SCOTT AUKERMAN endures Big Chunky Bubbles (PAUL F. TOMPKINS) in 6 hilarious COMEDY BANG! BANG! eps

Clips from 6 episodes of Scott Aukerman’s Earwolf podcast “Comedy Bang! Bang!” featuring Paul F. Tompkins as children’s entertainer Big Chunky Bubbles, who debuted on a live show in Portland in 2016, hatched from a most mundane moment (with a voice inspired by W.C. Fields?), to become an instant favourite with subscribers to Stitcher, content now solely available at Comedy Bang! Bang! World (CBBworld.com) used here without permission and with thanks. Hopefully, these segments will entice new CBBW customers, itching to hear the entire shows these clips are from, plus 100 more live episodes. If you are a “Comedy Bang! Bang! fan (and why else would you be here?), there are few things as exciting as scrolling through DOZENS of UNHEARD episodes featuring your favourite performers. Removed from the shows I have used here, due to this being a Big Chunky Bubbles supercut, are great guest spots from Tim Baltz, Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Shaun Diston and two more Lauren Lapkus appearances, plus more from the guests that ARE heard here, Kristian Bruun, Mary Holland, Gillian Jacobs, Tatiana Maslany, Paul Rust and Neil Patrick Harris, a "Comedy Bang! Bang!" fan, whose CBB appearance is worth subscription alone, with stage gossip including Anne Heche’s infuriating acting choices and Patty LuPone’s boobs, plus NPH’s successful children’s book and his obsession and experience with the professional world of magic.

Following two live shows, Big Chunky Bubbles’ meteoric rise to fame went into overdrive, with his first appearance in a regular (free) episode. It’s a credit to Paul’s crazy, creative characterisation, that a guest with such an annoying voice and anti-social attitude could become so beloved, though he does garner some sympathy due to Scott infuriating him frequently, both accidentally (continually forgetting BCB's wife died) and deliberately. Usually deliberately.

After seven years of portraying legendary “Comedy Bang! Bang!” favourites, in Big Chunky Bubbles, Tompkins had created another outrageously original oddball, who has become more popular with many listeners than some of Paul's biggest fan favourites. PFT introducing Big Chunky Bubbles in a live show is mind-boggling to think of. Audiences expect an appearance from a regular, one of their favourites. A new character has to be extra-special. Of course, Big Chunky Bubbles wasn’t the first CBB weirdo Tompkins had let loose live without a safety net (that’d be JW Stillwater) and it wouldn’t be the last, a few new PFT characters making their debut on the 2019 tour, including man of the sea Ezekiel Craddock, crusty captain, but of all his characters introduced in a theatre, Big Chunky Bubbles is by far my favourite. BCB is so sincere in and so defensive of his ridiculous occupation, detailed descriptions creating vivid images of bubbling soups, stews and chowders and kiddies getting too close. He was an immediate hit (with THIS audience at least, not so-much the children's party crowd), but even if the character had flopped, however unlikely that may be, you’d have to give Tompkins top marks for courage. Fortunately confidence in his remarkable abilities prevailed and a spur-of-the-moment decision in a restaurant gave the lucky people of Portland the opportunity to see a legend born. He was just as popular at "Just For Laughs", in Montreal, again with an audience that, apart from Stitcher subscribers, hadn't heard of him.

BCB's journey ends, for now, appropriately where it began, in a theatre. This time a Kansas City crowd gives the now-famous Big Chunky Bubbles an excited and enthusiastic welcome (including shouts of "BCB!") and Tompkins turns in another triumphant performance, finding more ways to make his character comical. Hopefully PFT keeps coming up with new adventures for Big Chunky Bubbles and we will hear more from him in the future. Till then, enjoy re-living his past.

For ease in finding each clip, click on the time codes, below.

00:00:59 - LIVE - Portland - May 24, 2016 (with Lauren Lapkus)
00:30:06 - LIVE - Montreal - August 1, 2016
00:53:24 - 446 “Scrounging and Lounging” - September 18, 2016
(with Kristian Bruun, Mary Holland, Tatiana Maslany)
01:15:39 - 474 “Liquid Meal Spheres” - March 6, 2016 (with Gillian Jacobs, Paul Rust)
02:02:44 - 524 “Merry Chunky Christmas” - December 11, 2017 (with Neil Patrick Harris)
02:53:33 - LIVE - Kansas City - March 9, 2019