49 - Howard Stern: "Podcasts Are for Losers!"

Howard Stern (not actually a guest)

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Announcer Brian Clark joins America's Favorite Talk Show Host (that's Art) to analyze the King of All Media's assertion that "Podcasts are for losers!"

Art and Brian have toiled in both broadcast radio and podcasting, and they compare their firsthand experience to what Howard Stern describes. Is it true that to earn your wings as a broadcaster you need to go to terrestrial radio? Are the opportunities even there anymore? Or is terrestrial radio in its twilight? We discuss! 53 minutes.

Art's comments: "If you're looking for a lot of screaming and name calling, 1995 shock radio style, then you're in the wrong place. If you want to hear a real conversation about the future of radio vs. the future of podcasting, then you're in the right place.

"When I heard Stern's 'podcasting is for losers' rant, I just had to weigh in with my experience of trying to break into terrestrial radio vs. what I've been able to do with podcasting. And Brian Clark was a natural choice to join in, since he knows more about the nuts and bolts of radio than I do.

"One listen to this episode should convince anyone, even Howard Stern, that podcasting is NOT for losers! No way!"

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48 - Chet Wild Returns! (BONUS: Stu McCallister)

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Chet Wild returns to the Laughing Skull Fest, Atlanta and Art Howard at Night!

Art once again catches up with Wild at the W Hotel in Midtown Atlanta. (Apparently there was turnover in the security staff and the new guys didn't know to keep Art off the premises.) They discuss various adventures Chet has had in the last year, such as:

• The status of his podcast with former American Idol  host, Brian Dunkelman
• Performing as a hologram at Comic Con
• His upcoming live show Crowd Work: The Musical

 

Michigan comic Stu McCallister is also in the room. As a bonus track, McCallister and Wild discuss the mental games and career obstacles that every career standup comic faces. 53 minutes.

Art's comments: "After a drought of guests, I return with not one but TWO! Who's the man? Hint: I'M the man!

"Chet again had some great stories to share. If you drew his career on a graph since our last meeting, it would be a continuing upward line.

"You'll also enjoy, as I did, being a fly on the wall and hearing two comedians on the frontlines of show business discussing their trade.

"Special congratulations to our previous guest Dulcé Sloan, who made it to 2nd place out of 72 comics at Laughing Skullfest!"

Links:

• Chet Wild
• Stu McCallister

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47 - Glaze Your Eyes Over/Late `90's Radio Demo

Art in late `90's Carson Daly TRL style shirt.

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"Mr. Positive" returns to tell you where he's been hiding since Halloween!

Art gives you the behind-the-scenes details of his struggle to provide you with only the finest entertainment. Get the scoop on all the various blow-offs and cold shoulders he's endured in the name of entertaining you. Your breath will be taken away by how anyone could endure such morale-crushing indifference, yet rise again like a broadcasting phoenix!

At the end, get a listen to Art's amazing 1998-ish aircheck from his stint as a talk show host in a small Northwest Georgia town. Hear his co-host mesmerized into a hypnotic trance by a professional stage hypnotist live on the air! 44 minutes.

Art's comments: "You come here to be amused, not bummed out, but what can I do but tell you about what's going on?

"As for the circa 1998 radio piece, which was my demo tape for a long time, I think I say 'hip-no-tist' about 20 times too many, BUT, all these years later I'm pretty proud of how slick it sounds. Yes, I'm pretty impressed with myself. Somebody's gotta be!"

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46 - Del Venicci, art rock band

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WARNING: This episode is not for the musically tepid or incurious.

Remember what it was like to hang out past midnight during the work week, drinking beer and listening to boundary-breaking music? Art had almost forgotten, too!

Del Venicci chats with Art in the parking lot of their Monday midnight show at club 529 in East Atlanta Village. The band discuss their connection to Italian opera, Andy Warhol's influence on their creative philosophy, and finger painting. Interwoven with the interview are songs from the set. 47 minutes

Art's comments: "When I saw Del Venicci's video for the song 'Shadow Braid,' I was quite impressed. Here was a band with not only a sonic but also an aesthetic vision, which virtually no band has today, and they were right here in Atlanta! As someone over 40 who is becoming accustomed to people under 32 not getting my references, I was also relieved when they knew who Bauhaus was.

"I don't know why I roll called every `80's alternative band in Atlanta I could think of, but I did. And I left out Impulse Ride and Liers in Wait. Music starts at about 9 minutes in."

((( In stereo, where available! )))

Songs performed:

Jungle Arms
Lights Out
Love Someone
Cantonese Luxury
Contagion

Del Venicci links:

• Haunted Hall  EP
• Video for "Shadow Braid"
• Performing "Contagion" on IndieATL.com
• 529 bar in East Atlanta

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45 - April Richardson, comedian, podcaster, "Chelsea Lately"

TV's April Richardson

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Chelsea Lately  roundtable regular April Richardson makes the time to chat with Art. The Atlanta natives discuss the hick perception of their hometown, what the term "redneck" really means, and whether Los Angeles or Atlanta is the more truly segregated city.

