I am a confessed podcast addict, often I go to sleep with one blaring in the background of my room and I often wake up part way through another one. Usually I listen to them whenever I'm playing some TF2 or catching a bus or a train somewhere, I've forgone actually listening to modern music to keep abreast of my favourite syndicated audio shows. So each week I'll write up a little review on my current favourites dominating my mp3 player.
First off the ranks is one of my all time favourite podcasts, the Thrilling Adventure Hour which is a monthly podcast series done in the style of an old 1940's radio drama. Written by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker this radio drama has been running since 2005 at the Largo theatre in Los Angeles, It was only in January 2011 dud they start to podcast the show to the internet and by then this monthly show recruits many fine recognised television voice acting talent.
With the amazing writing and the professional voice acting the real wonder is how this show remains free to the public? The Podcast always delivers a fun and enjoyable time listening to one of the many different serials they have running. My Favourite amongst them is Sparks Nevada Marshal on Mars. Which is about a Space Marshall named Sparks Nervada (Marc Evan Jackson) that keeps the Peace on Mars from Space Criminals and Robots with his Martian Companion Crouch the Tracker (Mark Gagliardi) along with help from The Red Plains Rider (Busy Philipps) and Cactoid Jim (Nathan Fillion). Done in the style of a Space Western series Sparks Nervada Marshall on Mars is a fun combination of intergalactic shenanigans mixed with strange and awkward love affairs.
The other most common reoccurring series on the show is Beyond Belief which follows the lives of two high society mediums of Frank and Sadie Doyle (Paul F Tompkins & Paget Brewster). They are a rather jovial married couple that drink excessively and solve paranormal mysteries. Their drunken witty banter is the highlight of each episode as their aimless decadence often find them in hilarious and insane scenarios.
With fake cigarette sponsorship branding from Patriot cigarettes the podcast is deeply entrenched by its rich 1940's radio serial style. There are the occasion deviation from Sparks Nevada and Beyond Belief on the podcast when they air another of their other less common reoccurring segments. Those include.
Jefferson Reid, Ace American, Amelia Earhart: Fearless Flyer, The Adventures of Captain Laserbeam, The Cross Time Adventures of Colonel Tick-Tock, Jumbo the Elephant, Tales from the Black Lagoon, Moonshine Holler and Spinoff of Sparks Nevada Cactoid Jim, King of the Martian Frontier! A lot of those sound like amazing 1940's black and white movies that involve car crashes and exploding planes.
My Opinion on the Podcast?
The Thrilling Adventure Hour is Great, whilst the Podcasts usually only run from anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes and are released on a weekly to bi-weekly rate. (The Stage show where they record more than one show at a time I assume runs for a full hour or more). It's a great way to spend 20 to 30 minutes when you're on a bus somewhere or just want to listen to good old radio drama. The voice acting and stage sound design is magnificent, the writing is smart and snappy and the stories are engaging. There really is no excuse for people not to listen to this podcast.
If I had to recommend a particular episode I would say any of the Beyond Belief is easy to pick up from anywhere but my favourite Beyond Belief episode still remains #42: White Hunter, Drunk Heart. Sparks Nevada is more enjoyable listening in order so you can hear the introductions of each of the Characters that later return, especially Cactoid Jim voiced by Nathan Fillion who receives an extended ovation for just being in the room. However Episode #52 Christmas on Mars was a Christmas Special that featured all the main reoccurring shows and probably my personal favourite of the entire series.
It's Funny, Smart, Well Written stage comedy... Why more could you want from a free podcast?
Thrilling Adventure Hour Website
Thrilling Adventure Hour iTunes page
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