Professor Blastoff
{{Short description|Comedy podcast}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox podcast
| title = Professor Blastoff
| image = Professor_Blastoff_logo.jpg
| caption = Logo
| host = Tig Notaro, Kyle Dunnigan, David Huntsberger and guest host Aaron Burrell
| genre = Comedy, science, philosophy, absurdism, improv, entertainment, talk
| status = Weekly
| length = 60–90 minutes
| language = English
| opentheme = "Professor Blastoff" Opening Theme by Tim Farrell
| endtheme = "Welp, that's been podcast."
| audio format = MP3
| num_episodes = 217
| list_episodes = List of Professor Blastoff episodes
| began = May 15, 2011
| ended = July 21, 2015
| ratings = Charted in 4 countries
| provider = Earwolf Media
| license = Stitcher Radio
| website = {{URL|https://www.professorblastoff.com}}
| production = Scott Aukerman
}}
Professor Blastoff was a weekly comedy audio podcast, which was released every Tuesday and lasted four years from May 15, 2011 to July 21, 2015. It was hosted by comedians Tig Notaro, Kyle Dunnigan and David Huntsberger. The topics ranged from scientific, philosophical, metaphysical and humanitarian with guest host Aaron Burrell assisting in the research, who was also Tig's assistant at the time.{{cite web|url=https://audioboom.com/channel/professorblastoff|title=Professor Blastoff|publisher=audioBoom|date=July 21, 2015|accessdate=2018-05-14|archive-date=May 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515043614/https://audioboom.com/channel/professorblastoff|url-status=live}}
History
The podcast was broadcast as part of the Earwolf comedy podcasting network, being recorded in studios owned by the company. In late 2012 and early 2013, the podcast went on tour across the U.S. and recorded live episodes at comedy festivals and small venues. The 100th episode was shot on camera.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMz2-c6KnpQ|title=Professor Blastoff – 100th Episode! – Earwolf – Video Podcast Network|publisher=YouTube|date=April 23, 2013|accessdate=2018-05-14|archive-date=November 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106235352/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMz2-c6KnpQ&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}} In 2015, Kyle reported that "Tig got too busy."{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2015/10/01/comedian-kyle-dunnigan-on-stand-up-professor-blastoff-and-that-time-he-danced-onstage-with-amy-schumer-jennifer-lawrence-and-billy-joel/?noredirect=on|title=Comedian Kyle Dunnigan on stand-up, 'Professor Blastoff,' and dancing onstage with Amy Schumer, Jennifer Lawrence and Billy Joel|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 1, 2015|accessdate=2018-05-14}} So they decided to end it for good.{{cite web|url=http://splitsider.com/2015/07/so-long-professor-blastoff/|title=So Long, 'Professor Blastoff'|publisher=Splitsider|date=July 24, 2015|accessdate=2018-05-14|archive-date=May 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515044031/http://splitsider.com/2015/07/so-long-professor-blastoff/|url-status=live}}
=Theme song change=
The first episodes of the podcast had a theme song{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j40ODPoO9U|title=Original "Professor Blastoff" Theme|publisher=YouTube|date=September 13, 2012|accessdate=2018-05-14|archive-date=January 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120224615/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j40ODPoO9U|url-status=live}} by the hosts of the show, then in June 2011, podcast listener Tim Farrell submitted a new theme song that the show used until it ended.{{cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/timfarrell-1/theme-from-professor-blastoff|title=Theme from Professor Blastoff|publisher=SoundCloud|date=June 5, 2011|accessdate=2018-05-14|archive-date=January 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120224544/https://soundcloud.com/timfarrell-1/theme-from-professor-blastoff|url-status=live}}
=Tig's diagnosis=
In the Spring through Fall of 2012, Notaro was absent from a lot of the podcast episodes due to various sicknesses she experienced in a short time period, which she documented on her Grammy-nominated album, Live.{{cite web |url=http://secretlycanadian.com/blog/2012/09/tig-notaro-to-release-new-album-live-via-louis-c-ks-website-watch-her-recent-interview-on-conan/ |title=Tig Notaro To Release New Album 'LIVE' Via Louis C.K's Website |publisher=SecretlyCanadian.com |date=September 25, 2012 |accessdate=2018-04-21 |archive-date=April 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421232223/http://secretlycanadian.com/blog/2012/09/tig-notaro-to-release-new-album-live-via-louis-c-ks-website-watch-her-recent-interview-on-conan/ |url-status=live }}
=Streaming=
The podcast could be streamed from the Earwolf website or downloaded from iTunes up until June 14, 2016, when it was switched to exclusively being hosted by Stitcher Radio.{{cite web|url=https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/earwolf-premium/professor-blastoff-2|title=STITCHER PREMIUM Professor Blastoff|publisher=Stitcher Radio|date=July 20, 2015|accessdate=2018-05-14|archive-date=May 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515044029/https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/earwolf-premium/professor-blastoff-2|url-status=live}}
Guests
Many notable people in the world of comedy, music, television and film have appeared on the podcast, including Amy Schumer, Ira Glass, Aisha Tyler, Pete Holmes, and Marc Maron.{{cite web|url=https://www.earwolf.com/show/professor-blastoff/|title=Professor Blastoff|publisher=Earwolf|date=June 14, 2016|accessdate=2018-05-14|archive-date=May 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515044104/https://www.earwolf.com/show/professor-blastoff/|url-status=live}}
Format
The backstory of how the podcast came to be was that a scientist, Professor R.L. Blastoff, Ph.D., got lost in space and reports back findings to his abandoned basement, or the "Hatch," via radio signal and determines the subject of each episode. At the beginning of each episode, Aaron dialed into the signal to see what they will discuss that day after the hosts updated the listeners about what was going on in their lives. Then, the guest was introduced and is either an expert in the field of the subject or very interested in talking about it. As the conversation goes on, Kyle is usually riffing on his various characters and impressions, Tig is being silly, and David is trying to keep everyone on track of getting back to the subject.
Features
Throughout the show's history, Kyle introduced his various impressions and skits such as Donald Trump, Tim Gunn, Bill Maher, Swamp Rock, the game show Name that Punky, Mother Meditations, Top-shelf Thoughts, Knockout Ball, and improvised raps using only noises from his body.{{cite web|url=http://howl.fm/audio/playlists/4358/professor-blastoff|title=Professor Blastoff|publisher=Howl FM|date=June 14, 2016|accessdate=2018-05-14|archive-date=April 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430050328/http://howl.fm/audio/playlists/4358/professor-blastoff|url-status=live}}
Reception
The podcast has charted in the following countries: United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Australia.{{cite web|url=http://www.itunescharts.net/us/artists/podcast/earwolf/podcasts/professor-blastoff/|title=Earwolf – 'Professor Blastoff' American iTunes Chart Performance|publisher=iTunescharts.net|date=July 29, 2015|accessdate=2018-05-14|archive-date=May 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515044230/http://www.itunescharts.net/us/artists/podcast/earwolf/podcasts/professor-blastoff/|url-status=live}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.earwolf.com/show/professor-blastoff/}}
{{Tig Notaro}}