Recommended starting point for newbie to HH

[ivyadelaide 21]

Hey all! I'm a long-time Earwolf listener, and want to start getting into Hollywood Handbook. But I have no idea where to start.

 

Go from the first ep up till now? I'm just aware of the fact that some shows don't start getting into their 'groove' right from the start, so didn't know if it was worth starting right at the first ep? Are there specific ones which are stand-outs?

 

I am a huge fan of CBB, HDTGM, Womp it up and Special Guest with Lauren Lapkus if that helps.

[KillerBeeKilled 18]

I think you should always start with the first because it's exciting to go with them as they find their footing, and I find if you skip around too much you miss out on a lot of fun and inside jokes even if the guest isn't great. In this case the first episode is pretty exciting and gives a lot. I also love cbb and started Hollywood handbook recently, first episode was enough for me.

[greggy 15909]

there are definitely some particularly great episodes but it is good right from the beginning so i think you should start there

[elizamuffins 4228]

And start like NOW!!!!

[TheDeadWolf 33]

Start from the top, the Adam Pally ep is early and I thought that one was fantastic and a really good example of what they're like

[Game of Scones 5812]

atom pally, donald glover are both strong in my opinion. the first epi is good, but also slow and low on energy.

[seeley 836]

I enjoyed all the episodes that came before it immensely but I feel like the first Shelby Fero episode (#15), is where their personas seemed to gain a little bit of depth beyond the extremely enjoyable pompous Hollywood thing.

 

And then the next episode with Grace Helbig (#16) showing them how to use a computer and the internet, I think for me, that's where the show started to really shift into a different gear (car talk).

 

I can't imagine just jumping around at some arbitrary starting point with this show, though. It's filling me with anxiety just thinking about it.

[hypnotizingchickens 1025]

trick question...

 

you should probably start with the (re-re-re-) reality SHOW show (show show show) if you want to be a true Shawn and Haze fan.

[gototimsvlogdotnet 2886]

Be careful. I know there are more than 25 episodes (>6mo), and that can be terrifying. But be calm and just pretend like episodes 1-71 don't exist. A little trick is simply not scrolling that far down.

[monju125 140]

When in doubt, start with a Paul F. Tompkins ep.

[ABRAXAS 366]

I'd say the Rob Corddry and Mike Still episodes are great examples of guests who "get" the show and bounce back and forth with the hosts really well. The Iliza Shlesinger and Pauly Shore episodes are also worth a listen, because they represent episodes where the guest doesn't seem to get what's going on, and those types of episodes are great in their own way. Also, the Pauly Shore episode has some great engineer interaction, which is a frequent part of the show.

Between those four I'd say you can get a pretty good grasp of things.

People say it's important to listen to the backlog of the show to get what's going on, but I disagree. It's not like they ever explain what exactly is going on. Just know that they're pretending to be Hollywood insiders and everything is very silly and ironic.

[seeley 836]

^^

 

Ehhh! Wrong

[ABRAXAS 366]

I almost forgot. I was Ehhh! Wrong on that one. Sean and Hayes bring up in a later episode that Iliza Schlesinger was totally in on everything (there was a lot of speculation on that). In hindsight, it's a little unfair to group those two episodes together. They're similar because the guests don't respond to silliness with more silliness, but Iliza Schlesinger doesn't come across as some kind of idiot who doesn't understand the concept of the show.

Pauly Shore on the other hand....

[Goon Diapers 6]

The best episode for new listeners to hear is the Jake Johnson episode, because that is the first episode that they did.

[ivyadelaide 21]

GUYS! Update, I'm officially hooked. Sean and Hayes are cracking my whole shit up, all the time. Not too spooky, minimal skellingtons thank god!

[earpanther 451]

i thought it was fairly obv that schlesinger was in on it.

[Shrek & Donkey Kong 4336]

usually i tell people to listen to the Dan Klein or DCP episode, and if they like that, start from the top

[dandydaly 89]

Just started listening to HH myself (I haven't listened to any podcast's entire backlog before, even Harmontown's) and I've gone through the first 10. I like them all, but the strongest is definitely the Ellie Kemper episode, so I guess that's the best arbitrary starting point if you don't want to start from the very beginning.

[UncannyMartinSkrehli 22]

Just start with the first one. The bit about the Emmy's speech immediately sets the tone of the boys going forward. Great guests in the first 12 eps or so aswell.

[JaclynnAlexander 258]

GUYS! Update, I'm officially hooked. Sean and Hayes are cracking my whole shit up, all the time. Not too spooky, minimal skellingtons thank god!

Welcome to the cult!

(Get out while you still ca--)

There's a few where during a re-listen it's become my new favorite from a really clever re-direction I missed from listening to it while at work that changed the whole concept.

I'm actually not sure if I like the episodes that catch me off-guard the whole time and I can't breathe I'm laughing so hard.. or the ones that are on an entire other level and it'll change direction and they'll all go with it into a weird place...