This month on Mainstage, host Billy Merritt welcomes longtime collaborator and improv legend Professor Michael Delaney to talk about one very specific place: Dobbs Ferry, New York.

What begins as a casual conversation about a small Hudson River town quickly spirals into a wildly improvised audio adventure featuring cursed skeletons, extremely unreliable restaurant hours, entrepreneurial ghosts, and a Dalmatian with a Revolutionary War résumé.

Michael shares stories from his years living in Dobbs Ferry, raising a kid outside New York City, biking the Croton Aqueduct, and navigating the town's mysterious dining scene (including a sushi restaurant that specializes in being closed).

From there, the Mainstage ensemble builds an entire comedic universe inspired by the town's lore.

• Billy Merritt interviews Professor Michael Delaney about life in Dobbs Ferry

• The Croton Aqueduct, Hudson River history, and the town's Revolutionary War connections

• The legend of Sushi Mike's — the sushi restaurant that may or may not ever be open

• Ernesto the tomato-growing landlord

• A cursed British skeleton named Derek searching for closure

• A paranormal podcast investigating the town's supernatural problems

• Firehouse drama between jealous Dalmatians

• Graveyard rubbings, haunted cats, and questionable tourism opportunities

• A desperate mission to obtain sushi and lift an ancient curse from the town

The BIT Comedy Network apologizes to the residents of Dobbs Ferry, the Hudson River Valley, George Washington, Martha Washington, British soldiers of the Revolutionary War, cursed skeletons, Dalmatians, the Dobbs Ferry Fire Department, Croton Aqueduct engineers, Ernesto, people sensitive to onions, paranormal podcasters, cursed cats, parents of skeleton-collecting children, and anyone who tried to get a reservation at Sushi Mike's.

Director and Creator: Billy Merritt
Producer, Editor & Graphics: Hill Kane

Featuring:
Michael Delaney
Billy Merrit
Amber Bellsdale
Daniel Belum
Dean Aisles
Don Slovin
Flannery Wilson
Hill Kane
J. Jaramillo
Jason Luna
Jim Tripp

Music: "Shark Bait" performed by Little Kahunas | Produced by the late, great Peter Miller

Hosting: Libsyn

"The BIT" and "The BIT Comedy Network" are trademarks owned by Billy Merritt.
© 2024–2026 Billy Merritt. All rights reserved.
Inquiries: TheBitComedyNetwork@gmail.com

Jay Sukow's Glenwood stories spark a full-scale town meltdown featuring pizza wars, gossip culture, jailhouse romance, and a rapidly disappearing population.

Billy was scheduled to host Jay.
Billy refused to take the interview.
There may have been… financial tension.

Gail stepped in. Everyone survived.

Jay takes us back to Glenwood, Illinois — a place where:

• Everyone knows your business

• The Glenwood School for Boys is a constant threat

• Teens sneak beers in the forest preserve

• Deep dish is strictly for tourists

Real Chicago pizza is tavern-style. Square cut. No debate.

From Jay's hometown memories, the ensemble creates:

• A gossip podcast about everyone's business

• Murder-for-hire teenagers (discount pricing)

• Competing pizza wars

• Jailhouse proms

• Funeral pizza parties

• Oompa Loompa labor disputes

• Alien population control

Population: decreasing.

We apologize to:
Glenwood, Jay, deep dish fans, Oompa Loompas, and the funeral industry.

We do not apologize for tavern-style pizza.

Director and Creator: Billy Merritt
Producer, Editor & Graphics: Hill Kane
Production assistance: Jim Tripp, Amber Bellsdale (Thank you both)

Featuring:
Jay Sukow
Amber Bellsdale
Daniel Belum
Don Slovin
Flannery Wilson
Gary Yorke
Hill Kane
J. Jaramillo
Jason Spiro
Jim Tripp
Katya Vasilaky

Music: "Memfish" performed by Little Kahunas | Produced by Peter Miller

Hosting: Libsyn

"The BIT" and "The BIT Comedy Network" are trademarks owned by Billy Merritt.
© 2024–2026 Billy Merritt. All rights reserved.
Inquiries: TheBitComedyNetwork@gmail.com

Everybody's a Podcaster Feat. "Terry Gross"

It's the end of the year, the end of the podcast, and the end of whatever was left in the fridge. Join us as the BIT Comedy Network wraps up 2025 with one final, chaotic, heartfelt, and slightly undercooked episode of Dinner Party.

