International Waters is a panel show with the great honour of being a part of the MaxFun network (heralded by Jesse Thorn). The show is written by Jordan Morris and features guests from the UK and America duking it out for dominance over the great Atlantic.
Jordan Morris!
Panel based gameshows have long been at the forefront of British TV and radio comedy. In part due to the ease of their production and their easily refreshable formula, their quality rarely varies within series, and major changes only really occur between season, and these are the very same qualities that make panel shows an appealing podcast format. Shows like ‘Pappy’s Flatshare Slamdown’ (reviewed a couple of weeks ago) or ‘Do The Right Thing’ are slowly growing in the UK scene; so of course, it was inevitable that American podcasts would try and replicate the formula, especially if they were linked to one of the strong podcast networks. Twisting it with a new elegance and new ideas for the American sensibility, International Waters leads a potential podcast evolution.
With such a great history in the panel show formula heralding its every turn, it is impressive that International Waters can carve itself a niche. Taking advantage of the international scale freedoms afforded by the internet, it can apply it’s impressive concept to a common format for a new generation and a newer technology. Using a simple concept of two great historically symbiotic nations taking each other on is a grand one, giving the two teams an actual reason for battle, rather than a basic game to win an essentially meaningless contest. IW has a sense of individuality in this, allowing for the clashes to be both natural and entertaining, whilst those aware of both nations cultural norms can marvel at one teams explanation of a local phenomena to their international foes. This is given greater significance by the impressive space allowed to the performers; not forced by time constraints to halt a joke all too fast, they can allow the jokes to develop co-operatively, giving the show a feel of MaxFun’s signature friendliness and humour. This ability to switch between rivalry and co-operation means that the show can be both expressive and concise, making use of the length of the show whilst staying just tight enough to stick close to the comedic. These various aspects allow IW to differentiate itself from its innumerable precedents through original set-up and ideas, whilst keeping to many of the tropes that make it such a naturally successful format.
Jesse Thorn! And Squirrel!
Of course, being a MaxFun product, the whole enterprises oozes with a classic old school charm. Jesse Thorn leads this from the hosting seat, his exemplary affability and intense niceness a constantly fruitful delight, his simple joy at being host is so effusive and heart-tickling that it really does add a very special element to the show. He makes a delightful host, and is not let down by his guests. The panels vary massively in terms of fame, with lesser known comic persons like Humphrey Ker or Elizabeth Laime to compete with much more storied characters like Paul Scheer or Josie Long. But as the fame of comedians is almost impossible to rationalise, they still mesh together wonderfully, with a great level of co-operation between team-mates who will be aware of one another by their joint presence in their local scene. They also tend towards a great shared understanding of comedy, there is no great divide in terms of style, where the show tries to force a comic based in fury with one based in wordplay, they are, once again, sharing a style. As always with a panel show, a lot of the great moments emerge from improvised and ridiculous answers, which violently clash or zealously adhere to national stereotypes, giving the show a vivacity and life that might otherwise be lacking, were the show and the panels not so well-matched.
But there are too, problems with the show. This is more than expected of a show three episodes in, as few shows reach their peak by the third episode, and even fewer would do so by design. Though the problems seems very clear, they are mostly easy to solve. First, the show feels a touch baggy and overlong. There is just too many segments in the episodes, making the show lengthier that it needs to be, clocking in at over an hour. This can easily be bettered by tighter time limits, or doing as most panel shows do, and switching to a live environment, where the audience’s influence and the theatre’s scheduling will both heavily play into the manner of the show. Though there is obvious logistical issues with this, there are quite a few British people who either live or tour America, so this can be minimalised. The special guests segments also seem superfluous and unnecessary at best. Existing seemingly as a way to plug a product and a selling point for the podcast (though they aren’t even particularly special guests, it’d be much different if the guests were, say, Louis CK or Russel Brand). This could again be helped by a switch to a live environment, or their removal altogether, as it has a slightly jarring effect on the flow of the podcast. What could also benefit the show would be a more rigid show-by-show theme, something like British vs American movies, or their comparative actions in the 1980s. This would let the show have a stronger format and a better output, both highlighting the differences and similarities of the two nations. A final benefit may well be to actually have Jordon Morris co-host with Jesse, their interplay adding an extra fizz to the delivery and energy of the podcast.
All in all though, as a new idea, International Waters does a fabulous job. Even in three episodes it has grown exponentially, showing great improvements week by week. The problems with it are clear, but with Jordan Morris and Jesse Thorn helming the project, one can only assume the show will grow and grow, evolving as both Morris and Thorn develop a cast-iron idea of how they want the show to develop. I have very high hopes for the show, with it’s impressive pulling power already demonstrated in guests, and having already developed from a simple idea to a filled out podcast.
You can find the show on iTunes and at www.maximumfun.org. Jordan Morris and Jesse Thorn are also on twitter and multiple other social media outlets.