Adam McKay’s Hyperobject Industries has set up “Jockular,” a podcast from three queer best friends Katie Kershaw, Tien Tran and E.R. Fightmaster — who, along with their guests, will discuss all things queer, trans and women-forward in the world of sports.
“Jockular” will dispense “equal doses of sports commentary, cultural criticism and light-hearted gossip,” per Hyperobject Industries, spanning sports including collegiate basketball, professional soccer and “power slapping” (which, weirdly, is an actual thing).
The podcast will premiere on March 8, 2024, available on major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. Episodes are scheduled to drop weekly on Fridays. (Listen to the trailer below.)
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The three hosts first met in Chicago, where they were performers with the Second City comedy improv troupe. Fightmaster has most recently been seen as Dr. Kai Bartley on the latest season of “Grey’s Anatomy” as well as the most recent season of Hulu’s “Shrill.” Fightmaster has played AAU basketball and volleyball. Tran starred as Ellen in Hulu’s “How I Met Your Father” and also is a co-host of Crooked Media’s “Hysteria” podcast. Kershaw most recently recurred on Season 4 of FX series “Fargo” and previously starred in HBO limited series “Mrs. Fletcher”; she can be seen in a recurring role in Season 2 of Peacock original comedy “Killing It.”
“We’re obsessed with all things women’s sports, and we’re so excited that Hyperobject is letting us turn our gay group chat into a podcast,” Kershaw, Fightmaster and Tran said in a joint statement. “We’d love to make ‘Jockular’ the home for comedy fans who love sports and sports fans who love hot goss. And just to be clear, we won’t be talking stats and numbers, but we do hope you can help us figure out where Kim Mulkey gets her blazers.”
McKay commented, “So many of us associate sports with jocks and dudes with tribal arm tats. But E.R., Tien and Katie are not only funny as all get out, they remind us that sports are a diverse world and the more unique the perspective, the more enjoyable it is. Did I mention they’re really funny?”
“Jockular” is produced in partnership with Meadowlark Media, founded by former ESPN president John Skipper and sports commentator Dan Le Batard. The series is executive produced by McKay, Le Batard, and Hyperobject Industries’ Clare Slaughter and Harry Nelson.
“Jockular” joins the lineup of McKay’s Hyperobject Industries original podcasts, which include “Without,” “Death at the Wing,” “Réunion: Shark Attacks in Paradise,” “Broken: Seeking Justice” and “Staying In With Emily and Kumail.” The company’s films include “Don’t Look Up” for Netflix and TV projects include HBO drama series “Succession” and “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.”
Listen to the trailer for “Jockular”:
Pictured above (l. to r.): Tien Tran, Katie Kershaw, E.R. Fightmaster