Then they get down to show business! How did a girl from East Marietta get to Hollywood? Will April be part of her old boss Chelsea Handler's move to Netflix? After the climax of her podcast Go Bayside!  at the L.A. Podfest, what will be the topic and format of her next podcast?

This show also introduces a new series of public service announcements called "The Internet Cares." 1 hr. 5 mins.

Art's comments: "Interviewing a true TV personality, I decided the best approach was to just be myself - the same mistake I've made all my life! Really, though, it was quite nice of her to take the time to talk when she could be chatting with a huge name like Chris Hardwick. We may one day look back on this like an interview with a young Joan Rivers after her first few appearances on Ed Sullivan."

April Richardson links:

• April Richardson.com
• Go Bayside! podcast
• YouTube channel with standup
• On Twitter

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44 - Will "The Thryll" Phillips, comedian, author of "Hollywood Failure"

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Will "The Thryll" Phillips spent six years in Hollywood in the unglamorous position of Production Assistant, schlepping coffee and sandwiches to the makers of Family Guy  and other top shows. He also co-created a Web series called Murder Squad  that got him into talks with Comedy Central and ABC.

However, things didn't go as dreamed. Now back in central New York for the time being, he's written an e-book about his stint in Tinsel Town called Hollywood Failure, due out in October 2014. He talks to Art about where the dream went wrong, and where it goes from here.

We also get a quick word with Cody Westlake, bowling shoe expert! 57 minutes.

Art's comments: "If I got even 10 seconds of face time with a decision maker at ABC, I wouldn't stop talking about it for the rest of my life! Everyone should check out Will Phillips' Murder Squad  Web series to see what credit cards and shared dreams can accomplish. The Thryll's story is certainly interesting, and I don't think we've heard the last of him. Maybe one day we can say this show marked where it all turned around.

"All this and  a moment with Cody Westlake, bowling shoe expert? This show is gonna be HUGE!"

Will "The Thryll" Phillips links:

• Will Phillips Comedy.com
• The Thryll on Twitter
• Comedians in Coffee Discussing Wrestling
• Murder Squad.net

Special thanks this episode to comedic thespian, Duke Korey.

TECHNICAL NOTE: There were some Skype issues in the interview. Look around it!

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43 - End of Summer, Back to School Special

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Wrap up your summer with Art!

First, Art tells you about Jay Leno's recent concert in Atlanta, including how he thinks Jay really did nothing wrong the two times he took over The Tonight Show.

Next, he recounts highlights of his Summer of 2014 in "How I Spent My Summer Vacation."

Finally, it's an on-the-street report from Acworth, Georgia's "Love the Lake" festival. 22 minutes.

 

Art's comments: "Come hear me make comedy jokes! This show illustrates why I could benefit from a professional caretaker."

Love the Lake links:

• Lose a Finger Dog Treats
• Health Quest Chiropractic
• One Screw Loose Jellies and Rubs
• Superior Plumbing

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42 - Joe Toplyn, author; former writer/producer for Leno, Letterman

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Four-time Emmy winner Joe Toplyn joins Art. Toplyn has been a writer for Late Night with David Letterman, head writer and producer for The Late Show with David Letterman, and co-head writer and producer for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He has now authored a book called Comedy Writing for Late-Night TV.

The comedy writing legend candidly answers questions such as:

• What was it like creating revolutionary TV in the early days of Late Night with David Letterman?
• Did the "GE Handshake" bit really end Letterman's chances of getting The Tonight Show?
• What famous Late Night  bit nearly suffocated a fellow writer?
• How did Jay Leno turn the tables to become the new king of late night?
• Is the late night talk show obsolete in the Internet age?

Mr. Toplyn also discusses his whirlwind months as head writer for the short-lived but infamous The Chevy Chase Show, and gives a few tips on how YOU can write funny! 1 hr. 24 mins.

Art's comments: "I hope there's a section in Mr. Toplyn's book about how to ask a question without lots of stammering. I need to read it. You should buy it, too, because this guy let me talk his ear off for two hours. In the end I think the key takeaway from this show is: Carbon dioxide is heavier than air. Now, won't you please enjoy a hot towel?"

Joe Toplyn links:

• Comedy Writing for Late-Night TV  on Amazon
• Joe Toplyn.com
• Toplyn's résumé on IMDB.com
• The PIT class sign up

Relevant video links:

• GE Handshake
• Larry "Bud" Melman and hot towels
• Letterman talks about Cycle dog food on Tonight Show
• Suit of Alka-Seltzer