Happenings Around Los Angeles: Human Giant Reunion and Benson Interruption

The three headed comedy monster known as Human Giant, came together for a reunion at the Cinefamily Theater in Los Angeles last night. Sketches from their MTV series of the same name were screened as creators Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer, Aziz Ansari and Jason Woliner hosted with inside stories about the process of producing the show and some juicy tales thrown in for good measure. Sorry... we've been made to adhere to the "cone of silence" - meaning that we will be destroyed and lives of our loved ones will be obliterated if we, the privileged one hundred breathing beings in the venue, even leak out what was uttered by the foursome.

However, I'm going to dish some morsels of interest. When Human Giant hosted a 24 hour marathon in May of 2007 (the concept was - if they received one million hits on their MTV site, they'd be renewed for a season two), it garnered the lowest ratings the cable channel had ever seen since Carson Daly's post 9-11 show. (Although the marathon did rate well with the young boys demographic.) Also, Rob Riggle, one of the guests on the show who played the character of Cliff Clavin (sp?), HG's security guard throughout he live event, got pissing drunk back stage. But after 24 hours of non-stop comedy with friends - can you blame him?

Viewing the sketches on a movie screen with a small crowd was more fun than imagined. I'm used to watching the show at home, alone like a loser, and cackling in my own space. It was a blast to join in and watch my favorite bits, "Let's Go!", "Balloon Cops", "Shutterbugs", and "The Illusionators" with a like minded group and the Human Giant guys themselves laughing along. It reminded me how much fun this show was, and how much we all hope for a season three. Hell, we'd be happy if season two landed on DVD; yet, the probability of that is slim right now. Apparently, MTV wants Human Giant to return for season three, and if they're not able to do this, they are holding the season two DVD hostage. Problem is - these guys are too busy to come together. When not involved in other projects, Paul is finding amazing success on FX's The League, Rob is super funny on the popular Adult Swim's Childrens Hospital plus working on a project for Ben Stiller's Red Hour Films, Aziz is working on NBC's massive hit Parks and Recreation (returning in January) and also writing a film with Jason Woliner. So...season three? You're a dream. Season two DVD? Hope MTV is taking good care of you in captivity because these guys are busy and you might not see daylight for a long time.



Friends and collaborators on Human Giant were in attendance last night. Writer Eric Appel and Nick Kroll were in the house, as well as friends Lake Bell and Doug Benson.

And...speaking of Doug Benson.


The Benson Interruption premiered a few weeks ago on Comedy Central. It airs Fridays at 12midnight and is a fun version of Doug's live show that found a home at LA's Largo until cable came-a-calling. I attended a taping at the Music Box Theater in Hollywood a week ago with Rob Huebel, Eugene Mirman and Mary Lynn Rajskub that's already aired. (I must say - that was fast!)

Although I don't know Doug, whenever I see him perform, it's like hanging with a friend. The admiration between Benson and the performers was and is always palpable. These are some of the funniest people in the biz., and have done the Interruption before, so they knew the flow. (Although Mirman may have been off track with Doug interrupting him). The behind the scenes banter, plus taped retakes were hilarious. Chat about what they can and cannot say on air - which actually did make it on air - punctuated how reigned in the program has to be compared to the live stage show. Yet, trying to skirt around the naughty bits made it even funnier. Still, what you see as the finished, edited product, is fantastic. Watch this show.

Human Giant Marathon Weekend

This is serious. This weekend I'm hunkering down with a big ol' bag o' Doritos and acting like it's nuclear winter outside (that is until I have to go out because I have stuff to do). Comedy Central is airing a Human Giant marathon Saturday and Sunday. Season one and the hard to find complete season two will be shown. This is going to be pretty awesome. Set those DVRs, like...now.

Episodes are mostly airing during the morning hours, so check out the schedule.

Ansari and Woliner Snag a Deal with Apatow

Judd Apatow has signed on Human Giant's Aziz Ansari and Jason Woliner to write and direct (and in Aziz's case, star) in three films they pitched for the comedy producer, wizard and grand master flash of bromance films.
Source: Variety

Balloon Patrol

This whole Balloon Boy incident rang a bell. Took a little visit to The Comic's Comic where blogger and comedian Sean McCarthy helped ring that bell a bit louder by mentioning that Aziz Ansari brought up the fact Human Giant had this idea a while back.

This is one of my most favorite Human Giant sketches ever. I love it so much I had to post it. Really great concept, funny editing and Paul Scheer kills. Too bad these guys weren't on patrol yesterday.

