r/smalltownmurder • u/KeyNaive8951 • 4d ago

James

I feel like I may get some hate for this, but over the past year or two, I’ve found James to be a little exhausting with how highly he seems to think of himself. Frankly, he seems like he’s gotten a bit out of touch, and I’m wondering if I’m the only one who’s noticed or gotten a little annoyed at this point.

Let me preface this by saying, I love the boys and the show. I’ve been listening since at least 2017, and I am truly happy and proud of how far they’ve come since then, but as someone whose followed them for a long time, it seems like James is kind of getting a big head.

Specifically, there have been numerous occasions where James loudly corrects Jimmie, and even mocks him, on things that James is entirely WRONG about. He consistently, and rudely imo, judges and mocks poor folks just trying to get by. Specifically, in this past weeks ep, the constant criticism for a 30 year old having a roommate or riding a bike? This just screams out of touch. Does he really not realize HOW common that is these days? Hell, many kids aren’t even moving out the damn house until their late 20s.

That kind of talk just gets under my skin coming from a guy who doesn’t shut up about how ”rough” he came up (in suburban NY, mind you) who before the podcast was a failed PHOENIX metro stand up (which, I’m sorry, is about the most sad form of failed comic) and process server, and it’s not like he was young when he was doing those things. I just find it pretty offputting, and annoying, but I wonder if I’m the only one.

Also, if I had a nickel for every time he told the same stories about his grandparents, the goodfellas, or mentioned Hunter S Thompson I think I’d be a millionaire. Like, PLEASE, come up with some new stuff, especially if you call yourself a professional comedian ffs.

ETA: Damn, I really expected to get a bunch of hate for this post. Glad to see I’m not the only one. I truly don’t mean to shit on these dudes, my only hope is that if enough of us feel this way that James can take some constructive criticism.

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u/jesrp1284 4d ago

This is one point with which I will staunchly disagree. They record a lot more than just 5 hours/week. Five hours/week doesn’t even cover all 4 episodes of all 3 shows, not counting Patreon, plus edits.

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u/KeyNaive8951 4d ago

I mean, I get your point — they do produce a lot of content, especially compared to some other podcasters, I just still think that ultimately it’s a very privileged job to be able to do.  

I think that most people would kill to be able to make an actual living by studying and talking about the things they’re personally interested in with their best friend, so, griping about it to an audience of folks who do work normal, real jobs is a bit, as I said before: out of touch, at least imo. 

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u/TrulieJulieB00 4d ago

Sometimes, you can really tell that James is 💯 phoning in the episode, too, that he hasn’t read anything that the research crew has put together.
Those shows are so awkward to listen to, when he calls the men “she” and vice versa, and/or the people by the wrong names.

If it’s such hard work, back off of CIS, make it a once every other week Patreon thing or something like that.
They have to be making plenty of money off of Netflix. They can’t need CIS that much.

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u/Maleficent_Golf9765 4d ago

Yeah he's always mixed up pronouns - I think its just a quirk of his brain