National Lampoon and Spotify announce exclusive partnership

National Lampoon has plans for your Christmas Vacation! The revival of iconic “National Lampoon Radio Hour” as “National Lampoon Radio Hour: The Podcast” will drop not one, but TWO episodes in time for Christmas on Thursday, December 19. Today, National Lampoon President Evan Shapiro announced that Spotify will be the exclusive early release destination for all new episodes of “National Lampoon Radio Hour: The Podcast.”

Starting Thursday, December 26 with episode three entitled “Maven Crawford,” Spotify users will have exclusive early access to new irreverent and uncensored episodes featuring today’s emerging comedic talent. Dropping every Thursday, the half-hour installments will be available three weeks in advance of the podcast universe – free for all users on Spotify. Spotify users will also have exclusive access to original content from the 1970’s “National Lampoon Radio Hour” which introduced the world to comedic geniuses Belushi, Murray, Radner, Guest, Ramis and more, creating the mold for modern sketch.

“National Lampoon Radio Hour: The Podcast” stars next generation comic savants Cole Escola, Jo Firestone, Brett Davis, Alex English, Maeve Higgins, Aaron Jackson, Rachel Pegram, Lorelei Ramirez, Meg Stalter and Martin Urbano, and is a reinvention of modern scripted sketch, in audio. The podcast premieres on December 19 with the first two episodes, including a twisted National Lampoon’s Christmas Podcast episode with special guest Rachel Dratch. Other guest stars appearing throughout the season include Amy Sedaris, Chris Gethard, Julie Klausner and Jordan Klepper.

Shapiro said: “The original ‘National Lampoon Radio Hour’ was on the radio. Spotify is radio to this generation. What better place than Spotify to debut ‘National Lampoon Radio Hour: The Podcast’?”

Kevin Frakes, National Lampoon Co-CEO, added “National Lampoon rebooted Radio Hour as a podcast to reanimate our brand for a new generation. We are thrilled to partner with Spotify to bring these original new voices to new audiences.”

“National Lampoon is one of the most iconic and hilarious comedy brands of all time. Spotify is thrilled to be partnering to bring its revered Radio Hour to new audiences around the world,” said Lauren Jarvis, Head of Content Partnerships, North America, Spotify.

“National Lampoon Radio Hour: The Podcast” is executive produced by Joe Cilio, Alex Ramsey, and National Lampoon’s Kevin Frakes, Raj Singh and Evan Shapiro. Cole Escola serves as head writer and executive producer. Jo Firestone is senior writer and producer.

“National Lampoon Radio Hour: The Podcast” also pulls back the curtain and invites fans into the studio. For the first-time ever, cameras captured the performances and antics of the dynamic comedians while taping. Each episode will also be available via NationalLampoon.com and the National Lampoon YouTube channel with the first two episodes available on December 19 and the remaining to be available a week following Spotify’s rollout. Video series directed by Brandon Tamburri and Tracy Soren.