Never Not Funny

Never Not Funny
Presentation
Hosted by Jimmy Pardo
Matt Belknap
Genre Comedy
Language English
Updates Wednesdays (free episode) and Sundays (Primo episodes)
Length Approx. 1½ Hours
Production
Camera Eliot Hochberg
Production Matt Belknap
Video format MP4
Audio format MP3
Publication
Debut April 4, 2006
Website http://www.pardcast.com

Never Not Funny is a weekly podcast hosted by comedian Jimmy Pardo since spring 2006. He and producer/co-host Matt Belknap have appeared in every episode. Former co-host Mike Schmidt appeared for all of season one, except for episode 60 when his departure was announced.

The show moved to a pay format in March 2008, with the first twenty minutes of each show remaining available to non-paying subscribers. It subsequently returned to free distribution when it joined the Earwolf network in January 2014, with a premium subscription available for access to video and weekly bonus episodes. Episodes from past seasons are also commercially available.[1]

Show format

The show is of the comedy talk variety, consisting of free-form conversation between Jimmy Pardo, Matt Belknap and a third, weekly-changing guest. Topics discussed range from music and popular culture to personal lives and amusing or interesting anecdotes. Starting with season three, the last 5–20 minutes were dedicated to a listener-submitted "Stupid Question Of The Week." The segment has since been retired. At the beginning of season five, a new segment called "Judge Jimmy" was introduced, in which the cast settled a listener-submitted dispute with Pardo as judge and Belknap and the guest as the attorneys.

Until the end of the third season, the show was recorded in a single take without any editing. After the Chino, CA earthquake in August 2008 forced the show to stop briefly (originally so Jimmy, Matt and guest Patton Oswalt could check on family members) the podcast has had one small break per episode.

History

Never Not Funny began when Matt Belknap interviewed Pardo on the podcast for his popular alternative comedy forum A Special Thing. The two had previously discussed producing a podcast version of Jimmy's Los Angeles show "Running Your Trap," which he hosted at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, but they hit it off so well on AST Radio that Pardo said "This is the show."

The first episode featured Pardo, Belknap, and guest Mike Schmidt. Pat Francis was scheduled for episode 2, but when he was unavailable, Schmidt (usually referred to by Pardo as "The Former Third Baseman" after the similarly named baseball player) became the permanent co-host. This arrangement continued for the first season. Every fourth episode would feature a guest such as Pat Francis, Scott Aukerman or Graham Elwood. Midway through the first season, the theme song was changed from a brief portion of an unnamed instrumental song by Jimmy's close friend Daver to "Mad At The World" by Daver, with sound bites from previous episodes mixed into the song. This three-man setup lasted for sixty episodes, including a clip show and two live shows recorded at the UCB Theatre. The show went through little change throughout the first season until episode sixty, when Jimmy announced that his relationship with Mike Schmidt had become strained through the years and that they had decided to go their separate ways; Schmidt left the show in an attempt to reconcile their friendship. (Show notes for episode 60.) Mike explained the situation on May 25, 2007, on his website.[2] In March 2008, Mike started his own solo podcast named The 40 Year Old Boy. At the end of season six, Schmidt made his first return to the podcast, this time as a guest, when Pardo decided, "Life's too short." (Show notes for Episode 623 with Mike Schmidt.)

Following Schmidt's departure, the show began its second season. Instead of the former three-man lineup, Pardo and Belknap appeared as the only regulars, along with a rotating guest every episode. Pat Francis was the guest for the first episode of the second season, which began the tradition of Francis being the "third chair" and appearing on every fourth episode. It was in the second season that the show received its first sponsorship, lasting only a few weeks. On episode 39 of the second season, it was announced that the show would move to a pay format beginning with season three. Listeners would have to pay to continue receiving the complete podcast, although the first twenty minutes of each episode would still be available for free. The subscription price was set to $19.99 for 26 episodes. They also hired Pardo's brother-in-law Andrew Koenig to record video of the show. Only 5 minute clips of the show were available on video during season three, which were hosted on Koenig's site Monkey Go Lucky, but beginning with season four, full video of the show became available for $24.99.

