling. It has a commander-style hat on and arm pieces. It’s non…it’s anthropomorphized, but not human. It’s definitely a happy robot, and it has a giant bowl of cereal on its chest and it’s holding a giant spoon.

 

I would say this could be a Crispy Command…I would say more like this could be the Crispy Commander’s sidekick, but I like it. I would say this one is cool. Okay, next up is Navigating the Movie World. You just have…this one, I guess…it’s almost like a prompt, right? There’s a saloon, but it has neon. There’s some…this is like doing your best with toys you have. Theres’s a couple characters riding horses like a Western movie set, and there’s other characters walking. You do like having your characters strutting, don’t you? Yeah, Scooter, we do, we do. But I like it. It’s like toys strutting. You can't go wrong with that. Okay, here’s another one. So, it’s in the mall. This one I really like 'cause there’s a lot of laser usage and neon, but there’s some characters in Westerns talking to each other, then there seems to be a android riding a horse.

 

So, this one is both grounded and otherworldly at the same time. So, I like it. I like it. Then, this one is more of a drawing, but it’s Helping the Archetypes Return. They seem to be coming in, though, and greeting us. There’s two people that look like they were archetypes from a version of The Sound of Music with adult males. Then there’s a character that I asked you…I said, let’s…when you asked me, hey…'cause you were having trouble. Scooter, I…you’re breaking the fifteenth wall. Well, that’s okay at this point because…but so, I said, hey, let’s try to come up with different cereal characters. So, I call…I had created a character called Double Dice Mallow that I wanted to be like two marshmallow dice.

 

You have that character waving, then you just have a regular person…a couple regular people in a suit, then you do have someone that kinda looks like a archetype coming from deep from within the ocean. Some of the people are coming out of portals or they’re walking backwards into portals. You have someone that looks like they’re from The Good Guys. Actually, this character, he’s waving and coming towards the camera. He kinda looks like…remember a long time ago…'cause we didn’t have Cabbage Patch Kids at my house. I think my sister did, but my brother got a version…there was another character called My Buddy, and my brother got not My Buddy. He got a generic version of My Buddy that my dad called the Something Kid, 'cause he smelled very much…strongly of plastic. This character looks like that.

 

Then we have Leaving the Mall, Reflecting, Revisiting the Mystery; now, this one’s really good. It seems like an adult Wyatt standing outside a mall. So, a toy version of Wyatt. Not exactly what I picture Wyatt like, but I could see where you’re coming from. He’s got a plether…and I’m saying this really, a plether jacket. So, not respecting and using fake…plether. Like a plether bomber jacket and jeans. His hands are in his pockets. He’s just…look at the mall, thinking. Then a couple unexpected encores…Unlocking the Secrets of the Mall; so, this one you’re taking literally. So, there’s someone holding a giant key, and then they’re in the arcade — like a giant, old-fashioned key — and the kids are watching a door opening. So, some mystery, all toy-based. This is another one I really like.

 

It kinda seems to be Wyatt…another Wyatt reflecting, but it’s like…looks like there’s a couple model sets for sale, but there’s also a toy version of Wyatt looking into a mirror where he’s remembering the dream, then another one of them entering the mall and discover…so, some of this is repetitive. Okay, then you have your second version of Crispy Commander. Again, a really good version. So, this one I would say…if I didn’t see the other one you came up with, I would have picked this one. But it doesn't work for…for the story of Multiplex, I think we have to have something with a little bit more humanity, where this is like a cereal icon. So, it’s a giant…I mean, in this picture he’s giant, 'cause he’s appearing in a grand, metaphorical way, but he’s dressed in a blue uniform with whatever those things that look like mops are on your shoulders.

