"Nick the Grek with Becky Feldman" is Episode 429 of Doughboys, hosted by Nick Wiger and Mike Mitchell. "Nick the Greek with Becky Feldman" was released on January 18, 2024.
"Tomorrow… with Becky Feldman" - @doughboyspod
Synopsis[]
Becky Feldman (@beckles212, Too Stupid To Live) joins the 'boys to discuss fantasy romance novels, The Whale, and Nothing Bundt Cakes before a review of Nick the Greek. Plus, a new edition of The Wiger Challenge.
Nick's intro[]
Donkey Kong
In 1981, the nascent video-game industry was forever altered by a new arcade cabinet from Nintendo, a company then best known as a hanafuda card manufacturer. Directed by Legend of Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto and produced by the father of the Game Boy, Gunpei Yokoi, Donkey Kong was a sensation, introducing the world to its titular ape antagonist and the player’s surrogate, a mustachio in red overalls then known as Jumpman, and today known as Mario.
Unfortunately, the coin-op triumph of Donkey Kong was not reflected in its home versions, often shoddy ports due to inferior console hardware; or its sequels, the less successful Donkey Kong Jr. and the baffling Donkey Kong 3, a crude shooter in which the player assumes control of Stanley the exterminator. And while Mario would become a jump-up superstar in his own franchise, the Donkey Kong IP would be relatively unexplored after its breakout launch — until the early 1990s, when Nintendo entrusted the character to UK developer Rare. The end result, 1994’s Donkey Kong Country for the Super Nintendo, was a charming and tough-as-nails platformer with then-stunning 3D-rendered characters and an inspired soundtrack by David Wise. The Rare reboot breathed new life into the Donkey Kong canon, reimagining the barrel-tossing lady-kidnapper as a necktie-wearing jungle defender, and significantly, expanding the Kong family.
New characters included nimble ballcap-wearing monkey Diddy Kong, surfer-dude war-profiteer Funky Kong, sexy sultry simian Candy Kong, and testy whitebeard Cranky Kong — widely speculated to be the original DK. Two Super NES sequels added to the Kong count by introducing Dixie Kong, Kiddy Kong, Swanky Kong, and Cranky’s wife, Wrinkly Kong. When Rare’s final Donkey Kong game, Donkey Kong 64, debuted in 1999, the Kong count swelled even further to add Chunky Kong, Lanky Kong, and Tiny Kong. Wrinkly Kong grimly appeared as a ghost in the new entry without explanation, apparently killed off-camera after the events of Donkey Kong Country 3.
And when it comes to franchises with individuals sharing the same name distinguished by descriptor — you can also include a Greek-American concept founded in 2012 in Northern California. Cousins Nick, Nick, and Nick (aka. Baby Nick, Big Nick, and Little Nick) collaborated on the idea after Baby Nick returned from Greece with a hunger for authentic gyros. The eatery grew to over fifty locations in under a decade, and in 2022, the fast-growing chain was bought by Yadav Enterprises, a franchising company that oversees 600 Jack in the Box and TGI Fridays locations.
As for this triforce of cousins all having the same name? By tradition, they were all named for their grandfather, Nick, and labeled to separate them — perhaps lending more credence to the 'Cranky Kong was the original Donkey Kong' theory.
This week on Doughboys… Nick the Greek.
Fork rating[]
Nick the Greek
| guest / host | ordered | rating |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Wiger |
|
3 forks |
| Mike Mitchell |
|
3.25 forks |
| Becky Feldman |
|
2.5 forks |
| shared |
|
Nick went to Nick the Greek twice, getting the Gyro Plate for dinner on his own, and then the rest of his order with The Doughboys. Susser went with them and offered 3.5 forks for the restaurant.
They all seem to have been fairly disappointed with their Nick the Greek food, but also all felt they needed to go try it again.
The Wiger Challenge[]
In The Wiger Challenge, Nick presents Mitch and the guest with a mystery drink and they guess the brand and flavor. The winner is the one who comes closest.
For this episode, Nick offers two drinks: Dr. Pepper Zero Sugar Cherry and Dr. Pepper Zero Sugar Strawberry & Cream.
They were very very close, so it was declared a tie.
| guest / host | guess | result |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Mitchell | Diet Dr. Pepper Cherry / Diet Dr. Pepper Strawberry & Cream | winner! |
| Becky Feldman | Dr. Pepper Cherry / Diet Pepsi Strawberry & Cream | winner! |
Roast Spoonman[]
Salvador Dalí
| “ | Salvador Delí | ” |
–Brandon | ||
Quotes[]
| “ | I came here to talk about cum! | ” |
–Becky Feldman | ||
| “ | Becky: In this world, the main character gets a job working at this factory where her job is to jerk off minotaurs all day. Nick.: That's insane. |
” |
–The Doughboys re: Morning Glory Milking Farm | ||
| “ | Nick: I'm thinking we should institute Nick Points on the Doughboys Patreon. Mitch: What would we give them? |
” |
–sign up for the Patreon | ||
The Feedbag[]
| “ | What is your favorite low or no-prep meal? | ” |
–Mike in Philadelphia | ||
| guest / host | favorite low-prep meals |
|---|---|
| Nick Wiger |
|
| Mike Mitchell |
|
| Becky Feldman |
|
Restaurants[]
| restaurants | official visits | notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nick the Greek | Marina Del Rey, CA | Nick got take-out from this location |
| restaurants referenced | location | notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing Bundt Cakes | - | |
|
- | some healthier Mediterranean-food chains; Nick says they reviewed Delphi, but they have not. (He might've been thinking of Daphne's.) |
| Kismet Rotisserie | Los Angeles, CA |
Drops and Plugs and Things[]
| reference | notes |
|---|---|
| Too Stupid To Live | Becky's podcast |
| A-ha "Take On Me" | in Mitch's drop (by Josh) |
|
some of Becky's favorite fantasy romances |
Related Episodes[]
| Becky Feldman episodes |
|---|
|
Photos[]
