Listen to a Trailer for Let’s Get Lit, a Podcast where Comedians Read H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds

We’ve all been there: reading H.G. Wells’ seminal 1898 sci-fi novel The War of the Worlds (as one does), and realizing that it’d be even better if we could listen to it instead, and with comedians constantly interjecting with their thoughts and observations. Sadly that was always but a dream just out of grasp, fading away right as our outstretched ears were poised to hear it.

Well, soon we’ll all owe Blaze Mancillas a massive thank you. The comedian, actor and host of SongPop Live will help us all realize that dream with the new podcast Let’s Get Lit. It launches on October 7 wherever podcasts are streamed or downloaded, and features Mancillas reading through the entire book, chapter by chapter, as a different comedian per episode keeps a live running commentary on the century-old pillar of science fiction.

Comedians include Judah Friedlander, who you might know from 30 Rock; Shalewa Sharpe, who’s appeared on The Tonight Show, The New Negroes, and 2 Dope Queens; Josh Gondelman, a stand-up comedian and writer on Desus & Mero on Showtime; Anna Roisman, a host of HQ Trivia; Lane Moore, comedian, author and creator of Tinder Live; and more.

A new episode (and guest) will come out every week. And apparently Mancillas is committed to reading the whole damn book, and encourages listeners to grab their own copy and follow along at home. Reading a book while hearing another voice speak it at the same time sounds like some crazy kind of cognitive dissonance.

Want an idea of what it’ll sound like? Well, here’s a preview. Check it out, and look for more information and the official release schedule below.

NYC comedian and actor Blaze Mancillas is poised to launch his new weekly podcast, Let’s Get Lit, on Wednesday October 7, 2020, available wherever podcasts are streamed or sold. Each week Blaze Mancillas melds the world of audiobooks with the world of comedy podcasts, reading a chapter from the H.G. Wells 1898 Science-Fiction classic The War of the Worlds while comedians including Judah Friedlander, Josh Gondelman and Shalewa Sharpe interrupt to provide their jokes, commentary, questions and anything that pops into their head. The novel is read in its entirety so listeners are welcome to pick up a copy and join with us or just laugh along to the story while you continue to go about your human activities.

LET’S GET LIT RELEASE SCHEDULE:

10/07- Chapter 1- Judah Friedlander
10/14- Chapter 2- Gabe Gonzalez
10/21- Chapter 3- Shalewa Sharpe
10/28- Chapter 4- Josh Gondelman
11/04- Chapter 5- Lane Moore
11/11- Chapter 6- Veronica Garza
11/18- Chapter 7- Kenice Mobley
11/25- Chapter 8- Calvin Cato
12/2- Chapter 9- Irene Tu
12/9- Chapter 10- Anna Roisman

With future episodes and guests to be announced.