GQ Magazine Names Comedian Jimmy Pardo's Podcast as The Number 1 Thing You Need to be Paying Attention To

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Never Not Funny host JIMMY PARDO talking with TV icon CONAN O'BRIEN

Editor's Pick - ESQUIRE MAGAZINE

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) August 13, 2010

The comedy podcast "Never Not Funny with Jimmy Pardo" was named "The #1 relatively obscure thing you need to be paying attention to" by GQ Magazine in their most recent issue. Conan O'Brien, Jon Hamm, Ty Burrell and Sarah Silverman didn't need to be told that, they've all been recent guests on the program. Upcoming guests include actor Kevin Pollak and comedian Paul F. Tompkins.

Unlike the tightly-produced TV segments to which these stars have grown accustomed, Never Not Funny is an unedited 90-minute conversation that feels more like old pals joking around over lunch than a talk show interview.  The casual atmosphere and unscripted, uncensored format leads to great stories, some friendly ribbing and lots of laughs.  Away from the glare of the spotlight, guests are able to relax and be themselves, and when funny people are given that freedom, they prove to be even funnier.

Now in its fifth year, Never Not Funny is a weekly audio+video podcast with thousands of paid subscribers and downloads in the millions.  Hosted by nationally touring comedian Jimmy Pardo and produced by aspecialthing.com founder Matt Belknap, the show has remained in iTunes' Top Comedy Podcasts since its first season.  It won the Aspen Rooftop Comedy Award for Best Comedy Podcast in 2008, was twice named to iTunes' year-end Best in... Podcasts list and has been featured in magazines like Fast Company (April 2009), Esquire (Editor's Pick, September 2009) and GQ, which named it the #1 "Relatively Obscure Thing You Need To Be Paying Attention To" in their 2010 Comedy Issue.

In 2008, Pardo and Belknap moved to a subscription-based model, which is still exceptionally rare in a medium that has largely been defined by the rule that content is free. Believing they were producing a professional entertainment product, the duo came up with a simple pay structure for the show, knowing many of their listeners would balk at spending money on a show that had been free for two years and 100 episodes. For $19.99, listeners get 26 episodes in a six-month "season pass," along with half a dozen bonus episodes (which include live show recordings); for an additional $5, they also get a full-length, multi-camera video version of the show. (Individual episodes can also be purchased for $1.49/audio, $2.49/video).

The response came as a surprise. "I thought if we held onto 10% of our audience, that would be a win," said Pardo. "We ended up with 25% right away, and the premium audience continues to grow. Right now we have more signups in a current season than we've ever had before." Also surprising: with thousands of fans subscribing to the "Primo" format, thousands more continue to download the 20-minute free version, enough to keep it highly ranked on iTunes' Comedy Podcast chart.

Financial success has not only allowed Pardo and Co. to continue doing something they love, it has inspired them to continue pushing the show forward creatively and technologically. Just last year, the gang hosted a 9-hour live-stream charity "Pardcast-A-Thon" that raised over $16,000 for The Smile Train. In 2009, the show began putting on live performances at comedy festivals like SF Sketchfest, MaxFunCon and the Vancouver Comedy Festival, and in September they will be doing the same at Bumbershoot 2010.

Contact: Matt Belknap | 310.770.1386 | pardcast(at)gmail(dot)com
http://pardcast.com

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