Righteous Insanity

Classic Comedies you may not have heard of

As movies continue to change formats, we're in danger of losing some great treasures that don't necessarily make the "best movies" lists. For you comedy lovers out there, here's a list of some "old" comedies that are worth hunting down and watching. This is far from a complete list, but it will get you started in discovering some old favorites. 

One, Two, Three - Billy Wilder is one of the greatest screenwriters and directors ever. This iron curtain comedy featuring James Cagney as the head of Coca-Cola in post-WWII Berlin is not as well known as "Some Like It Hot," but quite funny. 

What's Up Tiger Lily? - Many have copied him, but Woody Allen was the first to take someone else's movie (in this case, a Japanese James Bond knock off) and re-dub it with his own dialogue. One of the mad genius's funniest features - and that's saying something. 

The Party - Speaking of mad geniuses, Peter Sellers gives a masters course in non-verbal (and verbal) comedy as an Indian actor accidentally invited to a high profile Hollywood party. 

Cat Ballou - Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin star in a western cult classic. Marvin won an Oscar (a rarity for a comedy) for his dual role as a drunken gunfighter and his arch nemesis. Features the funniest horse scene after Animal House and Blazing Saddles.

What's Up Doc? - Classic screwball comedy with mistaken identities, four identical traveling cases, and one of the greatest chases in movie history. Stars Ryan O'Neil, Barbra Streisand (yes, she can be funny), Austin Pendleton, Kenneth Mars, and Madeline Kahn in her film debut. 

First Family - A dark political satire about an unpopular president who makes a bizarre deal with a primitive nation. Bob Newhart and Madeline Kahn are the president and first lady, heading an all-star cast that includes Gilda Radner, Harvey Korman, Richard Benjamin, Austin Pendleton, and Rip Torn. 

High Anxiety - Mel Brooks' forgotten send-up of Alfred Hitchcock movies, with Mel Brooks, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman, and Cloris Leachman. The Birds, Psycho, Vertigo, North by Northwest, and other Hitchcock classics get the Mel Brooks treatment. 

The Kentucky Fried Movie - A sketch comedy film by the makers of Airplane! and The Naked Gun packed with fake movie trailers and one messed up parody of Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon." (This one is rated R, and though not as raunchy as today's fare, it's still dirty in parts.) 

The Cannonball Run - A star-studded car chase across America with Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, and an all-star cast. Not as funny or as beloved as Smokey and the Bandit (another film you need to see), but still classic. 

Real Life - Years before reality TV took over television schedules, Albert Brooks made the quintessential parody of the genre. Brooks and a film crew move in with an all-American family (headed by Charles Grodin) to document their lives, but quickly make themselves the center of the story. 

Seems Like Old Times - Neil Simon comedy starring Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn, and Charles Grodin. Those four names alone make this a must-see. 

Real Men - Jim Belushi is a tough as nails federal agent assigned to escort John Ritter (a wimpy look alike for another tough federal agent) for a rendezvous with aliens. Don't make a big deal of it. 

Better Off Dead - One of two films John Cusack made with the "anti-John Hughes" Savage Steve Holland. Cusack plays a teenage boy who tries to kill himself after his girlfriend dumps him. The bizarre gallery of supporting characters make every scene in the movie classic. 

Surf Ninjas - Funnier than it deserves to be story of two young boys who learn they are the heirs to the throne of an island ruled by a half-man, half-machine dictator. With Leslie Nielsen, Tone Loc, and a very funny Rob Schneider. 

PCU - Sometimes called Animal House for the 90's, PCU features Jeremy Piven at his rapid-fire best. Also features David Spade, Iron Man director Jon Favreau, and Jessica Walters (Arrested Development) as the president of a university over-run with political correctness. 

