Last night the Stella gang (aka David Wain, Michael Showalter, and Michael Ian Black) celebrated the 10 year anniversary of Wet Hot American Summer by hosting an event at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Vulture has a nice recap of the evening’s highlights, which included taped bits by Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler, audition footage for Bradley Cooper and Naomi Watts (who was not cast!), and in-person appearances by a few of the cult classic’s most beloved characters, including frumpy Camp Firewood director Beth (Janeane Garofalo), who is currently busy at work on “a line of clothing for the imminent Rapture,” and legendary Catskills comedian Alan Shemper (Showalter), a man who went to camp so long ago that Jesus Christ was his counselor. Click through to watch Shemper’s all-to-brief routine, and if you’re craving for more WHAS action, head over to Entertainment Weekly where Wain, Showalter, and Joe Lo Truglio all reflect back on their experiences making the film a decade later.
Comedian Michael Showalter has done it all. He’s been a member of one of the most-loved comedy troupes of all time (The State); written, directed, and starred in movies like Wet Hot American Summer and The Baxter; released a hilarious album — and now he’s written a book too.
In our exclusive Interactive Interview — where you ask the questions — he talks about his literary inspirations, the possibility of sequels and reunions for some of his projects, and the bizarre rumor that he has a rivalry with fellow comedy sensation Eugene Mirman. Plus, he tells us his real name.
A new commercial for Stella Artois beer that’s co-directed by filmmaker heavyweights Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola premiered over the weekend. In it, a French dude brings a girl back to his James Bond-style apartment, where he must decide between a nice cold beer or his date — who has been engulfed by the tricked out sofa. Click through to find out which one he chooses, and tell us, does this spot make you thirsty?
When we heard that Michael Ian Black was doing video interviews to promote his new Comedy Central show Michael and Michael Have Issues and an interesting new live ad campaign for Klondike, we were intrigued. When we found out the whole thing was being video taped (ie., no editing our side of the conversation to sound whip smart), we braced ourselves for the inevitable embarrassment, hit up @flavorpill‘s followers on Twitter for question ideas, and picked up the phone.
Little did we know, we’d be called out on our lack of knowledge of The State, a TV series that we’re giving away on this very site. (We will watch the entire boxset now. We promise.) Warning: This has a few awkward moments. It also makes us feel like someone on laughing gas who phoned in questions to Dr. Phil — if Dr. Phil was as funny as Michael Ian Black. Oh well. Read More »
David Wain has been making people laugh for close to two decades (and most likely longer, if we count his formative years). A founding member of The State and Stella, the funnyman is also responsible for the popular web series Wainy Days on My Damn Channel. The show returns for it’s fourth online season tomorrow, and to celebrate, Wain is bringing it live to the stage at 92YTribeca in NYC, with help from friends including Paul Rudd and longtime cohorts Michael Showalter and Michael Ian Black. We caught up with the man behind modern comedy classics Wet Hot American Summer, The Ten, and Role Models to find out what he has in store, as well as his thoughts on his original troupe’s MTV series getting the DVD release fans have been clamoring for since last century.
