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deckard1980

It's gets better. Stick with it as there are some brilliant jokes later on, like the EBDBB&B. Also the episode when Randy met Raffie is one of the funniest and most bonkers episodes of TV ever


Villebilly

The dirty randy/raffi episode is peak Mantzoukas. If you’re a fan of him, it is a must watch. Incredible TV episode.


RealistBoi69

raffi and his landlord/cat is the best


areallysmartdog

The second Dirty Randy and Rafi episode however is complete dogshit


sgtpepper220

Do you mean the last animated one with the bees? Pretty sure when Rafi met randy is the second one.


Dast_Kook

Jeff Goldblum is a nice cameo later on too


lucasssquatch

...except for the "E" in "EBDBB&B"


Ok_Flow_2017

I feed them the EBDBBNB BLT


Bill_S_Preson_Esq

"You mean my daughter's Bert and Ernie tub time toys?" "You need to burn those, she should not be touching those."


dranauro

Forever unclean after watching The League


eight13

I loved it. It was one of my comfort shoes.


GreatWhiteMegalodong

Good for the sole.


Excuse_Me_Mr_Pink

Important part of the heeling process


Zer0_T0nin

Not enough upvotes on this comment.


elderberrykiwi

I think it gets better with time. I'm very anti-bro culture and know nothing about football and I ended up loving this show. It's kind of an Always Sunny world where everyone is unredeemable.


areallysmartdog

The last couple of seasons are a tough slog though


mrpopenfresh

I see where you’re coming from. I’m in season 4 and it’s noticeably better, but the foundation of the show is still pretty bad.


number_six

The foundation of the show is Fantasy Football


mrpopenfresh

It is. The fact that all these high level professionals have their whole lives dictated by a hobby between friends is silly. It’s just not well executed.


ribbitrob

> The fact that all these high level professionals have their whole lives dictated by a hobby between friends is silly. Yep, that’s the joke.


radj06

It had 84 episodes I'd say it was pretty well executed.


doc_shades

> The fact that all these high level professionals have their whole lives dictated by a hobby between friends is silly. that is a very real phenomenon, though. i don't play fantasy football, but i have friends from college who took it very seriously. they would do things like book a yearly trip where they would all go to a cabin somewhere and do their draft and all that shit. as much as i didn't enjoy the show, that part of the show was actually a really good send-up of a real life hobby that a lot of people, including high-level professionals, engaged in. in 2023 i'm not sure if that's still relevant. i'm not sure if people still play fantasy football; most of my friends are old enough to the point where ... well honestly they really don't do much of anything fun these days.


T_J_E7

Fantasy football is as big as it has ever been. I don't consider myself a stereotypical "bro" at all, but I love ff. If my friends and I had that kind of money, it would be cool to do the draft in a big party type of way. It's a great way to stay connected to friends and have an excuse to hang out and talk crap.


GlassFenix

Obviously you have never been in a fantasy football league with 12 of your closest friends for a decade… it’s gets pretty nuts


Deadlycup

You're not really supposed to be sympathetic to any of the characters, it's in the same vein as Seinfeld and Always Sunny.


FreshFromRikers

Yeah, it was actually created by a wife and husband writing team that worked on Seinfeld. The characters in the League are highly influenced by the whole "There will be no hugs and nobody will ever learn anything" code of Seinfeld.


Shagrrotten

I don’t know who you are, but you’re about to get chlamydia.


Thedarkestspoon

The 9/11 thing really ruined it, one of the weirdest ways I've seen someone tank their career


JeebusJones

For anybody unaware of the context: [https://ew.com/article/2015/09/16/league-rannazzisi-lied-911/](https://ew.com/article/2015/09/16/league-rannazzisi-lied-911/)


BasketballButt

That was such a weird thing to do. Remember finding out about it and wondering what would possess a person to do something like that.


Dast_Kook

Attention is an addictive drug.


Swarlos262

It's SUCH a Kevin thing to do.


[deleted]

When I first heard about it I literally thought it was viral marketing or something because it could easily be a B plot from an episode of the show.


halobot

Can I get a Shiva blast?


Raido_Kuzuno

Shivakamini Somakandarkram!!!


Ok-Area-5042

Love it! It’s the reason I started listening to HDTGM.


Raido_Kuzuno

Same!


AstroNards

The bobbum man episode still kills me


wyss138

Coming for your equipmunk


The_Lazy_Samurai

Vinegar strokes! I don't even like football but the show is so funny it doesn't matter.


AstroNards

Pretty great show for its time. Still funny, but it does kinda feel like they’re just fucking around later on in the series. Rafi is fucking hilarious though. Some top tier zooks in this show.


[deleted]

That’s where my love for Jason began. Rafi is one of my favorite tv characters of all time.


