Tom Rhodes Radio
| 'Tom Rhodes Radio' | |
|---|---|
| File:Tom Rhodes Radio Logo.jpg | |
| Presentation | |
| Hosted by | Tom Rhodes |
| Genre | Comedy, interview |
| Created by | Tom Rhodes |
| Language | English |
| Length | approx. 60 - 120 minutes |
| Production | |
| Production | Tom Rhodes Productions Rob F. Martinez |
| Publication | |
| Original release | March 16, 2011 – present |
| Website | itunes - Tom Rhodes Radio |
Tom Rhodes Radio (also referred to as TRR) is a once or twice-monthly interview podcast hosted by stand up comedian Tom Rhodes. The show launched in March 2011 is an extension of the various travel projects he does while on the road.[1]
Background[edit | edit source]
The podcast began production in 2009 under Rhodes self-titled production company. Unlike other podcasts, Rhodes has years of experience as a host: as the first spokesman for Comedy Central in the 90s, a late night talk show host for Kevin Masters Show starring Tom Rhodes in Amsterdam in the early 2000s, a travel host for Yorin Travel, later RTL Travel, and in self-produced travel DVDs Rhode Scholar (clips available on his YouTube page), which as filmed worldwide at comedy venues and tourist sites,) and Built for Joy. These DVDs feature clips of his performances as well as interviews with interesting locals.[2]
Rhodes, a travel blogger for The Huffington Post, has gone on record saying he would like to star in a comedy travel television show where he can document his personal travels and highlight comedy scenes around the world. Tom produced pilot episodes himself in 2010, filming in Montana and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Clips are available on his website.[3] Since 2009, Rhodes' projects have all incorporated his love of traveling and filming in exotic locales, including a "Honeymoon World Tour" after he married Dutch photographer Ashna Rodjan in 2011. He and his wife filmed during this time, and documented his travels on his blog.[4]
Like fellow comic Louis C.K., Rhodes does self-production of his podcast and his projects. He presents them on his YouTube page. His messages are often political, but are overall amiable. The tagline for the show is "promoting love and laughter in the universe," which is fitting for Rhodes' hippie-style and San Francisco roots. His podcast and travel DVDs can easily be seen as labors of love due to the lack of monetary gain for himself and his own money spent on production.[5]
Reception[edit | edit source]
Most episodes have featured interviews with comics Tom knew in his early stand-up years, such as Doug Stanhope and Brian Regan. Stanhope is known for his comedic cynicism and called Tom a "very positive person" on the first episode of the show.[6] Janeane Garofalo, also a cynical comic, was quoted in a documentary about Tom's career as saying that Rhodes' laid-back persona would normally "rub her the wrong way," but since Rhodes is upbeat both on and off stage, she enjoys him.[7]
Matador Network, a travel culture website, listed TRR as one of the top podcasts of 2011 due to its humor and diverse guests.[8] Matador's only complaint was the sporadic release of the show, but cited the eclectic guests—comics, his Uncle, promoters, and musicians like Tom Rhodes, an indie musician with the same name in North Carolina—as a strong draw. A special episode featured an interview with Tom's sister Laura shortly before she passed from breast cancer.
Episodes[edit | edit source]
2011[edit | edit source]
| Episode number | Episode title | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Doug Stanhope" | 16 March 2011 |
| 2 | "Uncle Bob" | 16 March 2011 |
| 3 | "Brendan Burns" | 16 March 2011 |
| 4 | "Brian Regan" | 17 March 2011 |
| 5 | "Ed Byrne & Adam Bloom" | 24 April 2011 |
| 6 | "Shazia Mirza & Dave Fulton" | 24 April 2011 |
| 7 | "Tom Rhodes, musician part I[9]" | 13 May 2011 |
| 8 | "Tom Rhodes, musician part II[10]" | 1 June 2011 |
| 9 | "The Unoffendables with John Fugelsang, Jimmy Shubert, & Billy Gardell" | 11 July 2011 |
| 10 | "Lou Angelwolf" | 25 August 2011 |
| 11 | "Patti Vasquez" | 31 August 2011 |
| 12 | "Bert Hass" | 2 December 2011 |
| 13 | "Laura Rhodes, Tom's sister (1973-2011)" | 28 December 2011 |
2012[edit | edit source]
| Episode number | Episode title | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | "Stephen Tobolowsky" | 16 February 2012 |
| 15 | "Jim Short" | 19 March 2012 |
| 16 | "Matt Davis" | 19 April 2012 |
| 17 | "Jeff Foxworthy" | 5 May 2012 |
| 18 | "Dana Gould" | 31 May 2012 |
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Tom Rhodes Radio iTunes page and description".
- ↑ "Bio on Tom Rhodes Productions".
- ↑ "Crackers Comedy Club review of Rhodes".
- ↑ "Rhodes' imdb".
- ↑ "The best stand-up DVDs of 2009".
- ↑ "Doug Stanhope on Tom Rhodes Radio".
- ↑ "Tom Rhodes: There and Back Again Part 1 of 3".
- ↑ "21 Podcasts to check out (2011)".
- ↑ "Tom Rhodes Music".
- ↑ "Tom Rhodes Music".
