MTV's The State... and all things related

[CarolineEAnd]

The "would you rather" track is SO Stella, which I love.

Okay, I'm going to nerd out for a second, so stick with me. I love Mr. Show and UCB, but the reason The State has always been (and probably will always be) my favorite sketch show/comedy troupe is that they DON'T all have the same sensibilities and they DON'T all do the same comedy and they AREN'T all on the same page. Once you watch one episode with the commentary, you can pretty much figure out who wrote every sketch. Cerebral, british influenced humor comes from Ben, list and slang type jokes come from Showalter, large physical bits come from Ken, ultra-character based pieces come from Tom, I could go on and on.

I say this because, the album really completes the time line of The State. You can hear how Ben and Tom's styles joined to create the team they now have. You can hear MIB and Show doing Stella-type jokes. You can hear Joe and Ken's uncanny ability to join any of the State sub-groups and work perfectly with them (and often be the funniest part).

So, I guess my point is, the album is more than just some hilarious tracks, it's like a History Channel study of The State.

[DJ Sam]

Yes.

Via Tumblr: "The State is uploading some super old/rare videos to Vimeo. More coming soon!"

http://vimeo.com/channels/thestate

[LizArcury]

At the 2009 SF Sketchfest apparently they did a live rendition of Porcupine Racetrack. I can find a few videos from the Sketchfest but not this particular performance. If anybody knows where to find it or wants to post a link that would be fantastic.

[scamboogah]

If memory serves, they were extremely strict about pictures/camera phones at that show, so I wouldn't hold your breath.

[lorianddori]

I watched every episode and bonus and all the commentary. I think there styles were all really different but still developing. I think it is cool that they can admit some of their early sketches were shit and make fun of themselves and felt like I could already tell that black wain and showalter seemed already like a trio. Did kevin allison go on to anything else in comedy? of all the cast mates he was the only one I had never seen before.

[LizArcury]

Kevin now does a podcast called "RISK!" which is a storytelling showcase and really interesting, but I'm not so sure it can fall into the "comedy" category. Though he does have a lot of comedian friends on it (and fellow State members) like Michael Ian Black, Showalter, Kerri, & Ben Garant. It's on iTunes and I highly recommend it. Super fun to listen to.

He also teaches sketch classes at the People's Improv Theater in NYC. Other than that I'm not aware of what he's up to.

[LizArcury]

If anyone was interested in seeing clips from the special on CBS

http://www.wcftr.commarts.wisc.edu/c...red/starr/cbs/

[LizArcury]

Sorry for posting yet again but I realized while clicking through different stuff on that link above that that site is INCREDIBLE in terms of State stuff. If you browse through you can also find a clip from "You Wrote It, You Watch It" AND different papers that have been scanned and posted like The State's movie pitch, letters from the network, etc.

[carrots]

why isnt Michael Showalter in more things? has he been on any podcasts?

[CarolineEAnd]

He was on Jason Nash's doing a phone interview that was pretty good. As one of the many people (as I've learned from IMDB) unable to identify being-a-dick-Showalter from wanting-privacy-Showalter it was a nice look into an honest conversation about his introversion. It's called Guys with Feelings.

[rotation]

http://www.starz.com/originals/PartyDown/PARTYDOWN2_206

[lorianddori]

party down is the only reason i have ever wished i had starz but sadly I only have stupid hbo.

[LizArcury]

Pretty exciting! Showalter's new book.


http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Funny-Pants...7921429&sr=1-1

[darrylduffy]

Officially available September 14th via Rhino Records (info here)

and a pre-order link here

[Liezl]

wow.. about time.

[Liezl]

I totally forgot I had this. I got this as a thank you from AST's very own Rick DeMint of Portroids fame for getting him tickets to the State reunion show at UCB 3 years ago.

Also in other State related news, David Wain will be doing a 10th anniversary screening of Wet Hot American Summer at LA Film school this Thursday.
http://www.eventbrite.com/org/742474191?s=4275463

There will also be a WHAS themed art show at Gallery 1988 in Venice. The opening will be June 10th, with Wain in attendance.
http://www.funnyordie.com/slideshows...at-gallery1988

[Meagan]

I'm sorry to do this, but...if anyone wants to take pity on a left-behind Torontonian and sell me a ticket to the Wet Hot American Summer 10th Anniversary event at the Music Hall in NYC July 26th, I would be ETERNALLY GRATEFUL. Willing to pay above face value.

[Liezl]

Here are some notes from the wet hot american summer screening I attended...



David Wain and Joe Lo Truglio read an old chat transcript between Wain and Showalter for potential names for the movie. Unfortunately, the only name I can remember is “Bunk” and “Tiny Fingers Searching for Penis and Vaginas.”

Notes from the Q&A which will be released as a podcast from @yogoldsmith.

• If you’ve listened to the WTF with Marc Maron interview with Michael Showalter, you’ll know that Showalter was/is still pretty disheartened at the lack of success of Wet Hot American Summer… and here’s why. The movie was shot for $1.8 Million dollars, after being shopped at Sundance, no one was interested. Months later, USA Films made an offer… of $100,000. Then when it was finally released, pretty much every reviewer hated it. That can understandably make one quite bitter.
• The scene in which Marino’s character plows the van into a tree is directly based on an incident that happened to Wain.
• In one of the first drafts of the scene where Andy throws the kid out of the van after witnessing him let his swimming buddy drown, Wain originally had Andy take out a gun, screw on a silencer and pop a bullet in the back of the kids head.
  Wain’s dad read it and said if he kept the scene in, he would disown him.