Succotash Epi9: A Visit With Kelly Carlin

Succotash is your Comedy Podcast Podcast and, as such, we feel it's our duty to keep stretching the definition of "comedy podcast" a bit more when we can. Succotash hit the road to interview this week's special guest, Kelly Carlin, who was kind enough to invite me into her home for a discussion about comedy, podcasts, and her late father, comedy legend George Carlin.

She's a smart, lively, funny, and fascinating personality, who hosts Waking From The American Dream, an internet radio show and podcast. Interestingly, we learn that she wasn't involved in the world of comedy very much while her dad was alive but, immediately following his passing, she found herself greeted by well-wishers of high status in the comedy community, who were anxious to make the only child of a comedy figurehead know that she was welcome to become part of this great extended family.

It's an interesting conversation, one which I've broken up over the hour-long episode and interspersed with a handful of clips from some comedy podcasts we've not featured yet:

• Affirmation Nation

As I mention in the show this week, Affirmation Nation is one of my new favorite p'casts. The installments are short and can be found daily over on Earwolf.com. Featuring Bob Ducca, there's a great lampooning of "feel good-ness" going on in each tasty bite of this offering. (Apologies to Bob, Seth Morris, and the Earwolf folks - I blew leaving the link info in the show this time! I'll mention it in Epi10. In the meantime...)

www.Earwolf.com and iTunes

• Cinematic Method

Funny concept and follow-thru for a show by a quintet of guys. They watch movie trailers and, from those alone, attempt to predict the film's ratings on the Rotten Tomatoes site. Talk about meta! In this clip, the guys examine recent release Fright Night.

www.CinematicMethod.com and iTunes

• Comedy-A-Go-Go

Friend of Succotash Dave Nelson and his p'cast are back on the show via this clip featuring a taste of his interview with actor/comedian TJ Miller. Dave's a touchstone for podcast and comedy happenings in the Midwest, and we're glad he asked if we'd revisit his program.

www.dvnelson.podvean.com and iTunes

• The Mad Ranters

An "open forum where a 'nothing is sacred' approach is taken" is how the Mad Ranters' website talks about their podcast. Angus and his crew take everything to task and leave no stone unturned along the way. We're just giving you a taste: Angus ranting solo about drivers in the middle lane.

www.TheMadRanters.com and iTunes

So we're a little short on the clip count this week to better accommodate our interview with Ms. Carlin. But you'll also catch another Burst O' Durst with regular contributor and political comedian extraordinaire Will Durst (www.WillDurst.com and @WillDurst on Twitter), plus we dip into the Tweet Sack and have another new ad from the folks at Henderson's Pants.

Lastly, we've received zero calls on the new Succotash Hotline at (818) 921-7212, which leads me to believe everyone's incredibly happy with what we're doing, nobody's listening, or you all wish that it was toll-free. Regardless, if you're listening to the show and could do us the great honor of going up to iTunes to rate it ANd review it, we'll be your bestest friend ever.

Hope you enjoy this week's serving and that you'll do your best to pass the Succotash!

— Marc Hershon

Succotash Epi8: What Duvet Said What?

Episode 8 is up (in record time - just was laying it down at Studio P last night - way to go, engineer/producer Joe Paulino!) and not only do we have a whole new passle o' podcasts but this epi features special guest co-host Rob Celli. He's one half (combined with LA-based partner Jason Duplissea) of popular podcast What Duvet Said. (WDS isn't a comedy podcast, per se, but the hosts have a sly sense of humor that touches everything that they talk about during the course of their weekly hour.)

We kick things off with a quick trip through the Tweet Sack (the Succotash version of a mailbag feature), and unveil the new Succotash Hotline number: 1 (818) 921-7212. Then Rob and I launch into a slew of podcast clips, most of them chosen by Rob. (The first pair of segments are features from What Duvet Said — hear Rob and Jason's podcast at www.WhatDuvetSaid.com or grab it from iTunes.) The rest of podcasts, in order of appearance…

• Good Clean Fun
Rob cites this show as one of the inspirations for he and Jason to take their personal conversations online for the world to hear. The hosts of Good Clean Fun, Jasper and Mike, live halfway across the country from each other but that doesn't keep them from convening weekly.
www.rockandrollgeek.com and iTunes

