{{Short description|Pop culture podcast}} {{italic title}} {{use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox Podcast |title = Who Weekly |image = File:Who_Weekly_logo.png |caption = ''Who? Weekly'' logo |hosting = Bobby Finger and Lindsey Weber |language = English |updates = Biweekly |length = Approx. 45 minutes |began = 18 January 2016 |ended = present |genre = Comedy, Talk |url = {{URL|https://www.whoweekly.us/}} }}
'''''Who? Weekly''''' is a semi-weekly celebrity gossip podcast presented by Bobby Finger and Lindsey Weber. Focusing on tabloid coverage of celebrities, it tackles, according to the tagline, "everything you need to know about the celebrities you don't".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/28/smarter-living/podcast-recommendations-apps.html|title=A Beginner's Guide to Getting Into Podcasts|last=Smith|first=Rachel Holliday|date=2019-01-28|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-09-28|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2019-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928060945/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/28/smarter-living/podcast-recommendations-apps.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
==History== ''Who? Weekly'' began as an occasional newsletter written by friends and pop-culture writers Bobby Finger and Lindsey Weber before spinning off into a podcast.<ref name="Slate" /><ref name="Vulture" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-01|title=Who? Weekly Seeks to Answer the Question on Everyone's Mind|url=https://podcastreview.org/review/who-weekly/|access-date=2021-12-08|website=Podcast Review|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208203134/https://podcastreview.org/review/who-weekly/|url-status=live}}</ref> The first episode was aired on January 18, 2016 <ref name="podbay" /> on the HeadGum network,<ref name="HeadGum" /> and later via Cadence13. The podcast is currently released independently.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who? Weekly, the Podcast Celebrating the Absurdity of Celebrity Culture |date=November 20, 2020 |url=https://www.anothermag.com/design-living/12963/who-weekly-the-podcast-celebrating-the-absurdity-of-celebrity-culture}}</ref>
In both the newsletter and in the podcast, celebrities, ex-reality television contestants, YouTube stars, Broadway actors, and social media influencers<ref name="Harmon">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/sep/13/rita-ora-nanette-who-weekly-podcast-celebrity|title=From Rita Ora to Lena Dunham: how a podcast about celebrity became a 'recipe for joy'|last=Harmon|first=Steph|date=2019-09-13|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-09-28|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=2019-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928005012/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/sep/13/rita-ora-nanette-who-weekly-podcast-celebrity|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/james-charles-and-the-things-that-make-you-go-who-20190515-p51nqr.html|title=James Charles and the things that make you go, 'Who?'|last=Ward|first=Mary|date=2019-05-18|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=2019-09-28|archive-date=2019-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928030011/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/james-charles-and-the-things-that-make-you-go-who-20190515-p51nqr.html|url-status=live}}</ref> are categorized as either "''Whos''" or "''Thems''" – roughly D-list vs A-list celebrities – according to their name recognition and the nature of their fame. Whos and Thems are named for the likely response to hearing a person's name: "who?" vs "oh, them!"<ref name="NYMag"/> This extends into, for example, describing behavior as "who-y", if it is seen as self-promotional or tacky, for example producing "sponcon" (sponsored content) or writing public apologies on Notes app.<ref name="R29">{{Cite web|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/wholigans-who-weekly-podcast-fandom|title=Wholigans Are The Real Thems Of The ''Who? Weekly'' Universe|last=Harnish|first=Amelia|date=August 9, 2019|website=www.refinery29.com|language=en|access-date=2019-09-28|archive-date=2019-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928011557/https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/wholigans-who-weekly-podcast-fandom|url-status=live}}</ref> Although mainly dividing the celebrity landscape between "Whos" and "Thems", the podcast has also created the categories "''T.H.A.M.P.S.''" (or ''THAMPS'') for the pseudo-famous Trainers, Hairstylists, Agents, Makeup Artists, Publicists and Stylists,<ref>{{Cite podcast|url=https://www.whoweekly.us/episodes/2017/7/27/whos-there-jake-paul-tiffany-haddish|title=Who's There: Jake Paul & Tiffany Haddish?|website=Who? Weekly|date=July 27, 2017|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-28|archive-date=2019-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928030011/https://www.whoweekly.us/episodes/2017/7/27/whos-there-jake-paul-tiffany-haddish|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite podcast|url=https://www.stitcher.com/s?eid=55170709|title=Joyce Bonelli & Tokyo Stylez (T.H.A.M.P.S.) |website=Who? Weekly |date=July 2, 2018 |via=Stitcher|language=en|access-date=2019-09-28|archive-date=2022-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426190157/https://www.stitcher.com/show/who-weekly/episode/joyce-bonelli-tokyo-stylez-t-h-a-m-p-s-55170709|url-status=dead}}</ref> and "''Nahs''" for people that might be in the public eye, but are not famous enough to even be considered a Who.<ref>{{Cite podcast|url=https://www.stitcher.com/s?eid=63875044|title=Flume, Tracee Ellis Ross & Independent Women Pt. 2 |website=Who? Weekly|date=September 13, 2019 |via=Stitcher |language=en|access-date=2019-09-28|archive-date=2022-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426190138/https://www.stitcher.com/show/who-weekly/episode/flume-tracee-ellis-ross-independent-women-pt-2-63875044|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The duo continued releasing weekly newsletters as an accompaniment to the podcast episodes for paid supporters on Patreon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patreon.com/whoweekly|title=Who? Weekly is creating podcasts|website=Patreon|language=en|access-date=2019-09-28|archive-date=2019-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112213442/https://www.patreon.com/whoweekly|url-status=dead}}</ref> As of 2020, the newsletter has been replaced with ''Who? Daily'', consisting of four mini-episodes a week with stories not covered in the main podcast episodes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patreon.com/whoweekly|title=Who? Weekly is creating podcasts|website=Patreon|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-05|archive-date=2020-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519063628/https://www.patreon.com/whoweekly|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Beginning in October 2017, there have been a series of live ''Who? Weekly'' shows across the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whoweekly.us/live|title=2019: A Tour is Born |website=Who? Weekly|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-07|archive-date=2019-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807192208/https://www.whoweekly.us/live|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Live" />
On February 19, 2021, ''Who Weekly'' released its 500th episode.<ref>{{Cite podcast|website=Who? Weekly |title=Gina Rodriguez, Joss Stone & SMiZE Cream? |date=2021-02-19 |via=Apple Podcasts|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gina-rodriguez-joss-stone-smize-cream/id1076377547?i=1000509792436|access-date=2021-02-20|language=en-us|archive-date=2022-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426190139/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/who-weekly/id1076377547|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Format and recurring segments== Episodes air twice weekly and alternate between the main episode discussing topical celebrity news and "Who's There" episodes, which consist of responses to callers' questions and stories left on the podcast hotline.
=== Main episode ===
==== I Don’t Know Her ==== Described as a "deranged version of six degrees of separation",<ref name="AV Club" /> the hosts speculate if a specific 'Them' celebrity knows a specific 'Who' celebrity.
==== What's Rita Up To? ==== Main episodes end with the segment ''What's Rita Up To?'', featuring an update on the activities of singer Rita Ora.<ref name="Harmon" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2016/08/118249/who-weekly-podcast-pop-culture|title=''Who? Weekly'' Funny Podcast On D-List Celebrities - Review|last=Baila|first=Morgan|website=www.refinery29.com|date=24 July 2016 |language=en|access-date=2019-09-28|archive-date=2019-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928011604/https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2016/08/118249/who-weekly-podcast-pop-culture|url-status=live}}</ref> They cover what the tabloids write about her and her relative anonymity in the United States.
==== The Most Markle-est Headline of the Week ==== In the lead up to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018, a recurring segment looked at news articles pertaining to the wedding, often revolving around Markle's various family members speaking to the press. The segment returned periodically since the wedding occurred.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Curtis|first=Scarlett|title=Gen Z hit list: Scarlett Curtis on the cult of who-lebrities|newspaper=The Times|date=May 13, 2018 |language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/article/gen-z-hit-list-scarlett-curtis-on-the-cult-of-who-lebrities-zjgcmncmx|access-date=2021-02-19|issn=0140-0460|archive-date=2020-10-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025222524/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/gen-z-hit-list-scarlett-curtis-on-the-cult-of-who-lebrities-zjgcmncmx|url-status=live}}</ref>
==== Benana ==== Finger and Weber coined the term 'Benana' to refer to the relationship of actors Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas and started a weekly segment looking at what the couple had done that week. The segment ended in 2021 after the couple separated.
==== Beckham Watch ====
Finger and Weber have a segment dedicated to the children of David Beckham and Victoria Beckham called Beckham Watch. It was discontinued after the pair came to the conclusion that the children were not doing anything interesting enough to justify coverage. A short time later the segment was revived when it was reported brothers Brooklyn and Romeo were feuding.
==== Sign-offs ==== Callers traditionally sign-off with in-jokes from earlier episodes,<ref name="Slate" /> - the most iconic being, "crunch crunch!" - but including: "Good form, Bella Thorne", "Me in Greece", "ScarJo YummyPop", "Forehead Diamond", "Grateful for Charna!", "Livin' la vida laptop", "Tim Tebow Lesbian", and "Women don't belong in balloons".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1100406/how-the-aeronauts-drastically-changed-the-real-life-story|title=How ''The Aeronauts'' Drastically Changed the Real-Life Story|last=|first=|date=2019-12-06|website=E! Online|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207063846/https://www.eonline.com/news/1100406/how-the-aeronauts-drastically-changed-the-real-life-story|archive-date=2019-12-07|access-date=2019-12-07}}</ref><ref name="Lutes">{{Cite web|last=Lutes|first=Alicia|date=2019-08-13|title=How to stay happy when the news is depressing|url=https://www.stylist.co.uk/life/best-funny-viral-videos-podcasts-instagram-twitter-things-to-watch-online/285970|access-date=2019-09-28|website=Stylist|language=en|archive-date=2019-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928034532/https://www.stylist.co.uk/life/best-funny-viral-videos-podcasts-instagram-twitter-things-to-watch-online/285970|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Harmon" />
=== Who's There === ''Who's There'' is weekly call-in show where listeners can call in and ask questions or provide comment for the pair to react to. These episodes were introduced after fans began contacting the hosts asking about the identity of various celebrities. The hosts consider the call-in show an integral part of the podcast as it opened up a dialogue between the hosts and their fan base and created a sense of community between the fans.<ref name="AV Club" />
Traditionally, call in guests start their calls with 'Hi, Lindsey Bobby.' After introducing research editorial assistant, Timmy, to the show's team it has become common for guest to start a call with 'Hi BLT' (an abbreviation of Bobby, Lindsey, Timmy) or 'Hi Lindsey Bobby Timmy.'
=== Who Dat? === ''"Who Dat?"'' was an occasional episode focusing on Black celebrities, which first occurred in 2016. The episodes feature guest hosts Aminatou Sow and Shani O. Hilton.<ref>{{Cite podcast|title=Zendaya? (ft. Who Dat?) |url= https://play.acast.com/s/whoweekly/-4-zendaya- |date=2016-02-07 |website=Who? Weekly |via=Acast |language=en-US |access-date=2024-03-29}}</ref> As of 2020, this segment has been discontinued, aiming to integrate this content into the main show.