What's on the menu?

🎧 A "Podcast Party" hosted by the Double Ls (Luke & Laura), where microphones are hot and egos are hotter.

🐟 A shady fish-based gift from aquarium moguls Jim and Janet of "Something's Fishy."

🏛️ An unexpected guest: actual NPR royalty Terry Gross shows up, and things get even weirder.

🎮 Dean and Thea, the Bitcoin siblings, attempt to evangelize crypto in exchange for gas money and a meal.

🐠 A tragic culinary climax involving a 12-inc halibut, a mayor, and one very regrettable dinner choice.

Unforgettable Highlights:

🥤 Mr. Sunshine: gift, friend, snack

🌍 Terry Gross discusses dried fish taxidermy. Seriously.

💋 Tense debates about fish hierarchy: are you a bottom feeder or a visionary?

🤔 Political intrigue, podcast sponsorships, and one potential fish conspiracy (cue new spinoff: Something Fishy: North Side Secrets)

DIRECTOR/CREATOR: Billy Merritt
Editor/Producer: Hill Kane

Guest-Starring:

• Luke Bovard + Yuehan Liu (The Double Ls - Luke and Laura)
• Brett Kohler (Luis, Roommate)
• Hill Kane + Jim Tripp (Janet + Jim, Something's Fishy proprietors)
• Flannery Wilson + Don Slovin ("Terry Gross" and her sidekick producer Don)
• Thea Marie Thorkildsen + Dean Aisles (Sibling Crypto Hacks)

Featured Sponsors:

🔺 Butterball (for your poultry needs) 🔺 HomeGoods (pillows AND propaganda) 🔺 Something's Fishy Aquarium Supply 🔺 BitCoin Birthday Cards & Cult Merch

Listen in and remember:

💔 Fish are friends...until they're the mayor.

🍽️ North side or south side, we all bleed chowder.

💬 And in improv, as in life: "Yes, and... please don't eat the guests."

This is the final episode of the BIT Comedy Network for 2025. We'll see you in 2026 with more madness, more characters, and hopefully fewer fish-based tragedies. Apply to join the ensemble at bitcomedynetwork.com.

Billy and the BIT CREW players wish you the very merriest of Christmases, the happiest of Chanukahs, and a fantabulous and super-fun Holiday Season/New Year. As an homage to "holiday dinners." Billy insisted that we recreate that frenetic and sometimes awkward ritual with a special improv form called "Dinner Party." We even made a theme song. We hope you enjoy this special Christmas edition of Podcast Town. We are releasing a super, secret, double-dog-dared, New Year's bonus edition of DINNER PARTY at the stroke of Midnight on New Year's Eve.

Listen to the full version of the Dinner Party Theme song!

DIRECTOR/CREATOR: Billy Merritt
Producer/Editor: Hill Kane

CAST:

• Narrator/Director: Billy Merritt
• Hosts Ruby + Violet: Amber Bellsdale + Hill Kane
• Guests Brady + Greg: Konrad Andrew + Brent Kohler
• Semi-Dysfunctional Fam: Dad-Don Slovin; Mom-Terry Armstrong; and Football Bobby-Jim Tripp "Podcast Town" Improv is part of The BIT Comedy Network.

MUSIC: "Memfish" performed by Little Kahunas | Produced by Peter Miller © Production Assistance from Luke Bovard (thank you) - ya gotta have a plan B!

Audio Production, Graphics/Art, Show Notes by Hill Kane of Raising Kane Media + Marketing.

Hosting Platform: Libsyn.com

"The BIT" and "The BIT Comedy Network" are Trademarks owned by Billy Merritt. © 2024-2025 Billy Merritt - All Rights Reserved Inquiries + Notices + Requests: TheBitComedyNetwork@gmail.com

Season Two Finale of rabbitHOLE -

Live from OSLO! - A Random rabbitHOLE

OMG OMG! The BIT Comedy Network's first LIVE show was at the Oslo Impro Fest on October 24th.

We have been performing together under the BIT marquee for about two years, but we had never met or performed live as a troupe.

