A Comedy Podcast For The People

I used to listen to 8+ podcasts a week. Now I listen to one. This week on E! True Hollywood Stories.

“The insider’s guide to kicking butt and dropping names in the red carpet lined back-hallways of this industry we call show biz.”

Hollywood Handbook sells a sweater that reads “Deeply Alienating.” This phrase, taken from a positive review of the show, has become something of a mantra for this long running podcast. Hosted by two writers and comedians living in Los Angeles, Hollywood Handbook represents the ne plus ultra of podcasting.

“Viva La Bampires”

The cliched nature of white guys being into comedy podcasts makes me hesitate to write about them, let alone describe one using a Latin phrase. In this particular case, however, I think the subject has earned the descriptor. Hollywood Handbook, an Earwolf comedy podcast hosted by Sean Clements and Hayes Davenport, has perfected the podcast formula. Podcasts live and die off two things: the chemistry of the hosts, and the ability to cultivate relationships with their listeners. HH has both in spades.

Chemistry does not come easy. Not to get too deep into the comedy analysis weeds, but it involves finding the right tone, timing, and sensibility for everyone involved in the joke. Usually, but not always, it means that the creators of the comedy like each other. Two of the funniest comedians, who by themselves can destroy crowds, could bomb if they go on stage with each other and can’t find the right vibe. Two kind of funny people can light up a room if they have a natural chemistry. Sean and Hayes, both long-time improvisers, writers, and actors in Los Angeles have figured out what works for them. They know how to make each other laugh, where their strengths lie, which buttons to push, and which to stay away from. Not an easy thing to learn. It also helps that they both are two of the quickest and funniest comedians in the game.

“We don’t really take stands on whether it’s good or bad to be evil”

The second thing that truly makes HH tick comes from the relationship the hosts have built with their audience. Even more so than the host’s chemistry, this has led to the podcast’s success. Every so often someone will write an article for The Nation or wherever, about the parasocial relationships people engage in through their podcast listening. People tune into to their favorite pods because they’ve come to see the hosts as friends. While the science in these articles always reads as a little pop psychology-y, at least a grain of truth resides in it. The best podcasts tap into this energy, not in a malevolent way, but in a way that allows for people to feel as if they hold memberships to an exclusive club. HH does this in particular through their world-building.

“I got a safe space for ya. 6 feet underground. Pretty safe down there.”

Part of the reason that “Deeply Alienating” has become such a rallying cry for the podcast, comes from its deep back catalogue. Started in 2013, Hollywood Handbook has consistently released episodes since then, adding a “Pro” version a few years ago. This means there are 350+ episodes to go through. Throughout all this, the hosts have added to and expanded the mythology of their world. This includes bit of both made-up and real facts about the host’s lives, a plethora of inside jokes, ad reads with story arcs, and a multitude of long-dead segments. They’ve created new personalities for their engineers, fellow Earwolf podcast hosts, and producer. Even some guests have specific backstories and inside jokes. For new listeners, this can come across as incredibly frustrating. Imagine reading a twelve-part book series by starting with the eleventh book. You’d have no idea why Sean keeps saying he is married to Steffi Graff, but also calls up his actual wife on the show from time to time. Why does their producer refer to himself as “Chef Kevin?” Fans who have been listening to the show for a while, of course, know all these things. This intricate world-building keeps people coming back to the show. You become invested in the show. The key to the show’s artistic success lies in their commitment to building the world of the show. Irony, sarcasm and satire drive the humor of HH, but the show always lay atop a foundation of sincerity. The hosts commitment to keeping this sincerity holds the show together, giving Sean and Hayes something to go back to whenever they need it. Other less successful shows with similar comedic instincts have fallen apart because they lack that foundation of sincerity.

“Hot Dog Go To Bathroom”

When people write about Hollywood Handbook they often talk about how the show is hard to explain, anti-comedy, or only for “alt-comedy” fans. I think that’s unfair to the show. To circle back to my original thesis, HH understands the nature of podcasting more than most other shows. It is the logical conclusion of what this type of podcasting should be. People just talking to each other. The show rests on their shoulders and they know that. Explaining the show to someone shouldn’t revolve around trying to explain the evolutions of the show, or the specifics of various long-running bits. The best explanation for the show is that it’s two funny guys who talk to a guest once a week. Saying it’s “not for everyone” doesn’t hold water. No show is for everyone. Art does not function that way. Even Beethoven has haters.

That being said, like any long-running work, it does take a little work to acclimated to its waters. My recommendation? Bank up about three consecutive episodes. On a Saturday or Sunday when you have a little free time, listen to them back-to-back-to-back. Feel out the vibe. Give it a chance, knowing that you’ll consume all three. If you like it, maybe go back in the archives, check out a few episodes that have guests you like. Then start listening to it once a week, and maybe going back and listening to a few older episodes here and there. Pay the $5 a month to get the shorter, guest-free Pro Version. If you don’t like it? Well that’s fine. It’s a podcast, no one is forcing you to listen to it.

Bye!