Back from our Scottish sojourn, we find ourselves back in the murky depths of America and the podcast-ville of Harmontown! Hosted by Jeff Davis (Whose Line) and Dan Harmon (Community etc.), in front of a live audience at the Nerdmelt comedy dwelling, the pair displays the itinerant focus and hyperactivity of a moth with a flame. Davis acts as a semi-host, heralding the show and pushing Harmon down self-made wells, then making jokes at his expense. Harmon for his part leaps down said wells with a bravado, enthusiasm and the quizzical eye one would expect from any proxy contact with the gentleman. A raving, uncontrolled beast of a show, they revel in considering interesting ideas, before trying their best to unseat any sensibility they might have had.
Mr. Dan Harmon.
Dan Harmon features as the pariah, lightning rod and fulcrum for the show. Chairing with anecdotes ranging long and wide, piquing best when off the cuff, wielding a cynicism, confusion and derision for world’s modern and past. Having discussed his prospective colony on Mars to exactly what a Wizard’s Sleeve might really intone, Harmon is a clearly intelligent and various character, but a little closer focus might go a long way in this show. But it is maybe in this non-limitedness, his ability to go anywhere, say anything, or tell any story that makes for most of the charm in the show. The backlog of stories is so limitless that Harmon is almost like a patient spider, waiting for his web to be tweaked by Jeff Davis, before holding court on whichever theory, story or diatribe he so pleases, outlining every detail and frequently finding himself wildly off tangent. When it works perfectly, it’s a delight, allowing Harmon to be as elusive, creative and strangely insightful as possible, but when too lost it does have a tendency to become stunted by thoughts, so engaged in new ideas that nothing ends up really being said.
And Mr. Jeff Davis Esq.
Jeff Davis’ role as ‘comptroller’ entails that he engages his co-host in stories, stabs at Harmon with cutting remarks, or highlights exactly how ludicrous some of Dan’s claims are. He is something of an untold hero in this role, seemingly a compere to the manor born, he expertly sizes up Harmon’s stories, cutting down the bearded one’s insecurities and securities with an ease and humour that is rather rare. More than mere cynic, he is also creative in his own comedy, frequenting strange musical references in the background, rearranging Mr. Harmon’s stories into being more than interesting, but making sure that Captain Beard remembers that Harmontown is in the comedy section of iTunes. His elegance, candour and sharpness make for one of the shows best elements, willing and able to halt Harmon’s flow with an elegant sideswipe at his hirsute stage-mate in a way that’s as enjoyable as it is insightful. The role of the sarcastic host is an unforgiving one and Davis, clearly a very funny man, shows this whenever he interrupts, but can get as bogged down in the stories as Harmon does, meaning that he is too distracted to be pithy. It may be even that he is just aware that this is the town and audience of the Community creator, not the Jeff Davis show, which is an admirable trait in itself.
Mayor and Comptroller in the house!
What unifies the show overall is it’s deeply confessional nature, stories about the insertion of pens into sphincters, the delicate dance of wearing fishnet stockings or becoming intimate with plastic ladies coming all within a 40 minute segment. It is this brazen honesty that really shows the podcast in it’s best light, Harmon’s ability to harness his insecurities to highlight the flaws and foibles of humans, men receiving the brunt of this punishment in particular. An astute man himself, Harmon does occasionally have very distinct things to say, often thought up off the cuff; with many of his more thought out ideas seem crafted as much to be purposefully obtuse as they are to be interesting. Harmon is, honestly, far more adept and able with his spur of the moment stories, throwing himself into the tale of attempting to stimulate his prostate with a pen with an adorable, admirable and frank honesty that is refreshing and engaging, especially when stuffed in between endlessly interlocking stories about race. The closeness of the crowd may play into this to a degree as well, their nearness to the stage, alongside the Bearded One’s belief in their co-operative spirit and sense of kinship that allows him to detail such intimate surprises that often bring the shows moments of zenith.
With an increasing roster of ‘seasoned podcasters,’ it’s a joy to still find new comedy podcasts attempting to create something different. Whilst not always a blistering romp through the confusions and fallibilities of Dan Harmon, Harmontown traverses his mind with just enough focus and craft to catch some of the magic that is clearly very much in reach. Jeff Davis’ interruptions and proddings offer the most consistent laughs, but appear a little too infrequently, allowing Harmon to trap himself in holes which eventually become funny, but ‘eventually’ is often too long in the making. For now it does seem reserved to Harmon’s considerable internet fan boys and ladies for now, until they can capture the genius that is surely somewhere nearby.
The podcast is on iTunes, whilst the leading men are up on twitter @JeffBryanDavis and @danharmon. Enjoy it!