Greetings Internet folk!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, isn’t it?
I of course mean the time of year end list making!
Not Christmas.
Who cares about that?
Nobody over the age of 11!
Am I right?
I’m not.
Anyway.
In the spirit of list making, I am here to present you with a list, what I believe, are 6 comedy themed podcasts that you should be listening to.
Now, I’ll be honest: not every one of these podcasts are for everyone. They just make me laugh hard, and I think are at least worth checking out. If nothing else, many of them will have episodes with people you have heard of, and would be great jumping on points to see how you react to them. I’ll also be giving recommendations about episodes I think are great jumping on points, or just downright fun.
Also, I don’t have the time to listen to all the podcasts I’m at least interested in, and may not mention ones you think are awesome. I didn’t mention some the I think are awesome, only based on the fact that I don’t listen to every episode. These are the shows I refuse to miss every week.
If this is the case, just use the comments to tell me what a n00b I am, and what I missed.
I’d like to think this can be a community.
Of hate.
Or something like that.
So, without further ado, in no particular order here are my FAVORITE COMEDY PODCASTS OF 2011:
Doug Loves Movies
(Almost) every week, at the UCB Theater in Los Angeles, Doug Benson (best known for being a stoner comimc) hosts a live podcast recording where he has his friends on to talk about what movies they are seeing (though it is not uncommon for the conversation to get derailed in other directions) and play what Doug describes as an “arcane movie trivia” game named for film critic Leonard Maltin. The game is essentially Name that Tune, but instead of lines from a song, contestants bid on how many names it will take for them to guess what movie is being described, from the lowest billed, according to Leonard Maltin, to the top.
The real fun of the show comes from the guests Doug has on the show. TJ Miller has a tendency to derail conversation and gameplay to humorous effect (which frustrates Benson to no end, since his show is taped in the hour before the live Comedy Bang Bang show, so they are working against the clock). Edgar Wright (director of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Scott Pilgrim vs the World) has a knowledge of movies unparalleled to almost anyone (which honestly shows in his directing). Paul F. Tompkins can come off a bit smug. Not to mention Anthony Jeselnik, Jon Hamm, Adam Scott, and so many more.
This is the only podcast I put everything I’m listening to on hold to listen to because it is just so much fun.
Episodes not to be missed this year:
November 14 featuring characters Cake Boss (Tompkins), El Chupacabra (Nick Kroll), and Don Dimello (Andy Daly); September 4, 5 recorded from the Bumbershoot festival featuring (1) Scott Aukerman, Amy Schumer, Rory Scovel, and Valient Himself (2) Anthony Jeselnik, Wayne Federman, Kyle Kinane, and Big Irish Jay Hollingsworth (3) Eugene Mirman, Paul F. Tompkins, Kurt Metzger, and Sean Jordan; August 24 featuring Zach Galifianakis, Nick Swardsen, Marc Maron, and Matt Mira; and August 5 featuring Aziz Ansari, Reuben Fleischer, Paul Scheer, and Rob Huebel. And that’s all just from the last four months. Episodes can be found on iTunes and at Doug Loves Movies.
Nerdist
Chris Hardwick, along with Jonah Ray and Matt Mira, host one of the most interesting podcasts in the comedy section of iTunes, for my money. They release two episodes a week: an episode featuring a guest and a “Hostful” episode, with just the 3 guys talking. More than any other show I listen to, you genuinely get the feeling that you are friends with these three guys, and just get to be a fly on the wall for their highly interesting conversations. Earlier guests on the show are often friends of Hardwick, though lately, as the Nerdist brand grows more and more popular, people like JJ Abrams (on the episode that dropped this very day), the current cast of Doctor Who, and the men behind the brilliant comedy Black Dynamite.
The show is so popular, BBC America produced a 30 minute television special, which did so well that a handful of hour long episodes have been commissioned for the next year. As I said earlier, the show is just plain fun. And before you go thinking this show is all seriousness and discussion of nerdery, fret not. The fact that the three hosts are all comedians definitely brings the funny, not to mention brings out the sense of humor in the guests. And the shows can go in such interesting directions (Hear Dave Attell discuss vintage porn! Tom Wilson who played Biff in the Back to the Future Trilogy discussses being an object of pop art! Ben Folds plays music live! And more!)
