Spontaneanation
| Spontaneanation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Presentation | |
| Hosted by | Paul F. Tompkins |
| Genre | Comedy / Improv |
| Voices | Various |
| Updates | Weekly |
| Length | 60-90 Minutes |
| Production | |
| Composed by | Eban Schletter[1] |
| No. of episodes | 78 |
| Publication | |
| Original release | April 1, 2015 |
| Provider | Earwolf |
| Related | |
| Website | Spontaneanation |
Spontaneanation with Paul F. Tompkins (stylized as SPONTANEANATION with Paul F. Tompkins) is an improv comedy podcast hosted by Paul F. Tompkins on the Earwolf network.[1][2] Based upon an interview with a special guest, Tompkins and several "improvisational friends" (often co-stars from The Thrilling Adventure Hour, Superego, or No, You Shut Up!) perform narrative improv set in a location provided by the guest.
Episode format
Each episode of Spontaneanation contains two segments: an interview with a special guest, followed by an improvisational scene that contains elements from the preceding interview, taking place in a setting given by that week's guest. Each interview begins with a question supplied by the previous episode's guest, without revealing their identity. Additionally, Tompkins begins each show with a brief improvised stream of consciousness monologue. The improvisational scene and monologue are scored by Eban Schletter on piano.
The podcast is notably different from Tompkins' previous podcast, The Pod F. Tompkast, in that it is entirely improvised, where the Tompkast featured pre-recorded bits and heavy editing.[1]
Because I’m used to everything I do being very involved with a lot of pre-production and post-production and I really wanted to be able to walk in, record and it’s just done. And that’s how I arrived at what is Spontaneanation.
— Paul F. Tompkins[3]
Tompkins ends each episode with the phrase semper en presente, a Latin phrase translating to "always in the present" or "always in the moment."
In addition to in-studio tapings, Spontaneanation is often recorded in front of a live audience at Café Largo in Los Angeles.[4]
Episode list
| No. | Episode title | Interview guest | Improv players | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "A Denny's Parking Lot" | Busy Philipps | Craig Cackowski, Matt Gourley, Janet Varney | April 1, 2015 |
| 2 | "A Mechanic's Garage" | Michael McMillian | Shulie Cowen, Marc Evan Jackson, Mark McConville | April 6, 2015 |
| 3 | "A Secret Society" | Jason Ritter | Craig Cackowski, Amanda Lund, Chris Tallman | April 13, 2015 |
| 4 | "Savannah, Georgia" | Melanie Lynskey | Sarah Burns, Marc Evan Jackson, Janet Varney | April 20, 2015 |
| 5 | "Mars Base 3" | Dave Foley | Mark Gagliardi, Marc Evan Jackson, Amanda Lund | April 27, 2015 |
| 6 | "Dracula's Bedroom" | Maria Thayer | Drew Massey, Colleen Smith, Victor Yerrid | May 4, 2015 |
| 7 | "A UFC Weigh-In" | Kaitlin Olson | Mark McConville, Chris Tallman, Jean Villepique | May 11, 2015 |
| 8 | "A Superyacht" | Elizabeth Reaser | Craig Cackowski, Jessica Chaffin, Chris Tallman | May 18, 2015 |
| 9 | "The Annual Ghost Sex Convention" | Michael Sheen | James Bladon, Sarah Burns, Mark McConville | May 25, 2015 |