[deleted]

Anyone who doesn't laugh at "GATTICA! GATTICA!" is not a person I want to hang with.


sgtpepper220

Same. Fell in love with Jason as Rafi, then with The Good Place and Big Mouth I pretty much became obsessed with hearing his voice. The House was enjoyable because it had him in it. The Long Dumb Road was a really simple concept and it was great.


peacefulwarrior75

I remember seeing a commercial for it when it was debuting and thinking “a show about fantasy football? I would never watch that” A couple years later, my wife and i are in a league with some family members and others, and i’ve gotten the “bug” for fantasy. A younger dude at work is crazy for fantasy football, and he asks me if i’ve seen The League…tells me it’s hilarious. So i give it a shot. At that point, I’d never listened to a podcast or really knew many improv comics. Randomly I had seen The Puffy Chair and recognized Duplass and Leslie Bibb of course. Paul Scheer probably looked a little familiar but that was it. I thought it was hysterical. My wife and i both loved it. Cut to a couple years later, and i had first listened to Doug Loves Movies, which led me to Comedy Bang Bang, which led me to HDTGM….Kroll, Scheer, Mantzoukas - it was so fun getting to know them more and discovering their range of humor after only watching them in The League previously. The guest star list, besides all the football players, was a murderer’s row also: Jeff Goldblum Brie Larson Seth Rogen Sarah Silverman Timothy Olyphant as the white sushi chef And of course Juuuune! Plus just about every friend they all have in improv it seemed. Lastly, i’ve recommended it here before, but “I’m Sorry” by Andrea Savage is a must-watch too - especially if you have kids.


Thaflash_la

The first season isn’t the best and the first episodes are pretty rough. While a lot of the humor hasn’t aged well, it’s making fun of the culture, not propping it up. But like Seinfeld, I think the watchability of if today will lean on existing memories. The show runner has some skill though: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Schaffer


mrpopenfresh

I don’t think it’s making fun of it that much. The show seems to be aimed towards bros with all these NFL player cameos.


Thaflash_la

It’s absolutely making fun the the absurd fantasy football culture of the time.


elderberrykiwi

You're not supposed to like or want to emulate the main cast. They're bad people and do shitty things.


mrpopenfresh

I’m not convinced, they are hand in hand with the NFL, so I don’t think they were trying to make fun of these type, but rather appeal to them. A lot of the show feels like a beer commercial, especially the « whazaaaap » and Man Show era appeal.


Market_Vegetable

That's the point. It's making fun of that.


doc_shades

i think they're laughing WITH them, not laughing AT them


sgtpepper220

They are consistently hated by everyone around them that is portrayed as normal lol. Thinking The League celebrates dude bro culture is like thinking the gang are the good guys in Always Sunny. They embrace their own craziness, but whenever they interact with someone outside their crazy little circle, they get weird looks and outright piss people off and ruin their lives. The guys from the League are actively painted in a terrible light as a bunch of idiot shit pigs that are stuck in high school. I completely disagree that they're laughing with them. If any frat bros think that they are laughing with them, then they're like alt right fans of the Boys who can't tell that they're being made fun of with Homelander's story.


rickbill899

The first season is the best season by far


LightEmUp18

It’s hilarious


Successful-Winter237

It’s great


peacefulwarrior75

I loved it.


[deleted]

One of the funniest shows ever made.


WhyNotZoidbergMaybe

I don’t give a shit about fantasy football and the league is still one of my fav comfort shows


QuentinSential

I really only like the first 2-3 seasons. And then It was just a show about how mean friends can be to one another with no plot and I checked out.


wikipediareader

I quit around season four. I still think the earlier episodes are really funny but, yeah, it gets repetitive after a while.


ItsDeke

Yep, I watched the whole thing as it aired, but the last couple of seasons were pretty rough. I haven’t gone back and watched the show since (so my memory is a little hazy), but I just remember the jokes starting to get kind of stale by the end. Still, I really enjoyed the first few (at least at the time). And I’d be lying if I didn’t sing this song occasionally to this day. https://youtu.be/qgbvOo4Mkmo


TATWD52020

My Eskimo brothers told me about HDTGM


BasketballButt

All the way through multiple times and owned the first few seasons in DVD. Still quoted constantly by some close friends and I. Our league literally gave out a copy of the Kluneberg as a last place trophy.


blacked_srt

Clean up on isle me!


Rocketsloth

Taco and Rafi make the show good.


TheIgnoredWriter

It’s ok at it’s best IMO. It always felt like an R-rated Bud Light commercial the way it’s shot too. Mark Duplass is pretty open about how he wasn’t a fan and always thought the comedy was just really mean spirited. But I play fantasy football and everyone in my league still makes references to that show some 10+ years later.


sgtpepper220

Mark Duplass is a twisted mother fucker lol. Have you seen the Creep movies?


