Maximum Fun is an independent podcast and radio show production organization founded by Jesse Thorn. You may be familiar with some of the podcasts they produce, including Bullseye, Jordan, Jesse, Go!, Judge John Hodgeman, RISK!, and Throwing Shade, to name a few. The culture and entertainment that’s pumped out to the viewer via these audio forces, however, does not get there by sheer magic. Every year MaximumFun.org holds a fundraiser which raises money for the network (and charity) and unites members and listeners in a very FUN way. Inspired by the listener zeal generated by this annual event, we are excited to inform you that MAXFUNWEEK begins Wednesday, October 15 and continues up until October 21. Some of the activities you can expect from MaxFunWeek include Reddit AMA’s with MaxFun hosts, cross over podcast hosts on some of your favorite MaxFun shows, and MORE. This celebration of MaxFun podcasts will kick off with one of the network’s most original shows, Bullseye with Jesse Thorn. We thought it fitting that Mr. Jesse Thorn tell you a little bit more about MaxFunWeek, despite his views on cake. Enjoy!
COMEDY CAKE: Greetings, Jesse! Please do enlighten those readers who are unfamiliar with the MaximumFun podcast network.
JESSE THORN: We’re a group of now more than a dozen podcasts about comedy and culture. We’ve got high-minded stuff, like Bullseye, a show I host that’s also on NPR. We’ve also got low-minded stuff, like the very silly and vulgar advice podcast My Brother, My Brother & Me. We try to do work that’s smart, fun and funny, whether it’s in-depth interviews or dick jokes.
CAKE: How will the upcoming MaxFunWeek differ from the MaxFunDrive?
JESSE: Well, we’re mostly supported by donations, so once a year we have a pledge drive, just like a public radio station. We’ve always been amazed at how avidly our listeners support it – not just with donations, either. It’s the time of year when we hear the most from people about what our work means to them, where people talk to each other about our shows, where people launch crazy projects and stuff.
So we wanted to replicate those elements once a year, without the asking for money part. Sort of like fan appreciation day at the ballpark. And thus, MaxFunWeek was born. We’re doing all kinds of stuff, starting with a live Bullseye in LA, but extending to online stuff like special podcast episodes and Q&As every day of the week. We want it to be a celebration of our listener community.
CAKE: What can attendants expect at the “Bullseye with Jesse Thorn LIVE” event occurring at the Hollywood Forever Masonic Lodge October 15? Are the peacocks invited?
JESSE: Would the peacocks even like it? What do peacocks even like? Bright colors, I guess? There will be some bright colors. I guess they can come as long as they stay in the back of the house, and don’t come up on stage. Sort of hard not to be upstaged by a peacock.
As far as what to expect… it’s all the parts of Bullseye, but on stage. We’ll have a music act, we’ll have a comedy act. We’ll have interviews with amazing people. I might tell a little story or something. I’ll definitely wear a suit. It’s like vaudeville: a little bit of everything.
CAKE: Will your Bullseye wardrobe honor the Masonic tradition?
JESSE: I have an old Masonic ring that I may wear, but the vestements are prohibitively expensive.
CAKE: Any clues as to who we might be expecting as Bullseye interview guests?
JESSE: We’re announcing guests later in September, but I’ll give you a hint: One of our guests has a new upcoming documentary, but you’ll need to use Heat Vision to figure out who it is, or you won’t know Jack.
CAKE: What have been some of your most memorable experiences among past events?
JESSE: Hearing Bill Hader tell stories about Stefon was amazing. Watching Andrew WK improvise on the piano. Some amazing comedy sets – Kumail Nanjiani comes to mind.
One of our first live shows here in LA, many years ago, our interview guest was Rob Thomas, the creator of Veronica Mars. I talked to him about his relationship with his Little Brother from the Big Brothers program. It was the Little Brother’s 18th birthday that night, and Rob left early to go to his birthday party, because he was headed off to college. They’d known each other for something like ten years. It was a really beautiful story. (Not funny at all though. A lot of times, people are funny.)
CAKE: Most importantly, will MaxFunWeek include cake? Please say “yes.”
JESSE: Nope! Pie! Pie is better.
Mentions: Purchase tickets for Bullseye with Jesse Thorn LIVE at 9pm at Hollywood Forever 10.15.14 HERE.