Joel Radio #189: Movie Mania 2017
Feb 28th
After the debacle that was the 2017 Oscars, Joel does his annual movie review show telling you all the best films of 2016 that you might have missed and which Oscar picks were just plain wrong. He is joined in this by movie critic-at-large Corey Hall, who returns to the show for the first time in months. Corey liked Jimmy Kimmel’s performance as the host of the Oscars, but wasn’t surprised by the fossilized Warren Beatty’s screw-up. Joel is more offended by Moonlight winning best Picture as he thought it was the worst of the nominated films. Hear both guys’ list of best movies of the year and the worst of the year, too – now with more Melissa McCarthy! Plus, Crashing gets comedy right on HBO, and Comedy Central’s Detroiters gets the references right, but the comedy wrong.
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The Oscars isn’t the only show with a big surprise
Joel Radio #188: Stars Sleep In The Garage
Feb 1st
Joel Radio presents a contrast in comedy careers as Kevin Kramis, a veteran comedian, sports announcer and the former voice of the Michigan State Fair shares road stories and dispenses advice to Joel and Sophia Spagnuolo, a young comic with only a handful of shows and some improv experience under her belt. Kevin shares how he got started in the business, how he became the voice of the fair, and how comics are often stuck staying in the “comedy condo” or in the club owner’s garage! Sophia tells of her burning desire to do comedy and how she met Joel in the most Millennial way ever – on a podcast. It’s a fun conversation that should inspire up-and-coming comedians and inspire others to never, ever even attempt a career in comedy. Also, Joel explains why Trump hysteria flies in the face of our system of government, why it seems like there’s so much bad news today, and how American politics has turned into College Gameday. Plus, Joel gears up for the Oscars by watching the awful Martin Scorcese-directed Silence, the overrated Moonlight, the dull-as-dust Loving, and has half-dozen other depressing, no-fun movies to watch in the next month. This is a good, fun, long listen which should kill some time as you wait for your immigration papers to clear.
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Sophia, Joel and Kevin sitting exactly as they did while recording the show
Joel Radio #187: Radio Ed
Jan 17th
Joel welcomes “young” comedian, radio DJ and good guy Ed Hunter to the podcast. Ed and Joel have known each other for a while, but Ed’s role in a major American historical event – the funeral of President John F. Kennedy is fascinating. Ed shares his story of being a precocious child and writing to the Army bugler that flubbed the playing of “Taps” at Arlington National Cemetery. That letter would become a memento of that sad occasion that would find Ed his fifteen minutes of fame some fifty years later. It’s an amazing, uplifting story that is in stark contrast to the divisiveness in Washington today. Speaking of Washington, Judd Apatow has some wise and funny observations about Trump, the internet and the election that Joel found enlightening. Also, feedback to the last few podcasts, Joel says Jackie is a good watch for JFK history fans, and the terrifying Oscar-worthy PBS documentary Command and Control can be seen right now. Plus, La La Land and Lion are really good, the Carrie Fisher/Debbie Reynolds documentary is weird, and the new OJ documentary is OK, but last years OJ stuff was so, so much better.
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The young Ed Hunter, Army bugler Keith Clark, and Ed today (in much nicer studio than Joel’s)
Joel Radio #186: Live From The New Way Bar
Dec 30th
In a wacky podcasting experiment, Joel takes his field recorder down to the New Way Bar in Ferndale, Michigan for open mike night. The New Way is a notorious venue for attracting an audience and holding their attention – and it was the coldest night of 2016 – so what you’ll hear on this show is perhaps not a typical night at the club, but a typical night isn’t great either. Hear host Amit Jain’s (abbreviated) opening set and hear how his controversial way of setting the tone is unique in comedy. Joel tries some new jokes, too. Those were OK, but he stumbles badly on the closer he’s done hundreds of times making for an awkward landing. There’s also appearances from Detroit area comics Tanner Oliver, Wes Ward, Paul Pipitone and Adam Hirzel. There’s also before and after interviews with the guys. Hear their approach to such a weird show, what they get out of doing shows like this and Joel’s opinion on getting loose at open mikes versus sticking to the script. Is it compelling podcasting? You be the judge. But it is a real, fly-on-the-wall visit to a show which on this night desperately needed an audience – and now it has one.
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Amit Jain kicks off the New Way open mike to a packed house
Joel Radio #185: The Star Wars: Rogue One Review
Dec 16th
Another year, another Star Wars movie – oh wait – that’s never happened until now, with the release of of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Joel, comedian Josh Bowab, and comedienne Ellen Stachowicz (a girl with such nerd cred she’s even written Star Wars fan-fiction) attended an opening night screening and sat down to do an immediate review. If you haven’t seen it, it is spoiler-free for the first 20 minutes or so, just finish listening after you see it. And you should see it, as it’s a very good, WWII-style action movie ala Bridge on The River Kwai. The guys discuss the fan-service cameos, the gritty, more realistic violence and if certain digital effects enhance or detract from the movie. We also hear how the screening was ruined by too much air-conditioning, and how Ellen managed to miss the first few minutes. Plus, hear how this film compares to The Force Awakens, their hopes for the future Star Wars films, and the wild theories about the true identity of Supreme Leader Snoke and if this movie sheds any light on it, and what the hell happened to Darth Vader’s voice?
