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Bad Reception
[Contains explicit content] Get ready for a completely improvised and unscripted Audible Original that invites you to listen in on the funniest phone calls from the world’s weirdest town.
“Welcome to South Grampers! Please enjoy our world-famous movie theater butter, and kindly stay away from the glowing toxic waste.”
Ever been on a terrible conference call where nothing gets solved?
Stuck on hold trying to cancel your cable service?
Lonely and needed to talk to a friend? (Even if they’re a cat?)
Bad Reception is an entirely improvised comedy, set entirely on the phone. A cast of over 40 top comedians and improvisers brings to life (and completely makes up) the story of South Grampers, Northern California – the Movie Theater Butter Capital of the World.
The town is in dire straits and must launch their own film festival to raise some desperately needed cash. But an unexpected sequence of events ultimately leads to an event known as…The Incident. Only one person can solve the mystery and expose the terrible truth. He just doesn’t know it yet.
Created and Directed by Justin Michael and Eric Martin
Story by Justin Michael and Eric Martin
Full Cast Includes (in alphabetical order): Alex Berg, Alex Fernie, Alexa Loftus, Ally Beardsley, Anthony Gioe, Ben Greene, Betsy Sodaro, Carl Tart, Casey Trela, D’Arcy Carden, Dan Gregor, Dan Lippert, Dhruv Singh, Drew Tarver, Echo Kellum, Ego Nwodim, Eric Martin, Gilli Nissim, Haley Hepworth, Harry Chaskin, Jace Armstrong, Jessica McKenna, Jon Mackey, Julie Brister, Justin Michael, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Kyle Mooney, Lauren Lapkus, Lou Wilson, Madeline Walter, Mano Agapion, Marissa Strickland, Mary Holland, Mary Sasson, Matthew Brian Cohen, Nic Michaels, Nicole Byer, Oscar Montoya, Paul F. Tompkins, Peter Banifaz, Rene Gube, Ronnie Adrian, Ryan Rosenberg, Veronica Osorio, Zac Oyama, Zach Reino
Editing and Sound Design by Nic Michaels, Jake Young, Grant Martz, and Emma Erdbrink
Recorded by Emma Erdbrink, Brendan Lynch-Salamon, and Matt Brousseau
Logo by Roxy Radulescu and Rustam Hasanov
Executive Producer Morgan Jones
Presented by Audible Originals and Audible Comedy
©2018 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2018 Audible Originals, LLC
“Welcome to South Grampers! Please enjoy our world-famous movie theater butter, and kindly stay away from the glowing toxic waste.”
Ever been on a terrible conference call where nothing gets solved?
Stuck on hold trying to cancel your cable service?
Lonely and needed to talk to a friend? (Even if they’re a cat?)
Bad Reception is an entirely improvised comedy, set entirely on the phone. A cast of over 40 top comedians and improvisers brings to life (and completely makes up) the story of South Grampers, Northern California – the Movie Theater Butter Capital of the World.
The town is in dire straits and must launch their own film festival to raise some desperately needed cash. But an unexpected sequence of events ultimately leads to an event known as…The Incident. Only one person can solve the mystery and expose the terrible truth. He just doesn’t know it yet.
Created and Directed by Justin Michael and Eric Martin
Story by Justin Michael and Eric Martin
Full Cast Includes (in alphabetical order): Alex Berg, Alex Fernie, Alexa Loftus, Ally Beardsley, Anthony Gioe, Ben Greene, Betsy Sodaro, Carl Tart, Casey Trela, D’Arcy Carden, Dan Gregor, Dan Lippert, Dhruv Singh, Drew Tarver, Echo Kellum, Ego Nwodim, Eric Martin, Gilli Nissim, Haley Hepworth, Harry Chaskin, Jace Armstrong, Jessica McKenna, Jon Mackey, Julie Brister, Justin Michael, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Kyle Mooney, Lauren Lapkus, Lou Wilson, Madeline Walter, Mano Agapion, Marissa Strickland, Mary Holland, Mary Sasson, Matthew Brian Cohen, Nic Michaels, Nicole Byer, Oscar Montoya, Paul F. Tompkins, Peter Banifaz, Rene Gube, Ronnie Adrian, Ryan Rosenberg, Veronica Osorio, Zac Oyama, Zach Reino
Editing and Sound Design by Nic Michaels, Jake Young, Grant Martz, and Emma Erdbrink
Recorded by Emma Erdbrink, Brendan Lynch-Salamon, and Matt Brousseau
Logo by Roxy Radulescu and Rustam Hasanov
Executive Producer Morgan Jones
Presented by Audible Originals and Audible Comedy
©2018 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2018 Audible Originals, LLC
7 pages, Audible Audio
Published August 21, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 10, 2023
A mostly delightful basket of humor with a full cast that overall makes for a good listen. 8 of 10 stars
September 9, 2019
1.5 starts - Innovative concept that gets off to a strong start, but quickly descends into a "meh" story. Very nearly a DNF.
Bad Reception is a novel length audio improv with a loose script and completely improvised. It starts out very strongly and was funny, funny like you best not be drinking anything lest you find what you're drinking is sprayed onto nearby objects (e.g., others in the room) when you burst out laughing.
As the premise is established. the reporting of the goings on in South Grampers in Northern California leading up to "the incident", the listener is treated to a very quirky set of characters who inhabit the Movie Theater Butter Capital of the World. The author and players do an admirable job taking familiar situations (e.g., inane conference calls, city council meetings, 911 calls, helicopter parents, etc.) and turns them into hilarious send-ups.
