The chaotic, often pretentious world of fictional Hollywood roundtables has found a new home. “Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists” (AOAOAOA), the improv comedy podcast known for its unfiltered and hilariously self-important conversations between imagined industry personalities, has officially joined iHeartMedia and Will Ferrell’s Big Money Players (BMP) network.
The move marks a significant scaling point for the ensemble, which has spent the last several years building a cult following through a high-wire act of fully improvised dialogue. By joining the BMP stable, the show moves from the indie fringes of the podcasting world into a curated ecosystem of comedy heavyweights, positioning its brand of absurdist character work alongside some of the most successful comedic voices in the industry.
Starting May 7, 2026, the show will release all-new episodes every Thursday. The transition comes at a time of peak momentum for the hosting quartet—Kylie Brakeman, Jeremy Culhane, Angela Giarratana, and Patrick McDonald—all of whom have established themselves as versatile fixtures in the modern comedy landscape, particularly within the digital-first spheres of Dropout and Smosh.
The chemistry driving the show is not an accident of casting, but a result of long-term creative shorthand. The group’s partnership began in 2019 on an Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) sketch team, a breeding ground for the fast-paced, high-stakes improv that defines the show’s DNA. When the pandemic shuttered physical theaters and stages, the group pivoted to audio, launching the podcast as a way to maintain their creative momentum. What began as a survival tactic for artists in lockdown evolved into a massive catalog of more than 220 episodes.
The Architecture of Absurdity
At its core, “Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists” is a satire of the “industry” conversation. While many podcasts feature real celebrities discussing their craft, AOAOAOA flips the script, featuring fictional personalities who embody the most exaggerated tropes of Hollywood ego, artistic insecurity, and performative depth. The result is a sonic landscape that feels like a fever dream of a prestige awards-season panel.
The shift to Big Money Players provides the show with a broader distribution engine via iHeartPodcasts and the iHeartRadio app, while maintaining its visual presence on YouTube. For the hosts, the move is a nod to the “annoying” nature of their characters—a trait they embrace fully. In a joint statement, Brakeman, Culhane, Giarratana, and McDonald noted that joining the BMP family is “a huge win for annoying people everywhere.”
The new era of the show will feature a rotating door of guest talent, with upcoming episodes featuring Anna Konkle, Chanse McCrary, Ashby, and Tim Baltz. The addition of these guests suggests a continued commitment to the “who’s who” of the current improv and sketch scene, ensuring the show remains a hub for the vanguard of contemporary comedy.
A Powerhouse Ensemble of Industry Newcomers
While the podcast is improvised, the credentials of the people behind the microphones are firmly grounded in professional success. The group represents a specific cross-section of the “New Hollywood” comedy pipeline—artists who have mastered the art of the viral sketch and the long-form improv set before transitioning into traditional television and film.
Jeremy Culhane, for instance, has seen a meteoric rise, becoming a featured player on Saturday Night Live for its 51st season in 2025. His presence on the show brings a current “Live from New York” energy to the ensemble. Similarly, Patrick McDonald has carved out a niche as a queer writer and director with credits ranging from “Night Court” to “Zac Snyder’s Justice League,” while Angela Giarratana has balanced her comedy work with roles in “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” and a Sundance-screened short film, “guts.”
Kylie Brakeman rounds out the group with a background in TV writing for Adult Swim and “The Tonight Show,” and a recognition on the New York Times Great Performers List in 2020. Together, they represent a generation of comedians who are as comfortable in a writers’ room as they are in a recording booth.
| Host | Key Credits / Affiliations | Notable Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Culhane | SNL (S51), Dropout TV, American Vandal | Featured Player on SNL (2025) |
| Kylie Brakeman | The Tonight Show, Adult Swim, Dropout | NYT Great Performers List (2020) |
| Patrick McDonald | Night Court, Smosh, Quiz Lady | Writer/Director of “Havin’ A Day” |
| Angela Giarratana | Star Trek: SNW, Smosh, Dropout | Sundance Film Festival (“guts”) |
The Will Ferrell Effect and the BMP Strategy
The acquisition of AOAOAOA fits into a larger strategic pattern for the Big Money Players network. Founded by Will Ferrell and iHeartMedia, BMP has positioned itself as the premier destination for comedy that ranges from the highly scripted to the completely spontaneous. The network’s portfolio is a blend of legacy comedy and rising stars, housing “The Ron Burgundy Podcast” alongside “Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang” and “Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim.”
By bringing in an improv-heavy show like AOAOAOA, Ferrell and iHeartMedia are doubling down on the “ensemble” format. There is a clear appetite for comedy that feels unpolished and dangerous—content that mimics the energy of a live stage show. This move suggests that the network is looking to capture the audience that typically frequents Dropout TV and UCB, bridging the gap between niche improv communities and mainstream audio listeners.
For the listeners, the integration means a more streamlined experience. The show is now available across all major podcast platforms and the iHeartRadio app, with video components continuing to serve as a primary draw on YouTube, allowing fans to see the physical comedy and facial expressions that often punctuate the group’s improvised riffs.
As the network continues to expand, the next confirmed checkpoint for “Artists on Artists on Artists on Artists” will be the rollout of their new weekly Thursday episode schedule and the debut of their first round of guest appearances under the BMP banner.
Do you have a favorite AOAOAOA character or a guest you’re hoping to see in the new season? Let us know in the comments or share this story with your favorite comedy nerd.