 

Those are yellow. He’s got a sash, a belt, and things on his wrists that are yellow. He’s very muscular. So, a little bit different than we described him. But then his head…he has a face and eyes and he’s kinda smiling or talking, but he…his face is some sort of pillowy, crunchy cereal piece that would be a rectangular puff, but bigger than the cereal that he’s influenced by. So, the size of the piece of cereal works for his head and actually looks very natural. I think this is a great job. It’s just, we wouldn't be able to identify and feel for him, 'cause he doesn't look…you know what I mean? Just, the other version you came up with is very good. Okay, then I like yet another couple versions of the tea shop with the invisible person.

 

Helping Characters Return; this one has a lot of characters that are very interesting, including…they have drawings. Everybody’s laughing. So, this almost looks like a gathering of just whatever toys you had. I like…there’s one character in a blue sweatshirt that kinda looks like a bird, but it’s anthropomorphized. Then there’s a robotic entertainer from a circus that’s part-android and part…he doesn't have big shoes, but if he was at a circus…I don't know, some sort of futuristic thing. Then you have characters in the background that could be from autumnal films. Now, this one is really good. So, you have an invisible…it’s…but it’s not invisible. He’s dressed like a proper English gentlemen; bowler cap, suit, tie, spectacles. He’s pouring tea into the cups of two other toys who are sitting having tea. So, this is very picturesque.

 

He’s floating, but there’s…everybody else is just enjoying their tea. But he’s serving the tea. Okay, the next play set…do you mind if I call them play sets? Sure, Scooter. Now you have four characters. So, you got the right number of characters, and in some sense, this is bigger than…if it was a advertisement, it kinda works, 'cause it’s the Crispy Commander’s love letters. So, there’s a giant…what are those things called? Foot box or whatever. You used to take them…foot crate? I don't know what they call them, but you’d put your stuff in it when you went to college or you went away. Foot locker, and it’s open and it’s full of letters, love letters, of the Crispy Commander’s. The characters are gathered around. They do look like teens. They’re like, whoa. They’re like, we just found the Crispy Commander’s love letters.

 

Then you have another one where they’re kinda sitting around a table reading them as if they were magazines. It looks like toys, so, it looks like if you were given that instruction, you’re gonna have the toys reading the Crispy Commander’s love letters. Okay, then you have Boyd’s Movie Book Discovery. They’re kinda looking through the movie book, figuring something out. There’s another one, Locked Out of the Multiplex. So, the Multiplex, the doors are closed and the characters are looking in. You do have a couple movie pictures with Wyatt, who has a eight…big, eighties’ rock…glam-rock hair, but it also looks like he has powers of the mind, and that’s the movie, Wyatt. Okay, then we continue on the metaphorical one. This one is the Projectionist’s Booth Plan, and it kinda looks like…more of like a Hardy Boy’s thing.

 

Then Exploring the Air Ducts; this is good. It has a character in what looks like a air duct. He’s on a blanket, which makes him more comfortable. He’s in action pose. So, I like that. This one kinda looks like an adult version of Wyatt, an imaginary Wyatt. It’s a doll. He has on a winter coat, a red…what do you call that? Scarf, and he’s reading Crispy Commander love letters in a Blockbuster. Okay, then you have another more artistic one, A Plan to Stop the Projector, but they’re presenting their plan on the projector, and everybody’s kinda standing around, all the toys. I like it, and they’re discussing this plan. There’s also cool movie posters. Okay, then one called The Crispy Commander Discovery. This one is very avant-garde. I don't know what’s happening here other than these are toys.

 

So, it kinda looks like they’re working in a outdoor news room lab, 'cause they’re gathered around old Apple II computers, but there’s also a window that’s glowing, and there’s someone holding up a shirt to the window. On the other side is some sort of character. Then you have one where they’re putting a sign on the invisible person. I think you kinda got that wrong, 'cause they’re kinda laughing. But, yeah. Then Walt Whitman Books, or Whitman Books; this is just a regular bookstore but with the person who couldn't be seen in there. Another version of Wyatt looking at the secret…Invisible in the Bookstore; talk about the story of my life. Invisible in the bookstore, man. That is a story of my life. But yeah, the person who can't be seen’s in there, and the bookstore’s full of people.

 

The Fountain Conference; that’s very straightforward. Everybody’s just sitting around a fountain, talking. I like this one, Back in the Projectionist’s Booth. There’s a James Dean-like character watching a projector on a TV, but it’s got a mood even though…and it’s got posters for a new movie called The Rokazator, Bozz, Rocko’s…so, interesting. Then, this Crispy Commander I forgot about. I didn’t think this was a good one, but it has the Crispy Commander coming out of the air duct saying ‘hi’. It even has a neon sign saying, The Crispy Commander’s Secret Hideout, and another sign saying, Love the Crispy Commander. There’s also potato chips there for some reason. But this part of the Crisp…this version of the Crispy Commander just looks like a human.

 

Then a mall…kind of like a Barbie mall play set; Discovering the Magic of the Mall. Toy more…and then this one. So, this Crispy Commander…I think if we combined the two…he’s got a giant spoon. He’s also holding up a thing. He’s a little bit different than I described in the podcast, but I think he’s close. He’s dressed almost like a repurposed toy from the 1980’s, like for WW…like where you would have men in a ring dancing off, WWE, WWF. But he’s got blue sunglasses, he’s got hair, and a moustache. Other than that, he does look like a wrestling toy, and…but there’s just something about him that kinda works. So, there’s another one, Meeting with the Person Who Couldn't be Seen at the Toy…Tea Shop; everybody’s having…that looks like the toys are all listening really well.

 

Another one of them reading the Crispy Commander’s love letters, and the guy from Highway to Heaven looks like he’s in this one, the character from Highway to Heaven. Then another one with Boyd’s movie book discovery. This one, the toys are all looking at the book together. The book’s the size of the toys, a giant book, but they seem to be doing it…I like those ones where they do it like a plan. So, yeah, you did really good. There’s a endless amount of these. Well, thank you, Scooter. We kinda took exactly what you said…we worked with…I am Al, and we worked together to make something sleepy in a catalog. So, thanks. Yeah, thanks, and goodnight, everybody.

 

[END OF RECORDING]

(Transcription performed by LeahTranscribes)

Toy Catalog / Multiplex

 

Bugle Boy Jeans

https://shezcrafti.com/remembering-bugle-boy/

https://www.grayflannelsuit.net/blog/whatever-happened-to-retail-edition

https://totally-90s.com/bugle-boy-jeans/

 

Toy TV Merch

https://www.cbr.com/cartoon-television-commercials-products/

https://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/most-of-your-favourite-cartoons-were-ads-to-sell-toys-1.6687470

https://www.gobacktothepast.com/blog/146-why-80s-cartoons-were-based-on-toys

 

Scatman

https://medium.com/@blackdogstrength/scatman-john-all-the-stuff-i-didnt-know-31867654f85c

https://ahn.mnsu.edu/services-and-centers/center-for-communication-sciences-and-disorders/services/stuttering/information-about-stuttering/fun-information/famous-people-who-stutter/the-scatman-explains-his-song/

https://scatmanjohn.com/biography/

 

1980s Toys

https://spokester.com/blogs/news/80s-toys

https://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/1980s-toys-that-will-make-you-nostalgic

https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/g45300138/toys-from-1980s/

 

DOWN TO BUSINESS

An exciting time to not be excited

A launch of an imaginary toy catalog from the Cusacks

 

PLUGS

Sleep With Me Plus; Calm History Podcast; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; NAPAWF; Anti-Racism Resources; Ukraine Relief; Crisis Textline; SleepPhones

 

SPONSORS

Helix Sleep; Zocdoc; Progressive; Lumen; Uncommon Goods

 

INTRO

Thinking Thonk

Things that go thunk in the night

There is something we share in the deep dark night

I hope you feel companionship here

I’ll use filler words, but this is not filler

Oh, I’ve got that goofy podcast guy

Tell me about rivets in a non-riveting way

Ribbets with berets

Maybe I should stop the podcast and make my own sneakers and jeans

Jean Rivets

Who could write this dialog but a sleep podcaster?

