The podcast that is just about my favorite anything these days

I don't get out to movies that much these days, and rarely it seems have two hours to consume movies on DVD. There are TV shows that I watch, and books I read, and intermanet properties that I consume.

But, and I can't believe I haven't mentioned this before, my favorite anything these days is the audio podcast Jordan, Jesse GO! featuring Jesse Thorn and Jordan Morris.



I started sometime around Episode 40 last fall (Ep 62 came out this week), and have since gone back to begin to listen to the complete archive of the show.

Thorn's flagship program is The Sound of Young America, which he distributes as both a podcast and as a public radio show to select stations via PRI. But Jordan, Jesse GO! is why I contribute to his small media empire (MaximumFun.org) every month. (He's having a pledge drive now, and I am considering upping my monthly subscription rate.)

It is difficult to describe the appeal of JJGO! At face value, the concept of two straight white guys in their twenties riffing into microphones for an hour and a half sounds horrific. But their peculiar mix of earnestness, nerdiness, fake irony, and ridiculousness keeps me entertained week after week.

I'll finally note that Ira Glass and his wife both listen to the show (he has interviewed Jesse about it, and she has called into the program).

Try episode 40 on for size. If you're not hooked after that, you're out of the wedding.

Two Sunday School Teachers: Stephen and Anne

Back in the day, on West Coast Weekend, Sedge Thompson played straight man to Anne Lamott's witticisms, and Anne usually, in the parlance of standup, killed.

Odd to see her (presumably as part of a book tour) as a guest on The Colbert Report, playing straight woman to Stephen Colbert. Amazing to see how fast he can accept a straight offer and turn it into classic Colbert.

And odd that I've worked in theatres for both of these people.

1510 AM = KPIG

Coming in July: Goodbye, Sinatra. Hello, KPIG!

Quick! Radio!

K-Mozart, 1510 AM, broadcasting out of Piedmont, is no longer classical. It switched to Oldies. Or, at that's what it was playing last week. Today it's a nostalgia station: Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Sergio Mendes, Ella & Louis. Actually, on the 20 minute ride into the city this morning with the boys, we heard three Sinatra tunes. On the way back to Berkeley they even repeated the same one.

At first I thought someone at corporate headquarters wasn't paying attention to the shuffle button.

Then I realized there's actually someone programming this, because, at the top of the hour, they play "Piggies," by the Beatles. Go figure.

Also, no commercials. And the only voice between songs says "1510 AM."