== Fanbase == ''Who? Weekly'' fans are collectively called Wholigans.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/11/13/magazine/internet-fandom-podcast.html|title=Even Nobodies Have Fans Now. (For Better or Worse.)|last=Keiles|first=Jamie Lauren|date=2019-11-13|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-11-13|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2019-11-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113102802/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/11/13/magazine/internet-fandom-podcast.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Wholigan Facebook group has 17,000 members and includes not only listeners but industry insiders<ref name="Harmon" /> who discuss celebrity sightings, news, rumors and deep dives. Notably, the search for "who-y" behavior has led the group to discover in 2017 that then-White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer had an open account on mobile payment service Venmo.<ref name="R29" /> They began asking for payments as a form of trolling, causing some press attention.<ref name="Select All" /><ref name="Cosmo" /><ref name="The Hill" />
Celebrity callers to ''Who's There'' have included Lena Dunham, Lea DeLaria, and Richard Curtis{{Who|date=August 2023}}.
==Reception== ''Slate'''s Brow Beat described ''Who? Weekly'' as "terrific" and said that the show "feels smart and fun ''because'' it’s sometimes messy, not in spite of its messiness".<ref name="Slate" /> The podcast was chosen as one of the best podcasts of 2016 by ''The New York Times'', who said that "the podcast feels delightfully absurd and truly vital in the Trump era",<ref name="NYT" /> and by ''Vulture'', who said it "has quickly become a cult hit".<ref name="Vulture" /> It has also been recommended by ''Nylon'',<ref name="Nylon" /> ''Esquire'',<ref name="Esquire" /> ''Marie Claire,''<ref name="Marie Claire" /> ''Vogue'',<ref name="Vogue" /> and ''The New Yorker.''<ref name="NewYorker"/>
==References== {{reflist|30em|refs= <ref name="AV Club">{{cite web|last1=Hoepfner|first1=Fran|title=''Who? Weekly''{{'}}s creators on why they'll never run out of wannabe celebrities to talk about|url=https://www.avclub.com/who-weekly-s-creators-on-why-they-ll-never-run-out-of-1809555619|website=The A.V. Club|accessdate=8 January 2018|date=27 Sep 2017|archive-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108174920/https://www.avclub.com/who-weekly-s-creators-on-why-they-ll-never-run-out-of-1809555619|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="NYMag">{{Cite news|url=http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2016/07/how-to-spot-whos-the-ubiquitous-non-celebrities-flooding-your-social-media.html|title=How to Spot Whos, the Ubiquitous Noncelebrities Flooding Your Social Media|last1=Finger|first1=Bobby |first2=Lindsey |last2=Weber |date=2016-07-20 |work=Intelligencer |publisher=New York |language=en-us|access-date=2019-09-28|archive-date=2019-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928030010/http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2016/07/how-to-spot-whos-the-ubiquitous-non-celebrities-flooding-your-social-media.html|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Slate">{{cite web|last1=Brogan|first1=Jacob|title=''Who? Weekly'' Is the Perfect Podcast About Celebrities Who Make You Say "Who?"|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2016/04/15/who_weekly_is_the_perfect_podcast_about_celebrities_who_make_you_say_who.html|website=Slate.com|accessdate=8 January 2018|date=15 April 2016|archive-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108120542/http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2016/04/15/who_weekly_is_the_perfect_podcast_about_celebrities_who_make_you_say_who.html|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="podbay">{{cite web|title=Episode list|website=Who? Weekly|url=http://podbay.fm/show/1076377547|via=podbay.fm|accessdate=8 January 2018|archive-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108175025/http://podbay.fm/show/1076377547|url-status=dead}}</ref> <ref name="HeadGum">{{cite web|title=Who? Weekly|url=https://headgum.com/who-weekly|website=HeadGum|accessdate=8 January 2018|archive-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108175109/https://headgum.com/who-weekly|url-status=dead}}</ref> <ref name="Select All">{{cite web|last1=Kircher|first1=Madison Malone|title=Somebody Found Sean Spicer's Venmo and Now People Are Asking Him for Money|url=http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/02/sean-spicer-is-on-venmo-and-people-are-asking-him-for-money.html|website=Intelligencer |publisher=New York|accessdate=8 January 2018|date=6 February 