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Radio Happy Hour is a live variety show featuring an old-time radio comedy/drama and guest stars from the worlds of film, music, and letters. Hosted by Sam Osterhout, the show engages its guests in a wildly right-angled conversation that careens between interviews, stand-up comedy, musical performances, and trivia. At the center of it all is a short, old time radio comedy in which the guest stars as him or herself and is forced to help the Radio Happy Hour crew solve the crime. Audiences will see all of this--the interviews, the corny jokes, the guest performances, and the behind-the-scenes making of a radio drama--live every month, and podcasted online as well. Trust us, it will make more sense when you see it.

Drinking in the afternoon. Radio Drama. It’s like the depression, but funnier.

Past guests include Norah Jones, Andrew WK, Cursive, David Bazan, Tapes 'n Tapes, The Hold Steady, Jolie Holland, Jesse Eisenberg, Michael Showalter, Eugene Mirman, and many others.

You can download past episodes of Radio Happy for free at iTunes or at RadioHappyHour.com.

Resisting the musical trends in New York City, vocalist/guitarist Craig Finn (ex-Lifter Puller) formed The Hold Steady after moving from Minneapolis in 2000. Wanting to capture the sound of bands such as the Replacements and the Grifters, he recruited guitarist Tad Kubler (also ex-Lifter Puller), drummer Judd Counsell, and bassist Galen Polivka. Recording mostly live, the band released its debut, Almost Killed Me, on Frenchkiss Records in March 2004. Dave Gardener (Rocket from the Crypt, Drive Like Jehu) and Dean Botulonis signed on to produce Separation Sunday, which arrived in 2005. The World/Inferno Friendship Society's Franz Nicolay (keyboards) and Bobby Drake (drums), formerly of End Transmission and Arm, were also added to the Hold Steady lineup. The band's third effort, 2006's Boys and Girls in America, marked their first release for Vagrant. They followed with 2008's Stay Positive, which was met with much praise from critics and fans alike.

Recap of Radio Happy Hour on 11/14

Charles Klosterman was born on June 5th, 1972, in Breckenridge, Minnesota. He was raised in quiet rurality in North Dakota, where he not only attended university but also was employed as a journalist in Fargo. He later worked as an arts critic in Akron, Ohio, before moving to New York City in 2002 and took a job at Spin.

Klosterman had a long term column in Spin magazine up until 2006, and currently contributes to Esquire. He has also written for publications like GQ, The New York Times Magazine, and The Washington Post. Klosterman was best known as a rock writer, but he began to include sport writing within his repertoire, amongst other things.

Read: Chuck Klosterman Presents: 12 Albums That Kick Writer’s Block