Midway through season six tragedy struck when Andrew Koenig died. An episode was released in remembrance, highlighting some of Koenig's best moments throughout his time on the show, and Pardo has since memorialized Koenig at the close of every episode with the parting words, "AK-47, gone, not forgotten." Andrew's close friend Eliot Hochberg, who had been providing the video equipment, assumed his role as videographer. Shortly afterwards they hired an intern, Dan Katz, aka "Tabasco Ears." Katz left the show at the beginning of season 11 and was replaced by Pop Culture Beast editor Garon Cockrell, aka "The Beast," shortly after.

On episode 1325, it was announced that at the beginning of season 14, Never Not Funny would change to a free show in audio format. Plus, Never Not Funny would also join the Earwolf podcast network, co-owned by Scott Aukerman (who was the guest on the episode and one of the only guests to appear in every season). Full audio would be available on Earwolf, iTunes and NNF's feed, while video of the episodes were part of the new "Players Club" package for Primo subscribers. Subscribers of the Players Club would also get an additional weekly episode (audio and video), plus bonus material such as live shows.

The show also now has a drone.

Pardcast-A-Thon

A mini episode was released at the beginning of season six that announced Never Not Funny would be doing a live, streaming podcast on their website to raise money in benefit of Smile Train. The first annual Pardcast-A-Thon took place on Black Friday 2009. Pardo, Belknap and Francis welcomed guests such as Chris Hardwick, Jon Hamm and Rich Sommer from Mad Men and Oscar Nunez. By the end of the night, they raised over $12,000.

The next year at Pardcast-A-Thon 2010, they changed the venue to the Acme Comedy Theater and went 12 hours instead of 9 to give even more of a telethon vibe (and raise more money). At the end of the night at 6 am, they raised $27,000. Guests included Rob Corddry, Sarah Silverman, Aimee Mann and Andy Richter.

For Pardcast-A-Thon 2011, the set up was the same as the previous year. Guests included Amy Poehler, Lisa Loeb, Walter Koenig and Adam Carolla. By the end of the event, the amount of money raised was almost double the previous year's total with $41,000.

Pardcast-A-Thon 2012 was expected to the biggest to date with a goal of $50,000 by the end of the night. The hours were changed to 12 pm to 12 am PST so people on the East Coast could stay up later and donate more. Guests included Bob Saget, Conan O'Brien, Simon Helberg, Kevin Nealon, Colin Hay and Zach Galifianakis. The goal of $50,000 was not only raised after 13.5 hours, but midway through an anonymous donor said they would match the end total, making the grand total over $100,000.

The 5th Annual Pardcast-A-Thon went by with flying colors with the guys raising over $130,000 (half of that thanks to the anonymous donor again) by the end of the night. Wayne Federman sat in for the whole event playing music on keyboard. Guests included Patton Oswalt, Jack Wagner, Phil Hendrie, Zach Galifianakis, Bob Odenkirk and Andy Richter.

Pardcast-A-Thon 2014 was just as successful as the previous year, if not more. With Federman as the house band again, Jimmy and the gang raised a record $156,000 over the night. Guests included Weird Al Yankovic, Jack McBrayer, Paul Dooley, Fred Willard, Billy Eichner, Patton Oswalt, Sarah Silverman and more.

Jimmy and Matt stated in a Season 16 episode that The 7th Annual Pardcast-A-Thon will not take place on Black Friday 2015, due to scheduling conflicts in the past. The 7th annual Pardcast-A-Thon took place on March 5, 2016. The event raised over $169,000.

