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Cut and Run
Samantha Dugan and Abe Lally are best friends. They steal kidneys. They have their reasons.
Samantha is a professional seductress and con artist with a heart of gold. If she talked about her work, she'd tell you she only pilfers organs for medical research and that she only takes one kidney, and she only steals those kidneys from dishonest people. It's hell on her social life.
Abe is the doctor and Sam's partner in crime. He isn't much of a criminal. Except for the kidney stealing. But he's using that money to fund his research that he anticipates will be able to cure diabetes. So, all for a good cause...? You decide. Of course, it's hell on his social life.
Cut and Run was performed by Meg Ryan, D'Arcy Carden, Sam Richardson, Rachel Bloom, Thomas Lennon, Ed Begley Jr, Eugene Cordero, Baron Vaughn, Carlos Alazraqui, Arturo del Puerto, Dustin Ybarra, Aaron Abrams, Ginger Gonzaga, Greg Santos, Oscar Montoya, Roberta Valderrama, and Shulie Cowen.
“Dynamite Lady”, an original song, was written and performed by Aimee Mann and Ted Leo.
Cut and Run was written and co-produced by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker
Director - Alexandra Barreto
Executive Producer - Morgan Jones
Audio Editing and Sound Design team - Tyler Dorson, Marc Atkinson, Emma Burlingame, Matt Beagle, and Jake Young
Recorded at Marc Graue Studios
Samantha is a professional seductress and con artist with a heart of gold. If she talked about her work, she'd tell you she only pilfers organs for medical research and that she only takes one kidney, and she only steals those kidneys from dishonest people. It's hell on her social life.
Abe is the doctor and Sam's partner in crime. He isn't much of a criminal. Except for the kidney stealing. But he's using that money to fund his research that he anticipates will be able to cure diabetes. So, all for a good cause...? You decide. Of course, it's hell on his social life.
Cut and Run was performed by Meg Ryan, D'Arcy Carden, Sam Richardson, Rachel Bloom, Thomas Lennon, Ed Begley Jr, Eugene Cordero, Baron Vaughn, Carlos Alazraqui, Arturo del Puerto, Dustin Ybarra, Aaron Abrams, Ginger Gonzaga, Greg Santos, Oscar Montoya, Roberta Valderrama, and Shulie Cowen.
“Dynamite Lady”, an original song, was written and performed by Aimee Mann and Ted Leo.
Cut and Run was written and co-produced by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker
Director - Alexandra Barreto
Executive Producer - Morgan Jones
Audio Editing and Sound Design team - Tyler Dorson, Marc Atkinson, Emma Burlingame, Matt Beagle, and Jake Young
Recorded at Marc Graue Studios
Audio CD
First published January 30, 2020
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545 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 521 reviews
August 4, 2022
3 Stars
A quick, fast paced romp that showcases supposed do-gooders Sam and Abe, who lure douche bags under false pretenses and who obviously deserve to lose a kidney all in the name of well... goodness.
When Sam has second thoughts on one of their marks, it sets off a chain of events that leads to dire consequences. Ensue a multitude of haywire antics as everyone involved tries to cover their tracks to not get caught by the FBI.
A comedy of errors. Entertaining enough.
A quick, fast paced romp that showcases supposed do-gooders Sam and Abe, who lure douche bags under false pretenses and who obviously deserve to lose a kidney all in the name of well... goodness.
When Sam has second thoughts on one of their marks, it sets off a chain of events that leads to dire consequences. Ensue a multitude of haywire antics as everyone involved tries to cover their tracks to not get caught by the FBI.
A comedy of errors. Entertaining enough.
April 14, 2021
It’s 3.5 stars but I’m feeling generous. It’s not amazing writing but because it’s an audible with some great people involved it is very fun. It made me laugh and that’s all I can ask for at times. So if you want a quick listen that makes you feel good and laugh at the banter....take a listen!
June 11, 2020
This was so much fun!
I got Cut and Run as the Audible monthly original deal for free a few months back and finally decided to listen to the full casted short audio. It was hilarious and I loved the quick banter. Who knew I could love a few kidney thieves and want them to get away with it all.
This completely brightened up my day and I recommend it to anyone looking for a little laughter in their life right now.
I got Cut and Run as the Audible monthly original deal for free a few months back and finally decided to listen to the full casted short audio. It was hilarious and I loved the quick banter. Who knew I could love a few kidney thieves and want them to get away with it all.
This completely brightened up my day and I recommend it to anyone looking for a little laughter in their life right now.
April 11, 2021
Dark aspects of the illegal organ transplant business. The organs are stolen from the tourists without their consent or payment for that, and also about love between the pretty woman doctor thieves and the victim, end in a very romantic way. Listened on Audible, the narration was of good quality. Very entertaining, intense and capturing.
March 19, 2020
I really enjoy many of the Audible Original recordings, which are less like books and more like performances of short stories. This little gem is one of my favorites so far, and I highly recommend it if you're looking for a very entertaining and funny way to spend a couple of hours listening in the car.
Narrated by Meg Ryan (who is terrific), this is the story of a man (Abe) and his female sidekick (Samantha) who are engaged in a somewhat nefarious, but also somewhat noble, organ harvesting scheme. Without giving away any spoilers, suffice it to say that the story is the tale of their botched operation in an unnamed city of Mexico, and the shenanigans that unravel in the aftermath.
Full of hilarious dialogue and witty characters that include Abe's girlfriend, Abe and Samantha's crime boss, and an hapless FBI agent, the recording is an engaging experience from start to end. This is one that is probably much better as an audio book than it would be on the printed page, so don't miss it if you want a a few good laughs on your drive.
Narrated by Meg Ryan (who is terrific), this is the story of a man (Abe) and his female sidekick (Samantha) who are engaged in a somewhat nefarious, but also somewhat noble, organ harvesting scheme. Without giving away any spoilers, suffice it to say that the story is the tale of their botched operation in an unnamed city of Mexico, and the shenanigans that unravel in the aftermath.
Full of hilarious dialogue and witty characters that include Abe's girlfriend, Abe and Samantha's crime boss, and an hapless FBI agent, the recording is an engaging experience from start to end. This is one that is probably much better as an audio book than it would be on the printed page, so don't miss it if you want a a few good laughs on your drive.
December 15, 2020
this was actually a lot more funny than I expected :) a lighthearted dark comedy with phenomenal actors, it’s a full cast audiobook, it was a short and entertaining story :) obviously completely ridiculous and over the top, but it’s done on purpose ;) I very much enjoyed it, but it’s definitely not gonna be for everyone and that’s ok :)
XOXO
A
XOXO
A
November 22, 2021
Uh, what the hell did I listen to? This was confusing and a little all over the place. It was hard to follow and the time jumps from past to present or from here to there just made this too difficult to sit back, relax and listen.
June 19, 2020
Loved the talented narration cast. The middle was a bit back and forth, but overall it was a cute, comically dark story.
April 6, 2023
I know this is a comedy but it was oddly fun considering how dark the subject matter was. And hey Meg Ryan as the narrator? Yes please!
December 17, 2024
I wish this worked for me more and it’s entirely because it’s a podcast. I’m sure this will sound crazy, but the audio just sounds so far away? Which of course makes it hard to listen to in the car.
Nonetheless, this was fun. The celebrity cast was really exciting and it was nice to hear some well known voices have some fun doing this.
Nonetheless, this was fun. The celebrity cast was really exciting and it was nice to hear some well known voices have some fun doing this.
April 6, 2022
This was a fun listen. I’ve been following Acker & Blacker since I stumbled upon the Thrilling Adventure hour podcast years ago.
The plot was light but the story had just the right blend of outlandish behavior and a grounding in some weird reality.
Fun cast made listening enjoyable.
The plot was light but the story had just the right blend of outlandish behavior and a grounding in some weird reality.
Fun cast made listening enjoyable.
March 19, 2020
PSA March 2020 This is a re-posting as the original audiobook, ratings and reviews were deleted in the 2020 Audible Original new purge by misinformed Goodreads librarians who are not following the Librarian Manual but instead basing their deletions on false information & opinions such as Audible Originals being "behind a paywall", "available only by subscription", "are podcasts" or "not books". There is nothing in the Librarian Manual that excludes these audiobooks, but for some reason, there is misinformation that leads some to believe that there is. Goodreads Authors are also supposed to be contacted prior to their books being NABed (ie. turned into NOT A BOOK) but it is unlikely that this policy in the Librarian Manual is even being followed. Also, due to Audible's exclusivity contracts on Originals, authors cannot go to print or ebook formats until after 6 months, at which point further editions may appear. This nuance about the possible appearance of print versions is not covered in the faulty Librarian Manual which adds to the confusion. Based on 2019's experience new postings and/or outlier editions of these audiobooks will appear that will allow you to restore your rating and review if you have written and saved it offline. Follow the ongoing debate about this issue at Why Audible Originals are being considered NOT A BOOK.
Original Review:
Unfunny and Distasteful
Review of the Audible Original audiobook edition (Jan. 30, 2020)
The subject matter of live organ theft is distasteful enough on its own to earn a "One Star" / "Did Not Like" rating, but the unfunny mindless back and forth banter here really sunk this supposed "light-hearted dark comedy."
It was actually shocking that fairly big-named actors such as Meg Ryan and Ed Begley Jr. would associate themselves with this project.
Cut and Run was one of the free Audible Originals available to Audible members for the month of February 2020. It is available to everyone for a standard price.
Original Review:
Unfunny and Distasteful
Review of the Audible Original audiobook edition (Jan. 30, 2020)
The subject matter of live organ theft is distasteful enough on its own to earn a "One Star" / "Did Not Like" rating, but the unfunny mindless back and forth banter here really sunk this supposed "light-hearted dark comedy."
It was actually shocking that fairly big-named actors such as Meg Ryan and Ed Begley Jr. would associate themselves with this project.
Cut and Run was one of the free Audible Originals available to Audible members for the month of February 2020. It is available to everyone for a standard price.
February 6, 2025
I listened to "Cut and Run" on Audible today, and it was just the lift I needed after the dark and intense read I tackled before it. The voice actors were a joy, with D’Arcy Carden being a standout for me. While the storyline wasn’t my absolute favorite, the lighthearted humor and catchy score added a nice touch. If you're looking for a quick escape from heavier material, this audiobook is a refreshing option!
March 12, 2020
Great performances and narration; mediocre story.
March 18, 2020
Great performances made this more interesting than the story itself.
October 10, 2022
Okay so this is my first audible experience and I have to admit I was not disappointed. It is about two hours and forty-five minutes which was the perfect amount of time that I needed while cleaning the house. I was firmly against listening to audiobooks because my mind usually wanders and I figured I would not be able to focus on it, but honestly I loved every second of the book. Cut and Run by Ben Acker is a comedy crime book voiced by well known actors and actresses which makes the listening experience both amusing and desired.
Cut and Run features Samantha Dugan and Abe Lally who partners in crime, figuratively and literally. Samantha, Sam, is the conwoman in their dynamic duo. Abe is a doctor trying to cure diabetes and doing the scheme in efforts to fund his research. He's the... retriever. Together, the best friends harvest kidneys from bad people, married men willing to cheat on their spouses with Sam. They then get a kidney removed from Abe, the kidney is then given to good people. Afterwards, they make sure the "donor" is taken care of, but not before they flee the scene of the crime. Sam and Abe simply "Cut and Run". It's all going fine, until Sam breaks the number one rule, she goes back to check on the victim. From there things get messy, secrets are revealed, proposals are made, crime lords are involved, and the feds are getting suspicious. We don't really need both kidneys anyways, so what's the big deal?
I'm not kidding this book had me cracking up. I was GEEKING. This book is hilarious. The voice actors are so entertaining. It is also SUPER SHORT. I guess if it were a paperback it would be a novella? I'm only upset because I want more. I want more of Abe and Sam. I want more of everyone in this book, every side character, minute character, all of it. Seriously, this was such an enjoyable book.
Cut and Run features Samantha Dugan and Abe Lally who partners in crime, figuratively and literally. Samantha, Sam, is the conwoman in their dynamic duo. Abe is a doctor trying to cure diabetes and doing the scheme in efforts to fund his research. He's the... retriever. Together, the best friends harvest kidneys from bad people, married men willing to cheat on their spouses with Sam. They then get a kidney removed from Abe, the kidney is then given to good people. Afterwards, they make sure the "donor" is taken care of, but not before they flee the scene of the crime. Sam and Abe simply "Cut and Run". It's all going fine, until Sam breaks the number one rule, she goes back to check on the victim. From there things get messy, secrets are revealed, proposals are made, crime lords are involved, and the feds are getting suspicious. We don't really need both kidneys anyways, so what's the big deal?
I'm not kidding this book had me cracking up. I was GEEKING. This book is hilarious. The voice actors are so entertaining. It is also SUPER SHORT. I guess if it were a paperback it would be a novella? I'm only upset because I want more. I want more of Abe and Sam. I want more of everyone in this book, every side character, minute character, all of it. Seriously, this was such an enjoyable book.
January 2, 2023
Free from audible and narrated by Meg Ryan... I had to give it a go!
This is a silly dark comedy focused on two best friends who also happen to be kidney thieves.
It is a full cast and made for audio, and I really liked that about it because it runs like a stage or TV production, but of course without the visuals. I guess this is the new version of the old "wireless show"!
At only a couple of hours it is a fun romp and the voice actors, including Meg Ryan, did a great job.
This is a silly dark comedy focused on two best friends who also happen to be kidney thieves.
It is a full cast and made for audio, and I really liked that about it because it runs like a stage or TV production, but of course without the visuals. I guess this is the new version of the old "wireless show"!
At only a couple of hours it is a fun romp and the voice actors, including Meg Ryan, did a great job.
October 1, 2023
Light, funny and fast paced. The story itself is pretty crazy – a Robin Hood type of comedy of errors, about a ring of kidney thieves who steal from the bad guys and give to the good guys. But if you can put that silliness aside, the production is polished, the sound effects add to the atmosphere, and the cast (including Meg Ryan) is great fun. Overall, I enjoyed this one!
May 19, 2022
3.5 rounded up to 4 because it made me laugh so much.
Abe and Samantha have been friends for years. Like all friends they get involved in each others lives, Sam is out to make cheating husbands pay and Abe is passionate about finding a cure for diabetes - how does this converge? Sam finds the cheating husbands and lure them to a hotel where Abe harvests their kidneys to enhance his testing.
A great short listen with a awesome cast.
Abe and Samantha have been friends for years. Like all friends they get involved in each others lives, Sam is out to make cheating husbands pay and Abe is passionate about finding a cure for diabetes - how does this converge? Sam finds the cheating husbands and lure them to a hotel where Abe harvests their kidneys to enhance his testing.
A great short listen with a awesome cast.
April 22, 2025
Loved this!! Quick listen, light and funny! Highly recommend!!
February 1, 2021
This was just quick and entertaining enough not to quit my read. I enjoyed that it was different at first. It was read like a play, by some of my favorites (Meg Ryan, D’Arcy Carden), which is what kept me with it. The never-ending witty banter was over the top thirsty for cheap laughs in cringe-worthy situations. Undecided if it was Rachel Bloom’s character, or performance that was too much for me... You might enjoy this book if you are a fan of the whimsy moments of Dexter, or anything related to NCIS. I am not a fan of any or either these.
March 2, 2021
Took me a long time to finish this short read because honestly it just... kinda sucked. The premise was interesting but the execution was obnoxious as hell. Every character had more or less the same personality, and it was just loud, quippy personality porn the whole time.
June 2, 2020
Goodreads deleted a bunch of Audible books thinking they were all podcasts. So I don't recall my original review but it was good and entertaining.
March 15, 2020
Super cheesy kinda cute.
March 31, 2020
Short and funny... super fast paced. Made me LOL quite a few times... perfect listen for while I was cleaning my office.
April 5, 2020
Great cast of voice actors for an ok story. Cute and short.
May 8, 2020
Good short and fun to have all the actors on board.
November 9, 2024
This was actually a delightful story. It is an audible original story that has a large cast playing various roles in a quirky story of vigilante organ thieves who steal kidneys from bad people so that they can find a cure for diabetes. Still with me? Yeah, it sounds macabre, to say the least, but it's actually a cute story about finding/managing love in the face of such a demanding job. Really. It's all sorts of ridiculous, but it's cute. Meg Ryan does a lovely job as the narrator of this story, and each actor playing roles in this production is marvelous. It's a quick story that feels more like an old fashioned radio theater production than a book. I can't do the story justice because it just sounds weird, but it was enjoyable. I might decide to listen to this one again someday so I can pay more attention to some of the details. I give it four stars. I really liked it.
March 22, 2024
Cut and Run is an Audible Original dramatic performance, with a full cast, including Ed Bagley Jr. and Meg Ryan. Meg Ryan is a fabulous narrator and she is well cast in this part; indeed it seemed the part had been written deliberately for her. I felt like Kathleen Kelly from You've Got Mail was reading to me and I l oved it. I would love to listen to more audiobooks performed by Meg Ryan. The other performance were also well done. The dark comedy was was entertaining, but I didn't particularly care for the characters or the story. Meg Ryan's narrator carried the story for me.
July 1, 2022
I got this audio many years ago when I had an Audible subscription. It was one of the free Audible Originals I could choose from for the month. One thing I do like about Audible Originals is that they are made and written to be listened to. There’s music and sound effects and different narration. It’s not quite like an audiobook being read from an actual book. It’s fun.
Anyway, this was a silly story. Short, sweet?, and funny. Lol. A group of friends steal people’s kidneys for extra money. It goes fine until the one gets the hots for their current victim who turns out to be an FBI agent. 😬
There were moments I laughed and moments I was annoyed by the characters. It was fine. 🤷🏻♀️
Anyway, this was a silly story. Short, sweet?, and funny. Lol. A group of friends steal people’s kidneys for extra money. It goes fine until the one gets the hots for their current victim who turns out to be an FBI agent. 😬
There were moments I laughed and moments I was annoyed by the characters. It was fine. 🤷🏻♀️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 521 reviews