Greetings from What is California? HQ, where Elsie the HQ Cat and I are celebrating a big milestone today: Episode 20! 🥳
I know 20 episodes of a podcast might not seem like a lot. But as a labor of love produced independently in the off hours between a “real” job, it really does stun me to think how far this thing has come in less than six months. Thank you for your interest, support and listenership.
To celebrate, this week I welcome Louis Virtel to the show. Louis is a writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a co-host of the Crooked Media podcast Keep It, a veteran of the Academy Awards red carpet, and one of the most recognizable Jeopardy! contestants of the last decade (and maybe ever). Who can forget this classic moment?
Full disclosure: As you’ll learn early on in our chat, Louis is also a former colleague of mine at the late, lamented Movieline.com. We last worked together in 2012, and it was amazing to catch up with him a decade later. We covered everything he’s been up to, checking in along the way on the uniquely California dimensions of his work, his life, and his passions. And in keeping with this milestone episode, Louis also has one of the best replies yet to our customary final question about his favorite Californian past or present.
I love this chat and am so pleased to share it with you. I hope you may share it as well, and if you like What is California? , please consider rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts. It helps new listeners find us! And if you’re feeling really generous, please also consider becoming a supporter of the show on Patreon:
Thank you as always! Happy listening, and as always: Keep your eye on the bear! 🐻❤️
Episode Notes
Louis Virtel is a writer on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and a co-host of the Crooked Media podcast Keep It.
I remain shocked that I could meet a ton of people who are like me here. I really thought that was a New York thing. [...] I really thought in the abstract it was the land of models and actors, and I’m so psyched to learn: No–this is totally where I belong, [around] people who have made me so much funnier. I guess I’m just shocked to belong here so much, even though everything I’ve ever wanted to do involves being in California.
Notes and references from this episode:
@LouisVirtel - Louis Virtel on Twitter
Keep It - Crooked Media home page
Keep It - Apple Podcasts
“101 of the Best Songs About California,” by Soumya Karlamangla, NY Times
@kylebuchanan - Kyle Buchanan on Twitter
Black’s Beach - SanDiego.org
“Virtel it Like it Is” - Marvel segment - Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Louis Virtel on Jeopardy! - YouTube
2020 Red Carpet Coverage - The Oscars
The Richard & Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center - CSU Long Beach
Karen Carpenter Plays the Drums - YouTube
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Produced, hosted and edited by Stu VanAirsdale
Theme music: Sounds Supreme
Twitter: @WhatCalifornia
Substack newsletter: whatiscalifornia.substack.com
Support What is California? on Patreon: patreon.com/whatiscalifornia
Email: hello@whatiscalifornia.com
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