Episodes not to be missed this year:
JJ Abrams; Jenny Wade; John Hodgman; Ben Folds; Tom Lennon and Ben Garant; Rifftrax guys, Kevin Pereira, and Judah Friedlander Live at SDCC 2011; Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, and Wil Wheaton Live at SDCC 2011; Neil Gaiman; Simon Pegg; Robert Kirkman; Patton Oswalt; Damon Lindelof; Jimmy Fallon; Black Dynamite Panel; Brad Meltzer; Wil Wheaton; Colin Hanks; Zach Galifianakis; Kevin Smith. Episodes can be downloaded on iTunes and at the Nerdist Website.
Comedy Bang Bang (Comedy Death-Ray Radio)
Scott Aukerman hosts Comedy Bang Bang (formerly called Comedy Death-Ray Radio until episode 103), which could best be described as an experiment in silliness. Extended character bits and improv games are weekly staples, as the show takes the “Yes, and…” style of improvisation to a whole new level. Frequent segments include Jukebox Jury (where guests listen to listener submitted “comedy” songs, which almost always end in frustration for everyone invloved), What Am I Thinking? (where participants pair off count down and try to say the same word or phrase (this is a terrible description of this game)), Fortunately Unfortunately (where stories are told one line at a time starting by alternating “fortunately” and “unfortunately”), Plugs (which Aukerman insists on calling the most popular part of the show, where guests plug upcoming appearances), and of course Would You Rather? (where contestants are given a “Would you Rather…?” scenario and ask Aukerman questions to figure out which answer is best for them, going to crazy depths of hilarity).
Must listen episodes feature appearances by Paul F. Tompkins, Andy Daly, and James Adomian playing some of the funniest, most insane characters you might ever hear. Andy Daly is especially noteworthy for having characters who primarily just failed attempts to kill themselves or are on their way to do so for some insane reason. And speaking of characters, they don’t come much better than Seth Morris’ recurring Bob Ducca, the ex-stepfather of Aukerman who is, to put it lightly, a giant sad sack. Jessica St. Clair’s Marissa Whompler is a 15 year-old high school student interning at the show, but constantly grossed out by these adult men when she forces her way on to the show. Parks and Recreation writer Harris Wittels frequently stops by to share “Harris’ Phone (Foam) Corner”, which are basically jokes he put on his phone that were to bad to share anywhere else. Jon Hamm, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Paul Scheer, and Rob Huebel always bring their A-game as well, and constantly delight.
Episodes not to be missed this year:
Mayor of Hollywood featuring Andy Daly and Jason Mantzoukas; National Pleasure featuring Paul Scheer, Nick Swardson, and Brody Stevens; Shanghaied by Irene featuring Zach Galifianakis, Paul F. Tompkins, and Yo La Tengo; Farts and Procreation featuring Adam Scott, Harris Wittels, and Chelsea Peretti; Andi Callahan, RN featuring Gillian Jacobs and Andy Daly; When I Go to Queens… featuring Todd Glass and Jessica St. Clair; Pussy CPR featuring James Adomian, Rob Corddry, and Erinn Hayes; Somethin for Daddy featuring Patton Oswalt and Andy Daly; Can I Catch a Ride featuring Jon Hamm and Seth Morris; Dip Didda Dip Dow featuring Andy Daly and Ben Schwartz; And The Oscar Goes To… featuring James Adomian and Reggie Watts. Episodes can be downloaded on iTunes and at the Earwolf Website.
How Did This Get Made?
Do you love terrible movies? Do you enjoy making fun of them? If so, then this is the show for you! Every week Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, and Jason Mantzoukas (who is not on Twitter) are joined by a guest to question the logic in terrible movies. One of the most fun things to listen to is the increasing frustration of the hosts as they dig deeper and deeper into the plot holes and questionable occurrences in the movies.
The thing is, they really do seem to enjoy these movies (well, at least most of them), and they are at least amused in their frustration. The only movie they have really come away from saying they genuinely liked was Fast Five because of the levels of insanity the movie leaps to. From kids movies to adaptations of sci-fi novels/religious texts, no genre is safe.
