The team of Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello, and Stephen Colbert (who you can also catch as a reporter on The Daily Show) recently published their new book, Wigfield. As I recklessly sped on over to the University Bookstore to purchase it, I wondered:
-Was their TV show, Strangers with Candy, not one of the most consistently hysterical programs ever? Strangers with Candy made The Man Show look like Three's Company.
-Then why the hell did they cancel it?
-And why the fuck hasn't Comedy Central at least given us a good DVD set?
Hilarious show. Almost as good as Upright Citizens Brigade.
And I think a DVD set was announced not too long ago
*gasp!* Do you have any details? Do you remember where you heard this?
Yeah, I really liked Upright Citizens Brigade, too. Used to come on right after SWC. Made for a sidesplitting hour of TV.
No, I'm sorry, I don't remember where I heard this, but I'm fairly positive that I'm not lying to myself to make the future seem better than it should be
["Strangers With Candy" Season One DVD Details]
The official release date for the Season One DVD will be June 17, 2003. The double disc set of 10 episodes will also include the original unaired pilot, 15 minutes of outtakes, deleted scenes, and tributes. There's commentary by Paul Dinello, Amy Sedaris, and Stephen Colbert on four of the episodes! Unfortunately, at this point there are no plans on issuing the 2 following seasons. They might appear on a "best of" DVD in the future.
Good for starters and better than nothing... I can hardly wait! This is actuall exciting news.
We will get to hear Jerri Blank say, "If I don't graduate by the time I'm fifty, I'll be tha laughingstock of Flatpoint High!!"
But we won't get to see her join and implode a cult over two episodes. :x
I like Amy Sedaris (though I prefer her brother, David) and Steven Colbert individually, I thought Strangers with Candy was pretty boring... I think maybe it tried to hard... just seemed like a really long MadTV skit.
I prefer Amy, though they're both fantastic...
I could never be bored by SWC. I thought every episode had more than its share of laughs... and I love how it was sort of its own self-contained world. MadTV is all parodies of stuff. SWC was, of course, a parody of after-school specials, which worked for a while, but to me what really makes it great is that it's like Seinfeld times a zillion- people whose instinct for self-preservation obliterates everything else. I think Jerri Blank and Homer Simpson are of a piece.
David Sedaris is crimminally funny. Me Talk Pretty One Day (the first half especially) is hilarious. And yeah Strangers With Candy was totally underrated, I cant wait for dvd.
That and The League of Gentlemen were two of my favorite shows. God, I hate Comedy Central's audience.
I laughed my ass of reading some of the shit in Barrel Fever. I just got Naked, I have to start reading that.
z? uffin"]["Strangers With Candy" Season One DVD Details]
The official release date for the Season One DVD will be June 17, 2003. The double disc set of 10 episodes will also include the original unaired pilot, 15 minutes of outtakes, deleted scenes, and tributes. There's commentary by Paul Dinello, Amy Sedaris, and Stephen Colbert on four of the episodes! Unfortunately, at this point there are no plans on issuing the 2 following seasons. They might appear on a "best of" DVD in the future.[/quote]
I checked DVDPlanet and amazon and didn't find this... is it from the Comedy Central website, maybe? If not, where? Thanks.
Quote from: godardianz?uffin"][
that's the most screwed up quote i've ever seen.
in related news, amy sedaris is good when she's on letterman.. david's funnier tho, generally, says i.
Quote from: ?0@rd!&nis it from the Comedy Central website, maybe? If not, where? Thanks.
http://www.jerriblank.com/swcnews.html
Quote from: _|P|_Quote from: godardianz?uffin"][
that's the most screwed up quote i've ever seen.
in related news, amy sedaris is good when she's on letterman.. david's funnier tho, generally, says i.
I say talk shows don't give Amy the right forum for her extraordinary talent... she's not a book-hawker, she's an
actor, dammit!!
David is a better writer, but he could never physically present something as wonderfully, inimitably warped as the one... the only... Jerri Blank.
Quote from: bonanzatazI laughed my ass of reading some of the shit in Barrel Fever. I just got Naked, I have to start reading that.
