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Now it's showtime.
From the brains behind Brains On, it's Smash Boom Best.
The show for people with big opinions.
Hi, I'm Molly Bloom, and this is Smash Boom Best, the show where we take two things, smash them together, and ask you to decide which one is best.
Today we've got two classic characters created by Dr. Seuss.
On one side, we have a mustachioed defender of trees, and on the other, mischievous feline with stylish accessories.
That's right.
It's the Lorax versus the Cat in the Hat.
Here to cause some mayhem for the Cat in the Hat is story pirate Peter McNerney.
Oh, boy, the Cat in the Hat.
Hey, how about that?
And fighting for the short orange guy with a heart of gold is improviser Nick Kanellis.
I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.
We need the trees for our breath and our lungs.
And back to judge today's fanciful debate is Tao from Montclair, New Jersey.
Tao just graduated from eighth grade, got his first ear piercings, and just started playing the guitar.
Hi, Tao.
Hello.
First of all, congratulations on graduating.
Thank you.
So does that mean you're starting high school next year?
I am.
Oh, are you excited?
I'm more nervous, but it'll be okay.
So what is something that you're looking forward to about high school?
So at my high school, we have like an hour for lunch and you can leave the building.
So I'm probably just going to go home and take a nap for 30 minutes.
That sounds great.
Okay.
And you also just got your ears pierced for the first time.
Is this one ear, both ears, multiple holes in
Both ears like tell us describe for us
I only got my first piercings, but I got it for both ears.
I'm really excited.
Awesome.
It's just like in the earlobe?
Yeah.
Do you have plans for more ear decoration?
So many more piercings.
Excellent.
Did it hurt?
It did not hurt.
I was really scared and I was like, oh, it's already done?
Like, it's really not scary.
That's great.
So hopefully when you go to high school, you'll feel like, wow, this wasn't anything to be nervous about either, just like my ear piercings.
Yeah.
Okay, so you just started learning guitar, which is very cool.
What made you interested in starting in that instrument?
Well, like a lot of my friends are like, oh, I want to start a band.
Oh, bands are so cool, blah, blah, blah, blah.
And I'm like, my mom has a guitar and it's like basically in perfect condition.
I want to play guitars.
It's awesome.
Oh, that's awesome.
So you're like, now I can be in bands.
Yeah.
Okay.
Have you started one yet?
Or you got to get up to speed first?
Yeah, I have to, you know, learn the basics.
Do you play other instruments as well?
I do not.
Okay, so your first one.
That's awesome.
What kind of music do you hope your future band plays?
I don't know.
I want to do like a cover band because covers are really cool.
But if not, I would definitely do like indie.
Very cool.
Teo, I'm very excited for you.
It's so fun to learn all the new things you're doing since last time we chatted.
Thank you.
Will Teo choose the Lorax or the cat in the hat?
Let's find out.
But first, the rules of the game.
Every debate consists of four rounds, the declaration of greatness, the micro round, the sneak attack, and the final six.
After each round, our judge, Tao, will award points to the team that impresses him the most, but he'll keep his decisions top secret until the end of the debate.
Listeners, we want you to judge too.
Mark down your points as you listen at the
End of the show.
Head to our website, smashboom.org, and vote for whichever team you think won.
Okay, Nick, Peter, and Tao, are you ready?
Yes.
I hope so.
Or maybe too ready.
Then it's time for the Declaration of Greatness.
In this round, our debaters will present a well-crafted, immersive argument in favor of their side.
Then they'll each have 30 seconds to rebut their opponent's statements.
We've flipped a coin, and Nick, you're up first.
It's time for Nick K to have his say.
It's time for the Lorax.
Hip, hip, hooray.
Hello, and welcome to the 97th Academy Awards in Children's Literature, where we celebrate the biggest and brightest stars in kids' books.
Over there, we've got the very hungry caterpillar chomping through the buffet.
Oh, and Frog and Toad just walked in wearing matching Gucci suits.