I had to indulge that spur of the moment rivet podcast

What happened to Bugle Boy Jeans?

How to brand your jeans

Bugle Boy Jeans aims for people that buy purple hair gel

False memories of Bugle Boy Rambles

A side eye version of expectations

Explaining the structure

I imagine there must be 14 YouTube deep dives into Bugle Boy Jeans

The Cusacks are making an imaginary toy catalog

The imaginary Zoom meeting in my mind

 

STORY

The famous other Cusacks

They design stuff for SWM

Reginald Cusacks is here to present his catalog

Prepared by Al Cusack

Al is not AI

This is based on Multiplex

Al will answer your questions, Scooter

This toy is based on an intro, I guess?

Strolling the meanders of my mind

Yarn-Like Thing (YLT)

Dreaming of a pink cloud

Pastel rainbow bridges

Cornucopia of Soft Thoughts

The Spirit of Simon and Garfunkel in my Imagination

Nothing looks Simon and Garfunkel here

Otherworldy hair on these action figures

Secrets of Your Success Store

5 people looking at a window display

The words are, of course, not words

The Person Who Can’t Be Seen is actually invisible, that’s cool!

Combo playset / advertisement

Al, why are there 7 youth biking? 

The bikes do look like they’re from the 80s, I’ll admit

Some of these figures look like they’re in a funky band from another world

Futuristic Retro Funk

A lot of these setups take place in the food court

Trust Exercise

Improvisation Exercise

Doing some sort of improv warmup?

But it’s an ad for a kid’s slide?

Sliding down the plush’s tongue

Upward Dog Sphinx

A woman in a fully satin outfit, singing

Libraries pretending to be food courts

This guy kind of looks like the Scatman

Another improv setup

This food court does look like a food court

The Scene Stealer (superhero)

Backstage Confusion

This one is very … creative

Perm-Like Long Hair

They look like they could be from the 80s

A lot of these figures look confused

How was this made, Al?

Next one is Curtain Call

Teacher / Professor action figures

Noir Food Court

Helping an actor find his scene

Dolls vs Figures

Removable clothes vs painted clothes

One of the best so far, Al

Lost in the Script

Looks like the mall has become a flea market

Improv Gone Wrong

Pretzel Plaza??

Quick Costume Change

You can put clothes on these mannequins, I guess

The Director’s Chair

There’s 2 noir characters here, too

I like the Circle of Life Food Court

That person kind of looks like Jim Gaffigan

Are all these characters based on standup comedians?

Did you mistake taking a bow for bow ties, Al?

They could also be presenting at a 1900s World Fair

Mad Props

Improv World Playset

Pizza Paradise, Props Galore

Al won’t admit he’s AI

The End of the Performance

Take Five Food Court

Behind the Curtain Costume Corner

Entering the Mall

Some 80s lighting

This setup really suggests play

The Smell of Cinnamon

What if every mall was a cinnamon bun shop?

A giant cinnamon bun in the center of a mall

Autumnal Movie Memories

The Magic of Malls and Neon

Generic Arcade Games

Is that current Wyatt looking back on the past?

Cinnamon Roll Debate

Cinnamon Rolls vs Popcorn

Julius J Juice Concentrate Quest

This kind of looks like that movie, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

A couple different versions of Crispy Commander

This one looks like a toy robot

Commander Style Hat

Anthropomorphized but not human

This has more sidekick energy, tbh

Navigating the movie world

You do like to have your toys strut in these pictures, huh?