2017|archive-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108175037/http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/02/sean-spicer-is-on-venmo-and-people-are-asking-him-for-money.html|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Cosmo">{{cite web|last1=Mei|first1=Gina|title=Press Secretary Sean Spicer is Getting Trolled On Venmo|url=http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a8690870/press-secretary-sean-spicer-venmo/|website=Cosmopolitan|accessdate=8 January 2018|date=8 February 2007|archive-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108175150/http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a8690870/press-secretary-sean-spicer-venmo/|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="The Hill">{{cite web|last1=Calfas|first1=Jennifer|title=Social media users are asking Sean Spicer for money on Venmo|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/318245-social-media-users-are-asking-sean-spicer-for-money-on-venmo/|website=The Hill|access-date=8 January 2018|date=7 February 2017|archive-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108175049/http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/318245-social-media-users-are-asking-sean-spicer-for-money-on-venmo|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Live">{{cite web|title=We're Going On Tour! |url=https://www.whoweekly.us/live/|website=Who Weekly|accessdate=8 January 2018|archive-date=2 October 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171002133702/https://www.whoweekly.us/live/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> <ref name="NYT">{{cite web|last1=Hess|first1=Amanda|author-link=Amanda Hess|title=The Best New Podcasts of 2016|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/06/arts/best-podcasts.html|website=The New York Times|accessdate=8 January 2018|date=6 December 2016|archive-date=11 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211052335/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/06/arts/best-podcasts.html|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Vulture">{{cite web|last1=Quah|first1=Nicholas|title=The 10 Best Podcasts of 2016|url=http://www.vulture.com/2016/12/10-best-podcasts-of-2016.html|website=Vulture|accessdate=8 January 2018|date=12 December 2016|archive-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108174944/http://www.vulture.com/2016/12/10-best-podcasts-of-2016.html|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Nylon">{{cite web|last1=Bryant|first1=Taylor|title=15 Podcasts We Can't Stop Listening To Right Now|url=https://nylon.com/articles/best-podcasts|website=Nylon|accessdate=8 January 2018|date=31 October 2016|archive-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108180704/https://nylon.com/articles/best-podcasts|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Esquire">{{cite web|last1=Dibdin|first1=Emma|title=The 25 Essential Podcasts of 2016|url=http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/a49508/25-essential-podcasts/|website=Esquire|accessdate=8 January 2018|date=14 October 2016|archive-date=2 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102171035/http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/a49508/25-essential-podcasts/|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Marie Claire">{{cite web|last1=Keong|first1=Lori|title=The 10 Best New Podcasts of 2016|url=http://www.marieclaire.com/culture/a23044/must-listen-podcasts/|website=Marie Claire|accessdate=8 January 2018|date=9 December 2016|archive-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108120447/http://www.marieclaire.com/culture/a23044/must-listen-podcasts/|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="Vogue">{{cite web|last1=Garcia|first1=Patricia|title=11 Great Podcasts For Holiday Travel This Year|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/best-podcasts-for-long-drives-thanksgiving-travel|website=Vogue|accessdate=8 January 2018|date=20 December 2017|archive-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108180558/https://www.vogue.com/article/best-podcasts-for-long-drives-thanksgiving-travel|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="NewYorker">{{cite magazine|last=Syme |first=Rachel |date=31 May 2021 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/06/07/who-weekly-explains-the-new-celebrity |title='Who? Weekly' Explains the New Celebrity |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=3 April 2022}}</ref> }}
==External links== *{{official|https://www.whoweekly.us/}} *[https://tinyletter.com/whoweekly/archive Who? Weekly newsletter] archived on TinyLetter
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Category:2016 podcast debuts Category:Audio podcasts Category:American comedy podcasts Category:Headgum podcasts Category:Cadence13 podcasts Category:American pop culture podcasts