Walking the Room
{{Short description|Comedy podcast}}
{{Primary sources|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox Podcast
| title = Walking the Room
| image = Walking the Room Podcast Cover.png
| hosting = Greg Behrendt
Dave Anthony
| language = English
| updates = Mondays
| length = 1 Hour
| production = Dave Anthony
| began = May 24, 2010
| ended = April 10, 2015
| genre = Comedy
| num_episodes = 206
| url =
}}
Walking the Room was a comedy podcast hosted by American comedians Greg Behrendt and Dave Anthony. The free, hour-long weekly show debuted via web and iTunes on May 24, 2010, and was recorded in Behrendt's closet in Los Angeles, California.{{cite web |url=http://www.christineetaylor.com/2010/10/greg-behrendt-dave-anthony-walking-room.html |title=Podcasting Changes Everything - Greg Behrendt & Dave Anthony: Walking The Room |first=Christine E. |last=Taylor |date=October 18, 2010 |access-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-date=September 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902160235/http://www.christineetaylor.com/2010/10/greg-behrendt-dave-anthony-walking-room.html |url-status=live }} Each episode was broken into three segments that typically involve rants and banter between the hosts,{{cite web |url=http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/2010/10/3hree_things_two_guys_one_mic.php |title=3hree Things: Two Guys, One Mic |first=Riley |last=Breckenridge |work=Heard Mentality |date=October 12, 2010 |access-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-date=April 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416045712/http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/2010/10/3hree_things_two_guys_one_mic.php |url-status=live }} but occasional guests have included Patton Oswalt, Karen Kilgariff, Brian Posehn, Jimmy Pardo, Jonah Ray, Brendon Walsh, Jen Kirkman and TOFOP hosts Wil Anderson and Charlie Clausen. Anthony produced and edited the show. Behrendt originally created the opening theme, “Estoy Podcuddle,” under the name HoboTang,{{cite web |url=http://www.thereigningmonarchs.com/news/walking-the-room-theme-estoy-pod |title=Walking the Room Theme "Estoy Podcuddle" |first=Greg |last=Behrendt |date=January 18, 2011 |access-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-date=June 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606151601/http://www.thereigningmonarchs.com/news/walking-the-room-theme-estoy-pod |url-status=live }} and most of the music played on the show is performed by his band, The Reigning Monarchs.{{cite web |url=http://www.thereigningmonarchs.com/ |title=GET THE NEW RECORD!: THE REIGNING MONARCHS |website=www.thereigningmonarchs.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605094644/http://www.thereigningmonarchs.com/ |archive-date=2009-06-05}} The podcast ceased regular production in October 2014 following an extended hiatus. In April 2015, a final episode was recorded from the Melbourne Comedy Festival and released a few days later.
History
Dave Anthony, a stand-up comedian, writer and actor, wanted to start a comedy podcast that did not revolve around interviewing guests. He recorded two episodes based on his blog, Stop All Monsters, which he hosted solo, but felt it needed something more.{{cite web |url=http://suicidegirlsblog.com/blog/walking-the-room-with-dave-anthony-and-greg-behrendt/ |first=Nicole |last=Powers |title=Suicide Girls Blog - Walking The Room with Dave Anthony and Greg Behrendt |work=Suicide Girls |date=October 22, 2010 |access-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-date=August 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817025951/http://suicidegirlsblog.com/blog/walking-the-room-with-dave-anthony-and-greg-behrendt/ |url-status=live }} He pitched the idea of co-hosting to his long-time friend, Greg Behrendt.{{cite web |url=http://stopallmonsters.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-new-podcast.html |title=Stop All Monsters - My New Podcast |first=Dave |last=Anthony |date=May 24, 2010 |access-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-date=August 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829211337/http://stopallmonsters.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-new-podcast.html |url-status=live }} The two had met during their early stand-up days in San Francisco, and had previously worked together in radio{{cite web |url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/91365/it-s-kind-of-a-funny-story-creativity-management-a |title=It's Kind Of A Funny Story...: Creativity, Management, And Radio |first=Perry Michael |last=Simon |date=May 13, 2011 |access-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-date=May 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517010420/http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/91365/it-s-kind-of-a-funny-story-creativity-management-a |url-status=live }} as well as on The Greg Behrendt Show.