A lot of laser / neon usage here

An android riding a horse

Grounded and otherworldly at the same time

Helping the archetypes return

Scooter breaks the 15th Wall

Al created a character named Double Dice Mellow

A lot of coming in and out of portals

My brother got a generic version of My Buddy

Revisiting the Mystery

Adult Toy Wyatt

Unlocking the secrets of the mall

You took this one very literally

Wyatt looking into a mirror, remembering the dream

2nd version of Crispy Commander

It’s pretty good but needs to be more human

His face is a giant cereal piece

A couple versions of the Invisible Person and the Tea Shop

Robotic Entertainer from a Circus

This Invisible guy is not invisible

Dressed like a proper English gentleman

It is, in fact, ok to call them playsets

CCC’s love letters

A giant foot locker full of love letters

These action figures do look like teens, that’s good

Looking at a movie book

Locked out of the Multiplex

Wyatt has big 80s glam rock hair in this one

An exploring air ducts playset

A plan to stop the projector

Avant Garde Crispy Commander Setup

An outdoor newsroom? I don’t know

Whitman Books playset

Invisible in the Bookstore, talk about the story of my life

Fountain Conference, that’s straightforward

James Dean Like Character

I don’t like this version of the Crispy Commander

I do like his giant spoon, though

He kind of looks like a wrestling toy

Is that the guy from Highway to Heaven?

You did really good, Al

 

SUMMARY:

Episode: 1309

Title: Multiplex Toy Catalog

Plugs: Sleep With Me Plus; Calm History Podcast; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; NAPAWF; Anti-Racism Resources; Ukraine Relief; Crisis Textline; SleepPhones

Sponsors: Helix Sleep; Zocdoc; Progressive; Lumen; Uncommon Goods

Notable Language:

• Thinking Thonk
• Goofy Podcast Guy
• Non-Riveting Rivets
• Jean Rivets
• Side Eye Expectations
• Yarn-Like Thing (YLT)
• Pronesium Arch
• Upward Dog Sphinx
• P-I-T-Y
• Perm-Like Long Hair
• Noir Food Court
• Autumnal Movie Memories
• Double Dice Mellow
• James Dean Like Character

 

Notable Culture:

• • John Cusack
  • Joan Cusack

• Multiplex

• • “Raspberry Beret” – Prince
  • Bugle Boy Jeans
  • Ross
  • TJ Maxx
  • Marshall’s
  • YouTube
  • Zoom
  • AI
  • Simon & Garfunkel

• The Brady Bunch

• • Scatman
  • Jim Gaffigan
  • World’s Fair

• Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

• Blade Runner

• • Cabbage Patch Kids
  • MyBuddy
  • James Dean

• Highway to Heaven

 

Notable Talking Points:

