A Return to Normalcy: Podcasters Back in the Studio

The last two episodes of the podcast “Comedy Bang! Bang!” have been in studio. A week ago host Scott Aukerman had JB Smoove on via Zoom, but Will Hines and Carl Tart were in studio. This week all three guests, Paul F Tompkins, Dan Lippert and Monika Smith were all there. Things seem to be going back to normal.

At first this was a shock. I couldn’t believe they were doing it back in person. Then I remembered the new CDC guidelines, and I assume all of the people who have been in studio have been vaccinated. I know for a fact Carl Tart is vaccinated because he’s said so on other pods. That means they can gather maskless. It is safe. I’ve done this with some family members since I was vaccinated. I went and recorded a different pod with a vaccinated buddy of mine yesterday, that will be out soon by the way. So after the initial shock, I decided to listen and enjoy.

Boy have they been great. Now that things are opening up, of which I’m pretty anxious about, but that’s a different blog coming to you all soon, vaccinated people are allowed to hang out, and the comedy podcast world is reaping the rewards. The past two “CBB”‘s have been so great. You can hear the people feeding off one another. The improv has been so on point. The episodes seem funnier. There are no real pauses or lapses in time. The people can see and react in real time to the other guests. The energy is higher. This is what these podcasters have been waiting for, and it is a treat for us listeners. I know that Zoom and Skype has opened up a whole new world of recording, and it is most definitely here to stay, but having the ability, the chance to do the shows in studio again just adds so much more. I have been howling recently.

The most current episode doesn’t have “star” on it, but the three guests are so great at improv comedy, and being able to simply react, it’s been one of the best episodes of “CBB” in quite sometime. I sat there and laughed and laughed. I listened to some of it while on a run, and I had to switch because I was laughing so hard that it was messing up my breath. I truly think that’s due up the in person nature of the episode. The three guests also play so many different characters that it sounded like there were about ten people in that studio. I also think this is going to open the door for other podcasts to go back to in studio. I know Carl Tart has already done an episode of his show “Carl Call His Cousin” in his cousin’s studio, and it ruled. I would bet that whenever Mike Mitchell returns to LA that “Doughboys” will record in studio. They can get the food delivered, and then record right away. I hope “The Flagrant Ones” gets back because their energy when they are together is amazing. I know Earlonne Woods and Nigel Poor, from “Ear Hustle” have talked about getting back to their studio. It seems like things have maybe, possibly, hopefully turned a corner.

People seem to want to get back together in the podcast world and make hilarious comedy or the other stuff I listen to. I know I’m not ready to fully return to whatever the new “normal” is going to be, but if these podcasters are, more power to them. I love it as a listener. It makes for a great show just due to being together. I’ll be curious to see how this all plays out. As for now, I’m on board.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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