NPR Laughter Therapy

I’ll admit, I approached *NPR Laughter Therapy* with skepticism. Two hours of ‘funny NPR’ sounds like an oxymoron—this is the network that made ‘driveway moments’ a thing, not belly laughs. But Sagal’s narration sells it. His timing is impeccable, especially in the April Fools’ segments, where his deadpan delivery turns absurd premises (a ‘study’ on why cats ignore humans) into something weirdly plausible. The interview clips, though, are where the audiobook shines. Hearing Marc Maron riff on public radio’s earnestness or Maria Bamford dissect the surrealism of NPR’s tone is meta-comedy gold. The pacing stumbles slightly in the second half, where a few bits drag—like the overlong ‘fake pledge drive’ skit that feels more inside-baseball than universally funny. The production is clean but unpretentious, letting the material breathe. No laugh tracks, no overproduced sound effects—just the occasional archival audio glitch that reminds you this is *real* radio, warts and all. My biggest gripe? The 3.1-star rating feels unfair. This isn’t a laugh-a-minute stand-up special; it’s a love letter to NPR’s quieter, weirder humor. If you’re a fan of *Wait Wait* or *The Moth*, you’ll adore it. If you’re looking for raucous comedy, you’ll be underwhelmed. But for those who appreciate wit that’s as sharp as it is subtle, this is a gem—like finding a whoopee cushion in the *New Yorker*.