'Above Average' and Puddin

Not too long ago, Broadway Video, the production company that brings you SNL and so much more, launched Above Average, a new comedy channel on YouTube. The channel provides original, fresh baked comedy from their brains to yours, and features both new and familiar faces in the comedy world.

I previously posted one of their funny shorts, Belle and Bernice: Living in the City. Here's another series starring Abby Elliot called The Assistant. This interview episode is very near and dear to my heart.



 
Also on YouTube is the Puddin Strip channel: Check out Puddin', a weird and twisted series of comedy shorts created by Matt Oswalt, starring Eddie Pepitone and a host of guest stars such as Patton Oswalt, Tom Lennon, James Urbaniak, Dana Gould, Weird Al Yankovic, Steven Webber and Robin Williams.

Eddie Pepitone is 'The Bitter Buddha'

Comedian Eddie Pepitone has been a favorite of mine since I first saw him on Last Comic Standing several years back. After a bout of competition, he was eliminated and mercifully extracted from the silly reality show that eventually went on to see a younger no-name win the grand prize - whatever the hell that was.

Eddie is like a grizzled New Yorker who came right out of Central Casting. He's angry. He's got a big mouth. He's pissed off at society, corporations and assholes at Starbucks. He's constantly trying to temper his anger by delving into the zen of life. He reads up on spirituality. He's an animal lover who feeds squirrels. His weight a constant struggle, he's always on a diet - cutting out flour, sugar, meat, diary, trying to be vegetarian, trying to be vegan. Comedians bow before his loud mouth, angst ridden self to gain wisdom, advice and solace. He's know as "The Bitter Buddha", whether on stage, back stage, or joining his fellow podcasters on the weekly The Longshot Podcast.

Much to Eddie's surprise, last year a documentary crew approached him about making a fly-on-the-wall documentary on his life. It looks like it's about ready to come out of the oven, and is appropriately entitled The Bitter Buddha. The trailer alone shows a fascinating glimpse into his world of comedy and the comedians who worship him.

Keep track of the film's progress and whereabouts on The Bitter Buddha (Documentary) Facebook page.



Also, check out Eddie's hilarious web series online. Puddin' is a series of absurd comedy shorts that are lovely morsels of insanity. And you'll never know who'll show up. Check them out on Eddie's page www.eddiepepitone.com or on YouTube and laugh your guts out.

Here's one featuring Patton Oswalt.



And here's a fun UCB comedy short featuring Eddie.

The Best Improv Suggestor	UCBcomedy.com
Watch more comedy videos from the twisted minds of the UCB Theatre at UCBcomedy.com

'The Heart , She Holler"

Happy Halloween! And to those comedy fans who want a taste of their own favorite funny people with a smidge of crazy balls, now is the perfect time to shout about Adult Swim's new weird series The Heart, She Holler, premiering this Sunday November 6th at 12:30am.

The series stars Patton Oswalt as a wild man-child who inherits the town of The Heart, She Holler from his insane father, much to the fuming despair of his freakish sisters played by Kirsten Schaal and Heather Lawless, who each want the town for themselves.

Huffington Post claims the show "sincerely may one of the most bizarre programs ever to air on Adult Swim", strong words indeed, considering the channel airs Childrens' Hospital and NTSC - both surreal comedies that defy logic, continuity and boredom. But holy bath water, this show is a whole lot of nuts.

See for yourself. (Apologies for any commercials).

The Heart, She Holler

The Upfronts are winding down in New York City. A week of new fall schedules, pilot pick-ups and parties have been unfurled, only to be swept away with the remnants of party favors and stacked up folded chairs. As new comedy sitcoms were paraded out like a little miss beauty pageant, Cartoon Network announced the pick up of a new live action series for Adult Swim premiering this Fall. The Heart, She Holler stars Patton Oswalt in a soap opera spoof about a town filled with simple minded folk who are so in-bred, their locale has been deemed "supernaturally wrong". Heather Lawless also stars. This should be good!

Source: DeadlineDaily

Patton Oswalt News Reminded Me... I Saw 'The Room'

It was reported in the Hollywood Reporter that Patton Oswalt has signed on to do an NBC pilot with Kristen Johnson and Matthew Broderick called Beach Lane. This is terrific news for perhaps one of my favorite stand up comedians (Paul F. Tompkins, you're my other one). However, it reminded me of something I can't shake from my brain.

I saw the 2003 Tommy Wiseau disaster...I mean melodrama film The Room this past weekend. If you haven't clapped your eyes on this yet, just...go see it. It's has a Rocky Horror Picture Show type cult following in Los Angeles, and I believe New York City is starting to embrace this haunting pile of poo you can't get out of your head because it's so horrendously bad, yet hilarious and fascinating and gross.

Rent it on DVD from Netflix and invite friends over to laugh at this...thing. I saw it alone and afterward needed ten showers and a gynecological exam. The vision of Wiseau in those sex scenes... God...make it stop! I feel violated. Sharing the experience will make you laugh more and not feel as though Wiseau oozes olive oil from his pours, or make your want to vomit. But, it will make you wonder why he is shagging Tina Yothers from Family Ties. Or a look-a-like. Or is that young Courtney Love?

If you have seen The Room and like the comedy of Oswalt, you'll understand why this pilot news on Patton and this movie connect in my brain. The following video is an extra on Oswalt's My Weakness is Strong DVD. He and funny lady Julie Klausner nailed a parody of Tommy Wiseau and his movie. The bad green screen scenic shots that don't match. The horrific writing. The over acting. The shadiness behind the making of this film. Nails it.

Thank you for doing this, Patton. I have just begun to laugh again. And I no longer feel like I've been date raped.

The Weird Al Story

If this doesn't get Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) an Oscar, then I quit.

"Weird: The Al Yankovic Story" from Aaron Paul

Patton Oswalt in "Big Fan"

Patton Oswalt is known for his stand up performances, for his role on King of Queens, and for his stint on The Comedians of Comedy. He's recently taken a turn at drama in the upcoming film Big Fan.

The film stirred up some positive buzz at Sundance. Oswalt looks great. It's also nice to see Matt Servitto (Sopranos) in this flick. He's a terrific guy and a supremely talented actor.