Mr. Show's Greatest Fake Bands
From the "no shit!" tag cloud comes this post about how musicians love HBO's classic Mr. Show. If I was stuck on a tour bus for months, there's nothing I'd rather rewatch.
Truth be told, Stereogum will take any opportunity to throw some love at Bob Odenkirk, David Cross, and their now star-studded (Jack Black, Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswalt) cast of puppety oddballs. Mr. Show was the funniest sketch comedy of all time, and I was obsessed with it in college. I taped every episode on VHS and forced my friends to watch it. In silence.
From the Strokes article in a recent Blender:
ALBERT HAMMOND JR.: "I watched Mr. Show at 14, getting stoned. It changed my life as much as music did."14? Makes you feel old, doesn't it?
And of course David Cross and his imposter are huge indie rock fans. Dave wore a Creeper Lagoon shirt in one episode. And a girlie-tee that said Princess on it at Siren Fest '02, where I spent a good part of Sleater-Kinney's set staring at him.
So with that Stereogum presents Mr. Show's three greatest fake rock bands:
1. Wyckyd Sceptre (Season 4)
Watch it! (YouTube)
2. Titannica (Season 3)
Watch it! (YouTube)
3. Smoosh (Season 3)
No YouTube! At Stereogum's SXSW showcase, though, I spent the early hours during soundcheck trading quotes from this sketch with members of Rogue Wave and Aloha. Funny how some tweens took the name too.
Official Titannica merch is still available. Guess they sold out of Wyckyd Sceptre (I swear I saw tees on the "Hooray for America" tour.)
Mr. Show's a lot like your favorite indie rock band in that it was more fun when it wasn't hugely popular. But something so awesome can only remain cult for so long. The complete series has been out on DVD for a while now. Pick it up if you like funny. But you probably already own it.
Your favorite sketch?
Posted at 3:35 PM
Tags: Bob Odenkirk | David Cross | Mr. Show | Sarah Silverman | Smoosh | The Strokes | Titannica | Wyckyd Sceptre
the story of the story of the story of everest
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the story of everest is funny. favorite is probably the super pan skit.
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I got a five inch taint.
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I absolutely love every single sketch in the second episode! The first appearance of Senator Tankerbell, "Good News" renounces Homo-sin-uality, Marshall the 13th Apostle, "Pit-Pat," and "The Joke: The Musical" with Jack Black are all hilarious!
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PIT PAT!!! WHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
God .. I have first and third or second and .. I forget what I have on DVD but I know I love it!
"Don't stick your dick in these holes.. Don't stick your dick in these holes..."
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There are too many amazing skits to narrow it down to just one - and I generally tend to think of Mr. Show in terms of full shows, not skits. Off the top of my head, the "Change for a Dollar" skit from Season 1 and the "House for the Blind" skit from Season (3? 4?) are pretty goddamned amazing.
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funniest sketch comedy of all time? really?
of all time?
what about kids in the hall? chappelle's show?shoot, what about the ernie kovaks show?
monty python?
the first season of mr show is definitely brilliant, but the quality of each subsequent season steadily diminished. monty python was consistently brilliant until the very last season. and kids in the hall was also pretty much consistently awesome (and was written almost exclusively by the kids plus one or two other people) all the way through. i think mr show gets wayyyyyy too much love.
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You're just wrong, Vinnie. Sorry.
The Titannica sketch, while not an all time favorite of mine, is remarkable if only for the fact that they went so far as to have the drummer do all the talking in the hospital while the tall hulking singer just stands by in the background, just like that other band. It's the little things like that that always made me love Bob & Dave.
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I don't know that Vinnie's WRONG, necessarily... I mean, Monty Python sorta HAS to be the greatest sketch comedy show of all time, being that every great show since then cites it as a major influence - Mr. Show included. They're the Beatles of the medium. I'd rank Mr. Show #2, though, without question. And as for what DVD I'll reach for at any given moment, it's Mr. Show all the way.
