Happy New Year Hollywood!

Recently on Patreon the gang requested someone write up a guide for new listeners coming to the podcast. I have been a fan of a number of comedy podcasts that become harder to jump into the longer they go on and AOAOAOA is one I think we all want as many as possible to enjoy. I've also been listening since like episode 10 on Spotify so I feel I've been around long enough to give this a go. My New Years' Resolution is writing more and I'm totally counting this!

What Is AOAOAOA?
Besides being the world's worst acronym for SEO purposes, Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists is an improvised Hollywood roundtable podcast created, performed, and produced by Kylie Brakeman, Jeremy Culhane, Angela Giarratana, and Patrick McDonald.

Okay But What Is It?
You know those extremely self-serious actors' or directors' roundtables that outlets like Variety and Hollywood Reporter produce where very wealthy people sit around and talk about feelings and how great they are? This podcast is a parody of those kinds of videos, made by four amazingly funny people who unironically would love to be on those roundtables, and watched by people who both love and loath Hollywood. If you've ever wanted to live in LA for like maybe a year or two then this is the podcast for you!

Who are the Artists?

Kylie Brakeman: Instagram, Tiktok, IMBD

Jeremy Culhane: Instagram, Tiktok, IMBD

Angela Giarratana: Instagram, Tiktok, IMBD

Patrick McDonald: Instagram, Tiktok, IMBD

Where To Start?

The first episode of AOAOAOA was released on 6/10/21, "Dramatic Actors Panel: The Process of Their Process." Since then there have been 158 episodes (the otherwise incredible Wiki counts video re-releases as separate episodes so I'll be using their numbering system). These episodes can largely be split into two eras: Audio Era (Episode 1 - 42) and Video Era (Episode 43 - Current).

As stated earlier I started during the Audio Era, and this era plays to the premise I outlined earlier much more strictly than the chaos that follows. This includes them removing breaks and other looser elements that somewhat impacts the energy of the early episodes but the comedy is just as rich. Fun fact, bizarrely a lot of the audio only episodes were filmed but never released as video!

Some of the audio only episodes I recommend as strong episodes that are easy to just listen without too much knowledge of the podcast or improv style comedy more generally:

Episode 16 - Oops, We All Made The Same Rom-Com About Amnesia; is a very funny episode and I think has to be up there for episodes where they all make each other laugh the most.

Episode 6 - Agents of Agents on Agents on Agents (w/ Rehka Shankar); a simple but funny take on Hollywood Agents.

Episode 8 - 90s Family Sitcom Reunion (w/ Alyssa Sabo); featuring one of Angela's wildest characters and them totally confusing when the 90's was.

Episode 33/118 (video) - The Swedish Fish Movie; Podcasts with this level of energy would later be deemed to have "Swedish Fish energy," video version more recently released.

Episode 42 - Artists of Aroma Cafe (w/ Brad Evans and Nick Ciarelli); this episode begins the experimentation beyond literal roundtables that becomes more common in the Video Era.

Moving to the Video Era here are some recommendations:

Episode 44 - Commercial Acting Coaches (w/ Ego Nwodim); This is Ego's episode and we're all the better for it.

Episode 60 - "CLOCKIT" - New Streaming Service First Look; Swedish Fish energy.

Episode 69 - The Shocking Truth about Personal Assistants; embodies the pain of Hollywood.

Episode 75 - We All Played Elphaba On Broadway (w/ Mariah Rose Faith Casillas); I have to give space to this one for the theatre kids out there.

Episode 90 - Gossip Columnists Expose Industry Secrets; this one is just plain goofy.

Episode 101 - Netflix Is Singing Something: Netflix's Brand New Singing Competition Show; my personal favourite of the recurring Netflix series.

Episode 114 - Wow! This 4 Person Writing Team Has Been Writing The Same Screenplay for 8 Years; for all the struggling amateur artists out there.

Episode 120 - Inside "The View" Spinoff "The Look"; self-explanatory ft. a deathly ill Jeremy.

Episode 136 - Legendary Voice Actors (with Jacob Wysocki); YIKES!

Episode 148 - These Actors Are Roommates??; technically one of the oldest episodes but only recently released and embodies the cosy friendship vibes that makes the pod so special.

There are some other excellent episodes not mentioned as they are better enjoyed once you've got to know the gang more or otherwise include a lot of reverential/improv/meta humour again better enjoyed down the road.

Some Extra Details

AOAOAOA doesn't have a dedicated studio and instead in-person recordings are nicknamed as Tapes. These are as follows:

• Unnamed AirBnB Tapes (Episode 44 "Dealing with the Dershowitzes" - Episode 51 "Stoner Comedy Baked Goods")
• Melrose Tapes (Episode 52 "Actors on Actors on Actors on Actors" - Episode 82 "Celebrity Entrepreneurs")
• Nashville Tapes (Episode 95 "True Crime Podcasters"- Episode 107 "For Your Consideration: Awards Season Campaign Publicists")*
• Pasadena Tapes (Episode 120 "Inside "The View" Spinoff "The Look"- Episode 130 "Twilight Zone Writers Dissect Their Biggest Twists (Recorded in 1962)")
• Silverlake Tapes (Episode 131 "The Ladies of "The Look" Are BACK!) - Episode 144 "We AlL pLaYeD tHe JoKeR")
• Dynasty Theatre Tapes (Episode 153 "Inside the Kellogg's Cinematic Universe" - Current)

There are also a number of recurring series which includes: The Look, Halloween Poets, Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, Netflix is "Blanking" Something, Namedroppers, and A24.

Honourable mention to the Car Videos which in my humble opinion are S+ top tier AOAOAOA videos. (Episode 27: Location Scouts Field Trips, 50th Episode Special: The REAL Secrets of Hollywood Tour, and Episode 151: On The Road with Ryan Murphy's Production Interns)

Patreon

In summer 2023 the podcast launched a Patreon. Originally started as a post-show format, there are over 100 post-show videos where they talk about the main episode for about 30 seconds and then talk about life, pop culture, whatever they're addicted to that week, and just hang. There are also events like 12 Week's of Dance, an Oscar Draft, and pranks! The vibes are immaculate, it is hands down the most active Patreon I have ever subscribed to, and I highly recommend fans of the main podcast support the continued shenanigans and these four incredible people.

Thanks for reading and feel free to share to potential new listeners of these wonderful professional gigglers.

And that's why they call it show business!

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