Discuss what they will talk about before the podcast?
Are they then told that they must act surprised and have to take a certain side?
Or is it what i am hoping, a free for all friendly arguing over topics brought to the table with no prior clues or anything for dave lono and alex.

I seem to recall when Alex told you guys about his RROD and you all acted surprised. I found it a bit strange you hadnt known about this before.
Please enlighten us members of the podcast.

Indeed. I'm sure they talk about some things before the podcast, so they're all on the same page for certain topics. However, it wouldn't suprise me if some secrets were kept for a genuine reaction.

Discuss what they will talk about before the podcast?
Are they then told that they must act surprised and have to take a certain side?
Or is it what i am hoping, a free for all friendly arguing over topics brought to the table with no prior clues or anything for dave lono and alex.

I seem to recall when Alex told you guys about his RROD and you all acted surprised. I found it a bit strange you hadnt known about this before.
Please enlighten us members of the podcast.

Welcome to the world of entertainment. If you are put on the spot and asked to talk about something im sure there would be many gaps and "erms".

Im sure it isnt ALL staged but I bet planning and even notes are used just so people know what to talk about and prepare themselves.

From what I'm told, most of the podcast is improvised, with the silent/uh... moments cut out of the final product.

I think they have alist of topics, and they just go from there.

Welcome to the world of entertainment. If you are put on the spot and asked to talk about something im sure there would be many gaps and "erms".

Yeah, Doc is a master of radio. He cuts "uhhs" and "erms" to save valuable listening time.

Yeah, Doc is a master of radio. He cuts "uhhs" and "erms" to save valuable listening time.

Most of them are his, of course... :D

Most of them are his, of course... :D

Well...yeah. But it still saves time and keeps the pace going. If it weren't for Doc...I don't even want to think about it.

I think that they get a list of the topics a bit beforehand. That way, they can see what they're going to talk about. They can prepare material and arguments for what their point is, so that it won't just be: "What's your opinion?" *crickets chirp while they think of a response*
One of the key points about production is being prepared, and normally extemporaneously, since that allows for improvisation but at the same time, sticking to key points.

...isn't this in the wrong thread?

They have a basic scrpit and topics of what there going to talk about and then they improvise along with editing the "ahh" and "ermms".

One of them said something like that in the "ask SG" thread. Not sure where, it might be in the middle pages.

...isn't this in the wrong thread?

Yes and Im pretty sure it's already be anweared, but it's already posted so at this point I really don't think that matters.

Eh, you're probably right...

I think they have alist of topics, and they just go from there.

Bingo.

Yeah, Doc is a master of radio. He cuts "uhhs" and "erms" to save valuable listening time.

I believe this is now Dave's area, actually.