Looking sharp, you two.
And it's the tree from Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!
Hope I can get an autograph later.
Ahem.
Anywho, it's my honor to present our first award for the character who stands up for what's right, even though it's really, really hard.
The nominees are Charlotte the Spider, Matilda, and the Lorax.
And the award goes to...
The Lorax!
Okay, so that award show doesn't exist.
But if it did, the Lorax would totally win.
I'm getting ahead of myself, though.
If you haven't read it, here's a quick version of the story.
The book takes place in a wonderland filled with all kinds of incredible animals, like hummingfish and swami swans and brown barbaloos.
Oh, and truffula trees as far as the eye can see, in every color of the rainbow.
But unfortunately, it turns from a colorful wonderland into a vast gray wasteland when a greedy factory owner named the Onceler shows up.
He chops down the Truffula trees and turns them into Thneeds, which look kind of like funky red socks.
And that's when our hero, the Lorax, arrives.
I am the Lorax.
I speak for the trees.
I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.
Lorax warns the Onceler that he's making a big mistake.
But he doesn't listen, building a big factory and chopping down more and more trees.
Here's the thing, though.
The Lorax doesn't give up.
The animals, the trees, they can't speak for themselves.
So the Lorax stands up for them, even though it's scary and he's all by himself.
He doesn't sit there and hope someone else will do it.
He takes action.
If you've ever stood up for something you care about, you know it can be a really hard and brave thing to do.
But here's maybe the coolest thing about the Lorax.
The story itself was inspired by real-life events.
Its author, Dr. Seuss, was upset because people were chopping down eucalyptus trees in his neighborhood.
He wanted to write a kid's book about how important it is to care for the environment.
But he was having writer's block, so he took a trip to Kenya and Africa, and that's where he got the idea for the Lorax.
He might have even been inspired by an animal he saw there, the potamonkey, which looks very similar to the Lorax with its orangish fur and big bushy mustache.
Hmm.
Hmm.
But back to the book.
After the last truffula tree is gone and the animals have left, the Lorax peaces out too.
But before he goes, he leaves behind a pile of rocks with one word on them.
The Onceler, the factory owner who started this whole thing, puzzles over this word, and finally he figures it out.
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.
It's not.
The Onceler realizes what he's done.
He tosses the very last Truffula seed to the kid who's listening to the story and asks that kid to plant it.
So maybe the trees and the animals will come back someday.
And that, my friends, is what I love about this story.
It ends with hope.
It teaches us that every piece of our world deserves to be protected and cared for, including the animals and plants and wild places that can't speak up for themselves.
The Lorax isn't just a character in a book.
He's a symbol for people around the world who care about the planet.
And his message stays with you a long time after you put it back on the shelf.
An inspiring declaration of greatness there for the Lorax.
Teo, what stood out to you about Nick's arguments?
I did not know it was based on a true story.
Yeah, I didn't know that either.
Very cool.
Okay, Peter, you have 30 seconds to chop down this argument like it's a truffula tree.
And your 30 seconds starts now.
You know what I look for when I want to read a nice, fun book?
I always really hope that every book I open is a lecture.
Oh boy, the entire environment has been destroyed.
Yeah, I don't disagree with that.
But what is this book saying?
Oh, we ruined the planet.
And you, young person, have to fix our mess.
Oh, I'm feeling hopeful?
No, I'm feeling resentful.
You shouldn't have ruined it in the first place.
The next generation has to fix my messes.
Fun.
I'm going to go to sleep after reading that book.
Sure.
So I guess better to just continue ignoring it or not fix it.
Come on, Peter.
It's a lecture because it needs to needs to change.
Fun.
Fun.
Well, we have more fun on the way.
We're going to hear Peter repping Team Cat in the Hat.
But first, a quick break.
Okay, we heard from Nick and the Lorax.
Now it's Peter's turn for the Cat in the Hat.
He'll make some great arguments, we're sure about that.
