The Dinner Party

This week: We look back to one of our favorite episodes, in which actor/polymath James Franco rebels against beds ... Preeminent travel writer Paul Theroux offers etiquette advice to globetrotters (and public radio hosts) ... Nashville raconteur Todd Snider tells of his brush with NASCAR fame ... The NY Public Library celebrates Noel Coward ... and Hollywood's top auctioneer remembers memorabilia. Plus: the history of blue jeans, a Twin Shadow tune, sommeliers for your ears, and smashing (Guinness) records.

This week: Filmmaker Noah Baumbach on the new New York ... David Alan Grier answers (most of) your etiquette questions ... Autism pioneer Temple Grandin diagnoses Mr. Spock ... Travel writer Matt Gross goes to the edge ... Love and Rockets co-creator Gilbert Hernandez on 60s comics that were super, sans superheroes ... Why guilt is good (for groceries) ... and we toast folk-hero Colonel Blood with a tipple from London. Plus: the caveman lexicon, and a song from Savages.

To celebrate the release of our 200th podcast, here's our bicentennial All-Icebreaker show. Dozens of jokes culled from the last two years' worth of DPDs, as told by such luminaries as James Franco, Bryan Cranston, Alison Pill, the band Fun., and many more. Some are funny, most are not. But there are definitely a lot of them.

This week: Actor Michael Shannon (The Iceman) revisits his Wobegon days ... Hugh Dancy of TV's Hannibal lists a few good baddies ... Acclaimed travel writer Paul Theroux on a place he won't be heading back to ... The Daily Show co-creator Lizz Winstead grins and bares it ... San Fran rocker Mikal Cronin serves up soundtrack ... Biscuits on the rise ... And the Posts deal with Brendan's kickstarter requests ... Plus, a cocktail inspired by garbage, forgotten fallout shelters, and broken banjos.

This week: Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth explores masks and the mind ... We grill star chef Bobby Flay on etiquette ... Food writer Michael Pollan says we are because we cook ... Molly Ringwald sets a new standard for musical standards ... Jane Fonda's headbands and home videos inspire a health-crazed cocktail ... And Mike Wolfe of American Pickers strikes it rich -- as a 4-year-old. Plus, Rachel Kushner's hot new novel, part-time chickens, and a cowpoke joke.