New Skit about Men and Women and Romance

How They See It

By John Cosper

www.righteousinsanity.com

 

CHARACTERS

Deb- Narrator/ shelter employee

Liz- A single young woman

Bill- Young executive

Steve- Young slacker

Kip- College student with potential

Kimmy- A hot girl

A mob of hot girls (three or more)

 

DEB: Hey, guys, have you ever wondered what's really going on in the mind of girls? Girls see guys differently than guys see girls. It's true. And just to show you how different girls are, we've put together this little dramatization for you. Enjoy.

Deb walks to the desk and sits. She puts up a sign that says "Shelter." Liz enters.

DEB: Can I help you?

LIZ: I'm here to adopt a guy.

DEB: Certainly. Do you have anything in particular in mind?

LIZ: Yes, I'm looking for something Caucasian. Christian, but no specific denomination. Oh, no Lutherans, though.

DEB: No Lutherans.

LIZ: Politically conservative, above average intelligence, and cute enough to make my roommates jealous.

DEB: Let me see what we have around bak. Wait here just a moment.

Deb exits. She returns with Bill, dressed in a suit, on a leash. Bill acts like a dog.

DEB: Here we go.

LIZ: Aww, isn't he cute?

Bill starts sniffing and pawing Liz. She pets him.

DEB: His name is Bill. He's a graduate of Northwestern law school.

LIZ: Ooh, law school.

DEB: He enjoys football, reading mystery novels, and dancing. He has a six figure job, a nice apartment, and all his shots.

LIZ: Well, hey, Bill, aren't you just the cutest--

Bill races over to Deb and paws and sniffs on her.

LIZ: Hey, hey! I'm over here, dummy!

DEB: What's the matter? Don't you like her?

LIZ: Something tells me this one likes to chase skirts.

DEB: Some of them do, I'm afraid.

LIZ: I think I'll pass on this one.

DEB: No problem. Let me bring out another one. Come on, Bill.

BILL: Arf!

DEB: Stay off my leg!

Deb leads Bill off stage. She returns with Steve, dressed in worn jeans and a T-shirt.

DEB: Here we go.

LIZ: Hey, he's a cute one!

DEB: This is Steve.

LIZ: Hi, Steve.

Steve snuggles up to Liz sweetly.

LIZ: Oh, aren't you so sweet and cuddly? I bet you like to cuddle.

DEB: Oh yes. Steve is very affectionate. Gets very attached.

LIZ: Really? Hmm. What else should I know?

DEB: Steve's a high school graduate who is unemployed and lives in his mom's basement.

LIZ: Take him away. Take him away now.

DEB: Come on, Steve.

Steve grabs Liz's leg. Deb has to pull him off.

DEB: Let go, Steve. Come on. Back to the basement.

Deb leads Steve off, whimpering. She comes back on with Kip.

DEB: Let's try this one.

LIZ: Hey there, fella. What's your name? (sniffs) And what's that smell?

DEB: His name is Kip, and he's the assistant manager at Hardees.

LIZ: Hardees, really?

DEB: He's working there to pay for college.

LIZ: Is that so?

DEB: Oh yes. Once he has a degree, he can move up to corporate.

LIZ: Or maybe work for a real company, isn't that right?

KIP: Woof!

DEB: Now I have to warn you, this one does like to play video games a lot.

LIZ: Oh no.

DEB: But he also plays guitar.

LIZ: Is he in a band?

DEB: No.

LIZ: Good. We definitely don't want that.

DEB: So what do you think?

LIZ: Well, he's not perfect. But give him a bath, some direction with his career... I can deal with the video games.

DEB: Wonderful. Congratulations, I hope you'll both be very happy.

LIZ: Come on, Kip, let's go get a bath. And maybe a flea dip.

Liz leads Kip off stage.

DEB: Well there you have it. An insight into how girls really view men and relationships.

Steve enters without a dog collar.

DEB: And just in case you're wondering how this differs from men...

Kimmy runs on. She wears a T-shirt that either has Steve's face on it, or the name STEVE in big letters.