Okay, time to argue for the Cat in the Hat.
Boy, I wish something fun would happen to kick things off.
I said I sure could use some fun.
Oh, man, I thought that would work.
Oh, well.
So the Cat in the Hat was first introduced in 1957 as a children's book.
Oh, come on.
This is so boring.
Where's the cat when you need him?
He's mischievous and magical.
If he were here, he'd start my declaration by, I don't know, bringing in a parade of pythons in pink pointy hats.
Or Lithuanian left-fielders swinging licorice bats.
The cat is so good at making things fun.
In fact, that's literally the reason why he was invented.
I shall explain.
Rewind time.
In the 1950s, kids learned to read using special books called primers.
These were simple books with easy words and not much of a plot.
They usually involved two kids, Dick and Jane, doing boring things.
See Dick run.
Run, Dick, run.
Jane can jump.
Jump, Jane, jump.
Jumping and running.
Running and jumping.
All day long.
Ah!
Too boring!
Sorry.
Dozed off.
Anyway, that's what kids were up against until a writer named Theodor Geisel, a.k.a.
Dr. Seuss, decided to make things fun.
And speaking of fun, I'm going to make this next part more fun by juggling bike horns while I talk.
Here I go!
Oh, this is zany.
Dr. Seuss got a list of the 200 or so words that young readers knew and set out to make a book kids wanted to read.
Easy, right?
No, it was hard.
Just like juggling these live geese, which I will also do right now.
Come here.
These are some silly geese.
Now, it took Dr. Seuss over a year to finish the story.
Then in 1957, he released a book about two kids who were bored one rainy day.
A troublemaking cat shows up and hijinks ensue.
Ah!
Ah!
Look at me now, said the cat, with a cup and a cake on top of my hat.
I can hold up two books.
I can hold up the fish and a little toy ship and some milk on a dish.
Then the cat brings in two weird little guys, Thing 1 and Thing 2.
They fly kites indoors, trash the place, and clean up.
All before mom gets home.
It was an instant hit.
And it launched a whole series of super fun and easy to read books.
But I really love The Cat in the Hat for its message.
The cat isn't some perfect role model.
He's a rebel and he's wild.
But sometimes you have to get wild to have fun, like throwing a pie in your own face.
Observe.
Wow, this one's pie flavored.
Or tossing wet gummy bears on the ceiling to see how long they stick.
That one over there has been up there seven days.
We all need the freedom to be messy and chaotic sometimes.
And that's okay, so long as we clean up when we're done.
Just like the cat did.
So, in conclusion, the cat is...
Did someone say fun?
The cat in the hat, you're late.
Sorry, Peter.
It was raining in Oklahoma City, and so many kids were stuck inside bored.
I really could have used you to help make this more fun.
But Peter, a parade of pythons, juggling geese, gummy bears falling from the sky.
You made it fun all on your own.
Well, Cat in the Hat, you're right.
I did.
See, the cat was inside you all along.
Metaphorically.
Physically, I was in Oklahoma City, as previously mentioned.
Now, do you want to go find that python parade and see if they want some ceiling gummies?
Of course!
Yay to fun!
And yay to the cat in the hat!
A very fun-filled argument, and I would love some of those stealing gummies.
Please, Tao, what stood out to you about Peter's declaration?
I thought it was very interesting that Dr. Seuss used primer words for cat mat.
Absolutely.
Okay, Nick, it is time for your rebuttal.
You've got 30 seconds to clean up this mess Peter made, and your time starts now!
I love fun.
I love chaos.
You cannot have fun and chaos if you don't have a base reality that is stable and sustainable.
So enjoy dancing on a fire or throwing your little geese horns around while the world burns.
It won't last very long if you don't have a world to stand upon.
Frankly, that's my thought.
Is that I have more time.
Peter, you're wrong.
Oh, sorry.
Anytime somebody keeps lecturing at me, I fall asleep.
Oh, I was having a crazy dream where we were all having fun.
I liked it there.