Aziz Ansari

Photo by Seth Olenick

The breakout star of the summer is Aziz Ansari. How cool is that? A cameo appearance in the Judd Apatow film Funny People as stand up Raaaaaaaandy has given him a bump, spawning viral video shorts on FunnyorDie.com of the brash, "merch" flogging comedian. The character is a loud, fast talking jokester with stories of sexual encounters, macho prowess all accompanied by a DJ who punctuates his verbiage with hip hop stings. Do I sense a bit of Dane Cook-ery here? All attitude, shouting, strutting and gesticulating but when you hear what he's actually saying - there's no funny? Perhaps. Judging from interviews Aziz denies any Cook impression, but that's not to say he wasn't inspired. Ansari has already honed his mockery skills on MTV's Human Giant by co-creating a spoof of Criss Angel's silly Mind Freak antics with Paul Scheer in "The Illusionators" sketches.

His portrayal of Tom Haverford, an apathetic bureaucrat on NBC's Parks and Recreation who likes to make the moves on the ladies is pretty spot on considering I've met a few. After only six episodes, he's emerged as one of the funny highlights in an ensemble cast I hope will be allowed to flourish in the same vibe as The Office. (Poehler, much like Carell, is the star, but might be overshadowing the rest of the P&R group as Leslie Knopes, whereas Michael Scott has been the beacon to many other quirky characters who stand out equally.)

We have more Aziz to see in the upcoming year. In addition to the Raaaaaaandy love, the NBC sitcom and many of his own stand up performances (as himself), he's slated to appear in Apatow's next feature Take Him To The Greek, starring Russell Brand due out in 2010.

Hopefully he'll find the time to work on season three of Human Giant. Please?

You can view videos of Raaaaaaaandy at www.laughyourdickoff.com.

Original Online Content: Cinemash

Earlier this year, Zune (Microsoft's music service) partnered with Mean Magazine to produce original episodic video shorts of comedic re-enactments of popular movies of the past. Last week, I posted a video short parody of the 1991 feature Point Break, that originally starred Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves and Gary Busey, and was re-made by the very funny members of Human Giant and Reno 911.

Through the magic of comedy....



...Pappas, originally played by Gary Busey...








...is now played by Human Giant's Rob Huebel








...and Patrick Swayze who originally played Brohdi...









...is now played by Reno 911's Robert Ben Garant







Film parodies also include funny remakes of Tron with Cheech and Chong, Carrie with Will Arnett, and Dirty Dancing with Charlene Yi (soon to appear in the highly anticipated indie Paper Heart) and Channing Tatum. They are all available at MSN's Cinemash site.

One film reinvented as parody that I favor is Sid and Nancy. Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (pictured above) do a bent version of the first couple of punk. See it here.

Cinemash Photos by James Gooding

I Don't Like Mondays...But This Made Me Happy

These guys are so much better than Mr. Met and the Mets Pepsi Party Patrol.

Human Giant - T-Shirt Squad - watch more funny videos

Funny or Die and HBO Spawn New Content

In June of 2008, Funny or Die and HBO entered into a multi-million dollar deal commissioning the website to produce ten original half hour programs for the cable network. HBO also claimed a small stake in ownership of the comedy site. Production has been underway for some notable comedians involved in the project. (Notable for me, because I am obsessed with Human Giant and the comedians therein).

Paul Scheer (Human Giant) began production last March on Designated Driver. It also stars Rob Riggle (The Daily Show). It promises to be hilarious because Scheer is amazing and Riggle defines awesome.

Brett Gelman, otherwise known as the little bit of luck dude in those Lottery ads (which I'm sure he's tired of being defined by...sorry), taped his UCB show 1,000 Cats for HBO last March as well. Yeah, I know it's summer. All those episodes of 30 Rock and The Office back then made me a little late on this.

Rob Huebel 's Holdup was filmed several weeks ago, and stars himself, Reno 911's Thomas Lennon, The Office's Creed Bratton and Ed Helms (who is now super famous for The Hangover), Malin Akerman (27 Dresses), Rachael Harris (also The Hangover), and Weird Al Yankovic (every geek song parody known to mankind).

Birthday Time...

Happy Birthday to Rob Huebel, comedian, actor, writer, co-star of MTV's Human Giant and premiere jester of the Twitter-verse.

This video is so packed with comedy, it doesn't even fit in my blog template. Now that's how much he kicks ass.

Human Giant - Kicking Cameras parts 1 & 2 from Tom Gianas

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly of This Week's Television So Far

When television is good, it curls my toes with delight. Clever, silly comedy or riveting dramas can teleport me from reality to a happy realm I want to inhabit until end credits come tumbling down my screen. Sporting events, sitcoms, even a heartfelt moment on a reality show can be pretty swell.