• Gee & Jay Radio Show
The #1 podcast in Belfast? It is to hear these two mates talk about it. It might take a little while to get the hang of listening to their thick Irish brogues (at least to an unpracticed Yank's ear!) Plus it's a kick to hear that Google Plus is getting a workout overseas at the same time as in the States.
www.GeeAndJayShow.com and iTunes

• S & M Rants Podcast
From the website: "“The S&M Rants Podcast is a weekly podcast where Shane Birley and Monica Hamburg talk about weird and amusing stuff. Want to find out more about Chewbacca sex fantasies, Japanese toilets and bad erotica? Wondering who the fucktard of the week is?” In this clip (our last 'duo hosted' show of this edition) the two kick around a news story about a dude who tried to have a prostitute arrested for not putting out to his satisfaction.

www.shanesworld.ca/podcast/the-sm-rants and iTunes

• The Jimmy Dore Show
A Succotash favorite, Jimmy Dore and his panel of guests (Mike McCrae, Frank Conniff, Paul Gilmartin, and Robert Yasamura) enjoy taking a comedic bite out of political and pop culture figures.
www.JimmyDoreComedy.com and iTunes

• Comedy Bang Bang
Guest co-host Rob Celli brings in a clip from another show we like hearing from! Scott Aukerman has consistently has great comedic guests and hyperweird drop-in characters. This segment features a mini-reunion of the director (David Wain) and a couple of the cast (Paul Rudd, Ken Marino) of the movie Wet Hot American Summer, released 10 years ago.

www.Earwolf.com and iTunes


• The Pod F. Tomkast
Avant garde comedian Paul F. Tompkins hosts this imaginative show, performed in front of a live audience. Definitely an experience worth catching a full download of sometime!

www.paulftompkins.com and iTunes

• Comedy Accident
I was happy to feature this clip, provided by the sketch group of the same name from Chicago. In this segment, they have a visit with sketch and improv vets Susan Messing and Greg Holliman.

www.ComedyAccident.com and iTunes

We close out Epi8 with our regular feature, Burst O' Durst, provided every edition by San Francisco premiere political comedian Will Durst. (For more Durst, visit his site at www.WillDurst.com and follow him on Twitter @WillDurst.)

So download a helping from this week's stash, tell your friends and don't forget to pass the Succotash!

— Marc Hershon

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Succotash Epi7 - Nuthin' But Podcasts!

We're back. Vacation break over, me, Joe Paulino and the rest of the Succotash crew is together again and rocking Studio P in Sausalito.

Episode 7 features no guests or interviews but we DO have clips from eight comedy podcasts, two Bursts O' Durst with comedian Will Durst and Where's The Coffee?, an original tune by our musical director Scott Carvey. (Listen to this episode for information about when you can expect to hear — if our plans hold up — both Scott and his brother Dana (do the math) live in the studio in an episode in the near future!)

Here's what we've got in store this time...

• Burst O' Durst (x2)

A double dose of political comedian Will Durst in this edition. Catch Will at his home site at http://WillDurst.com or on Twitter as @WillDurst. 

• The Apple Sisters

One of podcasting's fastest rising shows, Kimmy Gatewood, Rebekka Johnson and  Sarah Lowe are The Apple Sisters, bring their 1940's flare with a 21st century sensibility to the webwaves. Guest Jason Ritter joins them in this clip. Get more at http://TheAppleSister.com or on iTunes. 

• Chris Porter's General Store

Comedian Chris Porter, a finalist on Season 4 of Last Comic Standing, rants a bit about obesity and wonders why people in Texas can even be fat. Load up on him at http://pantswise.com/generalstore or on iTunes. 

• Nobody Likes Onions

So says host and comic Patrick Melton, who's joined by comedian Ryan Stout, who leads the discussion off into what a bad gig can be like...and can you recover? If you like what you hear, go get yourself a full helping at http://nobodylikesonions.com or iTunes. 

• Comedy Buffet

What I can tell you is that the Comedy Buffet guys have a couple of dudes (Jason and Jesse) from Van Full Of Candy on their show where, in this clip, they joke about oversized food and diabetes. (What I can also tell you is that I'm a big, giant goober. In the podcast, I dress the CB boys down for not ID'ing themselves. Next time I'll read the email someone sends in all the way through. Michael Powell hosts the show, joined this time around by usual suspects Matt Bernier and Don Buley.) Have yourself a good ol' time over at http://TheComedyBuffet.com or iTunes.

• Judge John Hodgman

If you don't know who John Hodgman is, you've no one to blame but yourself. He's the PC in the PC and Mac commercials. He's a correspondent on The Daily Show. And, well, he's John Hodgman! On his podcast, which is patterned much like the old People's Court on TV, he hears "legal" cases of strange and dubious merit and then rules on them. In our clip, he sounds off after hearing some letters by listeners with questions. Hear the full stories at http://maximumfun.org or iTunes. 

• Somebody And Me

A couple of guys from Chicago, Patrick O'Rourke and Rob Gregory, welcome guests Carley Moseley and Andy Kushnir from the sketch group Jeremy. In this segment, they try to get a fix on exactly what a hipster is all about. Hear more at http://somebodyandme.com or iTunes. 

• The Unoffendables

Comic Tom Rhodes is joined here by Lou Angelwolf and Dana Gibson along with guest John Fugelsang. In the clip we have, John talks about his religion-flavored upbringing and how it helpd to shape his early comedy. There's more in store at http://trr.libsyn.com or iTunes. 

• What Duvet Said

Jason Duplissea and Rob Celli sliced out their own clip and sent it along, entitling it "The Breast of Duvet". In the segment, they examine a news story in which a women fended off police with gouts of her own breast milk. Tasty stuff. Want more? http://whatduvetsaid.blogspot.com or iTunes. (And if you want even more WDS, I'm hoping to have Rob Celli in the studio with me for Epi8 as my special guest co-host!)

As you can see, Succotash Epi7 is stuffed with delicious podcastery. In addition, our booth announcer Bill Heywatt has a bit of a meltdown in studio (we're also featuring his unique spin on the classic drink, the Snowshoe), and we have a new commercial from our favorite sponsor, Henderson's Pants.

If you'd like, follow us on twitter @SuccotashShow, Like us at our Facebook page (just search for "Succotash Show" on fb), or drop us a line at marc@SuccotashShow.com!

Until next time, be kind, rewind and, as always, pass the Succotash!

— Marc Hershon

BONUS! Succotash Epi6.5 Featuring The Complete Rick Overton!

With engineer/producer Joe Paulino away on vacation for a couple of weeks, I didn't want the hungry Succotash listener to be without, so we're offering up a second helping of Epi6's special guest Rick Overton!

This bonus episode features my interview with Rick in its entirety, which is almost 20 minutes longer than the original airing. There's more about Rick's background, and us talking about Vortex, the sci-fi action script that he and I optioned but never got made.

Epi6.5 contains no comedy podcast clips, commercials, or anything other than Rick and I yakking it up. We'll be back to business as usual with Epi7 in a week or so. Hope you enjoy our version of a summertime book at the beach in the meantime!

Until next time, please be so kind as to pass the Succotash!

Cheers,
Marc Hershon

Succotash Epi6 w/Special Guest Rick Overton!

When I first started Succotash back in April, I figured it would be just little' ol' me and a pile o' podcast clips. But comedy friends keep popping up and it just seems right to make room for them on the show whenever there's a chance. Episode 6 is no exception, as standup/improvisor/actor extraordinaire Rick Overton was in town to play with Mark Pitta (guest co-host of Epi5 of Succotash) & Friends at the 142 Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley, CA.

Not only is Rick an act bordering on legend status amongst his peers (and a goodly number of civilians as well), but he's a longtime friend of yours truly and was happy to kick back in his hotel room before the show and chat it up about his life and times behind and around the microphone stand. This will be a treat for the comedy nerds out there, as well as those who will doubtless recognize him from his many guest starring roles in film and on TV.

A second treat we have for you in this epi is an actual song, Business End, by our music director Scott Carvey. I've gotten a number of comments about Scott's excellent theme for our show — here's a chance to hear him strut his stuff without me walking all over his notes.

AND we have clips, too! Comedy podcast clips from near and far, picked fresh and played for your amusement. This week Succotash samples:

• Mike And Tom Eat Snacks

Michael Ian Black and Tom Cavanagh welcome their first guest to the snack table: Late Night with David Letterman executive producer Rob Burnett.

• Radio Rubber Room

Dan Anderson, Derrick Vara, and Chris Manzelli open their live music & sketch comedy studio up to hip hop artist Black Liquid.

• The Sal & Angelo Podcast

San Francisco comedians Sal Calanni and Angelo Lorenzetti bring in guest Tony Camin, a comedian who started in San Francisco but is based now out of New York.

• Sklarbro Country

Featuring comedians Jason Sklar and Randy Sklar, their podcast is heavily sports-influenced and pretty damned funny. (And, if it wasn't for the fact they sometimes finish each other's sentences, you'd never know that they're not just brothers but identical twin brothers.)

We're a little light on clips this week, but we more than make up for it with the Rick Overton interview. But there was even more interview than we had show for - so expect to see uploaded soon a special Succotash Epi 6.5 which will be the Overton interview in its entirety!

I want to thank the Friends o' Succotash who have been tweeting us up on Twitter (we're @SuccotashShow), Liking us on Facebook, and rating us on iTunes! We've also been getting suggestions to check out more comedy podcasts we've never heard of before, so look for new blood in the coming episodes.

For now, though, kick back, download and enjoy!

Pass the Succotash,

Marc Hershon

Succotash Epi5 with Guest Co-host Mark Pitta!

Although there was an episode in between this one and Epi3, featuring guest co-host Dana Carvey, I felt we couldn't have another edition of Succotash, the Comedy Podcast Podcast, without getting funny comedian, show producer and longtime friend Mark Pitta into the studio. Part of the reason is that he's a fledgling podcaster just like me and he's also damned funny. The other reason part was because Dana and I had a bit of fun at his expense during the show and it only seemed right to have him to show there were no hard feelings and so everyone would know that the hazing was just a goof.

Mea culpa accomplished.

Mark brought in several clips from podcasts he's heard and likes, so not only did we get a little insight into the man who created and runs the 6+ years-old Mark Pitta & Friends at the 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley, California, but it's fun to see who makes a good solid laughmaker laugh...and why.

This epi also marks the debut of a Burst o' Durst — specially-tailored clips featuring the insightful witful musings of top-flight political comedian and friend-of-Succotash Will Durst. Our friend will be supplying the show with his comedic splashdowns for a long time to come.

One thing I neglected to do (it seems I'm always forgetting something) was to tag all of the clips with where to go to get some more of the same. Sorry about that, podcasters! You should know by know that most of the p'casts can be had through iTunes, but it's fun to check out the websites of these funny folks, too, in order to find out more about them, when they have live appearances scheduled, and more. Not to worry - I've included those sites in this blog piece. Just click on the show titles below to be whisked there in an instant!

Here's what's cooking on Succotash this time around...

• After Hours with Mark Pitta

Mark chats with comedy legend Mort Sahl.

• The David Feldman Comedy Podcast

David Mamet discovers he's a Conservative...and is rewriting accordingly.

• Will Durst on Medicare & Weinergate

• Jay & Silent Bob Get Old

Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes on hearing that Osama Bin Laden was killed.

• The Joe Rogan Experience (3:37)

Joe and guest Al Madrigal talk about dealing with an audience that more tuned into technology than the show.

• This Week with Larry Miller

Larry talks about how little he knew about sex and women.

• FitzDog Radio with Greg Fitzsimmons

Greg plays a game called Talk Your Way Out of It with his staff.

• Comedy Bang Bang

Scott Aukerman's guest, John Mulaney, is a writer for SNL. He talks about the Stephan character and Law & Order.

For those listeners who may be fans of our regular sponsor, Henderson's Pants, we have a new spot in this epi featuring, for the first time, the Henderson's Pants Sketch Players. And thanks to our musical director Scott Carvey for supplying some spiffy new "incidental music" which you can hear behind our chatter during this edition of Succotash. (And I promise that, next time, we're going to feature an actual song from Mr. Carvey's repertoire!) 

Joe Paulino and his Studio P ("The Home of The Hit!") deserves recognition for, once again, making the show sound so very pro and bringing it in at exactly one hour. To the second. Kudos!

We're going to start dipping into the ol' emailbag next epi, so if you've got comments or suggestions for podcasts we should give a listen to, send 'em along to marc@SuccotashShow.com. And if you're a potential sponsor looking for a smart new way to catch the attention of today's idea demographic, we'd be happy to talk to you about throwing a few nickels our way. Drop us a line and let's make something happen!

We'll probably get a "Donate" button up on the site soon, for any nice listeners who want to help us keep this train rolling. But, even if you don't spend a dime for all of our hard-spent time, please jump up to iTunes and give us a rating. Maybe even shave off a friendly comment like kindly listener Ed Wallick did (Thanks, Ed!)

That's about it. Don't forget to pass the Succotash!

Cheers,
Marc

Succotash In The News

This article appeared in the May 25, 2011, edition of the Half Moon Bay Review weekly newspaper: