MZNOW with Michael Zavala

MZNOW with Michael Zavala

MZNOW is a weekly comedy broadcast based in Dallas, Texas and one of the longest running comedy shows in the city. Hosted by Michael Zavala with Eric Star, Shawn Lapree, Spider the DJ, and Clark, the show features celebrity interviews, pop culture talk, wild pranks, and whatever else happens to be going on in Michael’s world. You'll never know who might drop by the studio or what will happen next — from Star Trek debates to updates on Michael’s Knight Rider replica... Welcome to the world of Michael Zavala. Buckle up. 🎧 New episodes weekly 📺 Watch and listen at www.MZNOW.tv 📲 Follow: @MZNOWTV

Episodes

90s Kids Only (August 11, 2026)

August 11, 2026 • 24 mins
It's time to test your 90s knowledge: can YOU finish the sentence? Dial-up internet, Tamagotchis, Talk Boys, Kid Pix, and Easy Bake Ovens all make an appearance as the crew plays a nostalgia-packed guessing game. Get more show at MZNOW

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Michael Zavala @michaelzavala
Eric Star @mrericstar

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Trauma Bonding in a Waymo (August 4, 2026)

August 4, 2026 • 20 mins
Shawn suspects Taylor Farms of running a full-blown lettuce conspiracy against Taco Bell loyalists, and the crew reminisces about dial-up email, Hotmail addresses nobody's deleted, and the long-lost MZ Show MySpace page. Plus, Star Trek's 60th anniversary con gets a pricey new format. Get more show at MZNOW

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I Don't Freestyle Cause my Style Ain't Free (July 28, 2026)

July 28, 2026 • 42 mins
Slick pulls up in studio a decade after stepping away from music, dropping a brand-new five-song EP he made almost entirely with AI — and admitting he's not ashamed of it, unlike the artists who lie about using it. Slick talks about the difference between directing AI versus letting it take over, why day trading is a "long play" and not a get-rich-quick scheme, and how growing up hustling turned into real estate, fatherhood, ...
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The Waymo Radio Pitch Nobody Asked For (July 21, 2026)

July 21, 2026 • 29 mins
Michael pitches his big idea for “Waymo Radio,” a tiered in-car network complete with exclusive interviews, and gets into why he trusts self-driving cars more than most Uber drivers. Plus: Culinary Dropout gets roasted for its name, Willow Bay and Larry David's new HBO sketch show get reviewed, Universal's new theme park gets a hard pass, and Michael has a big announcement. Get more show at MZNOW

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Johnny 5 Goes to Oregon: The Short Circuit 40th Anniversary Recap (July 14, 2026)

July 14, 2026 • 46 mins
Sean, builder of the real-life Johnny 5 from Short Circuit, recasp the film's 40th anniversary celebration in Astoria, Oregon — including two blown gearboxes on the same night, a UK-built Johnny 5 that got stuck in customs, an impromptu voice cameo from original Johnny 5 actor Tim Blaney, meeting the town's mayor, and touring the set with one of the movie's actual puppeteers. Plus, why transporting a 368-pound robot across th...
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To Michael, From Shatner (July 7, 2026)

July 7, 2026 • 19 mins
Michael reports on the sad demise of the studio's resident possum, then recaps his trip to San Antonio to get William Shatner to sign his new Star Trek ship model — including a surprisingly friendly (and confusing) encounter with Shatner himself. Plus, the show reviews Toy Story 5 and Disclosure Day, and Bri has some big news! Get more show at MZNOW

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How You Can Help Save Dallas City Hall ft. Stephanie Drenka (June 30, 2026)

June 30, 2026 • 37 mins
Stephanie Drenka stops by the show to break down the fight over Dallas City Hall — why the I.M. Pei-designed landmark is suddenly facing demolition, the inflated repair numbers, the Adelson family's casino ambitions, and who really stands to profit if the city moves out. Plus, the history behind why City Hall was built in the first place, and what people can do before city council comes back in September. Get more show at MZ...
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Shawn the Dealer (June 23, 2025)

June 23, 2026 • 29 mins
A Waymo hits a 10-year-old in a Santa Monica school zone — and they're still pro-robot driver. The case gets made that a distracted human is way more dangerous than an autonomous car. Plus, Eric saw the Michael Jackson biopic and loved it, Paris Jackson is calling it lies, and Michael has some very important questions about whether he and Paris could ever be a thing. Get more show at MZNOW

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Night Shower People Are Wrong (June 16, 2026)

June 16, 2026 • 35 mins
Michael flies to Austin on a whim to catch a writer's panel with Ray Romano and Phil Rosenthal, then spends 30 minutes walking the same block hoping to "accidentally" run into them. Plus, the crew debates morning vs. night showers, Eric wants a season pass to the new Universal Kids park in Frisco, and butterbeer finally gets the respect it deserves. Get more show at MZNOW

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Dallas Model Ari on Building a Brand, Bad Teslas & Mambo Taxis (June 9, 2026)

June 9, 2026 • 29 mins
Dallas model Ari stops by the studio and she's got a lot going on — a decade in modeling, big plans for acting and content creation, and a near-death experience involving a press-on nail. She talks getting scouted at an airport at 14, building a personal brand, and why she's just now starting to take it all seriously. Plus, the group holds a mostly unenthusiastic memorial for Spirit Airlines and debates self-driving cars aft...
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Is Universal Studios Fan Fest Nights Worth Going To? (June 2, 2026)

June 2, 2026 • 28 mins
A full-blown argument breaks out at midnight — not with a person, but with a newly AI-powered Amazon Alexa that flat-out refuses to just try turning on a light. Then, it's a full LA trip recap. Plus, Butterbeer at Harry Potter World lives up to the hype, a Waymo gets trapped, and Southwest Airlines nearly catches a strongly worded email. Get more show at MZNOW

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How RJ Went from Rudolph Understudy to Shonda Rhimes' Writers Room (May 26, 2026)

May 26, 2026 • 29 mins
R Jay (Ricki Junior) stops by — a Dallas-born actor, writer, director, and producer who got his start in a writers' room after a college professor accused him of plagiarizing work that closely resembled scripts from Grey's Anatomy — which led to a meeting with Shonda Rhimes herself. R Jay breaks down how TV writers' rooms actually work, shares how dyslexia shaped his creative journey, and reveals he was a Gerber baby. P...
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KITT, A Cursed Duck, and Michael's Summer Watch List (May 22, 2026)

May 22, 2026 • 17 mins
Michael finally gets his hands dirty — literally — working on the Knight Rider car in hopes of luring Bobby Lee onto the show. It's also time for Michael's Annual Summer Watch List, where he runs down the shows graduating to your queue this season. Get more show at MZNOW

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Eric Star @mrerics...
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Is Stranger Things: Tales From '85 Worth a Second Season? (May 19, 2026)

May 19, 2026 • 22 mins
Is Stranger Things: Tales From '85 worth the watch? The show breaks down the new Netflix cartoon, debates whether DTF St. Louis is worth your time, and gets back into From for season four. Plus, Klay Thompson catches a stray for cheating on Meg Thee Stallion. Get more show at MZNOW

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Eric Star @mrericst...
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From Cosplay to the Ring ft. @swolerscout (May 12, 2026)

May 12, 2026 • 39 mins
Mac is in town from Houston and joins Michael and Bri to talk all things nerd culture. Mac breaks down what Otaku Odyssey is, why small cons hit different, and what really goes down at convention after parties. She also shares how she made the leap from cosplay enthusiast to amateur pro wrestler — and why the overlap between comic book fans and wrestling fans makes total sense. Plus, the crew plays a blind ranking game where ...
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Universal vs. Disney: The Honest Review (May 5, 2026)

May 5, 2026 • 30 mins
Michael does Disney World for the first time and quickly realizes he had no idea what he was getting into. Universal vs. Disney — which one actually delivers the better experience? Plus, the guys start plotting their upcoming LA trip, including something at Warner Bros. that might be worth the $300 price tag. Get more show at MZNOW

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Stranger Things Star Joins Crunchyroll Voice Actors for Live D&D in Dallas (May 1, 2026)

May 1, 2026 • 83 mins
Chester Rushing, best known as Tommy H from Netflix's Stranger Things sit down with Michael Zavala alongside Crunchyroll voice actor Dustin Parsons, GM Jared Garcia, Chris Sapphire from Netflix's The Circle, and Miiu Maux to talk all things Dungeons and Dragons ahead of their live D&D event in Dallas. They get into how D&D saved Chester's mental health during lockdown, how tabletop roleplaying games are being used to help k...
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Would You Try Fried Chicken Flavored Jelly Beans? (April 28, 2025)

April 28, 2026 • 19 mins
Remembering Dallas comedian Raj Sharma, who passed away Friday. Michael shares memories of his sharp wit, his big personality, and the genuine support he showed for the MZNOW team over the years. Plus, questionable KFC jelly beans (fried chicken flavor, anyone?), a baby bird rescue mission during the DFW storms, and a Dallas Symphony Orchestra show that blended Stravinsky with Kendrick Lamar's Damn. Get more show at MZNOW

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Clark Auditions for Netflix (April 23, 2026)

April 24, 2026 • 25 mins
Clark suits up in a knockoff Stranger Things Vecna costume (the biggest size they had) to audition for Netflix House — and things go exactly as you'd expect. Michael, Eric, and Bri coach him through characters including Vecna, Jeffrey Dahmer, Diddy, a Bridgerton long-lost brother, and a Too Hot to Handle contestant. Plus, a behind-the-scenes look at how the crew actually makes their videos, and spoiler: it's exactly this cha...
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Model by Night, Therapist by Day ft. Nikki Sabolboro (April 21, 2026)

April 21, 2026 • 32 mins
Nikki is a redheaded Dallas model by night and autism therapist by day — and she's already figured out what's wrong with Clark. Plus, the dark lady of science and why you've been using behavior therapy on people without knowing it. Follow Nikki Sabolboro at @ModelNikkiSab Get more show at MZNOW

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Michael Zavala @michaelzavala
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