formerlyfreedom November 5, 2015 Share November 5, 2015 Alexander Graham Bell beats Elisha Gray to the patent office for the telephone; sick of wearing an uncomfortable corset, Mary Phelps Jacob (A.K.A. Caresse Crosby) makes herself a brassiere and starts a fashion revolution; and Thomas Edison endeavors to launch a filmmaking monopoly. Featuring: Martin Starr as Alexander Graham Bell, Jason Ritter as Elisha Gray, Henry Winkler as Zenas Fisk Wilbur, Parker Posey as Mary Phelps Jacob, Chris Parnell as Thomas Edison, Michael McKean as Carl Laemmle, Dr. Drew Pinsky as The Judge. Retellers: JD Ryznar on Inventing the Telephone; Paget Brewster on Inventing the Bra; Duncan Trussell on Inventing Films. Link to comment
Rinaldo November 11, 2015 Share November 11, 2015 Now that's what I"m talkin' about. Educational AND entertaining. Good narrators who gave the re-enactors plenty to work with. I'm giving this one at least one more rematch. 3 Link to comment
Mindymoo November 11, 2015 Share November 11, 2015 Paget Brewster was a great narrator, but I was kind of thrown by Dr. Drew Pinsky being an actor in the last story. A comedic show called "Drunk History" doesn't seem like something an addictions doctor would want to support in any way, but this is the "Celebrity Rehab" guy. Good episode, besides that WTF moment. And Henry Winkler is a national treasure. 1 Link to comment
IndianPaintbrush November 11, 2015 Share November 11, 2015 I don't think the show is meant to promote alcoholism, and I doubt any of the narrators have real drinking problems. It's just silly fun. Duncan Trussell is a good storyteller. I enjoyed his Thomas Edison story a lot. Link to comment
peeayebee November 11, 2015 Share November 11, 2015 I loved all three segments. The narrators were great. The actors were great. I learned stuff! 1 Link to comment
Mindymoo November 11, 2015 Share November 11, 2015 I don't think the show is meant to promote alcoholism, and I doubt any of the narrators have real drinking problems. It's just silly fun. Oh, I'm not saying it does. I'm just saying that's an odd choice of casting. YMMV, of course. Link to comment
Rinaldo November 11, 2015 Share November 11, 2015 (edited) I kind of like the (implied) statement that something can be problematic in excess or as an addiction, but be OK in moderation. That's a distinction that seems to confuse some writers in the current climate. Edited November 11, 2015 by Rinaldo 2 Link to comment
Latverian Diplomat November 12, 2015 Share November 12, 2015 (edited) Wow, they went all in on the Gray side of the Gray/Bell dispute. That's unusual. As far as I know there is no consensus among historians that would be that much in Gray's favor. Edison, on the other hand, is widely agreed to have been a huge credit-stealing jerk. Edited November 12, 2015 by Latverian Diplomat Link to comment
LADreamr November 12, 2015 Share November 12, 2015 Loved it, but if they ever do another inventors one, I'd love to see them include the fight between Philo Farnsworth and RCA over the television patent; and '40s actress Hedy Lamarr, whose inventions were the infancy of WiFi. 3 Link to comment
LJonEarth November 12, 2015 Share November 12, 2015 Drew loves the show. He's been talking about it for a year on his radio show and Derrick has been on multiple times. His reasoning for being on this episode is: I like to have fun too. Do what you want with drinking, we're all adults. If you think you have a problem and want help, there are people to help you. If you don't want help, you can't be forced to change. This was one of the better episodes. I haven't enjoyed this season as much as the last. 1 Link to comment
ABay November 12, 2015 Share November 12, 2015 I'd never heard of Mary Phelps Jacobs! I knew Trivial Pursuit's answer was a joke--supposedly they planted several fake answers as a copyright ploy or something--but not who actually invented bras. It stuns me that handkerchiefs were big enough, and strong enough, for anyone because they wouldn't be for me. The other, Gray and Laemmle, I knew about. Edison was an asshole. Link to comment
cynicat November 15, 2015 Share November 15, 2015 I only just got around to watching this episode and agree, it was a really good one. Seeing Henry Winkler (Zenas, rhymes with penis) was a delightful treat, and laughed when he pulled out a cordless phone to call Bell about the telephone patent. Also, I am developing a girl crush on Paget Brewster. "My boobles are free to roam!" I will totally start working that phrase into conversations. 1 Link to comment
Joimiaroxeu November 15, 2015 Share November 15, 2015 Edison, on the other hand, is widely agreed to have been a huge credit-stealing jerk. It was curious to me that the simple solution was for his key competitors to move to California. What kept him from moving to LA as well and continuing the fight? kind of thrown by Dr. Drew Pinsky being an actor in the last story That was my reaction too. Since when is he a regular actor? Link to comment
cynicat November 15, 2015 Share November 15, 2015 That was my reaction too. Since when is he a regular actor? Since never, but he is a fame whore. 3 Link to comment
ganesh November 15, 2015 Share November 15, 2015 Paget Brewster is the best narrator, and the combo of her with Parker Posey is comedy gold. PB must be one hell of a drinker because I didn't realize she was barely drunk until she stopped in the middle. Waters looked blasted in that segment though. This was an all star narration with the right actors. And a dog. Link to comment
Cosmic Muffin November 15, 2015 Share November 15, 2015 ...This was an all star narration with the right actors. And a dog. And a mountain of bras! 1 Link to comment
ganesh November 16, 2015 Share November 16, 2015 I think last time PB was narrating she made Waters wear a dress too. Link to comment
possibilities November 16, 2015 Share November 16, 2015 Just in case anyone is wondering, these two sources say it's true that they considered re-naming Caresse Crosby "Clytoris"-- apparently they did in fact name their dog "Clytoris" after the Lady Crosby changed her own name to Caresse: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/5549090/The-Crosbys-literatures-most-scandalous-couple.html http://ahistoryblog.com/2013/08/22/harry-crosby-1828-1929-rich-and-different/ How does anyone know this, though? Did they keep a diary documenting the names they considered and rejected? Was there a gossip mill that took on stories such as this? Link to comment
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