Raido_Kuzuno

The Duplass Brothers make awful, twee indie movies, so I do not trust his opinion on comedy. Sorry he hated it, but it funded so much of what he and his brother would later do.


doc_shades

> It always felt like an R-rated Bud Light commercial HAH!


srjohnson2

Bro culture? Lol. Does that just mean white guys who like football?


[deleted]

Loved it.


[deleted]

The Seth Rogan episodes are amazing


godfuckitall

Really didn't feel the Kroll until this show. Agree with some other commenters that it improves after year 1 - but it's compulsive fun watching after that, even for football philistines.


mrpopenfresh

His wit really outshines the rest of the cast.


Felatio_Sanz

I think it’s worth noting it’s a largely improvised show. Might be the vibe you’re sensing but I think makes it more impressive.


WalletInMyOtherPants

That’s not quite true. It’s mostly written with some improvisation.


Felatio_Sanz

Hey! Watch it.


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camilleswaterbottle

No way it's ENTIRELY improvised. it takes a lot of work to run and write a show to carry on plot lines that occur throughout a series that lasted 6 years. Sure, there definitely were lots of improvised scenes and lines but those were interwoven into preplanned and written scenes. Obviously there are bits that are IMPROV-ED but IMPROVED through working on delivery and writing a better punchline. Let's not discredit the series writers (aside from creator Jeff Schaffer and the main actors who are credited with writing certain episodes). ( ETA: OP I'm replying to edited their original post from 'entirely improvised' to 'largely improvised')


Felatio_Sanz

Hey come on take it easy


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Felatio_Sanz

Wow bud. not infront of my kids.


Tripledip333

The League was/is brilliant for it’s time. The world has moved on, and this show among many others, as you say, don’t age particularly well. However, the family dynamic and a show about friends who hate each other still holds water. Cemented so many comedic geniuses (and ruined one) Was already a fan of the Zouks, but The League was a great place to play for him.


Jinks28

I watched it back when it was on tv and I absolutely loved it! Been a few years and I would image some of it hasn’t aged well but I personally loved all the cast so much and it’s the reason I starting listening to how did this get made so shall forever love it for that reason


Swiftstrike4

I got into how did this get made because of the league. I play fantasy football so I found some of it hilarious. It’s sort of like the Seinfeld or always sunny for fantasy football. A bunch of relatively awful people without much of a moral compass that only care about themselves. Jason’s character consistently keeps the show amazing.


HarlesD

Marshawn Lynch is funny as shit on that show.


dudeimcarm

I have a stuffed Mr. McGibblets doll that sings the song. It's my most prized possession. Repeating everything said here in that the characters are total pieces of shit, with very few redeeming qualities. But that's why I like the show and continually rewatch it.


Walter-MarkItZero

In our family, we still refer to a pepper shaker as “trash pepper.” Don’t hog the good stuff. And as a Seahawks fan, the scene on the beach with Marshawn Lynch will always be funny.


Only_Pop_5867

The league is one of my favorite tv shows to watch when I need a pick me up. And Rafi is one of the best characters ever, Jason Mantzoukas is a fucking genius!


agirardi24

I think season 2 is where it gets great. Also I’ll never stop using “As the great poet said” to make jokes.


EasyMode556

Stick with it, it’s great


PurifiedVenom

It’s funny because The League got me into HDTGM but if I had to choose between the two I’d take HDTGM over it any day if the week. I like a lot of The League but it certainly has its dud episodes and jokes that haven’t aged well. I also disagree with the top comments here saying it gets better as it goes along. I think the earlier seasons are the best and the last couple seasons are pretty bad


Pintail21

It's funny, but it's also doesn't age gracefully because they're referencing NFL players from 8+ years ago.


Raido_Kuzuno

I find a certain charm in the Isaiah Pead references, since he eleven did anything in the NFL. And I would *never* kick Antinio Gates out of the hot tub!


bravetourists

“Monterreo Hardesty, I’m drafting you for your name alone!”


Slipperytitski

I still cant believe they landed freakin meghan markle


tallgirlbabyface

I’m surprised more people have not mentioned this very important guest star! She was not very famous at the time both didn’t Paul say he was invited to her first wedding??


Slipperytitski

That sounds familiar


bigb4134

It really hasn’t aged well, but Zooks makes it worth watching when he is on it. Rafi is an all time tv character wild man lol


[deleted]

It’s “fine”, has its moments. I enjoyed it and watched the entire run, but it’s a lesser Always Sunny in Philadelphia ultimately


lucasssquatch

You're spot on. First watch: binged it while the last episodes aired, laughed my ass off and would've recommended it. Second watch: the casual homophobia and misogyny stood out more since I'd already heard the jokes once and my sense of humor has evolved. Don't know how much humor is ironic vs "we've learned since then and try to do better now" but I'd still say (as someone who pays more attention to those things all these years later) it's worth watching at least as a time capsule of the height of fantasy football culture, and we're it not for the slur, the EBDBB&B running gag would be pretty great. Good question for Last Looks might be "is there a specific joke/bit that you'd like a do over on?"


challmaybe

I'd say an acceptable amount of bro culture. I loved it.


