[Interview] Graham Skipper for DOWN IN THE BASEMENT

Today marks the debut of Down in the Basement—a brand new interactive horror talk show from actor, director and screenwriter Graham Skipper. The show premieres on Spoon, the world’s leading audio live stream platform, and promises to be both entertaining and engaging. I was fortunate enough to get the chance to talk to Graham about the show, and learn a bit more about what listeners can look forward to.

Hi Graham, thanks for taking the time to talk about your new show! Tell us about Down in the Basement—what can listeners expect?

Graham Skipper: Down in the Basement is a weekly horror hangout – it’s a real-time conversation between me, the listeners, and sometimes a special guest from the world of horror. I’ll have some topics I want to talk about, and you’re free to chime in and help steer the conversation, offering your thoughts and ideas as we go. It’s a really fun new format, and I hope it will be a welcoming place for seasoned horror vets and new fans just dipping their toes to all be part of the same community.

What sets Down in the Basement apart from other horror podcasts?

Graham Skipper: Spoon offers us a really unique opportunity to communicate directly with listeners while the show is happening. Have you ever been listening to a podcast and wanted to offer your opinion? Now you can! Did the host miss something you feel is important? Now you’re able to speak up in the moment. And on top of that, you’ll be able to talk with other listeners of the show while it’s happening, as well. Maybe someone is looking for a specific horror recommendation, or maybe we as a group can’t think of the title of that one movie that’s on the tip of our tongue, but you know what it is. On our show, you’re able to be heard and be a part of the community in a way that hasn’t been possible before.

How important is audience participation to you, and how do you plan on engaging directly with the audience?

Graham Skipper: Audience participation is the whole show! I will have topics that I want to talk about, and will help guide the discussion, but really it’s all about the listeners and interacting with them. Some fun things we have planned are trivia rounds, certainly our guests and the opportunity to ask them questions directly, and I end every episode by offering a film recommendation to watch before next week, while taking a recommendation from the crowd for something I need to check out. Then we discuss it at the top of the show next week!

Who can we expect to appear as a guest on the show?

Graham Skipper: We already have some amazing guests lined up, with more signing up every day. George Wendt I’m particularly excited about having on, as he’s certainly a comedy legend, but doesn’t often get the attention he should as a horror icon. He’s also a good friend, so really you’ll get to be part of a couple of friends just talking about cool stuff. Other guests we have confirmed are the great Bill Moseley, Brea Grant, C. Robert Cargill, and my buddy Joe Begos.

Lastly, what element of the show excites you the most?

Graham Skipper: I’m gonna sound like a broken record, but really it’s the audience participation. I love the horror community because we’re a supportive bunch that just wants to celebrate what we love and share it with others. And what Spoon offers is the opportunity for us to gather and do just that, in a time when I think we all need community to help hold us up. I’m also excited that this can be a welcoming place for people just getting their feet wet in the world of horror to come and get some thoughts from more seasoned horror fans on the best ways to get into the genre. We’re a home for everyone that loves horror, and want to cultivate a community that’s positive, friendly, and just helps to support the art and artists that we love.

Thanks again for talking with me, Graham! We can’t wait to hear the first episode!

Down in the Basement with Graham Skipper premieres Wednesdays at 8 p.m. P.T. starting December 16th. You can take part in the weekly live stream by downloading the Spoon app at spoonrad.io/basement.