If you’re a comedy fan, you're probably familiar with how satisfying can be. But though you may have encountered them before, you might not know that scripted audio comedies are a distinct format of their own—and their audience is growing as hilarious storylines, top-flight creators, and A-list casts are shining a spotlight on the form. Written with the listening experience in mind, scripted comedies are immersive and easy to binge, featuring cinematic storytelling and rich sound design. Increasingly, they showcase the talents of famous actors, comedians, Saturday Night Live stars, and award-winning creators like the ones on this list.
The best part? Scripted comedies are limitless. They can take risks and go in directions totally unique to audio, resulting in an entertainment experience wildly different from their television and film counterparts. You just never know what to expect with scripted audio, but here are a few of the absolute best of the best. (Just make sure to note that many of these titles contain adult material and themes that may be inappropriate for younger listeners—you might want to make sure the kids are in bed before pressing play!)
Emily Martin is a Contributing Editor at Book Riot and podcasts/blogs with Book Squad Goals. She has an MFA in Creative Writing, a PhD in English, three cats, and way too many books.