One of the best things about the podcast is the featured movies are, for the most part, recent, or at least easily accessible thanks to Netflix, so you can do your research and join in the frustration. Though, for many, viewing before you listen is not required, they will certainly warn you when your viewing will be rewarded to some degree (true, you won’t get those hours of your life back, but you will at least get some good laughs out of the podcast), and you can join in on the frustration!
Episodes not to be missed this year:
Superman 3 Live with Damon Lindelof and Jack O’Halloran (2 Parter!); The Room featuring Greg Sestero and Steve Heisler; Punisher: War Zone featuring Patton Oswalt and Lexi Alexander; The Wicker Man featuring Jonah Ray; The Smurfs featuring Paul F. Tompkins; Fast Five featuring Adam Scott; Sucker Punch featuring Chelsea Peretti; Old Dogs featuring Casey Wilson. Episodes can be downloaded on iTunes and at the Earwolf Website.
Mike Detective
Comedian Rob Huebel stars this serialized show as Mike Detective, unlicensed and uninsured private eye, and the results are hysterical. One running gag features Detective’s inability to remember any movie aside from Taken starring Liam Neeson. Episodes feature guest appearances as Mike Detective works his way through solving one big case running through the first season. The mystery isn’t so much the important thing here as the escalating insanity of the case.
It is difficult to say much more about the show. Episodes run under 10 minutes, and are filled with hilarity. Don’t jump around with this one. Just listen straight through. It will not take you very long.
Episodes can be downloaded on iTunes and at the Earwolf Website.
The Pod F. Tompkast
Paul F. Tompkins hosts this recording of night time on the Internet that is broken into four recurring segments woven together by Tompkins freestyle talking.
The first segment is “The Great Undiscovered Project” where Tompkins brings together characters he perfected on Comedy Bang Bang to discuss making the greatest movie ever. I mean, look at the people involved: Gary Marshall, Ice T, Cake Boss, Mr. Brainwash, John Lithgow, John C. Riley, Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber and more. Something in the making of this movie went wrong, and all evidence of the film was erased, save these audio recordings submitted by an unnamed party. The characters all have their own bizarre quirks as Tompkins portrays them, and seeing the insanity ratchet up is the real fun here.
The second segment is a recording from Tompkins’ weekly Paul F. Tompkins Show recorded at Largo in Los Angeles. The show is essentially a variety show featuring Tompkins and his friends performing sketches, often based around the closest holiday, as evidenced in the podcast. These segments are genuinely fun.
The third segment is a recorded conversation between Tompkins and comedian Jen Kirkman, most likely best known for being in the original Drunk History on Funny or Die. The stories from her life are amusing, but the real fun comes from Tompkins making interjecting questions about circumstances and such. And after this is Paul F. Tompkins Comes to Your Town, where Tompkins plugs upcoming shows.
The only real issue with this show is because it is so heavily scripted in the Great Undiscovered Project, that it can often throw off the schedule of episodes being released, though Tompkins definitely does what he can to make the time between more bearable by releasing Extrasodes.
This is another one that is best listened to from the first episode on. Episodes can be downloaded on iTunes and Here.
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So, there you have it. My favorite podcasts from the last year. I hope you check them out and enjoy them. And, as I said earlier, feel free to list your own recommendations in the comments
Have a great week, and stop back by next Monday for my rundown of my favorite television shows of the year.
I didn’t read your podcast synopsis, just what was on the list because for the most part we’re listening to the exact same things. Its super interesting to see where comedy is going and how podcasting seems to be getting more popular in a time where podcasting seems as outdated as latin 101. The interesting thing however seems to be the ease of the craft means twenty somethings can retire their dreams of joining a brand and reignite the flames and desires for stardom by simply talking into a usb microphone and interviewing easily accessible small time celebrities.
I live doug loves movies and on the december 5th episode, I think, with jezzelnick and farming you can hear doug mispronounce my name as he calls me (a.k.a. julian “sally”) a shithead.
Im typing from a phone … fishing means garlin like Jeff garlin… spelling? From curb your enthusiasm
Interesting list, although Marc Maron’s WTF tops my list.
I definitely enjoy WTF. It just isn’t required listening for me every week. I’ll pick and choose episodes to listen to. I strictly went with shows I refuse to miss every week.