However, as the story progressed, I found myself not laughing out loud anymore and felt safe drinking liquids again. By the time I approached the two hour mark, I realized that I wasn't enjoying the story anymore and that the story began to depend upon sophomoric humor for its laughs. Funny characters like the Mayor and the two bagel store owners turned from interesting and quirky to annoying and way over the top for my enjoyment.
There were few, if any, passages that approached the truly funny parts at the start of the book. This was going to be a DNF for me, but I had a six hour automobile trip and I thought I would stick it out.
Sadly, the thrill was gone and the ultimate payoff never arrived. Perhaps the book was too long to carry the story crisply or it's the nature of audio improv, but it didn't work for me. After the story was complete, I did somewhat enjoy the performance of the prequel, which was performed before a live audience. It was fun hearing the actors making up the story on the spot and reacting to (and cracking up) each other.
Bad Reception was a brilliant concept and the actors who brought the story to life are very talented and deserve kudos for that. Your mileage may vary and you may rate this book higher, but I missed the comedic contrasts between the normal and absurd as exemplified by the exchanges between the rational 911 operator and the wacky callers that called in. And that is what ultimately left me unsatisfied.
Bad Reception is a novel length audio improv with a loose script and completely improvised. It starts out very strongly and was funny, funny like you best not be drinking anything lest you find what you're drinking is sprayed onto nearby objects (e.g., others in the room) when you burst out laughing.
As the premise is established. the reporting of the goings on in South Grampers in Northern California leading up to "the incident", the listener is treated to a very quirky set of characters who inhabit the Movie Theater Butter Capital of the World. The author and players do an admirable job taking familiar situations (e.g., inane conference calls, city council meetings, 911 calls, helicopter parents, etc.) and turns them into hilarious send-ups.
However, as the story progressed, I found myself not laughing out loud anymore and felt safe drinking liquids again. By the time I approached the two hour mark, I realized that I wasn't enjoying the story anymore and that the story began to depend upon sophomoric humor for its laughs. Funny characters like the Mayor and the two bagel store owners turned from interesting and quirky to annoying and way over the top for my enjoyment.
There were few, if any, passages that approached the truly funny parts at the start of the book. This was going to be a DNF for me, but I had a six hour automobile trip and I thought I would stick it out.
Sadly, the thrill was gone and the ultimate payoff never arrived. Perhaps the book was too long to carry the story crisply or it's the nature of audio improv, but it didn't work for me. After the story was complete, I did somewhat enjoy the performance of the prequel, which was performed before a live audience. It was fun hearing the actors making up the story on the spot and reacting to (and cracking up) each other.
Bad Reception was a brilliant concept and the actors who brought the story to life are very talented and deserve kudos for that. Your mileage may vary and you may rate this book higher, but I missed the comedic contrasts between the normal and absurd as exemplified by the exchanges between the rational 911 operator and the wacky callers that called in. And that is what ultimately left me unsatisfied.
February 5, 2019
Very funny and a very interesting listen to i am a huge fan of improv comedy so this was just excellent for me
April 24, 2019
There were some pretty funny parts, like the cat and dog planning to kill thier owners, but there were a lot of skippable skits in between.
August 24, 2022
Improv gold 🥇
April 28, 2019
Wow, that was weird.
#YouKnowItsShelly
#YouKnowItsShelly
September 21, 2020
Making me laugh was definitely the point of this audiobook. That was achieved so I definitely highly recommend this.
Its a whole lot of funny nonsense sketches that loosely tie together a slow burn story about a crisis in a small town.
Ive never heard a sketch this long but I was pleasantly surprised how well it was put together and didn't feel patchy or out of order.
I wish there were more stuff like this because this was just pure joy to listen to.
Not the most rememberable plot or the most refined but it does give joy in the moment which definetly is what I found to be the whole point.
Its a whole lot of funny nonsense sketches that loosely tie together a slow burn story about a crisis in a small town.
Ive never heard a sketch this long but I was pleasantly surprised how well it was put together and didn't feel patchy or out of order.
I wish there were more stuff like this because this was just pure joy to listen to.
Not the most rememberable plot or the most refined but it does give joy in the moment which definetly is what I found to be the whole point.
December 4, 2018
Gee, that was kind of fun. Parts had me laughing out loud, but the pace was just not brisk enough to allow me to give the story anything higher than three stars. The actors did a wonderful job and some of the humor was as clever as you'll hear anywhere - the bagel shop owners cracked me up. The town gossip hysterical. I do recommend this book to anyone who wants a total escape from everything society now deems so frickin' important.
January 2, 2020
It’s good, but since there is a live recording component of some of the scenes, it can get a little repetitive. Even though it is hear the jokes and absurdity landing with and audience, it would be best to choose either the studio recording or the live recording rather than a studio recording of the whole thing and a live recording of part of what we just went through. That unnecessary repetition is the only reason it’s not a 4-star audiobook.
April 28, 2019
Surprisingly enjoyable. Very impressive that, aside from the basic plot structure, it was all improvised. Very talented cast too, some of which I was surprised to recognize from various television shows. It’s not very long so it’s a good listen for anyone wanting a change of pace.
April 14, 2019
So bad and also so good. I kept going because it was easy to listen to but it was just so silly, in an endearing way.
April 21, 2019
Too long and throughout the whole performance it is drilling down same ideas. Not a big fan of scriptless works. 90 min could do work and would get high ratings.
April 25, 2021
Loved it! So silly and ridiculous I laughed the entire time.
February 27, 2022
I mean, it’s cute. Don’t always succeed. I listen to a lot of these while cutting grass, and they’re perfect for brainless activities. You don’t have to get too involved or think too much.
December 31, 2023
Absolutely 💯 Hilariously perfect
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews