On this episode, we take a serious look at a ridiculous film in
'Talladega Nights - The Ballad of Ricky Bobby' from 2006. Being the
second instalment in Will Ferrell's 'Mediocre American Male'
film trilogy, we deconstruct the ways in which this sub-genre
of comedy mocks conservative American culture, most especially
the presidency of George W. Bush and the mainstream conservative
value system. We also look at the 'Sabido Method' of
transposing social norms through screenplay, along with other
tricks of stagecraft such as the use of comedic extremes, real-word
references, and self-satirical product placement. 

Topics discussed include: Talladega Nights, Will Ferrell, John
C. Reilly, Judd Apato, Adam McKay, 'Mediocre American Male',
Comedic Actors, Genres of Comedy, Popular Culture, NASCAR,
Anchorman, Deconstruction of Conservative Values, Contemporary
Morality Play, Risque Humour, Conservatism, Right Wing Politics,
Cultural Demographics, Christianity, George W. Bush, DuPont,
DynCorp, Halliburton, Carlyle Group, KFC, McDonalds, Product
Placement, Self-Satire, Sasha Baron Cohen, Perrier, France, LGBT,
Sophistication, Character Archetypes, Frontrunner vs Underdog,
Debasement,  Degeneracy, Gender Roles, Denigration of the
Male, Juvenile Behaviour, Drugs, Homoeroticism, Sexually
Inappropriate Themes, Profanity, Sabido Method, Breaking Down
Prejudices, Changing Moral Values, Comedic Technique, Lack of
Judgement, Identification with Archetypes, Stupidity, Comedic
Extremes, Pushing the Envelope, Political Statements, Dialectics,
Liberalism vs Conservatism, Toilet Humour, Subversive Impact of
Comedies.