If you think reading his stuff is funny, you should get his books on tape/CD. He's got the greatest voice.
And I don't know if you ever read his story, "You Can't Kill the Rooster," about his little brother. If you haven't don't. You have to listen to this one. Amy Sedaris plays the brother. It's so fucking funny.
I haven't read any of Amy's stuff, but I love David's work and I've decided that Christmas on Ice is now required annual reading for me in December.
I always thought Pricaple Blackman was the best
Strangers with Candy:Season 2 will hit streets on November 4th.
Quote from: MacGuffinStrangers with Candy:Season 2 will hit streets on November 4th.
Yay!! I've really been enjoying my endless replayings of the first season DVDs, even the very odd unaired "pilot" episode. I think most of the changes from the pilot to the actual televised series were an improvement, though the talent and spirit are obviously there. Anyone else seen this?
Digital Bits has been told by sources that more Comedy Central product is on the way from Paramount in 2004. In the fall, you'll get Strangers with Candy: The Complete Third Season.
Quote from: MacGuffinDigital Bits has been told by sources that more Comedy Central product is on the way from Paramount in 2004. In the fall, you'll get Strangers with Candy: The Complete Third Season.
And finally, my life will be complete. That season has the special "Jerri's Burning Issue" episode about STDs, the one where she writes an immensely destructive advice column, and of course the final episode with guest appearances by Winona Ryder and the mouthwatering Paul Rudd...
Some of my friends are obsessed with Strangers With Candy, and they finally got me to sit down and watch a handful of episodes. Holy shit, I'm hooked.
Yep, A. Sedaris guest-starred on several episodes of Sex & the City and co-starred in an off-Broadway play with Parker a couple years ago. They definitely seem like friends.
I can't wait for the last batch of discs, can't wait for the movie... Good to see you join the SWC cult, Ghostboy! It's totally true- you can't watch just one episode. Which ones did you get to see?
Let's see...the one where her dad died (the hot dog!), the pro-virginity episode (the euphemisms!), the Raisin In The Sun episode (the trees!), the one where she has to take care of the baby and one or two others...
Okay, so I'm pretty tempted to blind buy these DVDs now, including the Upright Citizens Brigade. I've got so many DVDs on my plate to buy right now that I'm not so sure I should get them so soon, but in any event, I think I just might order them from Amazon.ca.
ohh man, great buys. The UCB DVD is another must have
this is one of those shows that you can't wait to tell all your friends about and show them episodes
Quote from: meatwadthis is one of those shows that you can't wait to tell all your friends about and show them episodes
Exactly. It's the first thing I show "the uninitiated." If they "get it" and laugh their ass off, then it's a good bet that we'll get along.
The more you guys talk about this show, the more likely I'm going to go out of my way and order them.
I saw Amy Sedaris on Conan many months ago while she was promoting the DVDs. She is very pretty. I would have never known it was the woman from Strangers With Candy if they hadn't mentioned it.
Quote from: BethieI saw Amy Sedaris on Conan many months ago while she was promoting the DVDs. She is very pretty. I would have never known it was the woman from Strangers With Candy if they hadn't mentioned it.
She is much better looking in life than on the show... of course, part of the joke is that she's been deformed by a tough life on the streets after being a teenage runaway for 32 years and also a boozer, user, and loser. :)
They were shipped to my house today along with the Upright Citizens Brigade! Oh my, this is a good day -- they came a few days early too! I think I just might cry... :-D
Quote from: CinephileThey were shipped to my house today along with the Upright Citizens Brigade! Oh my, this is a good day -- they came a few days early too! I think I just might cry... :-D
You will, of course, set aside everything else in your life so as to watch every episode back-to-back...?
:)
Do post here with your thoughts once you start watching.
