Ed Helms, best known for his roles in 'The Office' and 'The Hangover', is launching a new nonfiction comedy podcast series called 'Snafu'. The series, produced by iHeartMedia, will explore historical blunders, starting with the Able Archer 83 NATO exercise that nearly triggered a nuclear war in 1983.
The podcast, premiering on October 5, uses interviews, archival audio, and research to tell the story of the military exercise. Helms describes it as 'loaded with drama and spy-thriller intrigue' but also finds comedy in the situation, comparing the tone to films like 'Argo' and 'Dr. Strangelove'.
Guests include actor Matthew Broderick, who starred in the 1983 film 'War Games', former national security official Dr. Fiona Hill, former KGB agent Jack Barsky, and nuclear expert Dr. Jeffrey Lewis. Helms notes that nuclear paranoia was a fact of life in the 1980s and that the film 'War Games' kept him up at night as a child.
'Snafu' is Helms' first podcast hosting role. He executive produces alongside Mike Falbo, Dylan Fagan, Milan Popelka, Andy Chugg, and Whitney Donaldson. The series is a production of iHeartMedia, FilmNation Entertainment, and Pacific Electric Picture Co.
