I told ya so!

Way back in 2009, I wrote my first blog post about what I predicted was positioning itself to be the first internet talk show to break out of the geekdom and bring in a main stream audience.  In less than a year, Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show has attracted a line up of top notch guests spanning the full range of the entertainment spectrum (see below for the full list) and Pollak has proven himself  to be a consummate host. He possesses the rare talent to put his guests at such ease that we learn more about them, and the entertainment industry, than I have ever seen on traditional television or in print.

Pollak does in depth interviews with his guests, many surpassing the two hour mark, but has yet to enter into the “What tree are you?”/”How did it feel when your dog died?”  Barbara Walters style of interviewing.  The tone is laid back, lighthearted and intimate.  The guests are relaxed and open and uninterrupted.

In light of the recent round of TV talk show wars, Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show stands out as an example of the excellence that can be achieved when the networks are bypassed and talented people are left to do what they do best- entertain.

And, apparently, I’m not the only one that’s taken notice.  Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show has been nominated for three Streamy awards this year, the highest honor that currently exists for internet based content, including a nom for Pollak as best web series host.

Congratulations to Kevin and his on air cohorts Jaime Fox and Samm Levine and to director Mike Rotman and the top notch crew!

Check out the show at http://kevinpollakschatshow.com where you can watch live or catch up on past episodes.  The spiffy new site is jammed packed with other fun stuff as well.  Put aside an hour just to play the neat interactive features.

Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show, or #kpcs for the hashtag crowd, will be celebrating it’s one year anniversary this Sunday, March 21 at 3pm PDT.  There promises to be a great line-up of previous guests and as always an live chat room where you can join in the fun.

Follow the cast and crew on twitter-

@kevinpollak  @jaime_fox
@SammLevine

@mikerotman @jason_mcintyre @joshnegrin @tenderbilly @studioemily

Download past episodes via the website, itunes, youtube or directly to your tv via VOD on Tivo.

The Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show website was designed by Jeremy Scott-

@jeremyrscott

Episode Guide And Guests

• Episode 1: LeVar Burton & Samm Levine
• Episode 2: Jim Gaffigan & Joe Mantegna
• Episode 3: Jason Antoon & Elon Musk
• Episode 4: Bobby Slayton & Doug Benson
• Episode 5: Christopher McQuarrie & Paget Brewster
• Episode 6: Jon Hamm & Alex Albrecht
• Episode 7: Matthew Perry & Chris Mallick
• Episode 8: Curt Smith & Felicia Day
• Episode 9: George Gallo & Josh Malina
• Episode 10: Adam Carolla & Dana Carvey
• Episode 11: Nia Vardalos & Illeana Douglas
• Episode 12: Dan Finnerty
• Episode 13: Kevin Smith
• Episode 14: Mike Binder
• Episode 15: Nick Swardson
• Episode 16: Jason Lee
• Episode 17: Craig Bierko
• Episode 18: Paul Scheer & Rob Huebel
• Episode 19: Samm Levine & Steve Agee
• Episode 20: Hank Azaria
• Episode 21: Seth MacFarlane
• Episode 22: Rob Corddry
• Episode 23: Michael Gladis & Rich Sommer
• Episode 24: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova & Jane Campion
• Episode 25: Kevin Nealon
• Episode 26: Lisa Loeb
• Episode 27: Eddie Izzard
• Episode 28: Paul F. Tompkins
• Episode 29: Weird Al Yankovic
• Episode 30: Kent Nichols & Douglas Sarine
• Episode 31: Brian Tyler
• Episode 32: David Koechner
• Episode 33: Robert Legato
• Episode 34: Nick Kroll
• Episode 35: Chris Hardwick
• Episode 36: Dave Coulier
• Episode 37: Cast & Crew of Drones (Amber Benson, Adam Busch, Samm Levine, James Urbaniak, Marc Evan Jackson, Dave “Gruber” Allen, Dan Bern, Ben Acker & Ben Blacker)
• Episode 38: Billy West & John DiMaggio
• Episode 39: Jason Reitman
• Episode 40: James Urbaniak
• Episode 41: Sean William Scott
• Episode 42: Annie Duke

I woke up with morning, with renewed vigor and recommitted to three things.  1. Finish the treatment for the screenplay I am working on with Travis Rink.  2. Cut down on the cigs (I know I know). 3. Posting a daily blog entry.  Number three- done!

Please enjoy these two video clips  I discovered this morning via Twitter posts. The first came (to me) via @feliciaday.  If you still don’t know who Felicia Day is… Google immediately. Then, go out and fly your geek flag high.

This second video link, I received from a new follower, @Wzzy, who I don’t really know yet, but who I like already. Link via @iamkhayyam and @theconstruct.

Six weeks ago,  actor/comedian Kevin Pollak threw his hat into the ring as a talk show host.  Going right passed the television networks, Pollak who is a Must Follow on Twitter, was so impressed by the social networking community, he decided to produce a show for his “followers” and air it on the internet.  It’s a mix of Charlie Rose and Dinner For Five,  with a lot more humor,  a bit less production value, and no pesky waiter (actor?) interrupting the talk.  It’s a roaring sucess. Pollak is relaxed, funny and genuine and the show is intimate and engaging in a way that exceeds any talk show on traditional television.

The Kevin Pollak Chat Show has a couple of mottos… The first is  “We’re not ready” and while there have been a few techinal issues, they only add to the show’s charm.  The second and more significant motto is “This is Your Show” and more than anything else I’ve seen online,  KPCS (as it’s referred to on Twitter) is fan-centric and interactive . Viewers can comment and ask questions to Kevin and his guests in a live chatroom or by posting on Twitter.  Fans can submit their original music to be used as the show’s theme music. Every week Kevin plays the game, “Three Degrees of Kevin Pollak” (because Kevin Bacon is a pussy if he needs 6).  The live audience throws out any actor’s name and regardless of how obscure,  so far nobody has stumped Kevin and his crack staff.

Another fan favorite is the weekly Larry King Game.  At the end of each interview,  Kevin asks his guest to do a bad impersonation of Larry King, reveal something personal and throw to the phones using a hopefully funny city name.  This has spawned the Larry King Game on YouTube (see below).

Previous guests have included actors Joe Mantegna and  LaVar Burton, and comedians Doug Benson and Jim Gaffigan.  Last week Kevin hosted Christopher McQuarrie, the writer of The Ususal Suspects and actress Paget Brewster.  The McQuarrie segment alone ran over two hours, but I’d be surprised if anybody watching even took a bathroom break.  Pollak really is that good at this.

The Kevin Pollak Chat Show airs live on Sundays at 5pm PDT from Maholo Studios in Santa Monica.  You can view the show live at Stickam or for more info go to KevinPollakChatShow.com.  Follow Kevin @kevinpollak on Twitter.   This weeks guests are Alex Albrecht,  host of Diggnation and The Totally Rad Show and… yes I’m gonna say it, be still my heart, Golden Globe Winner for his role as Don Draper on AMC’s Madmen… Jon Hamm!

If you’ve missed the first five shows, they are available on itunes.  If you want to post your best (or worst) Larry King impression to the Larry King Game click here.

Here’s our entry… I was behind the camera, as usual.