I believe that Kevin Smith is one of the great raconteurs working in America today. I have enjoyed all of his movies (excluding Cop Out, but including Jersey Girl), but have never seen any of them in the theater. Ever since I bought Mallrats, I’ve always waited to buy the DVD because I knew that I would love the commentary tracks on the films even more than the films themselves. Kevin has also made three amazing DVDs of his Q&As from various speaking gigs.
So when I first tarted listening to podcasts it was at least in part because I knew that Kevin Smith had one with his friend/producer, Scott Mosier. I have faithfully listened to all of the Smodcast network podcasts, and am working my way through all of the Smodcast Internet Radio shows. I’ve enjoyed many of them, but I think my favorite is Hollywood Babble-On with Ralph Garmin.
All of the HB-O shows are recorded live from the John Lovitz Podcast Theater in Hollywood, and the live atmosphere really adds to the show. While some of Kevin’s live shows have too much banter with the audience, HB-O seems to have the right mix of drunken laughter and shouting without it ever being too much.
Kevin’s performance is exactly what you’ve come to expect from him. If you like dick jokes, stoner jokes, fat jokes, references to anal sex, and the occasional Hollywood insider story, Kev is your man. If you are easily offended, this podcast is not for you. The real difference maker here is Garmin.
I was only familiar with Ralph Garmin from the great faux-reality show, The Joe Schmoe Show. (Maybe a retro Obsessions review is due for that) He is also a popular radio personality and brings his own audience to the shows. They call themselves The Garmy. He is an impressionist by trade and has several he does throughout the show. His most recurring ones are Al Pacino, Sean Connery, Adam West (TVs Batman), and Ed Wynn. He has a similar self-depreciating style that plays off of Kevin well.
The shows have several recurring segments that keep them from meandering the way other Smodcast shows sometimes do. Each have really funny fanmade audio cues that become a way for the audience to connect from episode to episode. They start each show by giving shout-outs to people in the audience who have traveled a long way to get there, or are celebrating a special occasion. Anyone celebrating a birthday or anniversary is encouraged to have anal sex for their special day. It’s a specific kind of humor, as I mentioned.
The Hollywood news of the week is discussed. They discuss actors who have passed away that week in a segment titled “Tinseltown Stiffs.” It sounds disrespectful, but actually is usually a fairly touching tribute to under-heralded entertainers “who will be missed.” Every episode ends with a segment titled “How Big is Liam Neeson’s Cock?” So named because of a popular Hollywood rumor that he is very well hung. There is a website where fans write in jokes about the size of Liam Neeson’s cock and Ralph reads the best of them each week.
The Hollywood news of the week is discussed. They discuss actors who have passed away that week in a segment titled “Tinseltown Stiffs.” It sounds disrespectful, but actually is usually a fairly touching tribute to under-heralded entertainers “who will be missed.” Every episode ends with a segment titled “How Big is Liam Neeson’s Cock?” So named because of a popular Hollywood rumor that he is very well hung. There is a website where fans write in jokes about the size of Liam Neeson’s cock and Ralph reads the best of them each week.
If you think that joke is funny, Hollywood Babble-On is well worth your hour’s time. It is free to download at the Hollywood Babble-On page.
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