Oh my gosh.
Okay, Tao, it is time to award some points.
Please give one point to the declaration of greatness that you liked best and one point to the rebuttal that won you over.
You get to decide what makes a winning argument.
Did one team have cooler facts?
Did another team make you see something in a new light?
Award your points, but don't tell us who they're going to.
Have you made your decision?
I have.
Excellent.
Peter, Nick, how are you two feeling so far?
Good.
Feel good.
I like yelling at Nick.
And I also don't like yelling at Nick.
So I'm really feeling lots of feelings.
I feel a little stern.
I feel strict and stern.
I don't know.
I want to be more fun, but there's a reality here.
Okay.
Well, it is time for a quick break.
Eat a truffle of fruit and high-five thing one.
And we'll be right back with more Smash Boom Best.
You're listening to State of Debate, home to raging rhetoric and awe-inspiring argumentation.
I'm Taylor Lincoln.
And I'm Todd Douglas.
And a little birdie told me it's someone's birthday.
Happy birthday, Taylor.
Aw, shucks.
You remembered.
Of course.
Here, I got you this.
Ooh, I wonder what it is.
Whoa, it's a logical fallacy.
That's a poorly made argument.
Yep, it's not just any logical fallacy.
This one is the loaded question fallacy.
Ooh, I needed that one for my collection.
A loaded question is when you make an assumption about something and then ask a question based on that assumption.
Yeah, it's like you loaded an assumption into your question.
This one comes with an example.
Take a listen.
Okay, Teddy, last thing to plan for the party.
What activity should we have for the kids?
Oh, that's an easy one, Mervin.
Definitely a bounce house.
They're so fun.
What?
No.
We should get a face painter, huh?
Yeah, but that involves waiting in line, and it can be messy.
Well, why do you support kids wrestling and throwing each other around in that bounce house?
That's much more trouble.
Wait, I don't support that.
So you don't think we should get a bounce house then?
What?
I meant, yes.
So, Teddy, you are okay with kids roughhousing in an inflatable rubber room?
I, I mean, wait.
Party foul.
Mervyn is using a loaded question here, big time.
Yeah, Mervyn is making an assumption that kids will fight and wrestle in a bounce house, but we don't know that at all.
That assumption could be wrong.
Yeah, most kids just want to bounce.
Let them bounce.
Wow, what a horrible, no good, terrible fallacy.
I love it.
Thank you, Todd.
You're welcome, pal.
We'll see you next time on State of Debate.
Smash.
Boom.
You're listening to Smash Boom Best.
I'm your host, Molly Bloom.
And I'm your judge, Tao.
And we love getting debate suggestions from our listeners like this one.
Hi, my name is Julian, and my idea is...
Sloths versus monkeys sloths versus monkeys a tree climbing vine swinging mammal debate
I love it we'll hear who julian thinks should win at the end of the show and now back to our debate
The lorax versus cat in the hat yeah and now it's time for round two the micro round
It's time for a Fact Off.
Peter and Nick will each get three chances to make a micro-argument backed by a cool fact or idea.
Nick went first last round, so Peter, you start us off.
All right.
Love the cat?
Thank that rhyme.
Dr. Seuss was so stumped about what to write his book about that he decided to just go with the first two rhyming words in the list of easy reader words.
He found cat and hat.
And the rest is history.
But a good thing he didn't see scare and bear or poop and stoop or fish and chips and apocalypse.
Remember how I said the Lorax's look was inspired by the Pottus monkey?
Well, scientists had to do a lot of work to figure that out.
Researcher Nathan Domini wanted to figure out which primate the Lorax looked like, so they fed photos into a computer, and voila, the Pottus monkey was revealed.
Not only does this monkey look like the Lorax,
But the sound they make resembles the Lorax's sawdusty sneeze.
And their diet depends on the whistling thorn acacia tree, which looks a lot like a real-life Dr. Seuss drawing.
Did you know that the Cat in the Hat is ranked number two in the New York Public Library's most checked out books of all time?