Even with the wonky audio (it gets better after the introduction), we think you'll enjoy this RANDOM rabbitHOLE journey through rolling D20s, experimental medicine, the benefits of divorce and hot water, fruits with curative powers, and a costumed heist. (We still don't know if Amber is a camel, in camo, OR a camel wearing camo ...)

As always, rabbitHOLE is 100% unscripted. If you enjoy the show, do your part:
👉 Follow, rate, and share with your most unhinged friend.

Director/Creator: Billy Merritt
Producer/Editor: Hill Kane

CAST (in alphabetical order) The OSLO FIVE:
Amber Bellsdale
Luke Bovard
Hill Kane
Yuehan Liu
Thea Marie Thorkildsen

Produced by: The BIT Comedy Network

Production + Graphics: Hill Kane, Raising Kane Media + Marketing

Music: "Shark Bait" by Little Kahunas | Produced by Peter Miller (1959-2025 RIP Friend)

📍 Hosted on Libsyn.com
📧 Contact: TheBitComedyNetwork@gmail.com
©2024–2025 Billy Merritt | All Rights Reserved
"The BIT," "The BIT Comedy Network," and "rabbitHOLE" are Trademarks owned by Billy Merritt.

Happy Thanksgiving from the BIT Comedy Network! We bring you the next installment in The Primrose in VII. Many years have passed and the Inn is spookier and more dastardly than ever. We don't have nipples in this episode, but there is a lot of other weird stuff. ENJOY!

As always, MOVIE! MOVIE! is 100% unscripted. Music and some sound effects were added in post. This was our season two finale. See ya next year!

If you enjoy MOVIE! MOVIE! follow, rate, and share it with your friends! Tell them Billy $*@#ing Merritt recommends it.

DIRECTOR/CREATOR: Billy Merritt
CO-EDITORS/PRODUCERS: Hill Kane + Jim Tripp

CAST:

• Dean Aisles
• Luke Bovard
• Margot Escott
• Yuehan Liu
• Don Slovin
• Jim Tripp
• Flannery Wilson
• Thea Marie Thorkildsen

Musical compositions and sound effects are licensed from Pixabay.com (a very cool royalty-free resource).

"Movie! Movie!" Improv is part of The BIT Comedy Network.

Production Assistance, Audio Production & Graphics/Art by Hill Kane of Raising Kane Media + Marketing.

Hosting Platform: Libsyn.com

"The BIT" and "The BIT Comedy Network" are Trademarks owned by Billy Merritt © 2024 - 2025 Billy Merritt - All Rights Reserved

Inquiries + Notices + Requests: TheBitComedyNetwork@gmail.com

Wordnesia | Frogs | Math Teacher President

Ever stared at a word until it stopped being a word? That's where this week's rabbit hole begins—when Hillary's brain short‑circuits over the word speaker and takes a detour through psychology, frogs, and semantic satiation. 🐸💭

From there, the BIT crew spins a surreal chain of scenes featuring:

• Two frogs debating existence (and auditioning for a Budweiser commercial)
• A crappy math teacher turned football coach turned U.S. President
• Nine‑year‑old engineering prodigy designing roller coasters and performing surgery
• Captain  Mouse trying to make it big at Disneyland
• And a funeral so wild it probably shouldn't be this funny

Somewhere between linguistic collapse and theme‑park chaos, we even manage to learn why you should always show your work—and never praise your principal in private.

🧠 "A frog does not repeat. A frog resonates."
– Actual comment from a frog fan forum (via Hill's monologue)

🧮 "Budget cuts is math, so if you get rid of the math teacher, maybe the budget works itself out."
– Coach Brent, Bad Math Teacher & U.S. President

🎢 "He flew off that rollercoaster and did three sick flips. It was so f*cking cool."
– A eulogy you'll never forget

Frogs, Budweiser, Disney, Mickey Mouse, math teachers, grammar purists, law‑school pedants, lovers of the subjunctive tense, roller‑coaster engineers, safety inspectors, the guy who IRL flew off the roller coaster, Captain Mouse and the entire Mouse family, adjunct professors, insurance, semantic satiation, and anyone who still believes words have meaning.

rabbitHOLE is 100% unscripted and fueled by the BIT CREW's real-life internet spirals, nostalgic chaos, and shared trauma. If you enjoy the show, do your part:
👉 Follow, rate, and share with your most unhinged friend.

