The Story Behind: Clowns | Send Them In, But Don't Expect Everyone to Laugh (TSB087)

Clowns | Send Them In, But Don't Expect Everyone to Laugh (TSB087)

Sep 18, 2017

The following contains subject matter that may not be appropriate for younger listeners or anyone with any sort of fear of clowns. Listener discretion is advised.

I was wrong when I thought my days of referencing Tim Curry were over when I finished up The Story behind Clue Series. But with the release of IT in September of 2017 came shattered box office records and a majority of my favorite podcasts talking about the new version with Bill Skarsgard in the title role. But as a kid, I knew the 1990 version after my dad bet me $10 I couldn’t sit through the made-for-TV version starring Tim Curry. And, weirdly, Stephen King’s IT became probably one of my favorite horror films and Pennywise became an icon in the world of scary movie monsters.

The Stephen King novel the movies are based on is looked at as one of the pivotal moments the subject of today’s episode went from a character bringing happiness and laughter to a character that it’s said 42 percent of Americans are afraid of.

I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Clowns.

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This episode was brought to you by The Story Behind Executive Producers who support the show through the Patreon Page at patreon.com/thestorybehind: Stargate Pioneer from GonnaGeek.com, Mat from the One Word, Go! Show, Linguist Sam, Diane from History Goes Bump, Scott Smith from Recovering from Religion, Dan Brenic from Netflix N’ Swill, Jarrod Dunham from TheHistoryphile.net, Heather Welch from Sunshine and PowerCuts, and Jason Bryant from Mat Talk Online.