We're talking, we're beating Harry Potter, Charlotte's Web, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Lorax.
Where is it on the list?
Oh, nowhere.
Woo, golly hoo.
We're number two.
The Lorax inspired a 2012 hit movie that debuted at number one.
The actor who played the role of the Lorax, Danny DeVito, recorded his lines in five different languages.
Because the whole world loves the Lorax, the book has been translated in 45 languages.
You want to play the media game?
The Cat in the Hat is the king of all media.
Yes, he's dominated books, but did you know that he also has TV shows, movies, a new one coming out in November.
He appeared in Seussical the Musical, and he even has an award-winning podcast.
What?
There's a Cat in the Hat podcast?
Oh yeah, and I hear that the head writer for that show is incredibly handsome.
I hear the head writer for that show looks like the Lorax.
And the Lorax has become an unofficial mascot at many schools from colleges to elementary schools because teachers love his message, standing up for what's right and taking care of the earth.
He's inspired school projects, protests, and marches too.
And he's got a great stash.
He does have a great stash.
Tao, which facts stood out to you from this micro round?
I did not know that, like, schools use the Lorax as a mascot.
That's really cool.
I didn't.
Did not know that there was multiple movies for Cat in the Hat.
I thought there was just one.
I'm going to go home and watch them.
And an award-winning podcast.
And a podcast.
Who knew?
If it wasn't subtle enough, I write that show.
What's the name of the podcast, Peter?
What's that?
Oh, the podcast?
Season two?
I don't know.
I can't officially say anything.
I don't know.
Maybe.
Maybe keep your ears open.
I wonder.
Okay, Tao, it is time to award a point.
But don't tell us who it's going to.
The criteria are totally subjective and totally up to you.
Have you made your decision i have perfect keep it secret and we'll be right back
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Thanks!
We're back and we're jumping right in because it's time for Sneak Attack.
This is our improvised round where debaters have to respond to a challenge on the spot.
Today's challenge is Be My Roommate.
Imagine your side is looking for a roommate and they made a short video to post on social media to convince people that they would be an awesome roommate.
So, Nick, you are up first.
Let's hear the Lorax's pitch to a future roommate.
Hey, would you like to have a room that you can live in?
Maybe made out of a house made out of wood?
Guess what you would need?
A tree to make that home for yourself.
Yes, we literally are able to be in a home that exists and is real.
Would you like food like fruit that comes from a tree?
Yes, we still have that, for we have trees.
Perhaps you would also like trees.
Shade.
Oh, another thing that trees provide.
Please come live with me if you want to live in a real home with real walls and a real floor.
Wow.
What a compelling pitch.
Yeah, it was really straightforward.
All right, Peter, you are up.
Let's hear your roommate-seeking video.
Are you looking for an affordable sublet?
Well, come live with me, the cat in the hat.
Yes, I do have 28 roommates, but two of them are things.
Woo-hoo!
And they sleep in a crate, so they don't take up much room.
Also, I have 26 increasingly smaller cats under my hat.
Little cats A, hello, through Z.
You can't hear him because he's microscopic.
We have a party every night.
Is it a mess?
Yes.
Is it loud?
Yes.
Is it fun?
Yes.
Will I clean it up with my magical hat?
You betcha.
Rent is only five high fives.
You've paid it.
Come on down.
Wow.
Another great ad.
How am I supposed to choose which room to let?
Okay, Tao, it's time to award a point for this sneak attack.
Making this very difficult.
I know.
Who sounds like a better roommate?
Who did a good job selling themselves?
You can judge based on humor, descriptive power, whatever.
Just pick a winner and don't tell us who got the point.
Have you made up your mind?
I have.
Oh, wonderful.
Then it's time for our final round.
The final six.
In this round, each team will have just six words to sum up the glory of their side.
Peter, please go first.
Tell us why Cat in the Hat is tops.
Ahem.
Cat in hat?
