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Join or Die with Craig Ferguson Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 Episode Guide
22 Episodes 2016 - 2016
Episode 1
History's Biggest Political Blunder
Thu, Feb 18, 201622 mins
On the topic of History's Biggest American Political Blunders, the six items up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - public relations expert Howard Bragman, and comedians Jen D'Angelo and Jimmy Kimmel - are: Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich impeached for trying to sell a senate seat; Republican Presidential candidate Herman Cain accused of sexual harassment by employees; New York Governor Eliot Spitzer caught frequenting prostitutes; Idaho Senator Larry Craig charged for lewd conduct for allegedly trying to initiate gay sex in an airport men's room; Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell admitted to having dabbled in witchcraft; and Vice-President Dick Cheney accidentally shooting his lawyer friend in the face during a hunting trip. The panel generally talks about the guidelines they will use in judging each item, with relativity of the "offense" compared to the situation, to others, and to other things they've done taken into consideration. Hypocrisy of the action and the height of the figurative fall from grace are other factors they consider. They also talk about what isn't on the list but perhaps should have been.
Episode 2
History's Worst Medical Advice
Thu, Feb 18, 201622 mins
On the topic of History's Worst Medical Advice, the six items up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - Bob Pflugfelder, also known as "Science Bob", and comedians Jordan Carlos and Chris Hardwick - are: smoking is good for you; bloodletting (specifically by leeches) is a cure-all; lobotomies cure mental illness; pulling teeth helps combat depression; the use of mercury can cure a variety of maladies; and drinking one's own urine can purify the body. Beyond the merits of keeping the issue on the list, they talk about which ones are still being done in some form (if even recreationally), the rationale behind the logic of the act, the veracity of each by renowned scientists during their time, and the role religion, metaphysics and faith play in health. Bob does a show and tell of historic unusual medical devices. They also discuss other treatments not on the list and the association of the six to other things people do to their bodies.
Episode 3
History's Biggest Frenemies
Thu, Feb 25, 201623 mins
On the topic of History's Biggest Frenemies, the six pairings up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - actor/comedians Michael Ian Black, Dan Soder and Courteney Cox - are: basketball stars Magic Johnson and Larry Bird; The Beatles' John Lennon and Paul McCartney; US founding fathers Thomas Jefferson and John Adams; computer technology icons Steve Jobs and Bill Gates; electrical inventors Thomas A. Edison and Nikola Tesla; and late night talk show hosts David Letterman and Jay Leno. The panelists try to decide what the superlative of being the "biggest frenemy" with someone else actually means, and among the list who are truly more friends or enemies as opposed to frenemies. They discuss the relationship Cox had and has with her Friends (1994)' costars, and if frenemies is akin to the concept of sibling rivalry. They also argue the notion of historical standing as a criteria for naming the biggest in the category. Before the audience vote, they close with mentioning pairings that did not make the list but perhaps should have.
Episode 4
History's Most Doomed Presidential Campaign
Thu, Mar 3, 201623 mins
On the topic of History's Most Doomed Presidential Campaign, the six campaigns up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - political science professor and former political campaigner Dan Schnur, actor/comedian Bryan Callen and actor Elijah Wood - are: Gary Hart's bid for the Democratic nomination in 1988, which was derailed by his adultery; Michael Dukakis' presidential bid as the Democratic nominee in 1988 which had image problems; Al Gore's presidential bid as the Democratic nominee in 2000 which also had image problems; Howard Dean's bid for the Democratic nomination in 2004 which was largely derailed by a shouting speech he made; John McCain's presidential bid as the Republican nominee in 2008, the loss which is largely blamed on his choice of then unknown Sarah Palin as his running mate; and Mitt Romney's presidential bid as the Republican nominee in 2012 which had problems in tone. The panelists look at the merits of each campaign as the most doomed, and use as unofficial criteria those problems that were the most self-inflicted, and those that perhaps would not be deemed as doomed if they happened today. They also mention campaigns that did not make the list but perhaps should have. Their discussion closes with how these campaigns stack up against what within recent memory seems to be the most unusual current run to the presidency in 2016.
Episode 5
History's Worst Tyrant
Thu, Mar 10, 201623 mins
On the topic of History's Worst Tyrant, the six people up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - Professor Laila Lalami, comedian Dan Levy and actor Julie Bowen - are: Adolf Hitler; Pol Pot; Muammar Gaddafi; Genghis Khan; Jong-Il Kim; and Mary I of England also known as Bloody Mary. Before the discussion, Craig explains why Joseph Stalin, arguably the worst, is not on the list, and the inevitability of Hitler being chosen the worst by the end of this discussion. Beyond what each tyrant did and what he/she would have done if given the opportunity such as wipe an entire group off the face of the earth, the panelists look at the geopolitical situation that led to them being able to do what they did, and if they should be given some deductions from being the worst if the world fostered that geopolitical situation. Similarly, they discuss if what led out of their tyranny had some unplanned positivity should also be in their favor as not being the worst. They also discuss whether Mary, the only woman on the list, should be judged differently solely because of her gender, and the extra obstacles women have had in history in becoming leaders. Beyond Stalin, they also mention tyrants that did not make the list but perhaps should have. In the end, Craig reveals if the inevitability he states at the beginning comes to fruition. Their discussion closes with how what these tyrants did compare to what is happening in the world today, and the rise of modern day tyrants and tyrannical ideologies.
Episode 6
History's Craziest Cult
Thu, Mar 17, 201623 mins
On the topic of History's Craziest Cult, the six up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - Professor of Religion Stephen Prothero, comedian Tymberlee Hill and actor/comedian Jack Black - are: the House of Yahweh, a Christian cult that believes the end of the world is near; the Cosmic People of Light Powers (CPOLP) who believe that UFOs will come to save them; the Moonies, who are famous for holding mass arranged marriages and are staunchly anti-Communist; the Rajneeshees, who tried to take over an Oregon town as their own kingdom; the Bretheren, who believe in leading a simple and nomadic life, including living off garbage; and the Peoples Temple of Jonestown, who followed their leader Jim Jones to Guyana where he led them in a mass suicide. Before the discussion, Craig explains why Scientology, arguably the most well known cult, and other large cults are not on the list. Beyond the merits of each as the craziest, the panel discuss what traits would classify a group as a cult and what the difference is between a cult and religion. They discuss whether a cult is seen as being dangerous should equate to craziness. They also talk about what western philosophies are built into certain cults which may make them deemed less crazy.
Episode 7
History's Greatest Invention Since 1950
Thu, Mar 24, 201623 mins
On the topic of History's Greatest Invention Since 1950, the six items up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - inventor entrepreneur Lori Greiner, actor comedian Kate Flannery and singer Trace Adkins - are: the Internet; the microwave oven; the personal computer; Viagra; Velcro; and the jet airliner. Before the discussion, Craig explains why the list has been narrowed to since 1950, and that all on the list have on the most part improved society. Beyond looking at the merits of each, the panelists discuss what may be their criteria, such as taking points off if the invention was the result of a mistake, if it was come upon by accident, or if it has had some unintended negative consequences on the world. Some positive criteria may be the scope of how the invention has affected the world, and the measure of how it has improved life. They also mention inventions that did not make the list but perhaps should have.
Episode 8
History's Most Influential Band
Thu, Mar 31, 201621 mins
On the topic of History's Most Influential Band, the six up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - music journalist Alan Light, comedian Tom Papa and Metallica band member Lars Ulrich - are: Nirvana; The Rolling Stones; Black Sabbath; Ramones; Run-D.M.C.; and The Beatles. Before the discussion, Craig explains why this topic is arguably the most hotly debated among those discussed so far, why he doesn't agree with most on the list, and the inevitability of the Fab Four being chosen the most influential by the end of this discussion. Beyond the merits of each band being the most influential, the panel discusses whether success, sheer talent and fame, and longevity as bands in and of themselves equate to influence, and whether the popularity of a style of music which each band influenced should be taken into consideration. They also mention bands that did not make the list but perhaps should have, including one fictional band.
Episode 9
The Drug That Changed the World
Thu, Apr 7, 201622 mins
On the topic of the (Recreational) Drug That Most Changed the World, the six up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - Columbia University professor David Eisenbach, comedian Derek Waters and actor Maria Bello - are: alcohol; cocaine; L.S.D.; performance enhancing drugs; marijuana; and caffeine. Beyond the merits of each drug having most changed the world, the panel discusses their own personal history with each of the drugs in question. They also discuss the links of some of these drugs to prescription medications, the resulting moral aspects that each drug has taken in social culture, and the effect of the drug being legal or not into the view of that morality. They also mention drugs that did not make the list but perhaps should have, including one that may not yet be considered as such in mainstream society.
