iHeartMedia, in partnership with Will Ferrell’s Big Money Players Network and SmartLess Media, has announced the launch of a new comedy true-crime anthology podcast titled “CrimeLess.” The series is produced in collaboration with Campside Media.
The first installment of the podcast, “Hillbilly Heist,” is an eight-part story hosted by Johnny Knoxville. It focuses on the real-life account of David Ghantt, a security guard who, along with several accomplices, orchestrated the second-largest bank heist in U.S. history. All episodes of “Hillbilly Heist” will be released on October 15 exclusively through the iHeartRadio app, with subsequent weekly releases on other podcast platforms.
Johnny Knoxville commented on the subject matter: “If there is one thing I love in life it’s shortsighted (some would say dumb) criminals who have absolutely no business in the robbery game. They aren’t bad people, they are just bad at planning, worse at execution, and THE WORST at the cover up afterwards. As an example I would like to introduce you to David, Kelly, and Steve who somehow pulled off one of the biggest and most unintentionally hilarious cash heists in American history.”
After “Hillbilly Heist” concludes, “CrimeLess” will continue as a weekly anthology series starting December 10. Comedian Rory Scovel and journalist Josh Dean will host future episodes, each exploring different crimes ranging from heists to scams and unusual criminal stories.
Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts, said: “We’re thrilled to team up with SmartLess Media for the first time and to continue collaborating with Campside on such a unique and hilarious project. By pairing Rory and Josh’s comedic curiosity with Johnny Knoxville’s narration of ‘Hillbilly Heist,’ we’re delivering a show that’s unlike any other in the true crime genre.”
The “CrimeLess” podcast will be distributed by iHeartPodcasts and available on both the iHeartRadio app and other major podcast platforms.
SmartLess Media was founded by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett following their success with the SmartLess podcast. The company aims to produce more comedy content across various formats including podcasts, docuseries, and live entertainment.
Campside Media is based in New York City and is known for its audio productions such as Suspect and Hooked. The company collaborates with magazine journalists to create narrative-driven podcasts and has multiple projects currently in development.
