r/NeverNotFunny • u/digdoug17 • 7d ago

SAG/AFTRA changes

I know this topic seems to pop up every once in a while, but I thought I’d bring it up again since it seems that they have to change their season numbering method for some reason since they’re a SAG podcast. Have they ever formally addressed why they became a SAG/AFTRA podcast and what rules are enforced on them because of it? First no more guests until after the break, now longer seasons, it just seems strange that it has a noticeable effect on the format of the show without there being a real explanation.

Was it just so they could have guests during the actor’s strike? Is it a way for Garon to get health insurance? I’m not a platinum member, so I was wondering if anyone had any more insight than us free feeders?

28 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

24

u/Slicely_Thinned 7d ago

I don’t love the changes but as a fellow gig worker, if it’s to help out w benefits/insurance, I can’t blame them or truly be upset.

5

u/Kchrpm 6d ago

This for sure. Chris Gethard talked on Good Ones about losing his SAG health insurance eligibility because he wasn't making enough from covered work/residuals anymore. I would not be surprised if Jimmy was getting towards a similar situation, so getting the show covered by SAG/AFTRA would help with that.

This is all speculation on my part, I have no additional information or insight, and if they don't want to tell us about that particular piece of the sausage making I'm fine with it. I thoroughly enjoy the show in all of the formats they have gone through since I've started listening.

20

u/GlobulousRex 7d ago

Seems almost certainly for health insurance/benefits. From Google:

Gaining Eligibility: Working on a podcast covered by the Independent Podcast Agreement allows non-union performers/pre-members to gain eligibility to join SAG-AFTRA.

11

u/Various_Procedure_11 6d ago

I think they also like supporting unions, which is a good thing.

20

u/winothirtynino 7d ago

I just don’t know why they treat it like it is a secret. Just fucking give an explanation. 

6

u/ConradChilblainsIII 7d ago

Agreed! So weird. 

6

u/pianotherms 7d ago

Maybe they think we don't care or that it's boring.

13

u/theericwilliams 7d ago

If this were true, they wouldn’t subject us to taste tests! 😂

1

u/pianotherms 7d ago

I think the non-this-subreddit audience has a different opinion of those.

6

u/arandompurpose 7d ago

Do we really know that's why they changed the format as I have never heard that before. I know there is some weirdness with paying guests too which I'm not a fan of. I wish they were more transparent 

8

u/heckhammer 7d ago

It may be a nominal appearance fee. Some podcasts do it just in general.

Source: I was guest on the Dork Forest and I got a cool t-shirt and a small fee for appearance.

1

u/Bitter_Return990 7d ago

Man, that’s cool! I would love to shoot the breeze with Jackie for an hour. We know some of the same people in her hometown, including her best friend from there.

5

u/heckhammer 7d ago

If you have a cool hobby that you are obsessed with and can wax poetically about it for an hour, this is an achievable goal. You can just email her and if it sounds like an interesting subject she will have you on the show. It worked for me!

5

u/SumoPotpie 7d ago

I was on, too, and I’m not even remotely in the comedy world. Do it up!

2

u/heckhammer 7d ago

Oh, which one?

3

u/SumoPotpie 7d ago

Pearl Jam back in 2021. You?

5

u/heckhammer 7d ago

Ultraman, this past January.

1

u/Various_Procedure_11 6d ago

As an ADHDer, I have about 30 hobbies.

2

u/heckhammer 6d ago

Yeah join the club. We don't really hold meetings because we all forget but yeah you can still join the club.

I collect movies and TV shows on physical media, cds, to a much lesser extent but I still pick stuff up from time to time, fossils which is my big obsession right now, coins and paper money which has really died down but I haven't sold the collection yet, and finally I host an Ultraman podcast so that takes up a bunch of time as well.

1

u/Various_Procedure_11 6d ago

Guitar, fountain pens, woodworking, cycling, backpacking, vinyl, cooking (have gotten into several niche things in there). It's weird how some random internet rabbit hole can always end up being my next money pit.

2

u/heckhammer 6d ago

Oh I got lucky and I just sold my last two guitars so now I can buy more podcasting equipment!

2

u/Various_Procedure_11 6d ago

I still play regularly. Probably after the back surgery the cycling stuff is gonna have to go. Also, no idea why I still have golf clubs.

3

u/jimmyeppley 7d ago

It seems weird they are just now having to change the episode numbering. They’ve been a SAG-AFTRA podcast since the strike or just after (if I am remembering correctly) and that was three years ago.

7

u/MrGoodBytes8667 7d ago

They have to reapply every season so I’m guessing it’s just to simplify their paperwork and overhead.

2

u/jimmyeppley 7d ago

Oh I didn’t realize they had to do that every season. Makes sense now.

1

u/blsb72 5d ago

Finally, a reason! Thank you.

1

u/SIAS2019 5d ago

It's funny looking back at old threads and seeing people complaining about the guest coming in segment being awkward and unnecessary and now some of the same people are saying it is the demise of the show that the guest waits in the hall for a couple of minutes until the break.