| 10 | "The Student Lounge at a Performing Arts High School" | Justin Kirk | Sarah Burns, Matt Gourley, Chris Tallman | June 1, 2015 |
| 11 | "The Underwear Department at Macys" | Aimee Mann | Ted Michaels, Michael Oosterom, Colleen Smith | June 8, 2015 |
| 12 | "The Waiting Room at an Oil Change Place" | Open Mike Eagle | Janet Varney, Jean Villepique, Hal Lublin | June 15, 2015 |
| 13 | "A Dental Convention in Scottsdale, Arizona*" | Colin Hanks | Craig Cackowski, Marc Evan Jackson, Janet Varney | June 22, 2015 |
| 14 | "An Urban Spelunkers Meeting" | John Hodgman | Shulie Cowen, Colleen Smith, Chris Tallman | June 29, 2015 |
| 15 | "A Snorkeling Excursion Ticket Kiosk" | Jen Kirkman | Matt Gourley, Jean Villepique, Victor Yerrid | July 6, 2015 |
| 16 | "An Intergalactic Performing Arts School" | Aaron Abrams | James Bladon, Matt Gourley, Mark McConville | July 13, 2015 |
| 17 | "Science Fair" | Paget Brewster | Maria Blasucci, Craig Cackowski, Amanda Lund | July 20, 2015 |
| 18 | "A Theme Park Break Room" | Raphael Bob-Waksberg | Erinn Hayes, Marc Evan Jackson, Mark McConville | July 27, 2015 |
| 19 | "Malibu" | Lisa Hanawalt | Maria Blasucci, Sarah Burns, Chris Tallman | August 3, 2015 |
| 20 | "Death Valley" | Scott Carter | Jessica Chaffin, Michael Oosterom, Colleen Smith | August 11, 2015 |
| 21 | "A Top Chef Afterparty" | Jonathan Coulton | Hal Lublin, Annie Savage, Janet Varney | August 17, 2015 |
| 22 | "A Clown Cemetery" | Bob Kerr | Shulie Cowen, Matt Gourley, Jean Villepique | August 24, 2015 |
| 23 | "A Miami Record Store in 1967" | Derek Waters† | Carla Cackowski, Marc Evan Jackson, Colleen Smith | August 31, 2015 |
| 24 | "Sport Club*" | Kumail Nanjiani | Steve Agee, Sarah Burns, Jean Villepique | September 7, 2015 |
| 25 | "10th Circle of Hell" | Joshua Malina | Jessica Chaffin, Chris Tallman, Hal Lublin | September 14, 2015 |
| 26 | "Garden of Eden" | Tymberlee Hill | Janet Varney, Victor Yerrid, Colleen Smith | September 21, 2015 |
| 27 | "Underneath the Eiffel Tower*" | Scott Aukerman† | Matt Gourley, Amanda Lund, Chris Tallman | September 28, 2015 |
| 28 | "One Hour Photo Shop" | Andrea Savage | Jessica Chaffin, Matt Gourley, Drew Massey | October 5, 2015 |
| 29 | "Backstage at the Rush Concert*" | Thomas Lennon† | Sarah Burns, Craig Cackowski, Marc Evan Jackson | October 12, 2015 |
| 30 | "Vent Haven Ventriloquist Museum" | Laraine Newman | Maria Blasucci, Marc Evan Jackson, Jeremy Carter | October 19, 2015 |
| 31 | "Wine Tasting" | Bruce McCulloch | Janet Varney, Amanda Lund, Annie Savage | October 26, 2015 |
| 32 | "Storage Room in Back of Hot Dog Stand" | Jim Rash† | Colleen Smith, Jean Villepique, Craig Cackowski | November 2, 2015 |
| 33 | "TV News Control Room" | Paul Scheer† | Erinn Hayes, Marc Evan Jackson, Hal Lublin | November 9, 2015 |
| 34 | "Parking Garage*" | Kristen Schaal | Matt Gourley, Mark McConville, Jeremy Carter | November 16, 2015 |
| 35 | "The Moon Landing Taping 1969" | Natalie Morales | Bob Dassie, Rich Talarico, Craig Cackowski | November 23, 2015 |