• Thinking Thonk
• Things that go thunk in the night
• There is something we share in the deep dark night
• I hope you feel companionship here
• I’ll use filler words, but this is not filler
• Oh, I’ve got that goofy podcast guy
• Tell me about rivets in a non-riveting way
• Ribbets with berets
• Maybe I should stop the podcast and make my own sneakers and jeans
• Jean Rivets
• Who could write this dialog but a sleep podcaster?
• I had to indulge that spur of the moment rivet podcast
• What happened to Bugle Boy Jeans?
• How to brand your jeans
• Bugle Boy Jeans aims for people that buy purple hair gel
• False memories of Bugle Boy Rambles
• A side eye version of expectations
• Explaining the structure
• I imagine there must be 14 YouTube deep dives into Bugle Boy Jeans
• The Cusacks are making an imaginary toy catalog
• The imaginary Zoom meeting in my mind
• The famous other Cusacks
• They design stuff for SWM
• Reginald Cusacks is here to present his catalog
• Prepared by Al Cusack
• Al is not AI
• This is based on Multiplex
• Al will answer your questions, Scooter
• This toy is based on an intro, I guess?
• Strolling the meanders of my mind
• Yarn-Like Thing (YLT)
• Dreaming of a pink cloud
• Pastel rainbow bridges
• Cornucopia of Soft Thoughts
• The Spirit of Simon and Garfunkel in my Imagination
• Nothing looks Simon and Garfunkel here
• Otherworldy hair on these action figures
• Secrets of Your Success Store
• 5 people looking at a window display
• The words are, of course, not words
• The Person Who Can’t Be Seen is actually invisible, that’s cool!
• Combo playset / advertisement
• Al, why are there 7 youth biking? 
• The bikes do look like they’re from the 80s, I’ll admit
• Some of these figures look like they’re in a funky band from another world
• Futuristic Retro Funk
• A lot of these setups take place in the food court
• Trust Exercise
• Improvisation Exercise
• Doing some sort of improv warmup?
• But it’s an ad for a kid’s slide?
• Sliding down the plush’s tongue
• Upward Dog Sphinx
• A woman in a fully satin outfit, singing
• Libraries pretending to be food courts
• This guy kind of looks like the Scatman
• Another improv setup
• This food court does look like a food court
• The Scene Stealer (superhero)
• Backstage Confusion
• This one is very … creative
• Perm-Like Long Hair
• They look like they could be from the 80s
• A lot of these figures look confused
• How was this made, Al?
• Next one is Curtain Call
• Teacher / Professor action figures
• Noir Food Court
• Helping an actor find his scene
• Dolls vs Figures
• Removable clothes vs painted clothes
• One of the best so far, Al
• Lost in the Script
• Looks like the mall has become a flea market
• Improv Gone Wrong
• Pretzel Plaza??
• Quick Costume Change
• You can put clothes on these mannequins, I guess
• The Director’s Chair
• There’s 2 noir characters here, too
• I like the Circle of Life Food Court
• That person kind of looks like Jim Gaffigan
• Are all these characters based on standup comedians?
• Did you mistake taking a bow for bow ties, Al?
• They could also be presenting at a 1900s World Fair
• Mad Props
• Improv World Playset
• Pizza Paradise, Props Galore
• Al won’t admit he’s AI
• The End of the Performance
• Take Five Food Court
• Behind the Curtain Costume Corner
• Entering the Mall
• Some 80s lighting
• This setup really suggests play
• The Smell of Cinnamon
• What if every mall was a cinnamon bun shop?
• A giant cinnamon bun in the center of a mall
• Autumnal Movie Memories
• The Magic of Malls and Neon
• Generic Arcade Games
• Is that current Wyatt looking back on the past?
• Cinnamon Roll Debate
• Cinnamon Rolls vs Popcorn
• Julius J Juice Concentrate Quest
• This kind of looks like that movie, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
• A couple different versions of Crispy Commander
• This one looks like a toy robot
• Commander Style Hat
• Anthropomorphized but not human
• This has more sidekick energy, tbh
• Navigating the movie world
• You do like to have your toys strut in these pictures, huh?
• A lot of laser / neon usage here
• An android riding a horse
• Grounded and otherworldly at the same time
• Helping the archetypes return
• Scooter breaks the 15th Wall
• Al created a character named Double Dice Mellow
• A lot of coming in and out of portals
• My brother got a generic version of My Buddy
• Revisiting the Mystery
• Adult Toy Wyatt
• Unlocking the secrets of the mall
• You took this one very literally
• Wyatt looking into a mirror, remembering the dream
• 2nd version of Crispy Commander
• It’s pretty good but needs to be more human
• His face is a giant cereal piece
• A couple versions of the Invisible Person and the Tea Shop
• Robotic Entertainer from a Circus
• This Invisible guy is not invisible
• Dressed like a proper English gentleman
• It is, in fact, ok to call them playsets
• CCC’s love letters
• A giant foot locker full of love letters
• These action figures do look like teens, that’s good
• Looking at a movie book
• Locked out of the Multiplex
• Wyatt has big 80s glam rock hair in this one
• An exploring air ducts playset
• A plan to stop the projector
• Avant Garde Crispy Commander Setup
• An outdoor newsroom? I don’t know
• Whitman Books playset
• Invisible in the Bookstore, talk about the story of my life
• Fountain Conference, that’s straightforward
• James Dean Like Character
• I don’t like this version of the Crispy Commander
• I do like his giant spoon, though
• He kind of looks like a wrestling toy
• Is that the guy from Highway to Heaven?
• You did really good, Al