Awards

List of guests

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
Guest Episode #
Aaron Bleyaert 14L
Adam Carolla 507, PCAT11
Adam Ferrara 1108, 1413, 1520
Adam Pally 1702
Adam Ray 1807
Adam Scott 808, 1402, PCAT14
Aimee Mann PCAT10
Aisha Tyler 919
Al Jackson 1318, 14V, 1715
Al Madrigal 701, 902
Alison Rosen 1606, PCAT16
Allan Havey 806, PCAT14
Amy Poehler PCAT11
Andrew Daly 302, 421, 624, 805, 1201, 1405, 1602, 1625, PCAT16
Andy Kindler 220, 703, 913, 1125
Andy Peters 15P
Andy Richter 410, 622, PCAT10, 821, PCAT11, PCAT13
Anthony Jeselnik 1619
Anthony Rapp 1621, 1720, PCAT16
April Richardson 14M, 15O, 16Y, 18C, PCAT16
Ben Gleib 1506
Ben Schwartz 1309, 1502, PCAT14, PCAT16
Bil Dwyer 148, 317, 422, 601, PCAT11, 1011, 15A
Billy Eichner 1510, PCAT14
Bob Odenkirk PCAT13
Bob Saget PCAT12, 1418
Bob Zany 1208
Brendon Walsh 17K
Bret Hart TORONTO
Brian Scolaro 15Y
Brody Stevens PCAT09
Brooks Wheelan 15E
Budd Friedman PCAT13
Carla Cackowski 17Z
Carolyn Hennesy PCAT13
Cathy Ladman 236, 416, 17A
CeCe Pleasants 17B
Chick McGee BLOOMINGTON12
Chip Chinery 17S
Chip Pope 17C
Chris Fairbanks 228, 406, 510, 625, 1007, 1213, 14W, PCAT14, 18B
Chris Hardwick 224, 310, 502, PCAT09, 1324, PCAT14
Chris Mancini 14D
Christian Finnegan BRIDGETOWN, 1225
Christy Stratton 1713
Colin Hay PCAT12
Conan O'Brien 608, 811, PCAT12, PCAT14
Costaki Economopoulos 1122
Craig Bierko 802, 1013, 1404
Cristela Alonzo 1617, 1725, PCAT16
Damien Fahey 910
Dan Cronin 1221
Dan Katz 14H
Dan Kaufman PCAT09
Dana Gould 1006
Danielle Fishel PCAT10
Danielle Koenig 132, 155, 205, 211, 226, 230, 239, 308, 412, 425, 522, PCAT09, 725, PCAT10, 912, PCAT11, 1014, PCAT12, 1308, PCAT13, 14F, PODFEST14, PCAT14, 16H, 17O, PCAT16
Dave Anthony 901, 1111
Dave Attell 1415
Dave Foley SKETCHFEST10
Dave Hill 16S
Dave Holmes 222, 225, 233, 301, 314, 401, 414, 512, 617, 726, PCAT10, PCAT11, 1002, 1113, PCAT12, 1317, PCAT13, 14A, 15K, PCAT14, 15Z, 1618, 1718, PCAT16
David Huntsberger 15D
David Koechner SKETCHFEST11
David & Leeman PCAT14
David Park 16B
David Steinberg 1724
Doug Benson 232, 305, 407, 516, PCAT10, 1023, PCAT12, PCAT13, 1511, PCAT14, PCAT16
Dwayne Perkins 1012
Ed Crasnick 917
Eddie Pepitone 1508
Eddie Trunk 816
Eli Braden PCAT11
Eliza Skinner 1705
Ellis Paul 810, ATLANTA, 1513, PCAT14, 1801
Erin Foley 1518, 16N
Florence Henderson SKETCHFEST12
Fred Stoller 1219, 14R
Fred Willard PCAT14
Garry Meier CHICAGO
Gary Brightwell 15N
Gary Gulman 1009, 1512
Gary Lucy 923, 14Q
Geoff Tate 18K
Graham Elwood 116, 203, 207, 237, 319, 418, 521, 616, PCAT10, 814, PCAT11, 1101, 1311, PCAT14, 1605
Greg Behrendt 318, 603, PCAT09, 702, BUMBERSHOOT, PCAT10, 825, PCAT11, PCAT12, 1202, PCAT13, 1409, PCAT14, 16T, PCAT16
Greg Fitzsimmons 505, 1116, 1806
Greg Proops 709, 1315
Greg Warren 15M
Guy Branum 1610
Harland Williams 1001, 1207
Horatio Sanz 1711
Howard Kremer 1218
Hugh Fink 1021, PCAT12
J. Keith van Straaten 16R
Jack McBrayer PCAT13
Jack Wagner PCAT13
Jackie Kashian 718, 15G
