Stephen Fry's Podgrams

Infobox Podcast
title = Stephen Fry's Podgrams


caption = The title screen for "Stephen Fry's Podgrams".
host = Stephen Fry
url = http://www.stephenfry.com/podcasts/
rss = http://www.stephenfry.com/podcasts/rss.xml
status = No set schedule
began = 20 February 2008
ended =
genre = Comedy
network = The Positive Internet Company

"Stephen Fry's Podgrams" is a series of podcasts performed and recorded by British comedian Stephen Fry, and hosted by The Positive Internet Company. First made downloadable on 20 February 2008, the series of podgrams are a collection of Fry's writings, speeches and collective thoughts. The podgrams vary in length and are not released at any set date. The text of the podgrams is sometimes published as part of Fry's web logs or "Blessays".cite web|last=Fry|first=Stephen|authorlink=Stephen Fry|url=http://www.stephenfry.com/podcasts/|title=Stephen Fry's Podgrams|publisher=Stephen Fry|date=2008-09-02|accessdate=2008-09-07]

The podgrams are currently one of the most downloaded podcast series on the internet, with the series normally being in the top five most downloaded podcasts from iTunes, even though only a few episodes have been created.cite news|last=Campling|first=Christ|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article4618509.ece|title=Podcast of the week: Stephen Fry’s elegant rambles|publisher="The Times"|date=2008-08-30|accessdate=2008-09-07]

Reception

"Stephen Fry's Podgrams" have been well received by most critics, despite only a few episodes having been recorded. Chris Campling of "The Times" said: "Yes, he's smug – but then he has a lot to be smug about, not least the ability to waffle for 30 to 45 minutes about not very much without being boring or condescending. He leaves you feeling at peace with yourself, the spoken word equivalent of the sound of waves lapping gently on a tropical beach."

The Good Web Guide also recommends the series saying that, "Whether he is bringing you up to date with his recent adventures of just riffing on something that interests him, he is always compelling company. Those who know Mr Fry's work well will see plenty of material recycled here. (For instance, he has done his shtick about Oscar Wilde, wallpaper and violence on "Room 101". And anyone who has read "Moab Is My Washpot" or seen "A Bit of Fry & Laurie" knows all his attitude to dancing.) But Stephen Fry is one of those very rare people who are incapable of being boring." [cite web|url=http://www.thegoodwebguide.com/index.php?art_id=1275&|title=Stephen Fry's Podgrams|publisher=The Good Web Guide|accessdate=2008-09-07]

Jacques René Zammit of "The Malta Independent" reviewed one particular episode in which Fry talked about the problems within journalism. He wrote positively on Fry's comments saying, "I share Stephen's worries completely. Every time I sit down to type my excessively long column, I am burdened by the thought that after all this is just a collection of thoughts by someone who may very well be perceived as a pompous ass – and if Stephen Fry has these disquisitions, then I definitely should be doing some worrying myself." [cite news|last=René Zammit|first=Jacques|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=75250|title=J'accuse: The meaning of life|publisher="The Malta Independent"|accessdate=2008-09-18]

Episodes

The podgrams are released sporadically, with gaps between different podgrams being from one month up to several months. The length of each podgram varies widely as well.

References