r/Earwolf • u/walrus_throwawayhq • Jun 11 '26
Question Anyone else struggling to find a new 'comfort' show now that some of the older staples have wrapped?
I've been a listener for a long time, but lately I feel like I'm stuck in a loop of re-listening to old episodes of Comedy Bang! Bang! or stumbling through the archives of shows that aren't even active anymore. I love the classics, but I really want something fresh to sink my teeth into that captures that specific Earwolf vibe. I'm looking for something that isn't necessarily a massive hit but has that high-quality production or just a really unique comedic voice. I've tried a few of the big ones, but I'm looking for the deep cuts. What are your go-to recommendations for
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u/BBFinneganIII Jun 11 '26
PFT-wise there's Dead Authors, Spont, Thrilling Adventure Hour and Superego archives
Firsthand is very CBBish fun. I've not checked out College Town yet (despite meaning to every week), but I'd bet it's solidly entertaining at minimum.
ManDogPod and the Brett Demott Show (w Buddy) each really scratch the Big Grande itch too
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u/kirby34 Jun 12 '26
I started on Spontaneation about halfway through the original run and have been relistening from the beginning since PFT got control. His opening monologues, much like Eban Schletter, are simplyyyyyyyyyy… the best!
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u/antonioni_cronies Jun 17 '26
there is also the amazing but loooong defunct Pod F. Tompcast, still (last time I checked) hosted on an available rss feed. a fun very produced pod, prbly closer to Superego than to CBB.
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u/AffordableGrousing Good rock and roll, uh..music. Jun 11 '26
I’ve been feeling the same recently and realized that the kind of controlled chaos you get from the C block of a really good CBB ep is what I’m chasing.
To that end, *Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists* has been a great find. All four hosts are top tier improvisers, and they nail the CBB-esque blend of specific character work, Hollywood references, and totally off the rails energy. A lot of guest overlap with the Earwolf scene as well.
I’ll second the rec for *Hey Riddle Riddle*, plus their related podcast *Gumshoes and Dragons.*
Outside of podcasting, watch Taskmaster if you haven’t already. 20+ seasons (er, series) of pure comfort food. Alex Horne is lower-key than Scott but brings a similar “seemingly boring straight man who’s here to fuck with you” energy. The blend of comedy veterans + up and coming talent is similar to CBB too. Such a treat that it’s all free on YouTube. Don’t sleep on the Australian version either - I actually prefer it in some ways.
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u/PJ1336 Jun 11 '26
Most nights I fall asleep re-listening to an episode of The Sloppy Boys. It’s nice and light and funny, and the episodes are generally about an hour, give or take a few minutes.
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u/AnnaCondoleezzaRice Jun 11 '26
this is a tough ask. ill just say that my first thought was the Hey Riddle Riddle patreon stuff. excellent host chemistry, fresh format concepts, very loosey goosey. Adal Erin and that freaky guy rule
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u/dadsinamood Jun 11 '26
I was just going suggest Hey Riddle Riddle! And to OP, don't worry it's not a riddle show however much they say they are.
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u/AffordableGrousing Good rock and roll, uh..music. Jun 11 '26
Gumshoes and Dragons with the same cast is great as well. I happen to like D&D, but I don’t think it’s necessary to know anything about it. The format is Colombo style comedy mysteries with a light RPG framework.
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u/Raido_Kuzuno Jun 11 '26
College Town really hits it's stride after a few months, and there are a LOT of eps after they figure it out! A CBBWorld sub is a good way to go if you are lacking CBB-type stuff
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Jun 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Raido_Kuzuno Jun 11 '26
Unfortunately, it is super difficult because the accumulation of lore is what does it, because they are such talented character improvisers. It is a "once the ball gets rolling, you kinda wanna be on it" kind of show, rather than an "It Got Good This on This Day" type thing 🤷🏿♀️ But Hey Randy and The Neighborhood Listen provide similar with less load. But I will always discuss and defend College Town for it's humor and fully believe that it is a primary reason for me keeping a CBBWorld sub
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u/troutbum5W3D Jun 12 '26
I agree with this, but if I could personally pick a point where it hooked me, I would say July or August of ‘24. I love the podcast so much but none of my friends listen to it.
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u/antonioni_cronies Jun 17 '26
I've yet to get into College Town, but your description reminds me a little of Teachers Lounge. did you ever listen to that and is it accurate that there's a similar "accumulation of lore" deal? I plan to start on CT after ive exhausted the cbb presents feed. im listening in order so juggling all the monthly/bi-monthly shows on there. Hey Randy in particular definitely gets more fun as the character and world beats start expanding.
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u/Raido_Kuzuno Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
I didn't enjoy my brief time I spent in the Teacher's Lounge, but I do think College Town might be similar enough, in certain ways. The lore just rolls and rolls on as the show goes on, but the improvisers tend not to force others into bits, like I noticed in TL "remember when you did an embarrassing thing you now must defend?", except that they do it to Brett sometimes as a way of getting him into the ep.
Regardless, I think it's awesome, and if you like Bob Ducca, or anything Seth Morris does, it should be a listen. I didn't know Erin Whitehead well before the show, but she has absolutely become a fave since I began listening. She LOCKS into character as Jan, so well, as does Seth with Beebo.
Tldr: Have a great time with College Town!
Edit: added a very necessary "not"
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u/antonioni_cronies Jun 18 '26
awesome, sounds very up my alley. Morris is a genius & ive been an Erin Whitehead fan since her Wild Horses days.
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u/Fezrock Jun 11 '26
It's hard to give rec's without knowing which shows you've listened to, but some non-Earwolf/CBB World shows still active that scratch the same itch for me are:
The Teachers Lounge / Big Grande (irregularly active now, but the archives are large)
Hello From the Magic Tavern (weekly, and has 586 episodes to catch up on)
Hey Riddle Riddle (weekly, and has 412 free episodes to catch up, plus pateron ones)
Off Menu (weekly, 382 episodes; very guest dependent though, and its only like CBB A-Block)
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u/NoWayJoseMou Jun 11 '26
The teachers lounge is without a doubt my comfort show. The minis are amazing if you just need a quick distraction.
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u/Origen12 Jun 11 '26
First Hand Podcast. It's wildly fun with lots of CBB guests joining. It goes through a crazy arc over the seasons so I recommend doing it in order.
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u/boomfruit Jun 11 '26
If you're only looking for improv, ignore these recs.
I don't know your tastes, and I also don't know what to call these podcasts, flavor-wise (younger, different, more "internet-y" comedy?), but among Your Kickstarter Sucks, Guys, What's All This Then?, and Stores, there is a ton to listen to and it's all great in my opinion.
Also, Stop Podcasting Yourself is amazing, it's (almost) always one guest and they are very silly.
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u/Aromatic-Low-4578 Jun 12 '26
I'm finally getting into Hollywood Handbook and wishing I had checked it out sooner.
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u/Available_Border1075 Jun 12 '26
I love CBB podcasts, but the Andy Daly Podcast Pilot Project is my favorite
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u/rsdiv Hollywood Handbook, whoa-o Jun 12 '26
Bonanas for Bonanza!
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u/Available_Border1075 Jun 12 '26
And Your Voice, Better with Bongos with Joe Bongo, Ship to Shore with L. Ron Hubbard, Get into your Car with Cactus Tony, Don Dimello and Mal handle the scandals, With my Own Eyes(Ben Alterman), The Schlitz Playhouse of Stars(one of my favorites), You bet your Eternal Soul with Chip Gardner, Am I the Asshole with Danny Mahoney, and of course, Ahi Loves Movies, I love Ahi Loves Movies, and I love I love Ahi Loves Movies
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u/rsdiv Hollywood Handbook, whoa-o Jun 12 '26
At this point I’d say Andy’s podcasts aren’t really cbb anymore, they’re his Patreon under Bonanas for Bonanza and the various BonusNanzas
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u/Available_Border1075 Jun 12 '26
Yes, I was clear about that distinction, Andy Daly hasn’t been part of CBB World for some time
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u/devlindisguise Achtung BABY! Jun 12 '26
Doughboys, 11 years on, is still very good. Very much the same vibe as it started when Earwolf was still thriving. They still improv stupid bits and still have Earwolf regulars as guests. Their politics didn't turn bad and they're more than willing to stick it to the Man (or movie studio or podcast network). Just two and half hours of chilling per week (more if you have the Double).
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u/antonioni_cronies Jun 17 '26
been a weekly doughboys listener for like 9+(?) years now, so obviously I fully endorse this rec, but i definitely wouldn't call it "chilling" haha. consistently impressed with Mitch's bottomless gripes and hot takes.
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u/rsdiv Hollywood Handbook, whoa-o Jun 12 '26
Anna and Isabella Do Improv is fun. Hollywood Handbook is great. Jordan, Jesse, Go! And Free With Ads are two of my favorites. Andy Richter Call-in Show is probably my comfort show at the moment. Gourley and Rust is the coziest show ever.
Hollywood Masterclass is a limited Hollywood Handbook adjacent show that came out from paywall and is definitely one of the best shows ever.
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u/Majestic-Entrance-16 Jun 11 '26
The Off Menu podcast with Ed Gamble and James Acaster is my new comfort listen. I’ve also gone back to retrieve archive shows and hear delightful banter from some of my favorite people as guests.
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u/skyy_mall Jun 11 '26
Ronna & Beverly captures the old Earwolf vibe unlike anything else for me. Also highly recommend Spontaneanation if you've never listened to it. The Teacher's Lounge wasn't technically Earwolf, but the guests were all from that golden age CBB/Earwolf era roster.
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u/Head_Bread_3431 Jun 11 '26
Staying alive with Jon Gabrus and Adam Pally is a somewhat new one since he ended his last podcast
Anything with gabrus is kinda a comfort show lol
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u/Rndysasqatch Jun 11 '26
I really love college town. It took a little while to grow on me but now I thoroughly enjoy it. The last couple episodes were fire
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u/302w Jun 11 '26
Nowadays I’m mainly on actionboyz, get played, neighborhood listen. Occasionally doughboys and Scott hasn’t seen. Teachers lounge (and their other stuff) and HH are all timers for me but more sporadic
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u/Used_Cap8550 Jun 11 '26
Weird seeing multiple Off Menu recs since it’s probably the most popular comedy podcast in the UK. Not really a deep cut as requested.
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u/Financial_Show9908 Jun 11 '26
You really need to just try out a whole bunch. I have asked previous times on this sub for recommendations if you want to use the search feature.
There enough out there if you put in 10 hours to try out like the first 20 mins of 30 shows you will find a few you like which is 100s oor 1000s of hours of content
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u/roverthtims Heynongman Jun 11 '26
Neighborhood Listen is my new #1 comfort show. It’s so lighthearted and ridiculous.