From Podcast to Small Screen

I remember a time when people who walked around with white ear buds were widely regarded as douchebags. They could be found on any inner city street wrapped up in their own personal oblivion, narrowly avoiding being run over as they listened to horrendously low quality audio at silly volumes. Now ten years later, I am rarely seen walking around without some little bits of plastic compressing wax into my ear canal.

I am a huge music fan but in general the sound of an mp3 coming through a tiny speaker doesn’t cut it for me. Instead, I mostly listen to podcasts. There has been an explosion of new podcasts in the last few years, on just about every subject, and it’s not hard to see why. Millions of people around the world are forced to travel long distances to jobs they hate, and if they are anything like me they prefer not to be left alone with their thoughts on a cold and early winter’s commute. What better way to overcome this than by having intelligent people speak to you about interesting things?

With the growing popularity of podcasting it’s only a logical progression that some are now being made into TV shows, transitioning with their ready-made audiences. One of my favourites is Comic Book Men, based around the Kevin Smith’s New Jersey comic book store. This show emerged from the Tell ‘Em Steve Dave (TESD) podcast and while it’s clearly as staged as any other reality show, the slightly oddball yet somehow familiar personalities puts it miles ahead of the usual reality droll.

Comic Book Men: http://www.amctv.com/shows/comic-book-men

Another show featuring a TESD host is Impractical Jokers. It’s a hilarious and ridiculous spin on the long tired hidden camera concept and features four hosts, collectively known as The Tenderloins, taking turns at being tasked to carry out ridiculous undertakings.
   
Joe Rogan Questions Everything is also worth a look. It covers topics aimed at the Marijuana enthusiast out there, including chemtrails and Bigfoot in a fairly open minded yet sceptical manner. Yes, it does look like it was edited a 16-year-old snacking on pharmaceutical amphetamines but it’s a fairly thought provoking show. Apparently it pulled in some pretty impressive audience numbers on debut; take from that what you will.

Joe Rogan Questions Everything: http://www.syfy.com/joeroganquestionseverything

For those who like their comedy neurotic there’s Maron, an at times squeamish but hysterical show that’s a 'fictionalisation' of the life and times of sad and angry comedian and podcaster Marc Maron.

A more informative and family friendly show is HowStuffWorks on the Discovery Channel. The podcast and television show are always well researched and interesting but in my opinion the TV show does tend to come off as a little cheesy. Even so, it’s worth a look and you'll probably learn something.

My personal favourite is Legit, a dark but somehow heart-warming comedy co-written by Australian comedian and former Talkin' Sh!t host Jim Jefferies. Like many of these podcast-cum-television shows Legit also features past podcast guests in onscreen support roles.

Legit: http://www.fxx.com/legit/

I have also heard rumours of a Hollywood Babble On series in the works, which is yet another podcast from the Kevin Smith Smodcast stable - the guy seems to be onto something.  And with a growing number of podcasters gaining just the sort of free and effortless exposure that has television producers salivating, who can blame him.

I might sound like a douchebag saying I only use my iPod for podcasts now, but give it ten years…

-Dan Brokenborough