Behrendt had gained success when his consultant position on Sex and the City led to his co-authoring the book He's Just Not That Into You. The book became a New York Times Best-Seller, landed Behrendt an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and was later turned into a feature film. Behrendt always considered himself a stand-up comedian first and foremost,{{cite web |url=http://www.pjstar.com/entertainment/x719610607/Comedian-stays-true-to-self-while-producing-laughs |title=Comedian Greg Behrendt stays true to self while producing laughs |first=Hatch |last=Danielle |date=April 14, 2011 |access-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-date=April 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416114552/http://www.pjstar.com/entertainment/x719610607/Comedian-stays-true-to-self-while-producing-laughs |url-status=live }} and agreed to co-host with Anthony. They began recording Walking the Room in Behrendt's bedroom for the first 10 episodes, then relocated to the now-trademark closet to improve the show's sound quality.{{cite web |url=http://aspecialthing.com/forum/f27/walking-room-podcast-w-behrendt-anthony-17083/ |title=Walking The Room Podcast w/Behrendt and Anthony |author=A Special Thing Forum |access-date=2011-05-22 |archive-date=2011-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002125235/http://aspecialthing.com/forum/f27/walking-room-podcast-w-behrendt-anthony-17083/ |url-status=live }}
In July 2014 the podcast went on an extended hiatus while Behrendt was working in New York City. Several guest episodes and a compilation of excerpts from live shows were aired over the summer. In October 2014 various postings on social media pages related to Behrendt, Anthony and the podcast indicated that the podcast was over. Anthony later clarified that he had ended it for unspecified reasons but also as a reaction to changes in his own life and career.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/DaveAnthonyWTR/posts/861973457155311|title=Dave Anthony|website=www.facebook.com|access-date=2014-10-15|archive-date=2022-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426193640/https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDaveAnthonyWTR%2Fposts%2F861973457155311|url-status=live}}
In January 2015, a live reunion podcast was announced for the 2015 Melbourne Comedy Festival in Australia.{{cite web |url=http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2015/season/shows/walking-the-room-live-recording-greg-behrendt-dave-anthony |title=Walking the Room (Live Recording), Greg Behrendt & Dave Anthony {{!}} Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2015 |website=www.comedyfestival.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217175321/http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2015/season/shows/walking-the-room-live-recording-greg-behrendt-dave-anthony |archive-date=2015-02-17}}
Premise, fans and terminology
The show not only revolved around the actual lives of hosts Anthony and Behrendt, but the universe they’d created through expanding that reality into absurdity, often through the use of nicknames and catchphrases.{{cite web |url=http://superprofundo.com/2010/10/27/go-listen-to-walking-the-room/ |title=Go Listen To Walking The Room |first=Johnson |last=Michael |date=October 27, 2011 |access-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-date=March 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311050119/http://superprofundo.com/2010/10/27/go-listen-to-walking-the-room/ |url-status=live }} The most notable recurring storylines involved the chronicles of Anthony's neighborhood, but topics ranged from comedy and show business (like a story about Dane Cook casually trying to steal one of Behrendt's classic bits),{{cite web |url=http://www.thecomicscomic.com/2010/11/greg-behrendt-reminds-dane-cook-that-the-chicken-situation-is-one-of-behrendts-classic-bits.html |first=Sean L. |last=McCarthy |title=Greg Behrendt reminds Dane Cook that the "chicken situation" is one of Behrendt's classic bits |date=November 3, 2010 |access-date=June 9, 2011 |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727140238/http://www.thecomicscomic.com/2010/11/greg-behrendt-reminds-dane-cook-that-the-chicken-situation-is-one-of-behrendts-classic-bits.html |url-status=live }} to family life, prison and candy (particularly Australian biscuits, Tim Tams).