Jake Fogelnest 1719
Jake Johannsen 1316
James Urbaniak 1701
Jamie Denbo 17J
Janet Varney 419, 506, VANCOUVER, PCAT09, 708, 824, PCAT11, 1019, 1314, PCAT13, 1614, PCAT16
Jason Mantzoukas 1517
Jason Nash 14U, 1611
Jason Pardo 16M
Jason Thompson 1503, PCAT14
Jen Kirkman 409, 515, 622, PCAT10, 807, PCAT12, 1301, 1603, 1723
Jere Burns 1810
Jesse Thorn 503, 607, 707, PCAT10, 920, PCAT11, 1217, PCAT13, 1417
Jessica St. Clair 1419
Jill Kushner 17W
Jill Whelan PCAT13
Jimmy Dore 144, 220, 316, 423, 605, PCAT09, 711, 1003, 1319, 15R
Joe DeRosa 1507
Joe Lo Truglio 618, 823, PCAT11, 1401, 16F
Joe Wagner 16K
Joel Stein 1220, PCAT13
John Butler 16G
John Heffron 221
John Mulaney 1114
John Ross Bowie 916, PCAT11, 1211, 1403, 14N, PCAT14, 1524, 1703, 17Z, PCAT16
Jon Cryer 1812
Jon Dore 1205
Jon Hamm 403, SKETCHFEST09, PCAT09, 721, 820, PCAT11, PCAT12, 1320, PCAT13, PCAT14, 1525, 1708, SKETCHFEST16, PCAT16
Jonah Ray 1105
Jonathan Katz 1123
Jordan Brady 15F
Jordan Morris PCAT09, 613, 16W
Josh Comers 1307
Josh Gondelman 17F
Judy Gold 1303
Julian McCullough 1112, 17L
Justin Willman PCAT16, 1805
Karen Kilgariff 14S, 1716, 18I
Kate Flannery 1609
Kathleen Wilhoite PCAT14
Keith and The Girl 1109, 15H
Keith Stubbs 1215
Ken Marino 909
Kevin Bigley 1607, 17X
Kevin Meaney NYC
Kevin Nealon PCAT12, PCAT14
Kevin Pereira 1008
Kevin Pollak 716, PCAT10, PCAT12
Kira Soltanovich 15I, 15X
Kulap Vilaysack 1505, 16E, 1804
Kumail Nanjiani 1312, 1616
Kyle Anderson 1808
Laraine Newman PCAT12
Larry Miller 1704
Laura House 1118, 14G
Lauren Ash 1410, PCAT14, 1622, PCAT16
Lauren Lapkus 1615
Laurie Kilmartin 621, 818, 1412, 15C, 17P
Lennon Parham 1419
Lenny Schmidt 17I
Lisa Loeb PCAT11
Marc Maron 610
Maria Bamford 208, 234, 401, MAXFUN09, 526, PCAT09, 907, 1121, 1501
Mark Volman 517
Matt Besser 622, 1514
Matt Braunger 513, 719, 1103, 1408, PCAT14
Matt Gourley 15J, 16I
Matt Mira 17D
Matt Oswalt 1721
Matt Price 14X
Matt Walsh 313, 415, 518, 1015, 1216, PCAT13, 1411, 1608, 1714, PCAT16
Matt Weinhold 16C
Micah Sherman 1310
Michael Koman 1010
Michael Kosta 17G
Michael Sheen PCAT16
Mike Henry 15V
Mike McShane PCAT16
Mike Schmidt 623, 722, PCAT10, 925, 1018, PCAT12, 1222, PCAT13, 14C, PCAT14, 16F
Mike Siegel 124, 212, 235, 322, 420, 614, 1005, PCAT12, 1224, 14K, 16Q, 18A
Mike Sweeney 713, 1110
Mike Toomey CHICAGO
Mo Mandel 15S
Moshe Kasher 921, 1017
Murray Valeriano 15B
Myq Kaplan 915, 1115, 14P
Neil Campbell PCAT14
Neil Garguilo 16B
Nick Kroll 1519
Nikki Glaser 1620
Oscar Nunez PCAT09, 1304, 15L
Pat Francis 108, 140, 201, 205, 209, 213, 215, 217, 220, 221, 229, 230, 236, 240, 303, 307, 311, 315, 320, 325, 404, 408, 413, 416, 420, 425, 504, 508, 514, 519, 523, 604, 609, 619, 622, 704, 710, 714, 723, 804, 817, 906, 922, 1018, 1026, 1124, 1214, 1306, 14E, 14Z, 1515, 15U, 16F, 16O, 1707, 17R, 17Z, 1809
Patton Oswalt 321, 812, 1313, PCAT13, PCAT14
Paul Brittain 16V
Paul Dooley PCAT14
