Why Comedy Podcasts Are Really Booming. And MSM just doesn't get it.

Oh Mainstream Media (MSM) how we love you! And how you get it so very wrong sometimes.

Assumptions people make. Like that everyone works 9-5. In this day and age, it's simply not true. All types of people work all kinds of shifts, in every part of the country.

Read an article in the latest Entertainment Weekly (an article not on their website, btw): MSM: FAIL. about the growth in "comedy podcasts." Specifically featuring one of its biggest success stories: Marc Maron, and his "comedy podcast" known as "WTF!"

Here is the error in EW's logic: that only "comedy afficionados" are seeking out this podcast. That people are flocking to it because comedians are largely the ones being interviewed. Those comedy afficionados number 400,000 strong PER WEEK. Really, EW?

This logic didn't seem just slightly flawed to you?

Here, sad MSM, let's reframe the reality for you a bit.

Podcasts, comedy and otherwise, have been growing steadily since they surged on the scene in about 2005. There are THOUSANDS of them. Many video, most are audio.

Now it is true that some people known for being funny (Marc Maron, Kevin Pollak, Chris Hardwick, among others) have created some great podcasts that are worth listening to. But it's not because of the funniness, or the "comedy" aspect.

Here is the draw of audio podcasts, all of them: they remove the bullshit that MSM throws at us.

WTF! with Marc Maron is mostly phenomenally successful because he has an engaging personality, yes, but because he's having a conversation, no holds barred, with people you don't usually hear from. It's honest, it's open, it's REAL. That's why people are flocking to podcasts. More than any other reason.

EW, thick in its MSM morass and myopia, doesn't get that fundamental thing. They are compelling, in the way that honesty is. Refreshing to hear people talking about things they don't normally talk about: Drew Carey on The Nerdist podcast, chatting about his avatar in Second Life; Paget Brewster on Kevin Pollak's Chat Show about how she and Jon Hamm used to be known as "pilot killers"; and Louis CK on "WTF" somewhat chatting about comedy, but mostly "repairing a friendship."

It's much more listenable than any reality show. It's really truly real.

If you haven't listened, what are you waiting for? Get on that!

Miche's Favorite Podcasts (Comedy and Otherwise)
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1. Diggnation (video)
2. WTF with Marc Maron (audio)
3. Kevin Pollak's Chat Show (video)
4. The Nerdist (audio)
5. Keith & the Girl (audio, some video)
6. Beach Walks with Rox (video)
7. This Week in Tech (audio)
8. This Week in Media (audio)
9. More Hip Than Hippie (audio)
10. Zaldor's World (audio)

(and of course, don't forget to check out MY podcast, MicheBelz Hollywood. Thanks.)

MicheBelz Hollywood podcast

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Link to Chris Hardwick's book

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FOX: Raising Hope, the Gem of the Paley Fest 2010

I knew nothing about “Raising Hope” walking into the Paley Fest evening. Didn’t have much hope for it, either. In the end, it was the only show, over many nights, which elicited CHEERS from the crowds at the end.

Of all these shows featuring earnest handsome leads, Lucas Neff as Jimmy is the best of them. Created by the same talents which brought us the charming and quirky “My Name Is Earl” (Greg Garcia), “Raising Hope” is funny. Laugh out loud funny. The funniest of all these comedies paraded to us during Paley Fest.

I’ll let you discover the little gems on your own, but here’s the family you’ll be watching: the always amazing (and I predict an Emmy in her future right here and now) Martha Plimpton as the mom, Garret Dillahunt (whom you know from “Deadwood” and other dramas) is the dad. Cloris Leachman frequently takes her clothes off as the grandmother.

It’s sweet, it’s poignant, it’s damn funny. You must watch it. In fact, if you watch one thing you weren’t otherwise going to watch from the Paley Fest schedule, make it this one. It follows “Glee,” but it’s much funnier.

Did I mention there’s a baby? Normally, I hate babies, but this baby rocks. Watch it.

BOTTOM LINE: “Raising Hope” is the highlight of Paley Fest 2010 fall season.

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CBS: Mike and Molly Wins Hearts

So we who are viewing this Paley Center extravaganza are slogging through these selected dramas and comedies. Eh to this one. Eh to that one. I have to admit, the one I was most excited about, of all the shows presented was "Mike & Molly."

I've long admired Melissa McCarthy, who was the devoted friend of Lauren Graham's character on the many years of "Gilmore Girls." She was also the devoted friend on the recent Christina Applegate comedy, "Samantha Who?" (Are we seeing a pattern here?)

BOY, and I mean, BOY, am I excited to see her finally headlining her own show. She's long been an underrated talent. Billy Gardell, primarily known from the standup world, seems to be her match. A strong supporting cast includes Swoozie Kurtz.

The fat jokes may get tiresome after a while, but the pilot (with Chuck Lorre's influence) was a sparkling gem.

BOTTOM LINE: This is the one show I rushed home to program into my TiVo.

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CBS: Still Churning Out What Works

First up, the comedy that used to be called "Shit My Dad Says" when it was on the Internet; now, it's written as "$@#% My Dad Says," but pronounced as "BLEEP My Dad Says." *eyeroll*

You really almost can't go wrong with Shatner. Everyone loves Shatner. If there's a male to rival Betty White in popularity and longevity, it's Shatner. (However, her series, "Hot in Cleveland" on TV Land, is much funnier.)

In any case, this is pretty much a standard-issue comedy. Shatner plays irrascible, ornery dad, and Jonathan Sadowski plays the frustrated son. Will Sasso and Nicole Sullivan are in the mix.

BOTTOM LINE: Funny, but don't go out of your way for it.

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NBC Unveils Four Turkeys: First, Outsourced

Every year, we in LA are graced with unveiling of the new fall TV schedule at the Paley Center. Each network gets a night. I'm not going to all of them. Sadly, I'm attending most of them.

First up, NBC.

I admit. I have a bit of a chip on my shoulder about NBC. The whole Jay Leno-Conan O'Brien debacle still leaves a smarting feeling when I even hear the word "NBC." That, and it's firmly entrenched in fourth place. For good reason. "Outsourced" does nothing to alleviate that bad taste in my mouth.

Don't get me wrong. There are some good, funny actors on "Outsourced." But really, 16 million Americans are out of work. Are they really going to find it funny to see a show about those who took their jobs? Really?

I tried. I really tried to see the funny in this show. As the offensive stereotypes and racist insults flew by, I tried to see that, well, at least they were using a more diverse cast than they normally do on network TV. But no. As much as the moderator of tonight's events tried to put the spin on it as "at its core, it's just another workplace comedy," um, no. It isn't. This is no "The Office."

It's insulting to Indians (or as my ethnic-slurring friend calls them, "dot Indians, not feather Indians). It's insulting to Americans. They even throw in Australians. I'm waiting for the "shrimp on the barbie" jokes. Really, NBC. Haven't we moved past all this?

BOTTOM LINE: I tried to like "Outsourced." I still hated "Outsourced."

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