American Scandal

I love this podcast, and the subject matter is absolutely fascinating. BUT. I cannot stand the host's dialog bits, the hemming and hawing, the forced stammering...

Every character sounds exactly like every other character--voice, obviously, but also tone, word choice, cadence, verbal and nonverbal ticks, breathing, and of course, dear Lord in Heaven, the stammering.

"I-ah," ::exasperated exhale through the nose:: "Well look..."

"What's wrong?" "What's-" ::sigh/dismissive chuckle:: "You KNOW what's wrong. "

"Wha-ech-agh-eh-wha--LIPSTICK? In my Valentino white bag?!"

If Mr Graham would stop trying so hard to sound like real people having a real conversation, then he might actually succeed in sounding like real people having a real conversation. I honestly love this 'cast, but I've started skipping past the dialog because it's just too forced and artificial.

And that is my only critique. On balance, this is still one of my favorites.