On his new podcast, Spontaneanation, Paul F. Tompkins makes it up as he goes along

Stand-up and sharp-dressed man Paul F. Tompkins is such a comedy podcast fixture that it’s about time he got a (new) podcast to call his own.
On April Fools’ Day, Tompkins (who also hosts “No, You Shut Up!” Fusion’s comedy-news show with puppets) launched “Spontaneanation,” an Earwolf podcast that will drop new episodes on Mondays.
“Spontaneanation” is the long-rumored follow-up to the comedian’s dormant “Pod F. Tompkast.” Unlike that podcast, which featured heavily edited, pre-recorded bits, the new show thrives — as the title suggests — on spontaneity.
In the first episode, Tompkins has a brief chat with “Cougar Town’s” Busy Phillips about her favorite childhood snack, which directly informs a long-form, improvised narrative (featuring Tompkins and special guests) set in a dumpster outside a Denny’s.
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The format is particularly suited to Tompkins’ talents. He’s so quick on his toes, so adept at jumping from character to character. On “Comedy Bang! Bang!,” he often guests as exaggerated versions of Garry Marshall, Werner Herzog and Buddy “Cake Boss” Valestro — sometimes playing more than one at a time.
Share this articleSharePianist Eban Schletter scores the show live, adding some drama and ambiance that helps “Spontaneanation” stand out in the crowded field of comedy podcasts.
Of course, the star of the show is Tompkins, who finally has a seriously silly showcase that longtime listeners have been waiting for.
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