Director/Creator: Billy Merritt
Producer/Editor: Hill Kane

CAST (in alphabetical order):
Terry Armstrong, Amber Bellsdale, Luke Bovard, Hill Kane, Brent Kohler, Don Slovin, Thea Marie Thorkildsen, Jim Tripp, Flannery Wilson,

Produced by: The BIT Comedy Network

Production + Graphics: Hill Kane, Raising Kane Media + Marketing

Music: "Shark Bait" by Little Kahunas | Produced by Peter Miller (1959-2025 RIP Friend)

📍 Hosted on Libsyn.com
📧 Contact: TheBitComedyNetwork@gmail.com
©2024–2025 Billy Merritt | All Rights Reserved
"The BIT" and "The BIT Comedy Network" are Trademarks owned by Billy Merritt

North Caldwell, New Jersey - with Special Guest - Margot Escott

Tiny town. Big secrets. One suspiciously spiritual traffic light. Birch beer, buried mafia lore, an abandoned sanitarium, and a Church of the Traffic Light that really leans into metaphysics — Margo Escott brings us back to North Caldwell, NJ, and Podcast Town builds a delightfully deranged local variety show around it. Expect tomato politics, a Sopranos-adjacent tour, electrocution "illuminators," and at least one tomato to the face.

In this episdode:

• Host Billy Merritt interviews Margo about growing up in a town with no stores and no traffic lights — until suddenly there is one.

• The town's favorite podcast - "Tonight in North Caldwell," complete with call-ins, commercials (Tony Soprano Tours; Freddie's Funeral Home), and a fireman's picnic parade gone very, very sideways.

• Highlights include: the Overbrook Sanitarium ruins, Big Al's Maserati Tomato Farm and its overprotective daughter, the Church of the Traffic Light, and the surprise Tomato Queen pageant (chaos, chanting, and tomato splatter included).

Standout lines (for the quote-tweet pile)

• "Praise all stoplights."
• "Traffic light be with you."
• "Who dat bitch?"

Cast & Credits Host: Billy Merritt. Guest & town chronicler: Margo Escott. Full Podcast Town improv troupe — characters include Mildy/Lisa, Tim, Luke, Big Al, Tia (Traffic Light priest), and more.

Heads up / Trigger note Contains playful references to mental-health institutions, prisons, and mock electrocution scenes (improv, not real). Listener discretion advised for anyone sensitive to those themes.\

Enjoy — and remember: if you're ever confused by a new traffic light, consult the parish. 🚦

Sponsors: Annual Firemen's Picnic, Church of the Traffic Light, Big Al Maserati's Tomato Farm, Dr. Wilson - Death Therapist and Child Illuminator, Tony Soprano Tour Guide Company, Freddie's Funeral Home.

DIRECTOR/CREATOR: Billy Merritt
Producer/Editor: Hill Kane

CAST:

• Luke Bovard: Host Luke - Tonight in North Caldwell Podcast
• Hill Kane: Alison Maserati (Big Al's kid), one of Tim's kids
• Brent Kohler: Producer - Tonight in North Caldwell Podcast
• Don Slovin: Big Al, caller, one of Tim's kids, Freddie
• Lisa Steckman: Host "Mildie" - Tonight in North Caldwell Podcast, "Bianca"
• Thea Marie Thorkildsen: Priest of the Holy Traffic Light Church
• Flannery Wilson: Dr. Wilson - Death Therapist

And special guest, Margot Escott as the real Tomato Queen.

"Podcast Town" Improv is part of The BIT Comedy Network.

MUSIC: "Memfish" performed by Little Kahunas | Produced by Peter Miller © Production Assistance from Luke Bovard (thank you) - ya gotta have a plan B!

Audio Production, Graphics/Art, Show Notes by Hill Kane of Raising Kane Media + Marketing.

Hosting Platform: Libsyn.com

"The BIT" and "The BIT Comedy Network" are Trademarks owned by Billy Merritt. © 2024-2025 Billy Merritt - All Rights Reserved Inquiries + Notices + Requests: TheBitComedyNetwork@gmail.com