The Nerd Crew
The Nerd Crew (subtitled “A Pop Culture Podcast”) is a satire of pop culture podcasts, especially those focused on blockbuster and large tentpole film releases.
The show was originally intended just to parody the website Collider and their podcast Jedi Council. As the series has gone on and outlasted the podcast in question, the show now blatantly spoofs the podcasting and live streaming format with regards to shows with obvious corporate plants and entitled hosts with an inability to let go of their childhood.
Mike Stoklasa, Rich Evans, and Jay Bauman play stylized versions of themselves attempting to stay in touch with the latest generation while making money in the process, no matter the implications. The actors play up their age and destitute financial situation while simultaneously attempting to throw in modern day slang words and showcasing frivolous purchases of merchandise. Along the way they are assisted by an unseen corporate side of the company including their editor Rick and various vague departments like Public Relations.
In each episode the trio talk about upcoming news related to big budget pop culture. Often the hosts are accidentally upfront about being given talking points or products to review directly by the corporations they are talking about, though they rarely seem to be financially compensated. They will alternate between showering praise upon companies that they are currently in the pockets of, and putting down companies when the hosts let their masks slip or are in the pockets of their competitors during any given episode. The Crew is fond of the phrase “very cool” to show approval of a subject and is a common term to fall back on if the hosts can’t think of anything specific to say.