Just watched the first episode. I didn't laugh too much but I'm not into the show really yet. The writing is great though, just like the UCB. When I started finding the show very funny was when Poppy died and she told the story to the parents and ended with a non-chalant "and then she died." I'm looking forward to the next episodes! :-D
Quote from: CinephileJust watched the first episode. I didn't laugh too much but I'm not into the show really yet. The writing is great though, just like the UCB. When I started finding the show very funny was when Poppy died and she told the story to the parents and ended with a non-chalant "and then she died." I'm looking forward to the next episodes! :-D
They do get progressively better/funnier, and it is those deadpan yet horrible lines that gives the show a lot of its uniquely crazy feel.
It doesn't really get really great till about the 4th and 5th episode. Stephen Colbert is the man in this show. He's probably my favorite character. "How would I know? I'm married" Great stuff. I'm attracted to Amy Sedaris.
So I've watched the first two seasons of Strangers With Candy. And every episode was great. I really can't say who I laughed at more.. Paul Dinello or Stephen Colbert. I want to say Colbert but good lord, Dinello was fantastic. Their characters grew to become so absurd that I was near tears laughing when Mr. Jellineck said he was going to put the origami cranes in the kiln.
So much great stuff on that show.. I can't wait for season 3 and the movie!
Thanks to all of you for recommending SWC and UCB... if there's anything else you all love comedy-wise that I might like, please let me know as I have fallen madly in love with this show thanks to you guys! :-D
Quote from: CinephileThanks to all of you for recommending SWC and UCB... if there's anything else you all love comedy-wise that I might like, please let me know as I have fallen madly in love with this show thanks to you guys! :-D
ASSIGNMENTS AND RATINGS (choose wisely):
The State * * *
Stella * * * *
Mr. Show * * * * *
Quote from: SlombMr. Show * * * * *
Oh yeah, I've always loved Mr. Show. I remember one that I was crying because I laughed so hard. There was a race against these children and I think it was Cross that pulled a fat kid into the bushes and he slit his throat. I shall be getting those 2 DVDs soon.
The other two I'm not familiar with yet.
Season 3 cover art:
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jerriblank.com%2Fswc-dvd-3.jpg&hash=fdb887fba949a1f20148ea0c19aea5a21f3a65a2)
finally got around to buying season 3 this past weekend. The quality of this show did not drop at all. i really can't wait for this movie
The first few episodes were probably some of the weakest, I think. Once it hits "Is My Daddy Crazy?" it gets good again though (by the way, that's probably my favourite episode)
My favorite episode EVER is the illiteracy one, but my favorite season 3 episode would probably be "Ask Jerri." I've been introducing a friend to all the episodes (from all the seasons), and they are amazingly consistent.
Would it be safe to say that Jerri is your favourite character. Godardian?
Quote from: SleuthWould it be safe to say that Jerri is your favourite character. Godardian?
I think so... I mean, the other characters, funny as they are, sort of all orbit around Jerri, right? She is, of course, a filthy, fiendish urchin, but I actually think there's a charm... even a kind of navete... to that character. No sentiment to be seen in the show, thankfully, but I appreciate that it's centered around someone who's crawled out of the gutter, instincts intact.
The character annoys me after a while (episodes that focus way too much on her are probably my least favourites)
http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/strangers-with-candy.html
Title: Strangers with Candy
Starring: Amy Sedaris
Released: 27th June 2006
SRP: $62.99
Further Details:
Paramount has sent over full details on the complete series of Strangers with Candy, which arrives from the 27th June. Retail will be around $62.99. Extras include optional commentaries on select episodes with stars Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert and Paul Dinello, deleted scenes, interviews, The Museum of Televison & Radio Interview, A Message from Bob Whitely, the original unaired pilot, a dance sequence compilation, and a blooper reel. Completing the package will be some storyboard animation, a film strip presentation, a Trip Back PSA feature, and an easteregg. The official package artwork is attached below:
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg216.imageshack.us%2Fimg216%2F3610%2Fstrangerswithcandyr1art2uk.jpg&hash=d22fb7ec347a84e70a08967bd7e3cc5ef0d739fb)
my video store just bought that and i finally got a chance to see season two.
holy shit! i can't wait for the movie. It shall never play in the buckle of the bible belt (aka Oklahoma) but i'll be singing "i'm gonna get my seat at the welcome table" until it does. :yabbse-sad: