1A

Zach Woods On Making NPR Into An Animated Comedy

Feb 9, 2024

"Silicon Valley" and "The Office" actor, Zach Woods, talks about his new animated comedy show "In the Know" that pokes fun at public radio. The show features live-action, unscripted interviews with celebrities like Roxanne Gay and Mike Tyson, and incorporates stop-motion animation. They discuss using NPR as a framing device for larger themes and the co-creators' improv influence on the show. Zach Woods also shares his fascination with stop-motion animation and the importance of creating nuanced characters.

30:33

Creator website

Episode guests

Zach Woods

Lauren Caspian

AI Summary

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

'In The Know' is a satirical critique of the world of public radio, combining stop-motion animation with unscripted celebrity interviews.

Zack Woods, creator of 'In The Know,' drew inspiration from his love for public radio and aimed to bring out different aspects of the guests' personalities by engaging them in unusual conversations.

Deep dives

The Show's Concept and Characters

The podcast episode discusses the animated show 'In The Know,' which is a satire of public radio. The show is set in a public radio station and features a self-important host named Lauren Caspian, played by Zack Woods. The show combines stop-motion animation with live-action unscripted interviews with celebrities like Roxanne Gay, Jonathan Van Ness, and Mike Tyson. The creator, Zack Woods, describes the inspiration for the show as a combination of his affection for NPR and a satirical critique of NPR listeners and the world of public radio.

Introduction

3min

In The Know: A Satire of NPR and the World of Public Radio

10min

Zach Woods On Making NPR Into An Animated Comedy: Animation and Public Media

2min

Exploring the Co-Creators and Improv Influence

9min

Discussion on Show Concept and Guest Pitch

2min

Exploring Stop Motion Animation and Emotional Storytelling

6min

Listener Feedback and Sponsorship Announcement

3min

A new show is poking fun at, well, us. Peacock's latest, "In the Know" is set in a public radio station. This includes nervous producers on the mic for pledge drives, and NPR's third most popular host, Lauren Caspian.

The host is played by Zach Woods, who is best known for his roles in "Silicon Valley" and "The Office." He's now making his directorial debut with "In the Know."

It's a stop animation show that includes live-action, unscripted interviews with celebrities like Roxanne Gay, Jonathan Van Ness, and Mike Tyson.

We sit down with creator and star Zach Woods to talk all about it.

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