Wondery experiments with podcast musicals in a new Serial parody

wondery-secrets-crimes-audiotape-canvasSome might say that you haven’t truly made it in the music world until Weird Al Yankovic has spoofed your song. This American Life’s show Serial has now hit a similar degree of pop cultural cache for podcasts, as it is the subject of a new parody show on Wondery.

The project is called Wait Wait Don’t Kill Me, and it’s part of Wondery’s Secrets, Crimes & Audiotape audio drama franchise. The serialized podcast musical will posit a world in which Serial host and producer Sarah Koenig herself was the killer. The show is written by Dave Holstein (who worked on the Showtime TV series Weeds) with music and lyrics by Alan Schmuckler (who did the upcoming Diary of a Wimpy Kid musical). It’s a five-part musical send-up of the current fascination with true crime.

Wondery’s Secrets, Crimes & Audiotape is just one of the recent forays of high-profile podcast networks entering the world of radio dramas. PodcastOne and Gimlet Media have also announced plans for scripted dramas.

Anna Washenko