 | |
| Genre | Interview |
|---|---|
| Running time | 30–60 min. |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language | English |
| Home station | Maximum Fun |
| Syndicates | National Public Radio,Public Radio International (formerly) |
| Hosted by | Jesse Thorn |
| Recording studio | Los Angeles, California |
| Original release | 2000 – present |
| Website | maximumfun |
Bullseye with Jesse Thorn (formerlyThe Sound of Young America) is apublic radio program andpodcast based inLos Angeles, California, and distributed byNational Public Radio (NPR). The weekly show is currently heard on over 150 public radio stations.[1] The program features hostJesse Thorn interviewing personalities in arts and culture, with a special focus on comedy.
The Sound of Young America began in 2000 on thecollege radio stationKZSC-FM, based at theUniversity of California, Santa Cruz.[2] At first,The Sound of Young America was a variety college radio show featuring Thorn and two other cohosts, Matt Dobbs (who soon dropped out in favor ofJordan Morris)[3][4] and Gene O'Neill.[5] Initially a morning show, it later ran from 5 to 6 p.m. each Thursday. O'Neill left in 2003, and Brian Lane filled in periodically thereafter.[citation needed] Upon Morris' departure in May 2004, the show began to use rotating co-hosts. That autumn, Thorn went solo.[citation needed]
Past contributors to the show include Jordan Morris, "Boy Detective", and "Big Time" Gene O'Neill as co-hosts, and regular appearances from Thorn's joke-telling and sometime rock-and-roller younger brother, the Master of "would you rather?" Jim Real, Brian "Back in Business" Lane, and artist/musicianDan Grayson. In 2003, the show staged aradio drama ofSad Dad, an originalplay written by Morris and O'Neill. 2003 also saw the debut of the show's theme song,Maximum Fun, written and performed by Thorn and Grayson.[6]
Near the end of 2004 the show became available as a podcast. Thorn and the show were mentioned inThe Wall Street Journal,Time, andSalon.com.[2]Salon.com's Audiofile wrote, "If you've never heard ofThe Sound of Young America,The Sound of Young America is the greatest radio show you've never heard of", and described Thorn's interviewing style as combining "the civility and preparedness of[Terry] Gross leavened with the good humor of[Conan] O'Brien."[7] In January 2006,Time selected the show in a column entitled "Pick of the Podcasts".[8]The Wall Street Journal's "Blog Watch" column described the show as "a popular podcast where Mr. Thorn interviews some of the nation's top talent and comics occasionally perform sketches, and noted that Thorn produced the podcast "from his living room".[9]
During this time, Thorn received a call from the director of programming atPublic Radio International, who had heard one of the podcasts and expressed interest in distributing the show.[2] In 2006WNYC-FM, apublic radio station inNew York City, picked up the show, and PRI decided to distribute it.[10] As of September 2008 the show was carried on 18 public radio stations, in addition to the podcast.[10]
In January 2012, the show was renamedBullseye, and began featuringThe Go! Team's "Huddle Formation" as its theme song.[11] As of April 2013, the show is distributed byNational Public Radio.[12][13]
In addition to the availability of the show as a podcast, the program is heard on 59 public terrestrial radio stations in 17 states.[1]
In April 2006,The Sound of Young America launched a second podcast,The College Years, chronicling the pre-podcasting history of the show.[14]
In December 2006, Thorn and Morris reteamed to launch the podcast-only programJordan, Jesse, Go! (The first two episodes were released as "The Untitled Thorn/Morris Project".) The show is a return to the free-form radio that they did in Santa Cruz, beforeThe Sound of Young America became almost exclusively an interview show. The first episode featured the return of former staple "Hang It Up/Keep It Up". The second episode saw the return of "Would You Rather?" and the introduction of "Judge John Hodgman" a mock-trial presided over by author/raconteurJohn Hodgman. Later shows often feature guests such as authorSarah Vowell, actorRob Corddry, and various contemporary comedians.[15]
