Why Not Network?
If you didn't know it before, Succotash is an independent podcast, as are so many of the shows that you can find strewn across the internet. But it’s funny – I was asked not once but twice this past week by a couple of different podcasters what network we’re on and, when they found out we’re NOT part of a network, why aren’t we?
I don’t know, actually.
I approached a couple of networks fairly early on in our operation and there was little or no interest – I think, at the time, they really wanted shows that were pulling significant numbers to help bolster the network’s ratings. Now, of course, there are networks like the Wolfpop Network, which came out of the gate with shows that were brand new.
I’m not opposed to having this show on a podcast network. It would certainly keep me honest and having to maintain a strict release schedule. Plus we’d probably have sponsors and might even start bringing in a little money instead of having to pay it out every month. And there’d be added publicity, too.
I’m not going to start knocking on doors right now, though. I have to imagine most of the networks know who and what Succotash is by now. Maybe if we were a review show we’d be a hotter commodity but that’s not what we’re about – and THAT could be the problem. Networks want listeners for their shows so why would they carry a show that’s letting people know what comedy podcasts are out there in the world NOT on their network?
So, until further notice, Succotash remains a proudly solo podcast, and our main mission of letting people know about the wide variety of comedy shows that are out there is still very firmly in place. Feel free to show your support for our efforts to do so by rating and reviewing us on iTunes, giving us a “thumbs up” on Stitcher, “hearting” us on SoundCloud, Liking our Facebook page, and/or clicking the Donate button on our http://SuccotashShow.com homepage.
A Sound Experiment
Epi103 might sound a little different to those of you who have been listening to Succotash for a while. I'm giving an app called BossJock a try this time out, which is the equivalent of have a radio studio in your smartphone or tablet. The set-up is pretty simple and really applicable a show like ours, where we play a lot of clips.
I'm not going to wax too technical, but BossJock lets you load up audio clips of any length and they are available much like old-style tape cartridges ("carts") were in my old radio days. There's the ability to record through either the devices microphone or a plug-in mic of your choosing and there you are — all set up in your studio, with the controls at your fingertips.
The app give you a maximum of 15 "carts" with a phone and 35 with a tablet. I was using my iPad to carry my scripted rundown and my iPhone to record, but I could have just as easily switched. I'm used to assembling the show by mixing my voice tracks, music, and podcast clips after they're all laid out. SO it was interesting to do the whole thing on the fly with BossJock.
There were a few rough patches as I was getting used to moving in and out of the clips, and I didn't have enough carts to give myself a music bed under the TweetSack. So I did a little tinkering in GarageBand afterward. But I really had fun with the practice of putting everything together - essentially - in one sitting, while literally sitting in my car.
Coming Up In This Episode
In addition to our Boozin’ With Bill adventure and a classic Henderson’s Pants commercial, we have a double dose of our Burst O’ Durst segment with comedian/commentator Will Durst, and clips from the following podcasts: Artist’s Alley, The Big Cat Show, The Kimchi Chronicles, Making Ends Meet, The Pauly Shore Podcast Show, Taco Tuesday, and Tangentially Speaking — not necessarily in that order.
Plus, of course, we dip into the Tweetsack at the end of the show.
The Clips
This week for Splitsider.com and Huffington Post Entertainment, I reviewed The Pauly Shore Podcast Show. You can go read the review in either place by clicking the links above, but here are the short strokes:
Pauly Shore’s back and podcasting’s got
him…again. In his 40’s now, Shore still scores with his “perma-slacker” voice and
attitude, clearing needing the several members of his support team in the
studio to get him from point A to point B. Even the point of editing seems to
escape him at times, with Shore once needlessly recapping something that we
just heard happen (which had apparently been a while back in real time.)
Childhood friend and occasional acting rival David Arquette is his guest and
their chat is very loose, hilariously wandering from topic to topic, including
Arquette’s childhood, growing up with his acting siblings, life with Courtney
Cox, life without Courtney Cox, and how things are now with a three-year
relationship and an 8-month old son.
We recently featured a clip from The Big Cat Show with our old pal Lyonheart and I don’t like to repeat shows in quick succession, but Lyon does his show live on Thursday nights every week and he recently got a surprise caller. That’s pretty cool. Hannibal Burress just calling in. (Lyon, I think you could have parleyed that into a longer interview, though. Note to self: Don’t kick off an interview about talking smack about the star of the movie your guest is appearing in. Just a thought.) You can call into his show yourself every Thursday night at 7 PM East Coast time.
Our associate producer Tyson Saner grabbed a clip from the Artists Alley podcast, hosted by Merill Barr. His guest in this slice from this past December is Troy Conrad, the brains behind the hilarious Set List show, which makes comedians invent material on the spot based on bizarre premises that he pops up on a screen on stage. Here he reveals an upcoming twist to the premise.
I got a note from friend of Succotash Nigel Boydell, who listeners may know from the Uncle Arthur’s Bollocks and HMS Codcast podcasts. He says: Hi Marc! I have included a short clip from my latest venture. I have been recording a podcast with my co-host, Samantha Pett. The Kimchi Chronicles is an intercontinental project. Sam is an English teacher in Ulsan, South Korea. We get together every couple of weeks to record a podcast over Skype. Because of the 9 hour time difference, Sam is usually recording in the early hours, and is usually fairly, how should I say, lubricated by the time the recording ends. Kimchi is a staple food in Korea, hence the title, and soju is a cheap alcholic drink, hence the lubrication. They sent along the sample we're featuring in this episode of the show.
We recently featured a clip from Taco Tuesday with Podcast Dan and Adam Wolf and normally we’d wait a while before going back to the same well. But those guys are savvy enough to try out our new Hightail link for uploading clips directly to our show, so as a reward, we have another taste of Taco Tuesday.
Comedy Podcasters: If you'd like to upload a 3-5 minute MP3 clip directly to us, just use this link: http://www.hightail.com/u/Succotash.
Tyson has clipped us a sample of Making Ends Meet, a podcast where New Yorkers Max Ash and Tovah Silbermann talk to noobie comedians about their day jobs and how they can afford to be a comic in one of the most expensive cities in the country. In this samplage, the pair is talking with Sharron Paul.
From
the show's description on iTunes: Ever wanted to hang with a famous comedian,
dominatrix, health guru, author or Italian prince? Well, here's your
chance. In this clip from a recent episode, Dr. Christopher Ryan chats with guest Dan Piraro, the delightfully twisted artist behind the Bizarro cartoons.
All right, friends. That's what is in store for Epi103. Next time, Epi104 will be a Succotash Chats edition and our special guest will be Hal Lublin from The Thrilling Adventure Hour, back for his 3rd annual visit from when TAA was here at SF Sketchfest last weekend.
If you want to be our bestest friend, please take time out to Like us on Facebook, rate AND review us up on iTunes, heart us on SoundCloud, thumbs up us on Stitcher, buy our merch through the Succotashery, click our Donate button, and shop on Amazon by clicking on the banner at the top of the page on our homesite, http://SuccotashShow.com.
And thanks for passing the Succotash!
— Marc Hershon
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