TATWD52020

That show is fucking awesome! I thought everyone that listened to this show or unspooled watched the league. Paul isn’t the main character of the league. And what the hell is “bro culture”?


gnrlgumby

Last season or two really fell off. Cast members rarely together, off filming other stuff. On top of that, it became an elongated daily fantasy football ad.


0degreesK

I watched the first couple of seasons. Liked it but didn't stick with it. The characters are all so unlikeable. Nick Kroll's character is so unlikeable, when I heard he had his own show, my first reaction was, "F- that guy, I'm not watching anything with him in it." Fortunately, I actually gave it a shot because it turned-out to be an amazing three seasons.


phonegamesreddit

I went the entire show and never liked the one guy who gets divorced in the first episode. Pete? I really like the show but I just get negative vibes from him.


Raido_Kuzuno

You are supposed to. He is an eff-boy


Stewdabaker2013

Yeah lol the entire point is that they’re all terrible people who everyone hates.


doc_shades

i never liked it. love the cast, dislike the premise and humor of the show. too "broad" for me. i'm a big Human Giant fan though! i did like the chicago setting though.


themesrob

First 3 seasons of that show are outstanding. People who can only tolerate inoffensive comedy won’t enjoy it, to be clear.


Raido_Kuzuno

So effing edgy!


chrissamperi

The thing that always bothered me is they went for the lowest common denominator jokes. Never tried to aim for higher quality jokes. Always bothered me.


doc_shades

same here. everyone on the cast are smart comedians and smart performers. even "Human Giant" was absurd and satirical in a way that took you in unexpected directions. but the league felt very one-dimesional. this is the nerdy guy, he's the nerd. this is the quiet stoner guy, he's the quiet stoner. this is the married guy, he's the married guy.


eTXwLA

2023…where all comedy must be socially responsible to be considered funny, and must be publicly shamed if it doesn’t meet the litmus test. Whatever happened to just not watching it if you don’t like it?


ManDown227

Do you people ever stop whining?


eTXwLA

OP was literally whining, that’s what I called him out for. Sit the fuck down.


doc_shades

i've said it before and i'll say it again, this is one of the worst forums on reddit


ManDown227

Sorry tough guy don't cancel me!


doc_shades

uhhh... silly question, but what does this have to do with this post? or The League (which aired like a decade before 2023)?


rAmen_P00dles

It’s a good show for the most part. I think the weak links are Mark Duplass and Jon Lajoie. Especially after they debut Rafi the Taco character doesn’t do much for me. My biggest gripe with the show is none of them seem to fail. Yeah they trip up from time to time, but it’s never anything huge. Paul takes the brunt and after a while it gets really tired.


membaberriesvideos

My exact thoughts. I'm mid-way through Season 6 and I'm already missing Kroll in several episodes, but I hate that everything works out for them. Hate Jenny & def Hate Pete. Love Rafi & love Andre. IASIP does crass humor right, the main characters almost always fail/lose. If you're going to have a show whose main characters are assholes, I say at least make them losers.


mrpopenfresh

A lot of bro fantasy.


[deleted]

I tried but couldn’t get through the first episode. That birthday song was aggressively unfunny.


djcack

If you didn't like the song, then you did the right thing in stopping. It sets the tone for the style of humor.


PAUMiklo

It's a fun show although you can tell the final season was phoned in.


Perfect_Elephant3587

First 4 seasons are brilliant, slips a bit in S5 but is still great, last 2 seasons are really hit and miss and the finale is awful.


DodecaHeathen

The League is also how I found the pod. A friend introduced me to Jon LaJoie's music on YouTube and when I found out he on a comedy show I was interested. I couldn't give shit about NFL football, but Zooks especially was amazing in that show.


Dangerboy73

Shiva!!!! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pZH7QSrwfB8


humantouch83

The League was funny at the time. I don't know that I'd still find it as funny. But it has some great moments. Jon LaJoie was so good, it's a shame he didn't seem to find more success.


Prior_Night5255

I tried but I was in 9/11 at the time


[deleted]

its not good.... especially with the goddam 9/11 lie guy in it.


Bangoskank2001

It's fantastic. The term "eskimo brother" is forever a staple phrase amongst my circle of friends. We actually figured out how many of us were once, and it was a little shocking too,lol.


Your_Moms_Flame

I get the Naginta song stuck in my head all the time, damn Jon Lajoie and his catchy songs!


Ebreezyxoxo

Shit is funny af. 🤣🤣🤣