There's only 2 seasons of Chappelle - that's not enough to rank it among the all-time greats. And frankly, I know I'm in the minority here but I think KITH is the most overrated, unfunny show ever made.
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Van Hammersly "teaching by billiards" is probably the funniest thing I have ever seen in my life. The end.
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...he also wore a Superchunk shirt in one episode.
I think the "Blow Up the Moon" episode is may favorite.
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though not music related, one of the most sublime moments of mr. show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un5SHBNRBQI
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AMERICA WILL BLOW UP THE MOON. WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY.
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Indomitable spirit!
I'm Fran and I'm a woman!
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yeah i was also thinking about KITH, which is my favorite sketch comedy show. the sad thing is i only ever got season 1 of that, but with only season 5 to be released yet on DVD, I figure i can hold out, sell season 1 and buy all 5 in some discounted box way.
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you forgot Puscifer which featured maynard and adam jones from Tool. might not be so fake since Maynard now uses that name for a solo thing: http://www.puscifer.com/
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The most laugh-out-loud reaction I ever had was probably during the gay band sex tape's line of "well dude, suck that shit".
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"As Mayor of the Altered State of Druggachusetts, I declare this pizza to be awesome!"
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without question, the funniest mr. show sketch is the one with the dalai lama and the fat kids camp.
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"...Bob Odenkirk, David Cross, and their now star-studded (Jack Black, Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswalt)..."
You do realize that the other main guy -- the one with the glasses -- is probably the most successful of all of them, right?
He's freakin' SpongeBob, for christ's sake.
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I think I have to second Van Hammersley. As well as what I think is like the first sketch of the first season, where Cross eats broken glass--"get me a beer, SLAVE!"
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Cripes man, what about Three Times One Minus One?????
"Woo wooo woow waww woo woo woo!"
"Daaaaammmmmn."
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I'll vote for Fat Kids Camp.
Has anybody watched Kids In The Hall lately? We have to everyday in Canada - it runs every two hours, 24/7 on our Comedy Network. It doesn't hold up as well now as Mr. Show will when it's as old in the future as KITH is now.
I once briefly chatted with Mr. Cross in the line-up for a Quasi show at Seattle's Bumbershoot. And his friendship with the New Pornographers is the stuff of legend. Surely everyone's familiar with his infamous dissin' of Ms. Neko Case?
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And yes, Scott, it may not be mature of us, but I agree - it was cooler when we were the hip minority that knew about something that nobody else did. But the blogosphere (I love that word) has changed everything. Nothing's ever not-well-known to the hipsters for very long now. Isn't that right, hipsters?
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gotta go with van hammersley teaching by billiards.
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Giggling reading all the faves. There's a sketch about scientists in a biosphere all hooking up and David Cross said he named all the female characters after his female indierock crushes. I can only remember that one was after Kim Shattuck from the Muffs.
When we were doing our Oasis parody, the Fookin Wankers http://covermebadd.com/fauxasis.htm , we did a radio interview and in one segment answered all questions "Dunno" as tribute to Smoosh. A friend told me months afterwards that he'd heard it and was dying because he knew the reference.
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TTOMO rules, but the Josh Fenderman story of a child actor ("it's Pumpkininny!") is hands down my favorite.
Man, i gotta revisit the DVD's.
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Top 3:
1. The Pre-Taped Call-In Show featuring Ken Doral.... fucking genius. [a new show on the "Convoluted Network".
2. Van Hammersley's Billiard Teaching Videos.
3. The movie sketch "Pallies" with the voice-over swearing cuts, going right into the advert battle between the two supermarkets. That 3 minutes had me laughing harder than just about anything else I've ever watched.
"Botha yous can grab my book, you mother-father chinese dentist!"
Call-In Show still streets ahead though.
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"Bob is my name, insurance is my game, raping was another game of mine..."
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must also say the Van Hammersley sketch being my fav.
