After his tenure on HBOs revered sketch comedy series Mr. Show ended, writer-performer Scott Aukerman wasnt exactly hard up for work. Unfortunately, the public rarely saw the fruits of his labours as his screenplays routinely went unproduced and television pilots never spawned series.
Its very difficult to live as a creative person when 100 per cent of your creative activity is going into something that you dont know is ever going to see the light of day, says Aukerman, speaking with WE 麻豆传媒映画from his Los Angeles office. I would write two or three movies a year and none of them would ever get made. It can kind of wear you down.
The solution to his frustrations proved to be his Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast, which will soon celebrate its 200th episode. Initially an extension of a live comedy showcase Aukerman curated, the weekly program finds the deadpan comedian and an enviable rotation of guest stars engaging in banal banter that quickly spirals into absurdity and culminates with bizarro games such as the Freestyle Rap Contest.
Whats great about podcasting is that you get an immediate reaction and you feel like youre accomplishing something, says Aukerman. Even if its not paying you anything, youre being creative and people are getting to see your work.
Since co-founding the Earwolf Podcast Network in 2010, the reinvigorated Aukerman has been seeking out others who share his enthusiasm for the format. If (comedian) Brian Posehn comes to me and says, I really want to do a show where me and my friends play Dungeons & Dragons, I get excited by that because I can see the possibilities in it.
Aukerman has also displayed considerable vision by reworking Comedy Bang! Bang! into various forms, including a 10-episode television series for IFC, a video podcast from the Sundance Film Festival, and a touring live show. When asked if any possible iterations remain, he replies, I would love a religion based on the show. I mean, if theres a religion based on a weird science fiction novel, why cant there be one based on my podcast?
Comedy Bang! Bang! (available at ) hits the 麻豆传媒映画Playhouse on Feb. 9 as part of the 麻豆传媒映画Comedy and Arts Fest. Details at