| 36 | "A Dinner Theater" | Ben Garant | Annie Savage, Colleen Smith, Stephanie Courtney | November 30, 2015 |
| 37 | "Saltwater Tuffy Shoppe*" | Andy Daly† | Janet Varney, Matt Gourley, Craig Cackowski | December 7, 2015 |
| 38 | "Beautiful, Fancy Apartment in NYC" | Lauren Lapkus† | Tim Batt, Guy Montgomery | December 14, 2015 |
| 39 | "Freeport, Illinois" | Ravi Patel | Janet Varney, Chris Tallman, Jean Villepique | December 21, 2015 |
| 40 | "Inside a 40 Year-Old Woman's Purse" | Eliza Skinner† | Jean Villepique, Hal Lublin, Mark McConville | December 28, 2015 |
| 41 | "Pet Store, Post Robbery" | David Rees | Shulie Cowen, Jean Villepique, Chris Tallman | January 4, 2016 |
| 42 | "The First Class Cabin of an Aer Lingus 747 in the 1970s*" | Susanna Hoffs | Drew Massey, Colleen Smith, Victor Yerrid | January 11, 2016 |
| 43 | "Pediatrician Waiting Room" | Emily V. Gordon | Annie Savage, Steve Agee, Mark McConville | January 18, 2016 |
| 44 | "The One Beauty Parlor in a Small Town" | Dave Holmes | Jessica Chaffin, Craig Cackowski, Brandon Johnson | January 25, 2016 |
| 45 | "Margaritaville" | Jerry Minor | Hal Lublin, Michael Oosterom, Jean Villepique | February 1, 2016 |
| 46 | "Kay Jewelers in a Mall" | Alice Wetterlund | Gary Anthony Williams, Colleen Smith, Ted Michaels | February 8, 2016 |
| 47 | "Pediatrician's Office" | Adam Sachs | Carla Cackowski, Craig Cackowski, Janet Varney | February 15, 2016 |
| 48 | "Laundromat" | Judy Greer | Jessica Chaffin, Mark McConville, Annie Savage | February 22, 2016 |
| 49 | "Universal Studios Hollywood" | Cameron Esposito | Shulie Cowen, Brandon Johnson, Chris Tallman | February 29, 2016 |
| 50 | "Sante Fe Art Gallery" | Matt Besser | Craig Cackowski, Hal Lublin, Amanda Lund | March 7, 2016 |
| 51 | "Tesla Charging Station*" | Keegan-Michael Key† | Craig Cackowski, Chris Tallman, Jean Villepique | March 14, 2016 |
| 52 | "The Last Blockbuster Video Store" | Katie Dippold† | Mark McConville, Ted Michaels, Annie Savage | March 21, 2016 |
| 53 | "The Line for the Circular Saw in the Lumber Department of Home Depot" | Michael Penn | Stephanie Courtney, Michael Oosterom, Janet Varney | March 28, 2016 |
| 54 | "Inside that Salvador Dali Painting with the Melting Clocks" | Beth Stelling | Sarah Burns, Stephanie Courtney, Colleen Smith | April 4, 2016 |
| 55 | "Land Rover" | Mary Holland† | Sarah Burns, Jean Villepique, Gary Anthony Williams | April 11, 2016 |
| 56 | "Los Feliz, Karen's House, 1997" | Margaret Cho | Carla Cackowski, Brandon Johnson, Chris Tallman | April 18, 2016 |
| 57 | "Houston's Restaurant in Houston TX" | Retta | Maria Blasucci, Mark McConville, Colleen Smith | April 25, 2016 |
| 58 | "Rented Cabin in The Mountains" | Jason Mantzoukas† | Shulie Cowen, Matt Gourley, Amanda Lund | May 2, 2016 |
| 59 | "Call Center Christmas Party*" | Ron Funches† | Hal Lublin, Annie Savage, Janet Varney | May 9, 2016 |
| 60 | "Storm Drain*" | Jon Hamm† | Craig Cackowski, Matt Gourley, Janet Varney | May 16, 2016 |
| 61 | "A Suburban High School History Class on The First Day of Black History Month*" | Open Mike Eagle | Jordan Black, Nyima Funk, Daniele Gaither | May 23, 2016 |
