Podcasting

Finally, some religion is coming to iTunes. Religious satire, anyway.

Starting tomorrow, and following the premiere of each episode of Moral Orel on Adult Swim, the latest episode will be available on iTunes. If you're bummed about Morel Orel not being shown on Adult Swim Fix, or you're like me and can only enjoy animation when it's on a tiny screen you hold in your hand, then sing hallelujah and rejoice, brothers and sisters. Moral Orel joins Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Venture Bros. and Sealab 2021 in the iTunes store. This news is according to the always-informative bumps that pop up during Adult Swim's block. That onscreen text hasn't steered me wrong yet. I trust it more than my own mother, who doesn't even watch Adult Swim if you can believe it. Since the show doesn't hit iTunes until tomorrow, I'm not sure of the cost per episode, but one would assume the usual $1.99.

PBS has made some of its programming available on iTunes, but instead of paying for the episodes, you simply call a number and pledge money to PBS, download the episode, and then receive a coffee mug or tote bag in the mail. No, I'm kidding, the episodes are the usual $1.99 downloads. The series include Nova (which has had a free vodcast on iTunes already), Scientific American Frontiers, Antiques Roadshow and Now. PBS is also offering a few animated children's programs in its iTunes store, including Arthur, Cyberchase and Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman. The Nova podcast will be a little more pricey at $7.99 per show, and I notice the short-form Nova vodcast hasn't had a new episode since last month, so maybe they're ditching that as well. I hope that isn't the case, since it was a great vodcast, even if it did only offer tiny snippets.

[via Toon Zone]

Recently I mentioned a smallish get-together of a few of the cast members of Freaks and Geeks at the UCB Theater in Los Angeles as part of Paul Goebel's "King of TV" stage show. If you weren't in Los Angeles when that all went down, you can now listen to an audio recording of the event via Goebel's podcast. Find out what the kids are up to now, what it was like working on the show, and why Busy Philipps hates That 70s Show and only did Love, Inc. because she needed the money. They also play a quiz game with members of the audience. It sounds like the whole night was quite a blast. Oh yeah, and there's also a visit from someone doing a bad impression of Charles Nelson Reilly.

You're rushing through New York City's Grand Central Terminal, on your way to catch the 5:14 Metro North train to Mamaroneck. You only have a few minutes to spare. All of a sudden you catch something out of the corner of your eye: A Bluetooth-powered terminal. You step up to it and see the words 'free download'. It turns out to be a set of 30-second promos for upcoming shows on CBS that you can download to your cell phone. Not one to skip out on anything free, you download the promos, and skip gaily down to the train platform.

ABC recently announced it will be offering news specials from its archives for purchase on iTunes. Customers will be able to pick from the library of ABC News Specials which include a ride-along with gang patrol cops in LA, a behind-the-scenes look at Grey's Anatomy, and a special on UFOs. The first two might be worth checking out, but I'll save all of you $1.99 right now by telling you UFOs aren't real. Don't bother to thank me, I do this out of love. There's also an archive of celebrity interviews, and another selection called "The Day It Happened," which looks at major events in history. It should also be pointed out that ABC does offer free news content through iTunes as well.

Some cool news for Muppet fans: the Jim Henson Company recently launched an audio podcast. Right now there are only two podcasts up, and both take place at the 20th anniversary screening of Labyrinth, a movie I thought was just okay (I'll always like Dark Crystal much more). The site for the podcast promises news about old projects, upcoming productions and information on the inner machinations of the company. The first couple podcasts feature brief interviews with some of the people who worked on Labyrinth, including Dave Goelz (who performed Gonzo and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew on The Muppet Show), Karen Prell, and designer and artist Brian Froud, who also worked on The Dark Crystal. These podcasts were only about a week apart, so hopefully subsequent episodes will be put out just as timely.

[via Muppet News Flash]

Cartoon Network has been adding some shows to iTunes, and the most recent addition is Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. All episodes from the first season are available for the usual $1.99 per episode, or you can download the entire season for $19.99. Sorry if I sound like a shill for iTunes and Cartoon Network, but I thought this was pretty cool news, and Foster's is one of my favorite cartoons to come along in a long time. Moreover, I like seeing cartoons made available this way, as I think they work quite well even when viewed on a tiny iPod video screen. Johnny Bravo and Squirrel Boy are still available as well, though my nine year old nephew recently gave the thumbs down to Squirrel Boy. Since I've never seen that cartoon I'll just have to take his word for it.

[via Toon Zone]

I've been a fan of Tim and Eric for a long time, even before Tom Goes to the Mayor was picked up by Adult Swim. However, I hadn't checked out their personal Web site in some time, so I was pleased to find they actually have a podcast now. They've made six episodes since May, and when I say "six" I mean "five" because the fifth one doesn't appear to be on iTunes. Oh wait, they do have it here. Okay, well that problem is solved. I was seriously worried there for a moment. I'm just glad you and I were able to get through it together. I think those last four sentences were a tumultuous time for all of us, full of doubt and uncertainty. The podcasts themselves include a lot of older videos the duo made before moving out to LA to do Tom Goes to the Mayor, mixed in with some newer stuff. If you're a fan, check it out. If you're not a fan, don't check it out, because that really wouldn't make any sense.

What a very cool, very clever idea: commentary tracks you can download to your iPod (or other mp3 player) and listen to while you watch a movie in your own home!

RiffTrax is from the brain of Mike Nelson, host and head writer of Mystery Science Theater 3000. He'll do wiseass commentary tracks, a la MST3K, and you listen to them while you watch the movie he's talking about on your DVD player or on your computer. The first movie is Roadhouse, the (as Mike puts it ) "best movie ever made about a world-famous bouncer and his epic struggle with the evil owner of the local J.C. Penney." The site is in beta mode right now, so I'm not sure if the $1.99 price is permanent. He might have guests join him in future commentaries. Make sure you vote on which movie you'd like to hear a commentary for next (right now, The Matrix is in the lead, but I'd love to see it be Cocktail.)

[via Slashdot]

Programs from the Discovery Channel and some of its associated networks are now available through iTunes. The shows include Mythbusters, Shark Week, The Save-Ums, Extreme Engineering, Breed All About It, The Most Extreme, Passport to Europe, World's Best, America's National Parks, and Kenny the Shark. The episodes will cost the usual $1.99. Personally, I like the idea of having Mythbusters and Shark Week being made available, but I'm not to sure people will be that interested in downloading and watching something like America's National Parks, much less paying to watch it. Then again, everyone isn't me.

[via Digg]