Today our focus is on a rather small podcast, hosted by two rather polite gentlemen called James, and entitled ‘Jamestown.’
I’ll be truthful from the outset, and say that the first time I ever heard this podcast was for this review, but now I’m here to talk about it! So please, if you would listen for a moment, I would like to offer a little window into a world I think you’d like to know more about.
First, words about the hosts. Much as they claim to both be called James, they are in fact called Jamie Hovis and Jimmy Blackmon. Two seemingly fairly nerdy individuals, but about whom little information can be found. The style of humour both they and the podcast offers is one that is quintessential to low-key podcasting. It’s an enjoyably simple, dorm room style humour, with an investment in long form conversation and flights of fancy. A topic will arise, by accident or forethought, and they will pursue this idea, offering up hopeful, but ultimately false, facts and decidedly silly information. It is very much a comedy of co-dependence, with a belief in one another’s ability to drive the show and be funny.
Alongside this is a comedy through more structured ideas, such as an increasingly silly interview with a guest whose identity I shan’t spoil for you, a variation on the ‘Price is Right’ format, and an attempt in vain to create an advert for an unabashedly foolish business venture. These two ideas tandem wonderfully, through a mix of clean segues and foreshadowing. What truly sews it together though, is the constant vein of silliness. Rarely is too long going without a skeewiff comment or left-field suggestion, in fact, they seem to revel in an appeal to the mildly obscure. Within five minutes I’ve learnt what a ‘funicular’ is (listen to the episode to find out yourself), and soon the group are involved in a discussion about water polo and bocce ball. This further adds to the nerdy trappings of the show, and the subtle charms offered up by the episode.
Charm is very much the engine of the show, from the host’s nerdy personal styles, to the conversational fluidity, to their approach to discussing nothing. This charm is vital to the podcasts success; the simplicity and almost naivety of their approaches to comedy belying a cleverer and most definitely geekier core knowledge. One feels as if these are conversations the two have had for years already, and as if our listening is no interruption to their usual routine. It’s flow is so easy that one could imagine them playing ‘Sky Mall’s Price is Right’ between one another as a matter of course.
The almost ‘interview’ is virtually worth the download on it’s own. It’s as well played as some of the best interviews that Comedy Bang Bang or The Dead Authors Podcast might host. Entertaining acting, an increasing desperation to both hide and reveal their guests identity, there is just a humour and a simple delight in themselves and one another that is positively heart-warming. And it is this mentality that makes the podcast so enjoyable, since it’s great fun. I for one, will be listening to more in future, and I’d be charmed if you would join me.
I listened to episode 48, three times. The podcast is available from www.jamestownpodcast.com, where subscribing will bring the episodes into your podcast library. One of my FAN cohorts, Lindsey Benkel, also reviewed a game based on this podcast, so I’d suggest you read that if you haven’t already. Oh, and you can find the podcast on facebook as Jamestown Podcast and on twitter @JamestownPod, so go nuts.