Like a sitcom, but in my ears

April 25, 2011 1:26 PM

Scripted comedy podcasts?

Many of the comedy podcasts I've seen recommended here and elsewhere, are of the same general format: a handful of funny people sit around a microphone and toss banter around. While some of these (Seven Second Delay is one) can be good, I'd prefer something with a more scripted format.

Sketch shows might be all right, but what I really want is something with recurring characters in absurd situations and running jokes that get funnier week after week. Like a sitcom, but in my ears.

For reference as to my sense of humor, I love love love Wiretap. I've also listened to the Pod F. Tompkast and for the most part found it grating. Anything else I should try?

posted by mumblingmynah to media & arts (14 answers total)

PFT's a regular on The Best Show on WFMU, which does a lot of scripted and intricate skits with recurring characters, though they're live on the air.
posted by Victorvacendak at 1:35 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]

Have you listened to Superego?
posted by bonobothegreat at 1:35 PM on April 25, 2011 [1 favorite]

CBC hasd a few:

Comedy Factory
The Irrelevant Show
Laugh Out Loud

These are all sketch or standup but one might fit your bill: Vinyl Cafe Stories. It's basically a sitcom.
posted by GuyZero at 1:37 PM on April 25, 2011

Rob Heubal just started doing Mike Detective recently w/ Neil Campbell & Scott Aukerman writing. Might something you'd dig.
posted by yeahyeahyeahwhoo at 1:49 PM on April 25, 2011 [2 favorites]

On The Best Show - there's Best Show Gems which is (generally) the scripted, absurd, running joke-filled Scharpling/Wurster Newbridge bits without all the callers.
posted by The Bridge on the River Kai Ryssdal at 2:11 PM on April 25, 2011

Not directly what you asked for, but the BBC has a continuing tradition of radio sketch comedy and sitcoms.

You should be able to listen to a wide variety of stuff via their iPlayer.
posted by AmbroseChapel at 3:04 PM on April 25, 2011

Vinyl Cafe Stories is too... wholesome for me, I think. And to be clear, I don't like Pod F Tompkast.

Checking out the others now. Please keep the suggestions coming if there are more!
posted by mumblingmynah at 3:09 PM on April 25, 2011

The Thrilling Adventure Hour? I've only listened to a couple of episodes so far - it's a live performance recorded in the style of the old radio shows. The first episode seemed like it would have been funnier as a videocast, but the next worked perfectly as audio-only.
posted by oh yeah! at 4:25 PM on April 25, 2011

Seconding Thrilling Adventure Hour and Mike Detective. And the Pod F. Tompkast has it in smaller doses -- he usually plays a sketch from his stage show, and does an ongoing scripted phone conversation bit with several of his characters, but those aren't his whole show.

Wiretap is something you may enjoy as well.
posted by sherman at 7:36 PM on April 25, 2011

And my god, I must have just skimmed the second part of your question. So let me add another: The David Feldman comedy podcast does scripted bit alot. Not always great, but I always love Eddie Pepitone on there.
posted by sherman at 7:42 PM on April 25, 2011

Sean Cullen has a podcast. Sean Cullen is hilarious.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:27 PM on April 25, 2011

The Great Eastern is probably one of the greatest Canadian (or Newfoundland and Labrador) radio comedies of all time. More about the show.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:47 PM on April 25, 2011

Some of Geologic is scripted, some of it isn't, but it's worth checking out if you're into the any of the subject material (mostly music, skepticism, and general weirdness). He does both sketches and rants.
posted by NoraReed at 10:55 PM on April 25, 2011

The "10 O'Clock Live" podcast from, um, BBC 4?, is basically all but the sight gags from the weekly show. As such, it's recorded live but bvbiously scripted.

I like it a lot (though maybe that's because I have been listening to it while I paint my house...).
posted by wenestvedt at 12:09 PM on April 26, 2011