Episode 10
History's Biggest Fall from Grace
Thu, Apr 14, 201622 mins
On the topic of the Person(s) Who Took History's Biggest Fall from Grace, the six individuals(s) up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - Professor Howard Bragman, comedian Mark Forward and late night guru Jay Leno - are: Bill Cosby; Richard Nixon; Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Bakker; O.J. Simpson; Benedict Arnold; and Andrew Johnson. Beyond the merits of each person being the one who took the biggest fall, the panelists discuss the changing times - now with social media and cameras on every phone - and if it would be considered as big a scandal if it took place today. They discuss if politicians should be viewed from a different standard, the two on the list who have arguably the most important job in the world, but who the public still view with a little skepticism. They also discuss the good that some of these people did despite their fall, and thus if the greatest hypocrisy should be one of the judging criteria. Bragman, a PR expert, provides his professional advice on what some of these people should have done to mitigate the damage. They also mention people that did not make the list but perhaps should have.
Episode 11
History's Greatest Man-Made Structure
Thu, Apr 21, 201622 mins
On the topic of History's Greatest Man-Made Structure, the six up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - contractor Ty Pennington, comedian Noel Wells and actor Adam Goldberg - are: the Brooklyn Bridge; the Eiffel Tower; the Hoover Dam; the Empire State Building; the Pyramids at Giza; and the Great Wall of China. The panelists have a difficult discussion in choosing the greatest between these six, whose purposes, raisons d'etre, emotional connectedness to the global public, and primary reasons for considered being great are all vastly different. They have to decide whether any one of these reasons should take precedent over the others. They do agree that longevity should be considered, namely if the structure was built to last for its use, and debate whether an interesting back story to the structure should play into their reasoning. Ultimately they do decide that one of those factors perhaps should not, but does trump all the others whether they want it to or not. Emerging from the discussion is whether structures not built by humans should also have been included. They also mention structures that did not make the list but perhaps should have.
Episode 12
History's Most Plausible Conspiracy Theory
Thu, Apr 28, 201622 mins
On the topic of History's Most Plausible Conspiracy Theory, the six up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - astronaut Michael Massimino, comedian Kurt Braunohler and writer/director Judd Apatow - are: the Illuminati; Hollow Earth; Fake Moon Landing; Area 51; is there really gold in Fort Knox; and who killed John F. Kennedy. Beyond the merits of each of the six, the panelists talk about why the public has a fascination with conspiracy theories despite their connotation to mental instability. Massimino talks about his unique perspective to the moon landing, and to Area 51. They also talk about conspiracies that could be related to their own professional lives. They conclude by talking about conspiracies that did not make the list but perhaps should have.
Episode 13
History's Biggest Presidential Bad Boy
Thu, May 5, 201623 mins
On the topic of History's Biggest Presidential Bad Boy, the six US Presidents up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - Time magazine journalist Joel Stein, comedian Heather McDonald and actor Angela Kinsey - are: Andrew Jackson; Warren G. Harding; Thomas Jefferson; Bill Clinton; John F. Kennedy; and Richard Nixon. In pre-production, Stein was able to get Jackson on the list, replacing George W. Bush, who he felt was not bad in the way he sees the term "bad boy" to be, leading to the discussion of what constitutes being a bad boy in a presidential context. Regardless of that discussion, the panelists discuss the overall bad things each of the men did in and before their presidency, and whether they should base their decisions on those acts solely as President. They also discuss the changing times, and if something considered bad today should be the same as what was considered bad in 1776. They conclude the discussion with naming Presidents that did not make the list but perhaps should have.
