Monday, August 20, 2012

If I were a comedian, I'd want to be in EVERYONE'S gang

Ever notice how there are like cliques in comedy? Not in a high school-y way in that I think for the most part they are supportive of each other's efforts but ina way that there are groups of actors or comedians that you see together in different projects a lot.

Like of course there's the State troupe with Tom Lennon, David Wain, Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, etc. The State 

Judd Apatow has a group of actors he depends on going back to Freaks & Geeks & Undeclared, his early TV work including Jason Segal, Seth Rogen, Samm Levine (who showed up in Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds"!). Paul Rudd, Steve Carell (The Daily Show), Leslie Mann (Apatow's wife) all show up in multiple movie roles.

Apatow

Speaking of Paul Rudd, he co-created Party Down with Rob Thomas of Veronica Mars fame which ensured some of the cast from VM like Jason Dohring, Kristin Bell & Ryan Hansen would show up in guest spots or main cast. Who's the main star of PD? Adam Scott whose worked with Apatow & Amy Poehler & is BFF's with Paul Rudd. 

Party Down

Then there's the old Upright Citizens Brigade with Amy Poehler (Parks & Rec, married to Will Arnett of Arrested Development fame & Mitch Hurwitz uses a lot of the same faces too), Matt Walsh & I can't think of who else right now. 

Parks & Recreation

Arrested Development

Then there's Rob Corrdry (The Daily Show) on Childrens Hospital with Malin Akerman, Ken Marino (another alum of The State who worked on Party Down & VM), Rob Huebel (who did Human Giant with Aziz Ansari (Parks & Rec) & has popped up in a guest spot on The League which stars Mark Duplass who does tons of indie films, Paul Scheer who's a stand up comic & has his own Adult Swim TV show - the one with all the letters), Megan Mullally (married to Nick Offerman, co-star of Amy Poehler on Parks & Rec; also starred on the last season of Party Down). Also on The League? Nick Kroll who guested on Community

Childrens Hospital

The League

Which brings us to Community with Joel McHale created by Dan Harmpon & the troupe he utilizes a lot or Cougar Town brought to you by the creators of Scrubs who reuse those actors to audience's delight.

Community

Cougar Town

OMG, I can't believe I didn't mention Joss freakin' Whedon & the different universes he cultivates (Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Dollhouse, "The Avengers" (look in the background & you;ll see some familiar faces!!) using the same actors again & again while bringing new faces into the fold. God, I love Joss. I don't think there's one thing he's done that I haven't like in some way.

Dollhouse

I feel now's the time to mention I'm writing this on pain medicine while listening to the Daily Show online (another group of comedy guys who pop up in one another's projects!) & torrenting Tupac & Biggie's greatest hits, so I'm having a hard time focusing. I'm just gonna stop. There's no way I could 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon them all together but there are so many intertwixing crossroads in comedy it's a beautiful glorious thing.