Digital Llama Radio
A Review by Michael Galasso

Reviewer’s Note: This review deals only with the original episodes of Digital Llama Radio, and makes no reference to either Digital Llama 2.0, or Digital Llama Player’s Guide.

There is probably no radio show better known, or more loved by the fan audio user-base, than Digital Llama Radio. The brainchild of Digital Llama Productions’ Chris Hanel, Abe Peterka, Justin Whitlock, and Steve Phelan, the show is a delightful mélange of witty satire, outstanding chemistry, and objective judgments.

The single most attractive thing about DLR is, of course, the chemistry between the four hosts. Whether it be the core group of Llamas, or a mixture of old and new featuring Rebecca Peterka or Josh Wasta, the banter keeps on flying. Whether it is the playful teasing of CC Hanel, or the ever-present honking of Justin, the ability of the hosts to just bounce ideas and punch lines off one another is unparalleled.

While structure is sometimes thrown to the side, most often episodes of DLR begin with the much fabled “Ask the Panel.” After repeated listening, the fan may find the Digital Llama letters song burned into their cerebrum, but that is a good thing. Just waiting to see what kind of letters the Llamas will be sent this episode, or what sort of comebacks the hosts can devise for those just wanting to use them for promotional placement, is something sure to keep the listener coming back time and again.

Censorship is also not an issue. As the show is hosted by TheForce.Net, any and all swear words or “dirty” jokes are edited out. In this case, DLR is awarded a PG rating, and only because sometimes the antics of “Mr. Spleen” could cause the listener to strike out at a nearby object, and that would be considered violent content.

Even more enjoyable, however, is when a “celebrity guest” accompanies the Llamas. Whether this be the cast of Broken Allegiance, or Star Wars Fanworks founder Nathan “Nasty” Butler himself, the chemistry already evident between the hosts is carried over to their co-hosts. Such memorable moments include the planning of Chris’ second marriage proposal to the lovely Niobe Dean, or the entire loss of a recorded episode during the FilmCon edition guest-starring TFN big-wig Josh Griffen.

Reviews are handled in a mature and objective manner. Even when the show was moved over to TFN, the Llamas remained carefully un-biased and met every reviewed project with an equal dose of hate and love.

I strongly encourage those among the fan community, who have not yet heard the greatness of Digital Llama Radio, to quickly download some episodes now. In the absence of a beat-boxing Justin to close this review, I will end thus: keep up the great work Llamas!