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Joel, Josh, and Ellen – blinded by the lightsaber – meet some super fans after the movie
Joel Radio #184: A Touch of Class
Dec 13th
Joel has been teaching how to be better at stand-up comedy for some time now with his Advanced Comedy Class at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, and he welcomes two former students, Ted Moss and Steve Hansen on to discuss the class, how it has benefited their careers and all things comedy. Joel runs down the topics the class covers and gives tips on writing, performance, business, and other topics. The guys discuss the downsides of comedy contests, how not to get in to a bit, the best place to stand on stage, and why every comedian should run their own show. It’s a funny, informative discussion with good insight for both comedians and comedy fans alike. Also, Joel takes you through his personal Xmas music playlist including some little-known gems and some awful, cringe-inducing selections that he’s not embarrassed to like anyway. Plus, Joel tries to rationalize watching Warcraft, Tickled is a documentary that will make you uncomfortable, and Netflix launches two new series, a return of the Mythbusters on The White Rabbit Project, and the incredible, must-watch, documentary series, Captive.
The very funny Steve and Ted still glowing form their appearance on Joel Radio
Joel Radio #183: Return of the Beast
Nov 29th
After nine years away, Joel welcomes back Mac Kelly, aka TV horror host Wolfman Mac, to the show. Mac was just beginning his climb to national fame when he last appeared and now he’s looking for his next move. Hear about how his show evolved to get national clearances, the financial challenges of doing a show yourself, and the risks and rewards of following your passion. Joel has some new ideas for Wolfman Mac going forward, details his own challenges with this podcast, and tries to find out what happened to Mac’s other trade – commercial radio. It’s a fun, frank discussion about chasing your dreams and the reality that inevitably catches up with them. Also, a big TV and movie round-up sees the Top Gear guys return on The Grand Tour, Joel gets Oscar-baited at Nocturnal Animals, Search Party isn’t a good as Joel wants it to be, and Green Room is the most terrifying, must-see movie of the year. Plus, the new Oasis documentary takes Joel back to England in the summer of 1994. It’s a good watch, but what happened to the drummer? Does anyone know where the drummer is? It’s a baffling change to what was an almost authoritative, compelling film.
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The updated Wolfman Mac, coming to a TV – or YouTube – near you
Joel Radio #182: The Apprentice
Nov 15th
Joel proudly welcomes 20-year-old comedy sensation Sam Silverstein to the podcast. Sam was one of Joel’s comedy students and the two remember Sams’s first night at the Comedy Castle – a weird performance at a Jewish fundraiser – and chronicle his rise from a high-schooler on the open mikes, to his own charity fundraisers, to a paid booking at the same club he debuted at next year. Sam’s a great example of hard-working rising talent in comedy and there’s a lot of good advice for anyone in the same position on this show. Also, Joel’s weight-loss hits an important milestone. Hear the details of the diet, the pros and cons of exercise, and why the BMI chart is bullshit but Joel’s using it anyway. Plus, Joel’s new radio gig, a gigantic rundown of TV and movies including The Arrival, Westworld, a documentary that will make you cry, Woody Allen’s attempt at episodic televison, and where to see the wold’s hottest actress naked.
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Sam is so happy on stage at The Comedy Castle
Joel Radio #181: The Trip
Sep 21st
Joel returns from a week-long trip to the East Coast, with stops at the Flight 93 Memorial, the Jersey Shore, Providence, Niagara Falls and attending two epic Bruce Springsteen shows in Pittsburgh and Boston. Joel shares his memories of the trip, the challenge of losing weight while on it, and the rigorous travel schedule, but Corey Hall isn’t impressed. In fact, that’s a theme for the show that Corey isn’t impressed with anything Joel likes or cares about. This comes to head as Joel reviews the excellent, insightful CBS investigation of the JonBenet Ramsey killing which Corey mocks as some prurient interest of Joel’s and not a genuine review of the show. This disagreement continues from there, and if you’re a long-time fan you see where this is going. Also on the show, Joel watches the Corey Feldman musical performance for the first time, the new Beatles doc gets a review, Corey rates son of Zorn and Sully, and a full Emmy review with the winners and losers revealed. Plus, Joel is buying tickets to see Eddie Murphy, journalist Steve Miller recounts his time on Joel Radio, a studio power update, and Branson, Missouri has the best line-up of shows you’ll never, ever want to see.
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Enjoy this collage of photos from Joel’s trip – if you’re not Corey
Joel Radio #180: The Investigation
Sep 7th
This week, Joel has his results in a no-kidding, completely serious investigation to the identity of super-secretive graffiti artist Banksy. Yes, there was an article recently about how Banksy may be a member of Massive Attack, but Joel has taken that line of thinking even farther, finding oodles of evidence in the form of audio clips, photographs, internet videos and geographic and historical timelines that he believes confirms Banksy’s real identity once and for all. Corey Hall sits in this week, and while generally dismissive of most of Joel’s efforts, even he is impressed with the detective work shown here. The Banksy stuff is the last half hour or so of the show, and we’re not sure that the work Joel has put in here won’t get the world talking. Also, the numbers get crunched on sex at the Olympics, while nerds continue to claim that comic book conventions are now orgies. Plus, Gene Wilder fondly remembered, Joel’s public access TV interview airs (send him feedback!), Anthony Wiener and the bizarre/incredible documentary about him, Corey finishes Stranger Things, and, for the love of god, please stop talking about limited edition Oreos.
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This image is just one of piece of the Banksy/Del Naja connection that Joel has put together
The above image demonstrates the Blur/Banksy/Del Naja/2003 connection as described on the show – click the image for the full version
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