Walking the Room labelled itself a "podcuddle," and its hardcore fans, known as “Cuddlahs” (or “Customers”), were described as “Clown from the Neck Down.” The show built upon itself more than most podcasts, which can be attributed to their ever-evolving real-life cliffhangers, as well as the podcuddle-specific language they continually generated.{{cite web |url=http://splitsider.com/2011/01/a-seriously-comprehensive-guide-to-comedy-podcasts |title=A Seriously Comprehensive Guide to Comedy Podcasts |first=Joe |last=Berkowitz |work=Splitsider |date=January 18, 2011 |access-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-date=May 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520111614/http://splitsider.com/2011/01/a-seriously-comprehensive-guide-to-comedy-podcasts/ |url-status=live }} The show's official website, designed by Damien Schaefer and launched on April 17, 2011, provides a glossary, written by Vicky Pezza, to help new listeners navigate the dialogue.{{cite web |url=http://walkingtheroom.com/glossary |title=Glossary |author=Walking the Room |access-date=2011-05-22 |archive-date=2011-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522044355/http://walkingtheroom.com/glossary |url-status=live }}
From the beginning, the show was heavily promoted and endorsed by comedian Patton Oswalt,{{cite web |url=http://www.christineetaylor.com/2011/01/2010-biggest-comedy-podcast-moments.html |title=2010 Biggest Comedy Podcast Moments, Part 1 |first=Christine E. |last=Taylor |date=January 1, 2011 |access-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806120544/http://www.christineetaylor.com/2011/01/2010-biggest-comedy-podcast-moments.html |url-status=live }} and on May 8, 2011, artist Keegan Wenkman released four commemorative posters depicting some of the show's most iconic images{{cite web |url=http://onefootinfront.bigcartel.com/ |title=One Foot in Front |access-date=2011-05-22 |archive-date=2011-05-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513011818/http://onefootinfront.bigcartel.com/ |url-status=live }} in honor of Oswalt's long-anticipated guest appearance on their 50th episode.{{cite web |url=http://splitsider.com/2011/05/this-week-in-comedy-podcasts-2 |title=This Week in Comedy Podcasts |first1=Jesse |last1=Fox |first2=Joe |last2=Berkowitz |work=Splitsider |date=May 12, 2011 |access-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-date=May 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520074353/http://splitsider.com/2011/05/this-week-in-comedy-podcasts-2 |url-status=live }}
Additionally, crossovers with Walking the Room’s sister podcast, TOFOP (formerly Thirty Odd Foot of Pod), hosted by comedian Wil Anderson and actor Charlie Clausen, helped the show gain a following in their native country of Australia.{{cite web |url=http://www.wilanderson.com.au/_blog/Wil%27s_Blog/post/In_The_Closet_%28Adventures_In_Podcuddling%29/ |title=In The Closet (Adventures In Podcuddling) |first=Wil |last=Anderson |date=January 18, 2011 |access-date=May 22, 2011 |archive-date=March 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319232823/http://wilanderson.com.au/_blog/Wil%27s_Blog/post/In_The_Closet_%28Adventures_In_Podcuddling%29 |url-status=live }}
In response to the amount of candy the hosts began to receive from fans, they created minute-long video shorts entitled That Candy Thing with Greg and Dave where they reviewed the treats on-camera. A video was released each week.{{YouTube|user=WalkingTheRoom|Walking the Room}}
The Starfish Circus
A “Starfish Circus” was a live Walking the Room event hosted by Anthony and Behrendt. The shows feature their stand-up as well as other comedian guests and a musical performance by The Reigning Monarchs. The title “Starfish Circus” references a more literal event as imagined by the hosts in episode #6 of the podcast (“Not Knowing Hetfield & Pre-School Graduation"). Event artwork is created by Paul “Wiseacre” Armstrong and merchandise is designed by Joseph Angelo Warner.{{Cite web|url=http://www.walkingtheroom.com/news/the-diy-of-wtr-merch|title=The DIY of WTR Merch|access-date=2011-08-17|archive-date=2012-03-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324101251/http://www.walkingtheroom.com/news/the-diy-of-wtr-merch|url-status=usurped}}{{cite web |url=http://walkingtheroom.libsyn.com/walking-the-room-6 |title=Walking The Room |website=walkingtheroom.libsyn.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423110220/http://walkingtheroom.libsyn.com/walking-the-room-6 |archive-date=2011-04-23}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.walkingtheroom.com}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110824015414/http://walkingtheroom.libsyn.com/ Walking the Room] on Liberated Syndication