If you don't listen to any podcasts, you are missing out; especially if you have an iPhone. There is a podcast app that you can't delete on your phone and instead of hiding it in a folder with your compass and stock ticker, you should actually try using it.
This year was all about Serial, but I kind of gave up on it after the first episode (actually, I don't think I finished the first one). My go-to podcast has always been Hollywood Babble-On with Ralph Garman and Kevin Smith, but in the fall last year they had a long hiatus that caused me to look elsewhere. For a time, I listened to the Seinfeld podcast Seincast, but I haven't listened to it much lately. No, my new favorite is How Did This Get Made?
HDTGM has been around for years, but based on the title I always thought it was going to be about how they make, say, lightbulbs or something. Instead, it is about movies that are so bad they are good. If you ever had fun sitting around with your friends watching and making fun of a bad movie, then you will like this podcast. Hosts Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas (both from the FXX show The League) and June Diane Raphael choose about one movie a week to watch and discuss, often with a guest. The show is really fun to listen to, even if you have never seen the movie. In fact, I don't think I have ever found out what movie they are going to do, watched it, and THEN listened to the show. I'll have to try it, but I don't really want to buy a bad movie online!
One movie that they love over at HDGTM, which is "bad" but actually good is Crank and Crank 2 starring Jason Statham. Those two movies are going to air on Spike TV next week, so I am going to watch both of them and report back to you.
In case you want to start listening to HDTGM, here is the low down. You can sign up for it and start by listening to the next episode that comes out (they start with a mini episode where they announce the next movie and go over corrections and commissions from the last movie) then they do a podcast a few days later on the actual movie. You can also, however, go into the feed and listen to past movies. Search for a movie you like/hate/have seen or go with one of my recommendations (again, you do not actually need to watch the movie to enjoy the podcast). Here are a few that I think were really good:
Episode 50: Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2
What is funny about this one is how much they actually liked the last half of the movie! Be sure to listen to the mini episode afterwards when Paul goes over the corrections and omissions, too.
Episode 63: Fast and Furious 6
This is an example of a movie that they all really liked, which is usual for this show. Plus the guest is Adam Scott (who does NOT actually sing the theme song).
Episode 69: Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles
This one (and episode about The Punisher) is interesting because they interview the writer of the movie and he gives an inside look into how movies are actually made, which is usually not what this podcast is actually about
I'll have to think some more about which other episodes I would recommend - I want to pick at least one live episode, but I'll have to think about it some more!
Here is an interview with Paul over at RogerEbert.com that gives more information about the show:
http://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/interview-paul-scheer-of-how-did-this-get-made
