Welcome to the first part of a new series to determine the scientifically and definitively best comedy podcast! I’ve already cut it down to eight candidates, losing several fine podcasts in the process, from eight different networks and cut them into four pairs. These pairs will duke it out, with the winners theoretically going face to imaginary face until the best two emerge, violently clashing in an epic final. These week I am going to cut the first four of these down to two defiant victors who will face each other in a fortnight. Today’s pairing matches the comedic and film-centric stylings of Doug Loves Movies up against the genre-busting breakout star of The Nerdist. Who will win? Only I can decide.
Doug Benson, TJ Miller, Pat Francis + Dan Telfer Photo by Liezl Estipona
Hosts: The triple threat of The Nerdist forms a grand adversary for a lone Doug Benson. Armed with Jonah Ray and Matt Mira by his side, Chris Hardwick possesses a crew alien to Doug. Offering a particularly ‘internet’ set of comedy stylings and discussion, The Nerdist cast do exactly what you’d expect of it, talking about geeky stuff in a fairly specialist manner, going deep on comedy, comic books, mental health and pornography on at least a fortnightly basis. Against this, Benson almost exclusively aims to discuss movies and, occasionally, weed. Too, he has the greater task of also being moderator and games master as well as displaying his customary avuncular vivacity, throwing in grumpiness and an easily hilarity with an exemplary ease and smoothness. On top of this, both shows capture their audiences perfectly, knowing exactly who they are playing to and playing to them well. Hardwick does tend to dominate conversation a little bit though, maybe not due to any negative traits, but simply due to his seemingly unquenchable thirst for knowledge and the other’s slightly more considered though processes. So despite the incredible tightness of this first bout, I feel the round goes to Benson, whose job is both harder and done slightly better than that of the Nerdist crew.
Jonah Ray, Zach Galifianakis, Chris Hardwick, Matt Mira,
Guests: To even the most passing eye, it is clear that Nerdist certainly pulls in the more ‘elite’ guests, having interviewing seemingly unattainable people like Mel Brooks, Tom Hanks and Tina Fey. But this is allied with the very cream of comedy people, capturing the fabulous Maria Bamford, fantastic Paul Gilmartin and intriguing Dave Attell in their show too, whose lower bar of fame is replaced with a more impressive comedic art. Despite their continuing presence, the over-bearing reliance on ‘famous’ guests doesn’t benefit the show, as many of these are not only far less humours and confine the show to those who care about the person, but they also tend to split Hardwick from the group (as many are solo interviews). DLM on the other hand operates at a much more ‘normal’ podcast level of guest, haunted by Pete Holmes, confused by Tig Notaro and poked by Rory Scovel regularly. In this, it achieves it’s goals much more easily and gainfully, grabbing guests who are funny, interesting and involving, then giving them a crowd, a game and a Doug Benson to play with. It too has a problem of drafting in directors and actors for promotional purposes, but these are still of far less repute than a Nerdist guest, so their advertisement intents are far less grating. And if you don’t like them, there are often hilarious podcast regulars alongside to lighten the pain. Again then, this round goes to DLM, whose more measured approach to guests produces far more comedic, conducive and exciting shows much more often.
Humour and Feel: Here, DLM has the luxury of a live audience, offering a natural fizz for the show, encouraging the performers to do and say things for comedic and interest purposes with a far more direct and distinct response to this just a few metres away. Not afforded such boons, The Nerdist often falls into being ‘interesting’ rather than funny, and as is often the way with podcasts, ‘interesting’ fast becomes ‘repetitive,’ as the change simply isn’t facilitated, limiting both ideas or anything like a more comedic thrust. The jokes also tend to feel more forced in, as if desperate to make an actively geeky in-joke in the midst of deep conversation, without the ease or slice of wit that other shows would utilise. DLM too offers a gaming aspect, which are always worthy parts of the show, but are not even necessary to make them great, with the glory of Benson’s hosting returning in his ability to weave towards or away from the games with a humour and control that is exemplary, his occasional grumpiness only adding to the cuddly laugh-magnet’s charms. So Doug Loves Movies get’s the final point as well, the focus and atmosphere providing too much for the Nerdist’s stylings.
So it’s a clean sweep for Captain Benson, but much closer than that might suggest. Certainly in hosting The Nerdist almost took it, but the abilities of Doug have overpowered everyone for today, and he will meet either ‘Walking The Room’ or ‘The Best Show’ in the next round!
You can of course find both podcasts on iTunes, and the contributors @DougBenson, @Nerdist, @jonahray and @MattMira. Gogo!