In the age of social media, anyone can aspire to be famous. YouTubers and influencers are just as famous, if not more so, than celebrities known for their music, acting, or athleticism, and many have nicknames such as “food bloggers” or “lifestyle gurus.” We are aiming for a position that combines multiple hyphens. is what it means. If swimming in a veritable sea of D-Listers sounds fun (and maybe a little daunting) to you, then you’re already or need to hear Who?weeklya podcast hosted by journalists Bobby Finger and Lindsey Webber.
The podcast’s title comes from the idea that celebrities fall into two categories: the already famous Thems and the high-profile Whos. For example, British singer Rita Ora is a Who (actually the Queen of the Who), while American pop star Katy Perry is firmly Them. And someone’s “Them-or-Who-dom” is a variable quality, sliding up and down the scale of fame depending on a variety of factors, including that person’s career, romantic partners, and media environment. The podcast started in 2016 and boasts a passionate following of fans who call themselves His Wholigans. Director Richard Curtis and screenwriter Lena Dunham leave voicemails on their weekly call-in shows. When you start listening to enough podcasts, your speech becomes sloppy. Who?weekly Slang and references.
Weber and Finger not only release two hilarious episodes every week (in the words of Andy Cohen, “Wow, twice a week”), but also a series of endearing, layered conversations filled with low-level celebrity gossip and genuine intimacy. It’s full of. They also incorporate podcasts into their tours. Who?weekly performed their debut live at New York City’s Bell House in 2017, and are currently heading overseas for their first European performances in London (March 1st and 2nd) and Dublin (March 4th).
Weber is particularly looking forward to the visit to Dublin, where he studied abroad during his university days and attended the Irish premiere of a hit musical film. one time.
“It’s been a really long time since I’ve been there, so I want to see if there’s some kind of strong sense of déjà vu going on. I feel like it’s a very powerful sensory memory. I’m going to see the Oscar Wilde statue again in my life. I want to see that guy relaxing in the garden, which I think would be unbelievable in Dublin,” Weber told me over Zoom. Ms. Finger also spends time in Dublin, usually visiting friends who lived there, and has a fondness for the Guinness Storehouse, although Ms. Weber does not reveal it (and that’s why she hasn’t had it for a while. That’s why I know I lived here. I feel pretty much the same way).
“If you drink a Guinness in a pub and get a chuckle from an Irish person for drinking a typical Guinness, you’ll have a much better time. Probably a lot more fun than being surrounded by other tourists drinking Guinness for the first time. . It’s just better. It’s a better experience,” says Weber. Finger disagrees. He was given an untouched pint by a burly, shy visitor, so that’s a priority over the Guinness your (very expensive) ticket gives you.
Aside from tourist spots, the two of them Who?weekly Especially considering Who-andThem-dom can be location-specific, allowing you to perform live shows to audiences in the UK and Ireland.
“For us, many of these [British and Irish celebs] “Whoever they are, we know that for a lot of people in the audience, they’re them, so I think those conflicting perspectives are going to be really fun,” Finger says.
And that’s definitely true. I quiz them about Irish celebrities and some of their names surprise me, yet I’ve lived here for 10 years. Among them are Barry Keoghan (Weber: “There’s an eeriness there”), Eve Hewson, Brendan Gleeson (“I think you’d call him a Who’s Who,” Finger says), and Including his son Domhnall Gleeson.James Joyce, Sally Rooney, Saoirse Ronan and Gabriel Byrne are them and the fingers are waiting Gladiator Coming out before giving Paul Mescal their place.
Who?weekly However, it’s more than celebrity gossip. “Lindsay and I want to believe that our podcast is as much about the state of media as it is about D-List Whos. I feel like that,” Finger explained, later adding: And before, we were more commonly just writers and journalists. So even though it’s a podcast, I think of it as a medium. I don’t have any strange illusions about it. ”
Weber agrees. “I think we’ve created an outlet to gossip about the media in our own fantasies, and in reality it’s through the lens of celebrities, but what we’re actually interested in is the future of magazines. , the future of magazines.” Journalism and all that. So, I think people who have been listening for a long time will know that, but when we’re explaining the podcast to people, every time they say, “Who’s your favorite celebrity?” I say, “Who’s your favorite celebrity?” I think they would care.” You know? “
Both Mr. Finger and Mr. Weber are depressed about the state of journalism these days. There may also be wider social implications, especially given that many of my friends in the media have been laid off and their publications have shut down.thankfully Who?weekly is doing well thanks in large part to the dedication of the Hooligans.
“The biggest thank you we can give is word of mouth. I think we say that on every podcast. But telling your friends about cool stuff is really how you support the stuff you love on every level.” People may forget that,” Weber said near the end of the conversation.
I hope you enjoy it Who?weekly, or for that matter, don’t forget to rave about it to your friends. Your support matters more than you think.
Get tickets to Who?weekly Click here for live shows in London (March 1st and 2nd) and Dublin (March 4th).
Claire Martin is a graveyard enthusiast; pastecomedy editing assistant. Harass her on her Twitter @theclaremartin.
