Serial is the Downton Abbey of Podcasts

You remember when Downton Abbey came out and everyone was like, "Wait, Masterpiece Theatre is a thing?" Well, as previously mentioned here, I was never late to that party, but until recently my relationship with public radio has been mostly relegated to an occasional Prairie Home Companion and that one Saturday morning quiz show. And even then, it wasn't as if I was rubbing my palms together in juicy anticipation of the next episodes or that I was even sure when the next ones would be on; it was nice when I could catch them and no big deal if I didn't.

"Oh but, my dear, you know very well that Jay fellow simply cannot be trusted."

The next episode of Serial comes out this Thursday morning. I know this because, as of three days ago, along with the entire population of the world, I have become obsessed with this podcast. This nonfiction, NPR podcast. Think about that for a moment; think about how unlikely any one of those things are to motivate even the slightest interest in me. Nonfiction = boring. NPR = monotone. Podcast = glorified radio. I even had people all around me telling me how great this NPR podcast was and I was like, "um, no; I call bullshit."

It was actually this DIY fashion blog that provided the link that would completely obliterate all other plans for my Friday afternoon and lasting into the wee hours of the next morning. Anyone who saw me at this point would probably think I was going mad, hunched over my desk, staring at my computer screen with both hands pressed against my face in a look of deep concern, amazement and excitement.

How in the hell did they do this? Who was just sitting around the table at the weekly NPR think-up-a-catchy-podcast meeting and was like "there's this cold case about a teenager that might be interesting to every single person in the whole world, ever." And then BOOM! They put this thing out there that has the ability to occupy those portions of my brain otherwise devoted to thinking about Game of Thrones episodes and how to justify eating ice cream for dinner, again.

Sarah: Everyone's gonna be so pissed when they find out it's all just a dream.
         Ira: Haha - yeah. Hey, could you just slip it in there how handsome I am? it's just,

                being on the radio and all...some people may not know.

There's no reason you should believe a mad person, but I'm going to tell you anyway: you have to listen to this thing. Holy hell. And get comfortable; you have seven episodes to catch up on and if you think you're just going to listen to one here and there with breaks in between for things like eating, peeing and sleeping then you can just think again. Seriously, call in sick tomorrow because Serial has just become your full-time job.      

Begin...now.