As "Serial" prepares to wrap up its first season this week, Funny or Die has released a parody of the viral hit podcast about a 1999 murder in Baltimore.
The podcast, a spinoff of "This American Life" which premiered in October, has followed the case of Adnan Syed, who is serving a life sentence after being convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999. The case is currently being
appealed, according to The Huffington Post.
"Serial" features host Sarah Koenig's analysis of the case culled from interviews with people who know Syed or who were acquainted with Lee, as well as audio from the trial and comments from Syed via recorded phone calls.
The final episode will be released Thursday.
Funny or Die's parody has former "Saturday Night Live" performer Michaela Watkins playing Koenig as the host who's struggling to give an answer to the "whodunnit?" question. Watkins hilariously throws out a number of theories before confessing that — gasp! — she did it for the "sweet Mail Chimp money." Mail Chimp was the launch sponsor for "Serial."
David Pierce, of the website The Verge, said that, while some podcast listeners may not get the payoff they are looking for, the parody gives them something to have a good laugh over while waiting.
"We're less than 24 hours from the release of the final episode of this season of 'Serial' in which we will get all the answers we've been waiting for," Pierce wrote. "Or we won't get any of them. Or maybe we'll get a few. But ahead of the finale, Funny or Die has released its guess as to how the show is going to end — and it's perfect. (It's also a parody, guys.)"
"Serial" broke the iTunes record for the fastest podcast to reach 5 million downloads and streams.
Warning: The video below contains strong language.
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