MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO SEMINAR SERIES, THE: STRANGERS WITH CANDY {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in this series of seminars conducted by the Museum of Television & Radio. This seminar, held in New York and moderated by Museum television curator David Bushman, features the original unaired pilot and a discussion with the creators and cast members of the Comedy Central program "Strangers with Candy." (Panelist biographies immediately follow this summary.) Bushman notes that for three seasons "Strangers with Candy" pushed the limits of social conventions, broke new ground in terms of satire, and was the first original non-skit series on the cable network. He then introduces the following panelists: executive producer Kent Alterman, writer/creator/actor Stephen Colbert, writer/creator/actor Paul Dinello, performer Greg Hollimon, and writer/creator/actress Amy Sedaris. After viewing clips from several episodes, Bushman asks the creators to talk about the program's conception. All agree that "Strangers with Candy" was intended as a spoof of the conventional and moralistic after-school special in which all problems are happily resolved by the end of the program. In addition, a 1960s program titled "The Trip Back" prominently influenced the development of the program, particularly the main character of Jerri Blank, played by Sedaris. As Alterman remarks, "We wanted to tweak authority.... We wanted to create a morality tale where you just learn the wrong lessons." Other topics discussed include: the creative freedom of working with Comedy Central; the extent to which each episode was improvised; comedic television influences; the evolution of characters, namely those of Mr. Noblet and Principal Blackman; the unattractiveness and naivetŽ of Jerri Blank; The Museum of Television & Radio's importance as a resource for the writers; and interesting fan mail. Finally, the pilot episode is screened.
(This tape includes the pilot episode of "Strangers with Candy," which is part of the Museum's collection and may also be viewed separately. See T:63361 for summary.)
Biographies Kent Alterman worked as an independent writer, producer, and director before joining Michael Moore's "TV Nation" as a senior producer. He went on to spend four years as head of east-coast development at Comedy Central, where he served as executive producer for several shows, including "The Upright Citizens," Brigade's sketch-comedy show, and "Strangers with Candy."
Stephen Colbert was a creator, co-producer, and writer on "Strangers with Candy" and also starred as Flatpoint's counter-inspirational history teacher, Chuck Noblet. After moving to New York, he co-developed "EXIT 57" and also worked as a writer and cast member on "The Dana Carvey Show." He has appeared on "Spin City," has written for "Saturday Night Live," and is well-known to Comedy Central viewers as a correspondent on the Peabody-winning program "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart."
Paul Dinello was a creator and writer on "Strangers with Candy" and also performed in the series as the genteel, self-absorbed art teacher Geoffery Jellineck. After moving to New York from Chicago, he developed "EXIT 57," a half-hour sketch-comedy show on Comedy Central, along with two other Second City alumni. He has acted in several films and television programs and appears frequently on the New York stage, most notably in "Stitches" at LaMama Theater.
Greg Hollimon portrayed Flatpoint High's principal, Onyx Blackman, a role written specifically for him by the creators of "Strangers with Candy," including the next three panelists, all of whom he met while performing with Chicago's Second City Main Stage troupe. He also wrote and performed in the two-man play "Revelations, Indictments and Confessions" and appeared in the film "Time Served."
Amy Sedaris was raised in North Carolina and moved to Chicago to pursue a comedy career at Second City. She has written for "EXIT 57" with Stephen Colbert and Paul Dinello and has written and produced numerous plays with her brother David, including the Obie award-winning "One Woman Shoe" and the critically acclaimed "Book of Liz." She was a creator/writer on "Strangers with Candy" and starred as Jerri Blank, a forty-six-year-old ex-boozer, user, and loser who returns to Flatpoint High School as the world's oldest freshman after thirty-two years away from home living a very colorful life.
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: April 2, 2001 6:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:22:40
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:64070
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- David Bushman … Host, Moderator
- Kent Alterman … Guest
- Stephen Colbert … Guest
- Paul Dinello … Guest
- Greg Hollimon … Guest
- Amy Sedaris … Guest