Paul F. Tompkins 128, 202, 214, 231, 309, 326, 426, 602, 715, PCAT10, 926, PCAT12, 1302, PCAT13, 1407, PCAT14, 1521, 1706, PCAT16
Paul Gilmartin 104, 120, 204, 223, 239, 324, 424, 524, PCAT09, PCAT10, 822, PCAT11, PCAT12, PCAT13, 14T, PCAT14, 17E, PCAT16
Paul Goebel 130
Paul Provenza 1523
Paul Reiser 1119, 1811
Paul Rust 615, PCAT10
Paul Scheer 1516, PCAT16
Pete Holmes 803, 1326, 1509
Pete Schwaba 152, 209, 216, 17U
Phil Hendrie 1107, PCAT13, PCAT14
Phil Rosenthal 1709, PCAT16
Rachel Dratch NYC
Rachel Quaintance 417, 525, PCAT09, 620, 801, PCAT10, PCAT11, 1024, 1210, 1323, 14B, PCAT14, 16A, 17N
Rebecca Corry 905, PCAT11
Rebecca Loebe 18J
Regan Burns 1204
Rich Sommer PCAT09, 612, PCAT10, 815, PCAT11, PCAT12, 1209, PODFEST13, PCAT13, 1406, 14O, PCAT14, 15T, 1601, 16F, 16U, PCAT16
Richard Kind 1802
Richard Lewis 1117
Richie "LaBamba" Rosenberg PCAT10
RJ Thieneman 14L
Rob Corddry 312, 402, PCAT10, 1120, PCAT12, 1504, PCAT16
Russ McGarry 903, 17H
Samm Levine 520, 1020, PCAT12
Sarah Colonna 1604
Sarah Silverman 706, PCAT10, PCAT12, PCAT14, PCAT16
Scott Aukerman 112, 130, 156, 206, 219, 227, 238, 304, 323, 411, 501, PCAT09, 626, 724, 826, 924, 1022, PCAT12, 1126, 1226, PCAT13, 1325, 1414, PCAT14, 1522, 1623, 1722, PCAT16
Scott Gimple PCAT14
Scott Thompson 720, 18G
Sean Cullen 819, 17Q
Seth Morris 1321
Shane Mauss 16L
Simon Helberg PCAT12
Sinbad 1421
The Sklar Brothers 210, 218, 509, 1425
Stefanie Wilder-Taylor 14J
Steve Agee PCAT10, 1206
Steve Almond 705
Steven Weber 1803
Super Dave Osborne PCAT13
Susannah Schaefer 16Z
Tami Sagher PCAT10, 1106
Tig Notaro 1004, 1416, PCAT14
Timothy Omundson PCAT16
Timothy Simons 1613
T.J. Miller 1612
Todd Barry 1710
Todd Glass 136, 306, 405, 511, 611, 809, 908, 1025, 1322, SKETCHFEST14, 1420, 16J, PCAT16
Todd Levin 606, PCAT09, 717, PCAT10, PCAT11, 1104, PCAT12, PCAT13, 1423, PCAT14, 16D, 1624, PCAT16
Todd Van Allen TORONTO
Tom Arnold 1016
Tom Dreesen PCAT10
Tom Snyder 1123
Tom Wilson 911
Tommy Johnagin 1102, 1305
Tony Thaxton PCAT13, PCAT14, PCAT16, 18F
Ty Burrell 712, 914
Vance Gilbert 1422
Walter Koenig PCAT11
Wayne Federman 918, PCAT11, 1212, PCAT13, PCAT14, 15W, 1712, PCAT16
"Weird Al" Yankovic 1424, PCAT14
Wendi McLendon-Covey PCAT14
Wendy Liebman 1203
Wil Anderson 904
Will Forte 813
Wink Martindale PCAT14
Zac Brooks AUSTIN
Zach Galifianakis PCAT12, PCAT13, PCAT14

References

  1. "Never Not Funny". Pardcast.com. 2013-11-29. Retrieved 2016-03-05. (subscription required (help)).
  2. blog.mikeschmidtcomedy.com Archived November 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. "Stand Up Comedy & Funny Videos on Rooftop Comedy". Rooftopcomedy.com. 2014-01-22. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
  4. "PodCastAwards.com". PodCastAwards.com. 2014-01-17. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
  5. "Nominations - Best Podcast". The 2006 Weblog Awards. 2006-11-13. Retrieved 2014-02-05.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, May 05, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.