Episode 14
History's Dumbest Mistake
Thu, May 12, 201623 mins
On the topic of History's Dumbest Mistake, the six items up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - evolutionary biologist Dan Riskin, comedian Ian Abramson and actor/comedian Tim Meadows - are: the Louisiana Purchase, where the French sold 827,000 square miles of land to the US for $15 million; Decca Records passing on signing The Beatles; the Greeks successfully invading Troy using the Trojan Horse; M&Ms refusing their brand being used in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982); the twelve publishers who rejected the Harry Potter series of books; and Ronald Wayne selling his ten percent share in Apple Computers for $800 before the company made billions. Beyond the merits of each of the six, the panelists take into consideration the situation of the time of each of these occurrences and how the person or companies in question came out the other end. They conclude by talking about mistakes that did not make the list but perhaps should have.
Episode 15
History's Greatest Unsolved Mystery
Thu, May 12, 201623 mins
On the topic of History's Greatest Unsolved Mystery, the six items up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - author/comedian Michael Ian Black, comedian Josh Wolf and actor Jason Biggs - are: robber D.B. Cooper parachuting out of a hijacked plane over Nevada in 1971 with his ransomed $200,000 never to be seen again; Jack the Ripper, known to have killed six women in the late nineteenth century London, never having been identified; the Zodiac Killer terrorizing San Francisco in the late 1960s, he never having been caught or identified despite his own contact with the press; the reason for and the people behind the statues on Easter Island being unknown; the reason for and the people behind Stonehenge being unknown; and the unsolved "Black Dahlia" murder of Elizabeth Short in 1947 Los Angeles. Beyond the merits of each of the six, the panelists divide five of the items into two categories, the serial murders and the structures. With the serial murders, they take into account the number of people killed in each instance. They also discuss which of any of the killings could have happened today without more evidence having been collected let alone positively identifying the murderer. With all six, they look at how much of the story is known as opposed to unknown. They conclude by talking about mysteries that did not make the list but perhaps should have.
Episode 16
History's Greatest Unexplained Phenomenon
Thu, May 19, 201623 mins
On the topic of History's Greatest Unexplained Phenomenon, the six items up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - astronaut Michael Massimino, author/comedian Megan Amram and talk show host Larry King - are: the Bermuda Triangle; the Amityville Horror; crop circles; Bigfoot; UFOs; and the Loch Ness Monster. The panelists largely talk about the merits of each of the six as the greatest and their reasons for their beliefs, in the process talking about the six in popular culture and how that has shaped how the public views them. Craig also admits his personal affinity to one of the six on the list. They conclude by talking about phenomena that did not make the list but perhaps should have.
Episode 17
History's Greatest Gangster
Thu, May 19, 201623 mins
On the topic of History's Greatest Gangster, the six gangsters up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - astronomer Derrick Pitts, comedian Thomas Dale and actor/comedian Joel McHale - are: Joseph Stalin; Joaquín Guzmán Loera aka El Chapo; Pablo Escobar; Lucky Luciano; Bugsy Siegel; and Al Capone. Beyond the merits of each of the six as the greatest, the panelists talks about the public fascination with gangsters as opposed to other criminals, and their own history with gangsters. They discuss whether the good each may have done should be taken into consideration. They debate if Stalin, as a political leader, should be on the list, Craig who fought in pre-production for his inclusion. They conclude the discussion with naming gangsters that did not make the list but perhaps should have.
Episode 18
History's Most Defiant Moments of the Last 75 Years
Thu, May 26, 201623 mins
On the topic of History's Most Defiant Moment of the Last 75 Years, the six items up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - political commentator/journalist John Avlon, and actor/comedians Yvette Nicole Brown and Lisa Kudrow - are: the young man standing in front of a tank (hence being referred to as Tank Man) in Tienanmen Square in Beijing, China in 1989 protesting Chinese government oppression, never having been seen since and his identity unknown; Rosa Parks, a black woman, refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white person in 1955 Montgomery, Alabama; Ronald Reagan "commanding" Mikhail Gorbachev to "tear down this wall" in a 1987 speech at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, Germany; former CIA employee and contractor Edward Snowden leaking classified NSA documents to a journalist in 2013 to expose what he saw as agency wrongdoings, the leaking which is considered a traitorous act; NYPD police officer Frank Serpico blowing the whistle on police corruption in the force in the late-1960s/early-1970s; and Buddhist monk Thích Quang Duc's self-immolation in public in Saigon in 1963 to protest the South Vietnamese government's persecution of Buddhists. Beyond the merits of each of the six, the panelists discuss whether some of these events truly were acts of defiance or something else completely, the scope and downstream effects of each of the acts, the acts in and of themselves in context to the person's everyday life, and if negative personal consequences should play a factor in defining defiance. They conclude by talking about moments that did not make the list but perhaps should have.