| 62 | "IKEA in Narnia*" | Jean Grae | Matt Gourley, Amanda Lund, Janet Varney | May 30, 2016 |
| 63 | "A Coffee Plantation in Bali*" | Kulap Vilaysack† | Drew Tarver, Mandell Maughan, Ryan Gaul, Tawny Newsome | June 6, 2016 |
| 64 | "Knott's Scary Farm*" | Grant-Lee Phillips | Stephanie Courtney, Colleen Smith, Gary Anthony Williams | June 13, 2016 |
| 65 | "Televangelist's Studio" | Sam Richardson | Hal Lublin, Annie Savage, Victor Yerrid | June 20, 2016 |
| 66 | "Hamilton on Broadway" | Busy Philipps | Jordan Black, Mandell Maughan, Jean Villepique | June 27, 2016 |
| 67 | "A Comic Book Shop" | Phil LaMarr† | Craig Cackowski, Nyima Funk, Marc Evan Jackson | July 4, 2016 |
| 68 | "Paris" | Nathan Lee Graham | Tawny Newsome, Matt Gourley, Maria Blasucci | July 11, 2016 |
| 69 | "Minnesota State Fair" | Cedric Yarbrough† | Colleen Smith, Little Janet Varney, Mark McConville | July 18, 2016 |
| 70 | "Gabrielle's Quinceanera" | Rachel Bloom† | Stephanie Courtney, Ryan Gaul, Gary Anthony Williams | July 25, 2016 |
| 71 | "Summer Camp*" | Caitlin Howden† | Ryan Beil, Kevin Lee, Aaron Read, Taz Van Rassel | August 1, 2016 |
| 72 | "Airship Underwater*" | Robyn Hitchcock | Nyima Funk, Colleen Smith, Chris Tallman | August 8, 2016 |
| 73 | "The King of Prussia Mall on Opening Weekend" | Kristian Bruun† | Carla Cackowski, Gary Anthony Williams, Jean Villepique | August 15, 2016 |
| 74 | "Cold Storage Facility at a Chicken Farm" | Anna Drezen and Nicole Silverberg | Annie Savage, Sarah Burns, Colleen Smith | August 22, 2016 |
| 75 | "Aquarium" | Sean Clements† and Hayes Davenport† | None | August 29, 2016 |
| 76 | "A Summer Theatre Camp in Michigan" | Nicole Parker† | Shulie Cowen, Mark McConville, Tawny Newsome | September 6, 2016 |
| 77 | "Concession Stand" | Rhea Butcher | Chris Tallman, Jean Villepique, Brandon Johnson | September 12, 2016 |
| 78 | "Donut Factory*" | Desmin Borges† | Dan Ahdoot, Tim Baltz, Tawny Newsome | September 19, 2016 |
| 79 | "Madrid*" | Fred Armisen | Craig Cackowski, Tawny Newsome, Little Janet Varney | September 26, 2016 |
| 80 | "Warehouse" | Eugene Cordero† | Tim Baltz, Amanda Lund, Carla Cackowski | October 3, 2016 |
| 81 | "The Other Side of the Tracks*" | Craig Cackowski† | Nancy Hayden, Nyima Funk, Marc Evan Jackson | October 10, 2016 |
| 82 | "Madison Square Garden*" | Zach Gowen | Nyima Funk, Marc Evan Jackson, Marc Warzecha | October 17, 2016 |
| 83 | "Under a Big Rainstorm" | Janet Varney† and Jean Villepique† | None | October 24, 2016 |
| 84 | "State Fair*" | Kumail Nanjiani | Jordan Black, Annie Savage, Jean Villepique | October 31, 2016 |
| 85 | "The Last Sizzler" | Jeb Lund | Stephanie Courtney, Maria Blasucci, Amanda Lund | November 7, 2016 |
| 86 | "A Whale's Belly" | Natalie Morales | Matt Gourley, Craig Cackowski, Colleen Smith | November 14, 2016 |
| 87 | "Train Station*" | Horatio Sanz† | Ryan Gaul, Mandell Maughan, Drew Tarver | November 21, 2016 |
| 88 | "East NYC Village" | Oscar Nunez† | Craig Cackowski, Jean Villepique, Gary Anthony Williams | November 28, 2016 |
† signifies that the guest participated in the improv bit of the show.