But when television is bad it really pisses me off. Of course there are buttons on the remote you can push to take away that horrid program, but the eyes cannot turn away. Even programming I enjoy can leave me pacing around a room shouting out WTF's and Why? Why? Why? It can be a hodgepodge of the good, the bad and the ugly. Here's a list of what stirred me this week.

The Good:

The Office. Kelly and Andy's "Dance Off". Miss Kapoor showing the Nard Dog that the booty don't lie.


Parks and Recreation. One of my favorite things is Tom's way of messing with Leslie when taking dictation. Example: Leslie's recitation of her speech, "It was a great learning experience because my Mom cast a long shadow" translates to thus: "Marlene Griggs Knope is morbidly obese." Yes. This show is going to rock. Give it a chance. It's getting there.


Jessie in Breaking Bad. I just wanted to hug this lost pot head druggie last Sunday when he realized his smoking persona isn't "meet the dad"material. When his girlfriend's father came knocking, she pretended Jessie was just the neighbor. Poor, Jess - he was so eager to meet him too. Shows the dilemma he faces in his life: drug war lord over comic book geek who could go straight if he just believed in himself, and if Walt would get out of his hair. Loved the "Apology Girl" note under the door.


Saturday Night Live. Justin Timberlake takes over studio 8H with the usual sketches that always win for me, such as the sequel to "Dick in a Box" called "Motherlover", the dude on the sidewalk that sings, and The Barry Gibbs Show.


Walt White in Breaking Bad. Seriously, he's so good at being bad, that I don't want to hate him, but I do. Once the supreme milk toast Mr. Cellophane, Walt cut his bad ass teeth killing a few drug lords and facing the sadistic wrath of the demonic Tuco, hardening him into a bad mutha effer. He thought he could get out of the business, but the power he has garnered is a drug itself. It's to a point where he' doesn't give a crap about his family anymore - it's all him now.


Michael Showalter and Michael Ian Black, Mets Weekly. The Michaels took to the broadcast booth at Citifield and did some totally stonking hilarious play by play on the weekly Mets round up on SNY. If they want to give Gary, Keith and Ronnie a break for a few games, I'd be happy to hang out with these guys for nine innings. Their new show Michael and Michael Have Issues will premiere on Comedy Central in July.

"Baseball is like a snowflake." (No two games are alike)

The Bad

Celebrity Apprentice. I wouldn't watch this show if Malcolm McDowell himself came into my room decked out in Clockwork Orange attire forcing my eyes open to view this dreck. The only reason I even know about it is due to the ad nauseum promos and the fact it just HAS to make news. Piecing together the clips seen, it appears Momma Rivers won the whole enchilada. Nothing a little ranting and death threat action can't do. Sales on Joan Rivers' QVC schmata and bangles will definitely be going through the roof now.


The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Watching a Bon Jovi concert with a sea of mullets hammering their heads to "You Give Love a Bad Name" is more poetic than watching the cat fights these broads will dish out. But having seen a clip of one Jersey wife bitchily chirping to another her despair over not being invited to a club, making the put upon Principessa ask her sad friend "When are you going to get your period?", just makes me to watch this. Damn you, swamps of Jersey.



Skylar White on Breaking Bad. This isn't bad as it is annoying. When is Skylar going to give birth to that baby? She's been pregnant for two years now. Every time I see her she makes me feel bloated and stretched. That's her previously born kid throwing up in the pool.


The Ugly

Dwight on The Office. There is nothing more upsetting than seeing a future isolationist like Dwight pretend he's a character from Silence of the Lambs and feeding Phyllis like a mule. What's even worse is that he's doing it in his undershirt. Rainn Wilson is a fetching bloke, but as Dwight, his tee-shirt moments burn my eyes.


Daniel Murphy - Mets Vs. Braves - 5/12/09. Why? Why? Why?

Well, at least the Mets won.



Most Viewed DVD of the Week:

Thursday Night Lineup, Human Giant, and Please Watch The Mighty Boosh

Thursday is upon us. Spring is raging. The last few episodes of the 2008-2009 season are beginning to play out on telly, accelerating story lines for the inevitable summer time cliff hangers.

