Lovely ;)

Jon Hamm's Colossal Fail at Executive Producing a Podcast. Let's start with the most painful: the credits at the end of the podcast. 39 names were given credit for making the podcast. THIRTY NINE. OK, I get it, you had lots of help, but don't waste my time reading every name that got you coffee or loaned you a newspaper clipping. True, I can fast forward thru the names, but what's the purpose? Regarding the content: I don't think Hamm recognizes the podcast format to create an engaging production. Podcasts aren't serial radio shows. Podcasts tell a story - of an individual or event - using a reporter or narrator and real-life participants. Hamm thinks it's a scripted story using voice actors! And since they are acting, they are ACTING, not telling a story. I listened to Episode 1 and Episode 2. Episode 2 did nothing to advance the story, it was a rehash of Episode 1 so it left me not wanting more. And each episode is short by Podcast standards, removing intro, commercials and the 39 name credits, the episodes were only 20 minutes. The story had possibilities, I'll probably look it up and read about it, but as a podcast this is a colossal fail.

A brilliant depiction of real life events, American Hostage revisits Tony Kiritsis' insistence that his cause is covered by local radio host Fred Heckman. The story explores the complexities of human actions beyond simple good and evil. The sound design truly makes you feel you're in the 70s, and the hustle and hustle of public and media responses to the developing situation juxtapose well with the mundane (if erratic) waiting game playing out on the scene. Great acting, direction and editing really elevate this to a top tier piece of audio drama.