(*) denotes that the episode was recorded in front of a live audience.
Improv players
- Craig Cackowski (18 episodes)
- Jean Villepique (18 episodes)
- Colleen Smith (17 episodes)
- Janet Varney (17 episodes)
- Chris Tallman (15 episodes)
- Matt Gourley (14 episodes)
- Mark McConville (13 episodes)
- Marc Evan Jackson (12 episodes)
- Amanda Lund (10 episodes)
- Annie Savage (10 episodes)
- Sarah Burns (9 episodes)
- Hal Lublin (9 episodes)
- Shulie Cowen (7 episodes)
- Maria Blasucci (6 episodes)
- Jessica Chaffin (6 episodes)
- Stephanie Courtney (6 episodes)
- Gary Anthony Williams (6 episodes)
- Carla Cackowski (5 episodes)
- Nyima Funk (5 episodes)
- Tawny Newsome (5 episodes)
- Victor Yerrid (5 episodes)
- Brandon Johnson (4 episodes)
- Michael Oosterom (4 episodes)
- Jordan Black (3 episodes)
- Ryan Gaul (3 episodes)
- Drew Massey (3 episodes)
- Mandell Maughan (3 episodes)
- Ted Michaels (3 episodes)
- Steve Agee (2 episodes)
- Tim Baltz (2 episodes)
- James Bladon (2 episodes)
- Jeremy Carter (2 episodes)
- Erinn Hayes (2 episodes)
- Drew Tarver (2 episode)
- Dan Ahdoot (1 episode)
- Tim Batt (1 episode)
- Ryan Beil (1 episode)
- Sean Clements (1 episode)
- Bob Dassie (1 episode)
- Hayes Davenport (1 episode)
- Mark Gagliardi (1 episode)
- Daniele Gaither (1 episode)
- Nancy Hayden (1 episode)
- Kevin Lee (1 episode)
- Guy Montgomery (1 episode)
- Taz Van Rassel (1 episode)
- Aaron Read (1 episode)
- Rich Talarico (1 episode)
- Marc Warzecha (1 episode)
Recognition
The podcast has been listed on several "Best Of" lists for podcasts in 2015. The show was included in Apple's collection of "The Best Podcasts of 2015.[6] Paste magazine placed Spontaneanation in the fifth spot on their list of The 10 Best Comedy Podcasts of 2015, referring to it as "both an illuminating chat show and a strong argument in favor of the often-maligned artform of improv comedy."[7] "A Theme Park Break Room" was included on Vulture's list of the Best Comedy Podcast Episodes of 2015, referring to it as "what was easily one of the most wildly funny podcasts of 2015."[2]
References
- ^ a b c Greenberg, Rudi (April 2, 2015). "On his new podcast, 'Spontaneanation,' Paul F. Tompkins makes it up as he goes along". The Washington Post.
- ^ a b Kramer, Josh (December 14, 2015). "The 10 Best Comedy Podcasts and Comedy Podcast Episodes of 2015". Vulture.com.
- ^ Bernhardt, Ross (April 22, 2015). "Paul F. Tompkins talks Spontaneanation and Podcasting". Paste Magazine.
- ^ Williams, Joe (June 28, 2015). "From 'Serial' to Marc Maron, podcasting is the biggest thing since radio". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- ^ "SPONTANEATION Episode Listing".
- ^ McAlone, Nathan (December 29, 2015). "Apple's List of the Best Podcasts of 2015". Business Insider.
- ^ "The 10 Best Comedy Podcasts of 2015". Paste (magazine). December 18, 2015.