Batman: The Horse kills me every time.
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How could you not like any of the episodes with Ronnie Dobs? I do agree that Three Plus One Minus One deserves a mention in this post.
I heard David is doing another sketch show for Showtime? Any truth to this?
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As far as Mr. Show bands go, how about the Monsters of Megaphone tour with Dickie and the Kid.
"Elevator, elevator, it goes up and down. Thank you." (or something like that).
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hmmm... I think upright citizens brigade is a better show, depending on your standards. Mr. Show probably has more "great" sketches, but UCB has both
a. a greater ratio of Good+ sketches per sketch
and
b. a lesser ratio of crappy, boring sketches per sketch
than Mr. Show. I love Mr. Show, by God and I love David Cross. It's been painful realizing that UCB is the better show, but it's sadly true. That's no knock on Mr.Show though.
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-"but what happened to grandma betsy, she looks like a man!"
-"she IS a man!"
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C.S. Lewis, Jr.!
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1. This post is the reason Jesus invented blogs.
2. The commenter who said the second episode is the best was right - this is the one I always show to the uninitiated.
3. In the Weeklong Breakup sketch, I don't know if they ever said the name of the Christian New Wave band, the ones who sang "Heavens to Betsy, I've invented a PRAYING MACHINE" but if you can find that clip, put it up!
4. Did you stay up all night during the first HBO marathon in 1997 so you could switch the tapes and get a high-quality SP recording? Me too! I broke up with my boyfriend soon after and we had to split the tapes up evenly because even though I stayed up, the tapes were taped on a VCR that he owned. Seriously. There was a big fight.
5. I actually figured out once the exact date and time that I first discovered Mr. Show - I turned on the TV at approximately 12:09 a.m. on Saturday, November 22nd, 1996. Is it because I'm a dork? No! It's because it was the best show ever. Okay, maybe a little from column A...
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There are days and there are days...
Mr. Show is the best non-Monty Python sketch comedy ever. I love Chappelle, KITH and UCB too, but none of 'em touch Mr. Show.
And Mr. Stereogum, how could you forget about Willips Brighton & Horace Loeb?
I'll miss you....... me. (smiles towards heaven and starts ripping an adult-contemporary guitar solo)
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Good stuff, Scott.
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thank you so much for posting this.
was mr. show the one with the episode of "grab your coats kids! we're going up my mother's ass!"
i met david cross at sxsw, he was really sweet.
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What's weird is that in high school, me (and my then-13 year-old sister) were the only people on Earth I knew of who had even heard of Mr. Show. Cut to my twenties and hanging out with people who are "into indie rock" and whatever and even the fucking Strokes are huge David Cross fans. Don't get me wrong. It's pretty awesome that other people are out there in the world, yelling "And next time you'll get more than a dildo in the head!" at their little sister. Yet it's also kinda "aw now everyone likes it!".
Was anyone else nerdy enough to tape the commercials that promoted the show? I think they're all on the DVDs now. "The afternoon is here....and you're feelin' in high gear...ya just need a little more time to be the BEST! FOR YOUR PRIME! And then at last it's midnight! And it's time to take that ride! Mr. Show with Bob & David...comes on HBOOOOOOOOH! Friday nights at midnight! READY TO DO IT ALL!"
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Are you guys nuts?! I guess Mr. Show was alright, but its nothing compared to, I don't know, The FUCKING State! How could no one else mention that!?
Way better acting. Equally absurd. Totally the second best skit show behind Monty Python.
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"I Survived the Devastator."
Bob carried that show. Cross can't lick Odenkirk's balls.
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"Mommy, what's a gogortion?
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Albert Hammond Jr. is a liar. Mr. Show didn't debut until he was 16.
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2001: A New Wave Godyssey, I think
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You've named most of the best.
Don't forget,
- "'Swear to God'" with the Reverend Winston Dupree
All Satan wants to do is fuck us up...The dicklicker.
- "Don Pratt"
- "Mr. Show becomes a sovereign nation"
- Holding your breathe for those who cannot breathe
By the way, is that Vince Vaughn in a late episode about rounding up all the actors?
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cockrings, cockrings, cockrings.
p.s. "i saw the shit out of it!"
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"There's a 75% chance you're the world's greatest guitar player"
"I eat, I sleep, I take a bath... I watch pornographies" etc, etc, etc.
Kids in the Hall fuckin' sux BTW
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"blinds are like regulars now..."
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the civil war re-enactment was probably the best.
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Can you forget the Teardrop Awards with the best Eric Clapton attack ever?
And of course, "Kids today are worse than the flappers, the hippies, and the Nazis combined. At least the flappers did the Charleston, the hippies gave us those fat watchbands, and the Nazis had that song '8 Days a Week'."
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It's impossible to pick just three -- even out of the fake band ones! I'm glad to see so much love for Van Hammersly, Champion Billiard Player, though. "Wam Bam ... and that's why we have Nitrogen!"
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http://choochoothehurkeyjerkydancer.ytmnd.com/
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My personal favorite Mr. Show sketches:
1. The Story of the Story of the Story of Everest
2. Wyckyd Scepter
3. Taint
4. Josh Fenderman
5. The Audition
6. Pre-Taped Call-iin Show
7. Car Wash Change Thief Action Squad
8. Druggachussetts
9. Jeepers Creepers
10. Indomitable Spirit
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The Top Sketch Shows of ALL Time:
1. Monty Python
2. Kids In The Hall
3. Mr Show
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what about the episode with "2001: a Space Godessy"?
Being a fan in my younger days of Christian new wave (mid 80's), I can say with almost certainty that this was the first spoof of that genre.
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What about the "Jeepers Creepers" (parody of Jesus Christ Superstar)?
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What season was "Jeepers Creepers" from?
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The look on the face of the guy who says "life is precious, and god, and the bible..." as he's raising the roof is absolutely priceless, and definitely one of my top five Mr. Show moments.
Most of my other top moments have been said, including the monks --> fat camp (dr. death!), "i'm not really blind." "i really am blind." (followed by "perfectly understandishable") and the dance stylings of child star josh fenderman.
Yes, my list is heavy on season 4, so, maybe I should get previous seasons on DVD.
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i was a big fan of the whole coupon: the movie thing
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Probings - with all the Monster Mash songs - was probably my favorite music-related one besides Wyckyd Sceptre.
"uuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhh..... i gained weight from the cake they served...... uhhhhhh....."
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tom kinney is spongebob (also happens(ed?) to be married to jill talley from mr show...he does lots of voices.
anyone have a hard time taking Chloe (from 24) very seriously, because of her Mr.Show roles? not that it's easy to take 24 seriously at all, but you know.
best line? - voiceover king
"Mr. Pickles Fun-Time Abortion Clinic -- We'll bring out the kid in ya!"
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I have to argue against the claim that Mr. Show got progressively worse. I think by the fourth season the writing got much sharper. A lot of the earlier season sketches would kind of drag, but by the fourth season, the episodes fly by. For example, from season 4 :
ep. 26
The Mr. Show "Bloopers", Superstar Machine, Phone Sex, Audition, Dad and You, The Pre-Natal Pageant, and the Burgandy Loaf 6-Star Resturant
all great sketches
"this is peppermint"
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Oh, and "Scams and Flams" kicked ass too
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i never really understood why people shat their pants over mr show. i never found it that enjoyable. and i love david cross and the odenkirks and everyone on that show separately, but i never liked the show much. it was such a letdown when I first saw it after hearing my friends rave. The State, however...
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The pre-taped call-in show is just brilliant.
But I love the whole performance-artist-trying-to-poop-on-the-flag bit with its historical flashback. Including Abe Lincoln, and having him talk like Joe Pesci? The flag made of sh*t? "Dogpile on Gwinnett!" Fantastic.
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How can you not include Flat-Top Tony & The Purple Canoes?!
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Lil Tykes Abortion Clinic--We bring out the kid in you!
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Three Times One Minus One --
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fBsE4ICwivA&search=%26quot%3Bmr.%20show%26quot%3B
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"Y'all are brutalizing me!"
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A mouth full of sores.
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now come on! what about Three Times One Minus One? Don't forget them!
Actually, for a while they were selling left over Mr. Show shirts from the "Hooray for America" reunion tour. The back had pretty much every fake band name they used.
Another favorite of mine... 2001: A New Wave Godyssey.
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Remember when they had that 700 Club-type show for Satan worshippers?
"And a slothful child shall lead them!"
And did anyone mention the all-handicap band? Everyone shouts out their name and disability, and Sara Silverman just says "I'm a woman". Then they have to explain to the old drummer why they kicked him out--"You have no arms, and, in addition to that, you're a shitty drummer." But the lack of arms had nothing to do with his shitty drumming.
I don't know if it was the best or second best of all time, it kind of ran hot and cold, but when they were on, they were definitely as funny as anyone ever was.
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To anybody who said that Kids in the Hall isn't funny,
"I'M CRUSHING YER HEAD!"
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"anyone have a hard time taking Chloe (from 24) very seriously, because of her Mr.Show roles?"
that, and her role on The Larry Sanders Show.
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MTV actually had some good original programming in the '90s--the State was definitely hilarious(about half the cast from Reno 911 was on there), and there was another one I remember about some slacker friends in Austin.
Neither of them seemed to last long--I guess they decided all-reality shows were cheaper.
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- Tatiana the Weather Hermaphrodite
- "All these goats are retarded..."
- Futtbuckers
- "Hey guys... Kim and I are getting married."
- "Frenchy will be by to collect your leavings..."
- Mayomustardaionnaise
(I was trying to think of amazing skits that haven't yet been mentioned)
Yes, a vote for Mr. Show as the best sketch comedy show of all time by a massive margin.
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IDS
"Quentin Tarantino, the Actor not the Director"
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i don't know the name of the skit but the one where Cross plays an actor who gets part of his brain taken out so he can play a mentally handicapped character is definitely one of my favorites.
Also the Pit Pat skit is pretty great if just for the last mock commercial where he just says "fuck".
Having seen all of UCB and all of Mr. Show, I have to give the crown to Mr. Show. Yeah, it was more hit and miss, but its hits where better than UCB's.
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Keep 'em coming, Gleep Glop!
I may have to break out some VHS to relive these.
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I forget the exact name, but Byron D. LeBotwitt III: Racist in the Year 3000 is tops on my list.
"Not you, Zaxon, you're one of the good ones."
I dunno. Excluding Python, I laughed at KITH more than anything.
1. Python
2. KitH
3. Mr. Show
UCB is maybe #4, but it was really hit or miss. They still need to put out Seasons 2 and 3.
I never saw the State, but I've been looking for it for awhile.
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No one's gonna vote for the East Coast/West Coast ventriloquist battles?
The best part is the panel interview at the end with the dummies and some rappers and the host refers to one of the rappers (Professor Murder, who is sitting next to a dummy called Mr. Pickles) as Professor Pickles.
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Oh, and seconding the Mayomustardayonaise, but specifically the very last one, with the yellow and white costumed Abe Lincoln with a machine gun.
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VAN HAMMERSLY
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'24 is the highest number.'
'what's wrong philouza...a few too many of mr. graham's crackers?"
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THANK YOU tmy!!! THE CIVIL WAR REENACTMENT WAS SOME FUNNY SHITE. THERE WAS A LINE ABOUT ONE OF THE REENACTORS IN WHICH THEY SAID HIS LIFELONG DREAM WAS TO FIND A BOX OF MONEY. DON'T THEY GET INTO A DISPUTE WITH A RENAISSANCE FAIR?
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