I haven't read it yet, but it seems to get good reviews, and I have a spare dollar.
(I haven't linked it because I'm not sure if that's too spammy, but it's easy to find)
On March 30, 2019, my dream came true. I was going to see James Acaster live in Bloomington, Indiana. My wife and I drove from St. Louis to Bloomington (about four hours) to attend the show. We got in line early for the late show and while there, met a nice (at the time) couple. They had also driven a long way, from Arkansas, and we started talking about James. It was clear from our conversation that the young woman was a much bigger fan and the young man was along for the ride.
Once the first show cleared out, we made our way to a table front and center, about as close to the stage as possible. My wife and I had brought an 8x10 photo and a copy of James' book, hoping he would sign them. The couple we met also had a copy of the book, hoping for an autograph.
The show starts, James is extremely sick. His voice is off, he has a cup of hot tea to help his throat, he definitely lacked the energy he normally has but he powered through and gave us a show when he would have had every right to cancel.
Partway through the show, James mentions something about Brexit, I can't remember what exactly, but the dude we met in line who was now at our table INTERRUPTS JAMES AND CORRECTS HIM. The thing is, James was right and the guy at the table was wrong. Even after being told he was wrong, our guy doubled down and continued. After a minute, he finally stops and the show continues.
After the show, James takes questions. Well, guess who decides he should speak up? You guessed it, the big old dummy who I am literally moving my chair away from.
What does he decide to ask? I don't remember the exact question, but he says something about how "It doesn't seem like you and Ed Gamble are actually friends", completely misunderstanding James and Ed's banter as being genuinely unfriendly, something literally no other person on earth thinks.
The audience completely turns in this dillweed and I am a good five feet away from my table at this point to literally distance myself from this guy I just met.
The show ends, my wife and I get up and don't say a word to the couple. As I said, James was sick and didn't meet fans face to face but the club manager took my book and picture back. Remember how this couple had a book, too? Well, James had made note of it during the Q-and-A and pointed out that for an alleged superfan, the guy sure didn't know much of anything.
Luckily, I got my picture and book signed. The picture was signed "Thanks for coming, James Acaster". Super cool!
Th
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UPDATE: David Baddiel was on last night, Seth is just collecting all the Taskmaster Faves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O3N1HadPPA
Not Panel show specific, but as an American fan of British panel shows, James Acaster doing more and longer American press is so exciting!!
From carrying 99% of panel shows in 2021?
I would be very interested in seeing this, as it received extremely mixed reviews at the time and the few clips I have seen online make it look like an unfunny "The Thick of It" rip-off, with baffling courtroom inaccuracies.
The plot, according to the British Comedy Guide, is as follows: "A group of idiots [are] appointed to be the jury on a murder trial."
Any chance this is floating around somewhere?
I posted this on the earwolf subreddit as well, but I figured some people here might find it relevant since it's a food podcast and a number of these people have been on Doughboys/are Doughboys adjacent. Also it feels like we need an Off Menu/Doughboys crossover, especially now that zoom podcasts are so common.
I'm a big fan of this podcast and they've had a number of Earwolf adjacent people on the show, so I've decided to do a ranked list of my favorites. For anyone who's completely unaware, the show is James and Ed inviting a guest into the dream restaurant and going through their dream meal course by course. If you like Doughboys and hearing conversations about food with a lot in-jokes and the hosts razzing each other this is probably up your street. If you haven't consumed much UK comedy it would also be a good intro to that.
- Mary Lynn Rajskub - Mary Lynn has a real chaotic, aggressive, aloof and vaguely flirtatious energy in this episode and I love it.
- Paul F. Tompkins - It's PFT, you throw him on any old pod and he's gonna be one of the top eps.
- Natasha Leggero and Moshe Kasher - James and Ed do a fun faux competition deciding if Moshe or Natasha has a better menu and Moshe scrambles to defend his choices.
- Aparna Nancherla - This ep is just consistently light, fun and snappy. Aparana has a good rapport with Ed and James. Also, I learned about the bagel head fad.
- Anthony Jeselnik - This is sort of an infamous ep amongst fans, which some people hate. James' and Anthony's energies clash in a way I think is fun and James loses all confidence. I think some people take Anthony's persona a bit too seriously, I've heard him on CBB so I know he can be a fun silly guy.
- Wyatt Cenac - I like Wyatt, a lot of times his comedic persona is sort of dry and cynical political commentary but he seems to be having a fun time in this ep and it's got a really good silly energy.
- David Cross - One of the most fun parts of the podcast is James getting angry at guests' choices, either David knows this or picks up on it very quickly.
- [Todd Barry](
Weird question, I know, but every time I think of Big Ben, I think of "tickety ted, the time telling bitch."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opZHd2BE9kE
I'm a big fan of this podcast and they've had a number of Earwolf adjacent people on the show, so I've decided to do a ranked list of my favorites. For anyone who's completely unaware, the show is James and Ed inviting a guest into the dream restaurant and going through their dream meal course by course. If you like Doughboys and hearing conversations about food with a lot in-jokes and the hosts razzing each other this is probably up your street. If you haven't consumed much UK comedy it would also be a good intro to that.
- Mary Lynn Rajskub - Mary Lynn has a real chaotic, aggressive, aloof and vaguely flirtatious energy in this episode and I love it.
- Paul F. Tompkins - It's PFT, you throw him on any old pod and he's gonna be one of the top eps.
- Natasha Leggero and Moshe Kasher - James and Ed do a fun faux competition deciding if Moshe or Natasha has a better menu and Moshe scrambles to defend his choices.
- Aparna Nancherla - This ep is just consistently light, fun and snappy. Aparana has a good rapport with Ed and James. Also, I learned about the bagel head fad.
- Anthony Jeselnik - This is sort of an infamous ep amongst fans, which some people hate. James' and Anthony's energies clash in a way I think is fun and James loses all confidence. I think some people take Anthony's persona a bit too seriously, I've heard him on CBB so I know he can be a fun silly guy.
- Wyatt Cenac - I like Wyatt, a lot of times his comedic persona is sort of dry and cynical political commentary but he seems to be having a fun time in this ep and it's got a really good silly energy.
- David Cross - One of the most fun parts of the podcast is James getting angry at guests' choices, either David knows this or picks up on it very quickly.
- Todd Barry - Todd Barry is a well known picky eater so listening to James and Ed pick that apart is fun, also Todd Barry is very funny and his dry medium-energy pairs well with the British sensibility.
- Kumail Nanjiani
