What the hell is The Punch trying to be? in The Punch Forum

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Mar 23 11 4:00 PM

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So just what is The Punch supposed to be? I guess the guest monologue from the first episode has been dropped. So that leaves it as a weird mix of live theatre sketch comedy, but only presented in audio - which was not how the sketches were meant to be experienced. Then it is all topped off with a marginal live music performance.

For me, if I want a comedic monologue I will go with The Moth, I am sure there are others.

If I want a 'radio drama' well, there are millions of old time radio shows available in podcast form, there are some short form modern comedic 'radio plays' such as Thrilling Adventure Hour and Mike Detective.

Or there is the expert mix of the both but with documentary subjects like This American Life, or just the documentary with audio design that is Radio Lab.

Maybe if The Punch was funny or compelling it wouldn't be a problem, but I get the impression that no one involved has any idea what it is, so how in the hell is a listener supposed to know what it is...other than a waste of time.

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neilt0

Posts: 13,156

#1 [url]

Mar 23 11 4:03 PM

Fuck knows what it's supposed to be -- I tapped out after the first episode. Pretentious, smug, codswallop.

Neil T. (Zero) | #1 UK FanArolla | NeilTube | I Check Movies

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JustinRJ

Posts: 281

#2 [url]

Mar 23 11 4:39 PM

I don't know what the Punch is trying to be but it is much more competent at whatever it is doing than the other incredibly unpolished shows on the Ace broadcasting network. It is far from perfect but at least it aspires to do something different. Whereas the Punch seems like a show with some talented people behind it, the other podcasts feature people who have no business being in front of a microphone. The Big 3, the Parenting Experiment, etc. (basically all of the non-Adam podcasts) are embarrassingly amateurish.

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tardbasket

Posts: 3,695

#3 [url]

Mar 23 11 9:56 PM

The only show that works with prepared pages [was] Daves of Thunder.

Never forget.

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laxdude

Posts: 4,281

#4 [url]

Mar 25 11 1:56 PM

To me it is just as incompetent as the other shows, just in all new ways. It is created as a live show to be performed in front of an audience. Then they chose to package it as an audio podcast (again, Donny the retarded beaver does not think in audio).

I have no idea who the host is, but they seem to use 5th tier sketch comedy talent.

Again, I just think that no one knows what it is supposed to be, or is too afraid to admit that it is a variety show, because no one wants a variety show.

I guess I will just keep waiting until I hear the Sabre Dance kick in and they announce a plate spinner is up next or they bring out a ventriloquist. Maybe they could book Candace Bergan's kid to recreate grand-dad's famous act.

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Kulu

Posts: 1

#5 [url]

Mar 26 11 1:50 PM

I've enjoyed the show so far. I think it works fine as an audio show. It seems to be kinda unsure of itself but it's made me laugh each time. There may be shows that are doing it better but it's not going to bother me to have another funny sketch show to fill up my boring workweek with. It's only 3 episodes in ... give it a chance.

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