Episode 19
History's Best Founding Fathers
Thu, May 26, 201623 mins
On the topic of History's Best United States Founding Father, the six people up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - Time magazine journalist Joel Stein, comedian Jo Koy and actor Fred Willard - are: George Washington; John Adams; Thomas Jefferson; Benjamin Franklin; James Madison; and Alexander Hamilton. Beyond the merits of each of the six as the best, the panelists decide to limit their judgment to what the men did as founding fathers, and not their entire careers, especially in providing the leadership that makes the United States a great country. They compare the recognition each has received in such ways as having places named after them or monuments erected in their honor. They also debate whether items of disrepute, especially by today's standards, should count against any of the six. They conclude their discussion by talking about why the founding of the United States is important in a historical context compared to the founding of any other country.
Episode 20
History's Biggest Fraud
Thu, Jun 9, 201623 mins
On the topic of History's Biggest Fraud, the six people up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - Time magazine journalist Joel Stein, comedian Russell Peters and actor Michael Sheen - are: Charles Ponzi, for who the Ponzi Scheme, where one continually robs a Peter to pay a Paul and oneself in the process, is named; Lance Armstrong who finally admitted after years of denials that he doped to win his several Tours des France; Rachel Dolezal, head of a local chapter of the NAACP, forced to resign when it was discovered that she is Caucasian and not black as she had portrayed herself to be; Frank Abagnale Jr., who the FBI had chased for years as he intentionally wrote bad checks, and took on highly skilled job after job, such as doctor and pilot, for which he had no training whatsoever; James Frey, whose first book, the successful "A Million Little Pieces", he marketed as a memoir of his past harrowing experience with drug use and therapy, but was found to be largely or entirely fictional; and Pete Rose, who bet on baseball while he was still a player, even on games in which he was playing. The panelists largely talk about the merits of each of the six as the biggest fraud and their reasons for their beliefs, with one in particular which they don't consider a fraud at all, in the process concluding that some of these frauds are not that bad in the global scheme. They conclude by talking about the frauds that did not make the list but perhaps should have.
Episode 21
History's Biggest Badass
Thu, Jun 9, 201623 mins
On the topic of History's Biggest Badass, the six people up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - former secret service agent Evy Poumpouras, comedian Mark Forward and talk show host Regis Philbin - are: Theodore Roosevelt; Crazy Horse; Harriet Tubman; George S. Patton; Joan of Arc; and Martin Luther King, Jr. The panelists largely talk about the merits of each of the six as the biggest badass by talking about the many and varied exploits of the six which made them all badasses. Much discussion time is devoted to the meaning of the word badass and what constitutes being the "biggest", all these concepts which seem to be lost especially on Regis. Within the context of that discussion, what seems to be the audience's want to keep Dr. King on the list until the end may be incompatible with the panel's conclusion that his message of peace is not being a badass. They conclude by talking about the badasses that did not make the list but perhaps should have.
Episode 22
History's Biggest Douchebag
Thu, Jul 28, 201623 mins
On the topic of History's Biggest Douchebag, the six people up for consideration between Craig and the panelists - film historian Leonard Maltin, comedian Echo Kellum and actor Kal Penn - are: Thomas A. Edison; Anthony Weiner; Marge Schott; Bernie Madoff; Donald Trump; and Martin Shkreli. Craig defines the pop cultural term "douchebag" for this context, the term which is meant to imply a bad person, not "Hitler" bad, but someone one would probably not want to be associated with while standing outside the Pearly Gates waiting for judgment. The panelists largely talk about the merits of each of the six as the biggest douchebag by talking about the many and varied exploits of the six which made them all douchebags. They discuss whether the good any of them have done unselfishly for others, like provide meaningful and often well-paid employment, should count in their favor. Because of his current run to become President, Trump is placed in a different standard than the rest. At one point, Craig unilaterally decides to give up control of the decision making, deferring specifically to Echo and Kal for a specific reason. They conclude by talking about the douchebags that did not make the list but perhaps should have.