Five People Who Should Be Podcasting
Comedy podcasting is a beautiful thing. It's the second coming of the radio golden age. Not since the days of Little Orphan Annie have our ears feasted as they do now. And yet, my hunger will not be sated! Some of the funniest people on Earth have taken it upon themselves to fill me with laughter on a weekly basis. And I thank them from my very soul. Yet, there are those who refuse to answer the siren song of sweet lady pod. I compiled a list of five such offenders. I've also pitched a show idea or two, so there are no excuses.
Rob Corddry
The man hardly needs an introduction. If the only credit to his name was “creator of Childrens Hospital,” it would be more than enough to demand your attention. Comedy podcast fans already heard him in the wild. I personally listened to his guest spots on Comedy Bang! Bang!, WTF with Marc Maron and Fitzdog Radio. My favorite attribute of Corddry's is his ability to say horrible things with conviction. My idea for his podcast capitalizes on this trait.
The Pitch: It's called, Rob Corddry Argues With... and the blank is filled in with the name of episode's guest. At first look, Corddry would appear to be yet another comedian chatting with his peers. In reality he would be playing the world's worst interviewer. Not only would he be the devil's advocate, but he would go out of his way to insult and belittle his longtime friends and colleagues. I'm not interested in another interview podcast. I want Rob Corddry to make people cry.
Maria Bamford
Photo by Celeste EcholsI don't laugh longer, or more consistently than when Bamford is on stage. Her effortless use of characters and ability to subvert expectation make her a comedic force always worth watching. A great example of her character work can be heard on this early episode of Comedy Bang! Bang! and her candid conversation with Marc Maron makes her episode of WTF one of my absolute favorites.
The Pitch: It's called Waking Up With Maria Bamford. Each morning Bamford records her earliest thoughts. Perhaps she recalls a dream, talks through some anxiety or even describes her preferred method of egg poaching. The bottom line: everything Maria Bamford says is interesting. I'm just requesting she share her mornings with us. Or at least a prerecorded version of those mornings. I understand it sounds a tad voyeuristic, but that doesn't mean it's a bad idea.
Thomas Lennon & Ben Garant
Successful screenwriters and comedic performers, Lennon and Garant will someday rule Hollywood, if they don’t already. Until then, they should be podcasting. Co-creators of The State, Viva Variety and Reno 911!, creating a great podcast would be an easy bet for the duo. This is further evidenced by their joint appearance on The Sound of Young America and this recent episode of Doug Loves Movies. Both are hilarious. Yet, it's their career as screenwriters that could set them apart from the pack.
The Pitch: Each week, Lennon and Garant regale the audience with tales of Selling Out - the show's title. Anyone who has heard them talk about their Hollywood career knows the dichotomy of shame and pride they feel about the films they've written. Herbie: Fully Loaded may not be high art, but it still takes hard work to get a movie made. Their recently released Writing Movies for Fun and Pofit is the starting off point for this show. Their insight into the film industry, coupled with their self-deprecation would no doubt result in a show worth a listen.
Dave Foley
Some of my greatest childhood memories include watching Kids In The Hall and News Radio with my dad. This is, in no small part, due to the input of my favorite Canadian, Dave Foley. I'm sad to admit he fell off my radar for a while, that is, until his recent appearance on WTF. Now he's back and he's finally trying his hand at stand up! Why not give podcasting a shot? I cannot imagine a world in which Dave Foley is a bad broadcaster. I can't, and I won't.
The Pitch: In this alternate reality, scripted podcast, Dave Foley has decided to become the world’s most polite bounty hunter. With the help of his best friend, a talking dog voiced by Rob Riggle, he'll track down and catch the USA's most dangerous bounty heads armed with nothing more than his wit. Criminals of all persuasion are not match for Dave Foley: Bounty Guy.
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 8:15PM 
