Talking Raptors is a 22-minute weekly show hosted by comedians Barry Taylor and Nick Reynoldson. The program is based on their highly successful podcast that quickly became one of the top-rated basketball podcasts in the country after debuting in October 2013. The show will be shot in a video podcast format from the perspective of the hardcore Raptor fan.

Each episode will follow a standard twenty-two minute show format and include unique  artist interviews, fan surveys, interactive social media content, street segments and comedy sketches. Multiple celebrity guests have already confirmed for season one of Talking Raptors including Dallas Green aka City and Colour and Wade McNeil of the Gallows and Alexisonfire.

One of the most unique features of Talking Raptors is the mobility of the show. Each week’s episode will be filmed in a different location. Whether it’s a small Toronto bar, out front at Jurassic Park during the playoffs or on the road with Barry and Nick during a stand up comedy tour throughout the Maritimes, Talking Raptors will be a weekly celebration of joy of being a Raptor fan.

Videos

A look at Talking Raptors visuals

Talking Raptors mini-reel

Talking Raptors @ The Square

Interview with Jack

Show Content

Bumpers

30 seconds, produced and self-contained. Will be used Before or after commercial breaks. Samples include: shooting 3’s at four way stop at Yonge and Dundas intersection, profiles of vendors at the ACC, snack reviews from the ACC.

Street Segment

Barry and Nick will hit up Raptor fans at the ACC, the streets of Toronto, or whatever city they happen to be in and ask the hard hitting questions that make the show special. Like, if there were a movie based on the story of franchise, which celebrity would play Vince Carter? Who’s the second best dunker in the history of the team? What’s the best Raptor uniform of all time?

Thoughts from the 300s

Similar to a street segment but recorded with some of the teams most die-hard fans, exclusively in the 300 level of the ACC.

Interactive Segment

A regular segment utilizing social media for viewer interaction. A light-hearted, Raptor-focused question will be discussed with the show’s guest. The viewer will then be asked to participate through Twitter while adding the appropriate hash tag. The best answers/survey results will be reviewed on the following week’s episode prior to the next question. Example: Who is the best dressed Raptor coach of all time? Which Raptor mascot do you prefer: Fuzzy or Inflatable?

Raptors 5 and Predictions

The Raptor Five are five questions that will posed to each week’s guest:

1.     Favourite Raptor player of all time
2.    Favourite Raptor coach of all time
3.    Favourite Raptor jersey of all time
4.    Favourite Raptor moment of all time
5.    Favourite Raptor media personality

Predictions will be made by Barry, Nick and the guest about the week’s upcoming Raptors games

Sketch Comedy Clips

Short, 30-90 second segments. Pre-produced and self contained. Samples include ‘the Confession’ a toungue-in-cheek look at the difficulties Nick and Barry had growing up in Canada as basketball fans amongst a nation of hockey fans.

Format

Segment 1

Segment 2

Segment 3

  • 00:00 – 09:30
  • 09:30 – 10:00
  • Discussion/Guest
  • Show Bumper
  • 00:00 – 01:00
  • 01:00 – 08:30
  • 8:30 – 9:00
  • Question Fan Segment / Comedy Sketch
  • Discussion / Guest Interview
  • Show Bumper
  • 00:00 – 00:30
  • 00:30 – 03:00
  • Show Bumper
  • Raptors 5 / Predictions

The Team

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Barry Taylor

Barry Taylor is one of the bright new faces to come out of the robust Toronto comedy scene. Barry has appeared in clubs and colleges across the country and shared the stage with the likes of Jason Mewes, Neil Hamburger and Scott Thompson.

His unique delivery and dry sense of humor are his signature and have lead to on air positions with 102.1 the Edge FM and XM Satellite Radio, appearances on the Comedy Network, Much Music, MTV and Raptors NBA TV as well as writing positions with the Comedy Network and Google.

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Nick Reynoldson

Hailing from Scarborough, Nick Reynoldson is a fast rising star on the comedy scene. He is a member of the Comedy Records collective. Performing in colleges, universities, comedy clubs and theatres across Canada. Recently he has appeared at the Just for Laughs 42 festival and headlined 'Kenny Robinson's All Black Comedy show. Credits include: NXNE, XM Radio, MTV, MUCH, JFL42.

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Shanik Tanna

Shanik has an innovative eye when it comes to connecting visuals with their audiences. He's completed projects for various companies including PepsiCo, Air Transat, Urban Barn, The Food Dudes, and many more.

He is not limited to only videos, but is also self-taught in creating websites, animations, photography, graphics and other forms of visuals for all his projects. He looks to work on projects that help to inspire people and create a sense of feeling for the viewer.

Shanik is currently working on various brand and community projects with his creative team 'Stiir'.

Working Relationships

While working within the media and entertainment industry over the past ten years the Talking Raptors team have established many relationships with several professionals and companies who have already to committed to contributing to the upcoming season of Talking Raptors including:

Fan Interaction

Talking Raptors is committed to reaching fans beyond the TV screen.  The team is looking to do this by participating heavily in online interactions as well as community outreach.  Looking to build upon the Talking Raptors brand, the team has various ideas to help strengthen the Raptors fanbase such as:

Thank you.

talkingraptors@gmail.com