The three newest sketch comedy shows on TV are web-based
Of the three newest sketch comedy shows on television -- VH1's Acceptable TV, MTV's Human Giant, and FUSE's The Whitest Kids You Know -- each one either has its origin online or uses the Web as its gimmick.
Now that's innerestin. Especially considering that traditionally a comedian would have to go through years of stand-up or live sketch comedy in order to get a TV deal. Hence acts like The Post Show, which jumped from obscurity to Web to Super Deluxe. Chatting with them the other week, the fellas said that they never really hung out with other comedians. Except to cast their vids -- check out the vid Douche -- The Post Show lone wolfs it.
Anyway, I only mention because Michael Showalter interviewed Human Giant for Radar magazine recently. Good interview. And god bless Showalter. I remember watching The State then running around the halls of my Catholic parochial school repeating "I wanna dip my balls in it!" Ah, detention. Good times.
Interesting but not surprising.
There are probably scores of genuinely funny people out there who haven't the means or the inside connections to get noticed in Hollywood. The internet is a perfect venue for a talented comedian to market himself.
Meanwhile, agents and producers - even writers - can sit at their desks and peruse the videos without leaving their homes. It's a money saver all the way. Except, of course, for the current crop of comedians who will find themselves out of work.
Posted by: Drew Schoen | April 28, 2007 at 04:07 PM