Can't top that.
Excellent.
Okay, Nick, please, your turn.
It's your last chance to sing it.
Sing it?
I don't know why I said that.
It's your last chance to tell us why the Lorax is great.
We need to save the planet.
We need to save the planet.
Very nice.
Bonus singing.
Okay, Teo, it is time to award a final point for this final six.
Thank you.
Have you made your decision?
I have made my decision.
Wonderful.
Okay, Tao, tally up those points.
Are you ready to crown one team the smash boom best?
I am ready.
Oh, my goodness.
Okay, drum roll, please.
And the winner is...
The Lorax.
Yes!
Yes!
Oh, what a mess you've made.
Don't worry, I'll clean it up.
Oh, fantastic.
Oh my gosh, Oteo, what was the moment that really sealed the deal for the Lorax?
So it was, like, mostly tied for a while, and then...
I heard the sneak attack and I was just— You were like, that sounds like a great house.
It has walls.
It has walls and it has shade and food.
And I need sleep and party every night.
That's very loud.
Fair.
Wouldn't be the greatest situation.
Okay, I came on a little strong, I feel.
Okay, I get it.
I mean, hey, that is very affordable rent.
True.
It's a trade-off.
It's a trade-off.
Yeah.
Peter was so funny.
Everything that he said, I was like, oh, I want to live in a world where we get to have all of this fun.
So while I deeply believe the Lorax should have won, Peter entertained me throughout, and I just thought it was brilliant.
Nicholas, do I like losing to you?
Yes, actually.
Most people, you know what?
There's really nobody else I'd rather lose to you.
And I'm happy for you.
And I'm like 2% sad.
And that's pretty good.
What's funny to me is our our improv show
We do
I feel like you're usually more the lorax and i'm more the cat in the hat
It's true this was all very
I enjoyed being the silly one and you had to be all serious for once
Well that is it for today's debate battle
Teo crowned the lorax the smash film best
But what about you
Head to smashboom.org and vote to tell us who you think won.
This episode was produced by me, Molly Bloom, and Mark Sanchez.
It was sound designed by Rachel Brees, and Mark wrote our theme song.
We had engineering help from Marco Biagio and Peter McNerney.
Our announcer is Marley Feuerwerker-Otto, and we want to give a special thanks to Austin Cross and Taylor Kaufman.
Peter, is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to today?
I'd like to give a big shout out, as always, to the Story Pirates and the Cat in the Hat podcast.
Season one, you can listen to now.
Season two, again, I'm not saying anything.
You should go check it out.
It is a very good podcast.
And how about you, Nick?
Any special shout outs?
Big shout out to the Magnet Theater where Peter and I do improv.
Also to PS 154 where my son goes to school and PS 145 where my wife is a principal.
Awesome.
And how about you, Teo?
Any special thanks or shout outs?
My mom, Marco.
And my school, Glenfield Middle School.
Awesome.
Before we go, let's check in and see who Julian thinks should win the monkeys versus sloths debate.
I think that sloths need to win because they're really cute.
Sloths are very cute i agree
If you're between the ages of 13 and 18 and you'd like to be a judge or if you're any age and you have an idea for a knockdown drag out debate head to smashboom.org contact and drop us a line and if you're a fan of the show and want to keep it going head to smartypass.org to subscribe
We'll be back next week with a new smash boom best episode vanilla
Versus mint.
Goodbye.
Arrivederci.
Slán go fóill.
Chop, chop.
Oh, my gosh.
Now he's chopping down the trees?
Oh, no.
Oh, no.
Where have I gone?
Take back the win.
Can I just say that I was in a band in high school and I needed a backup singer for a song.
You know who did it for me?
Molly Bloom.
Me!
Oh, my goodness.
Oh, my gosh.
It's so true.
Yes, Peter and I have known each other since middle school.
It's pretty awesome.
We were in a jazz band together, too.
He played trombone and I played piano.
We're probably the most talented musicians that have ever lived.