However, one freshman show, Parks and Recreation, is still in the throes of its "how do you do" phase. I've stayed silent here about P&C because I'm not yet smitten with the new Amy Poehler comedy. The cast is terrific (Rashida Jones is sweet and Aziz Ansari is usually genius hilarious), but I have to fall into line with the others who say it's like a duplicate copy of the mothership show The Office. The single camera mockumentary formula on television only seems to work with The Office itself. Although the humor is derived from Leslie Knope's (Poehler's) ambitious, plucky and lack of self aware nature, the ongoing premise of trying to get an empty pit turned into a park doesn't conjure empathy or laughs for me. Yet, there was a scene last week where Ann (Jones) and Leslie walk in on the guys playing Guitar Hero that was quite chuckle worthy. So, I'm still holding out for the program to find its legs.

Tonight's episode is entitled "The Reporter". Leslie invites a reporter to interview her for a story on the park project, only to end up sending out the wrong message. When she calls Mark (Paul Schneider) to help save the story, he makes the situation worse.

Parks and Recreation airs on NBC tonight at 9:00pm et/8:00 ct.

Speaking of The Mothership, The Office was pretty damn good last week. Solid, likable character interaction was infused with classic, funny, sublime writing, mixed with brillant performance. It made me a very happy Office fanatic and blogger.

The saga of the Michael Scott Paper Company continues tonight in an episode called "Broke". Michael and his crack staff (one who could easily be on Crack), have trouble making early morning deliveries. Meanwhile, everyone tries to get their expense reports in on time, while office tramp and hussy Angela Martin makes everyone follow Dunder Mifflin policy. I guess she has more incentive now that she's trying to impress and bed Charles Minor. Seriously, when will the Angela horniness end? Also, I'd like to see her deal with some repercussions from the Andy/Dwight triangle. If she has no remorse for her behavior, then I can't care about her. What about Jim and Pam? More of them...please.

The Office airs tonight on the Peacock at 9:00pm et/8:00 ct.

30 Rock is all new tonight with "The One". Since Selma Hayek has been all over this week's promos', it looks like Jack's paramour Elise is back from Puerto Rico. Jack is getting pretty serious about the pretty senorita nurse, and has Liz accompany him on a hunt for an engagment ring. Jack will also be turning to Tracy for marital advice, which should be a hoot. Elise tells Lemon she's hiding a secret (this scares me), and Jenna "loses her cool" (as the press release states) for an EMT when an injury on the TGS set summons the medics.

30 Rock airs on NBC at 9:30pm et/8:30pm ct.

NBC's Line Up Reminds me of....MTV's Human Giant

Each show noted above has a very close link to each cast member of the very sick, disgraceful and hard ass funny MTV comedy Human Giant. I love this show. It's a variety sketch series that most likely appeals to people with a hardcore warped sense of humor. The bits are incredibly clever, gross, cringe inducing and oh crap I can't believe I'm laughing at this hilarity. It's geared more for the male demographic, but hells, this lady likey.

Giant has completed two seasons on the music network with a third postponed due to other commitments by cast, who all have some connection with the shows listed yonder above. One of them being Aziz Ansari who is pretty booked right now playing Tommy Haverford on Parks and Recreation. He also played the fruit stand guy who hated Australians on Flight of the Conchords, and please...he was so cute and horrible, I fell.

Continuing the NBC lineup coincidence - Paul Scheer has played the evil NBC Page Donny Lawson, Kenneth's arch nemesis in a blazer on 30 Rock. He plays obnoxious so well, you can't help but love him. He also portrayed a bastard movie spoiler nerd in last summer's online series on Crackle.com called The Line directed by Seth Meyers featuring Bill Hader, Joe Lo Truglio and Jason Sudeikis .

And last but not least in the NBC Thursday threesome above, Giant's Rob Huebel has appeared as Holly Flax's boyfriend in The Office ("Lecture Circuit Part 2"), and will be in the season finale ("Company Picnic") to reprise the role. I've been crushing on this guy all week. His Tweets on Twitter are so much sick fun it's like he's putting Twitterites under a spell. No matter how much you fight it you lose and Huebel wins.

He's also appeared in I Love You Man, a movie that is so much on my "must absolutely see or be a loser" list that, well, it's a must see. He's also been in TheWB.com web series Children's Hospital. This guy is so ubiquitous that you might find him sitting in the car next to you in traffic.

Please Watch The Mighty Boosh

All attention must be paid to Adult Swim on the Cartoon Network at 1am Sunday Nights. The Mighty Boosh airs at this time, and it's WONDERFUL. The Boosh is Julian Barret and Noel Fielding. They have created a surreal, dreamy head trip of a comedy derived from years of stage performances and radio. I wrote about them a while ago. If you love Flight of the Conchords, Pee Wee and Spongebob, set your DVRs to funky, please.

The Mighty Boosh airs on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim Sunday nights (or if you like, Monday mornings) at 1am et.