The best podcasts of 2011

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Is it the full out, non-stop playing of Christmas music on the radio, the endless amount of Christmas movies on the TV at any given moment in time or the desperation of students cramming too much information into their brains so they can take their finals and actually enjoy winter break? Any of these would be correct, but the biggest indicator of the year coming to a close are the ‘Best of 2011' lists that every newspaper and blog is publishing (and we're no exception). Last week we gave the best albums of 2011, but this week we're going to give you something different to listen to: comedy podcasts. Here's a list of hilarious podcasts you should listen to right now:

The Best Show on WFMU – This is technically a radio show that broadcasts from free form radio station WFMU in neighboring New Jersey on Tuesday nights but streams live online and contain the full archives on the radio's website. This small detail doesn't take away from the fact that it is one of the most original and funny programs out there. Hosted by comedian/writer Tom Scharpling, the show is billed as "three hours of mirth, music and mayhem" and it delivers. It opens with a selection of great music that you may have never heard of before but you're instantly addicted to. Scharpling takes phone calls from people all over the country and the world (there have been calls from Australia) including comedians and musicians such as Zach Galifianakis and Aimee Mann. The best part of the show is the comedy bit between Scharpling and his comedian partner and musician Jon Wurster (Superchunk/Mountain Goats drummer). Wurster calls in as various eccentric and ridiculous characters such as Philly Boy Roy, the man obsessed with all things Philly. The slow burning pace of the comedy and the characters' complete obliviousness to their terrible behavior makes for radio gold. If you have nothing better to do on Tuesdays from 9 p.m. - 12 a.m., tune in to The Best Show.

The Flop House– From the brilliant writers who bring you "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," Dan McCoy, Elliott Kalan and Stuart Wellington bring their comedic chops to an important art – reviewing bad movies. The trios gives a summation of a different movie every week and then vocalize their comments and reviews on all aspects of how bad is the movie, which is where the comedy comes to life. The banter and relationship between the three men is fascinating and you can't help but laugh when Elliott starts creating new pitches for bad movies, going off on tangents about words that sound like other words, or when the crew gushes about their obsession with Nicolas Cage. While it is easy to rip movies, the Flop House podcast genuinely cares about the movies they watch and the brutal honesty in their opinions and finding the hilarity in the utter madness that gets made into a movie. The trio also takes letters from fans and gives their own recommendations of terrible movies they love to watch. If you love bad movies, let the Flop House Podcast guide you through the best (and worst) of them.

WTF with Marc Maron – It's never easy to recover from drug and alcohol abuse, but Marc Maron fought off his demons and is still delivering dark, sometimes painful but insightful comedy with his twice-weekly podcast. The show is based on interviews with all types of people such as comedians, musicians and writers and it's the way the Maron can connect with his guests that allows them to have interesting and deep conversations on a variety of subjects and this is what has made the podcasts so popular. Because Maron is so brutally honest about his flaws and fears, his guests are also willing to open up about themselves and the conversation flows and goes to unexpected places that makes for an hour of intelligent, funny, sometimes sad and painful conversations about what makes people human. Whether he's discussing food with Anthony Bourdain or conversing how his own therapist battled his own demons to get his PhD and got his life back on track, Marc Maron consistently delivers engaging and fascinating interviews that reveal hidden parts of not only his guests but also of himself.

The Nerdist – Nerds of the world – welcome to heaven! The Nerdist is a podcast that is completely devoted to everything ‘nerdy.' Created by "Web Soup" host and comedian Chris Hardwick, it's an hour full of conversations about anything and everything nerdy in pop culture from Doctor Who to science. While he does do interviews with comedians such as John Hodgman, musicians such as Ben Folds and other celebrities, it is not a formal atmosphere; it's more like hanging out with your friends.  The banter creates a catchy, entertaining atmosphere that invites people to keep listening even though some of the references can appear obscure to a new listener to the podcast. Don't let that stand in your way; this show is a captivating, charming show about pop culture that will bring out anyone's inner nerd.