KIMMY: Look, everybody, it's Steve!

A mob of girls - all wearing identical Steve shirts - run on and surround Steve, pawing at him.

STEVE: Hey, girls, settle down. There's enough Steve for everybody. Hey, who wants to buy me dinner?

All the girls raise their hands.

STEVE: Let's go!

The girls lift Steve and carry him away, chanting "Steve! Steve! Steve! Steve!"

Casting News: Len Cella of "Moron Movies" to appear in Fluffy 3

Righteous Insanity is thrilled to announce that cult movie icon Len Cella, the creator and star of "Moron Movies," will appear in the third Fluffy film, "The Last Temptation of Fluffy." Len will appear in the role of Dave Priest, the president's "alien czar" responsible for alien activity in America. 

For those too young to remember, the Moron Movies were featured on TV'S Bloopers and Practical Jokes back in the 1980's. They were short films, ranging from 5 to 30 seconds on average, with titles like "How to Aggravate People," "The Near-Sighted Mugger," "The Mean Doctor," "How to Clean Behind the Fridge," and "Door to Door Fridge Salesman." Len was the only cast and crew on all of these films. His deadpan delivery and bizarre sense of humor made him an instant cult favorite. 

I remember my Dad telling me about the Moron Movies when I was a kid. He even taped a few. But it was years later that I found a used copy of "More Moron Movies" that I became a true fan. Len's work not only made me laugh hard, it inspired me. In fact Moron Movies was to my filmmaking what The State was to my sketch writing. I was just starting to dabble in film making when I found that tape, and the short, one-joke style of Moron Movies became the model for several Righteous Insanity films, including "Adam and Eve" and "Desperate Housewives of the Bible." 

Len is still making short films, and he has a Myspace page where he connects with fans and sells DVDs of his films. (Note: His newest film, "Crap," is much more profane than his older work. Moron Movies and More Moron Movies are more innocent, PG rated material.) I'm very excited to have him playing a part in the final installment of the Fluffy series, and very grateful he would take the time to help us out. 

Casting for film

There are 2 ways to cast for films. The first is what I would call "pre-production" casting. This is when the film is in the planning stages, with no schedules or deadlines. Without those constraints, the director is free to look at headshots, resumes, video, auditions, etc until they find the perfect match for each part. Once a perfect match is found, you stop looking for the one role. You continue until you have an idea, "perfect" cast in place and production begins. 

The other mode is "production" casting. This is when the goal is to get somebody - any body - on set in time to shoot. Idealism goes out the window. You have a deadline, and a cast and crew that has already arranged to be in place. 

In most of my film projects, I go through both phases. Take the Fluffy movies. Right now, I am in pre-production mode for Fluffy 3. Slowly but surely, all but two roles of the film were cast. Some were responses to cattle calls. Some were old friends, or actors from previous shoots. Some are folks I am working with at Hayswood - including 2 former students. 

I'm in no rush to cast the remaining two roles, but if the right matches come along, I will cast them as well. 

Odds are, though, someone will drop out before we go to shoot. At that point, production mode kicks in. It did with Fluffy and F2. The actress scheduled to play Amanda in Fluffy failed to show for her call time. I called the one other actress whose phone number I had. She was there in 30 minutes, and wrapped in an hour. And strangely enough, we got a better actress than we had originally. 

Denny Grinar was originally going to be Mike in F2. But Denny had a schedule conflict, and Corey Long got the part - and did a bang up job. You can still see Denny in F2, though, as he got back from vacation early. Denny's the guy rolling down the hill in a sleeping bag. 

I've been lucky. Maybe you will to. Odds are you'll experience the same thing with your film/video project. Expect the unexpected, never panic, and never give up!

New skit - This one's REALLY funny

This particular skit came to me while watching Little Einsteins with Lydia.

The Brothers Grimm's Religious Revision

By John Cosper

www.righteousinsanity.com

 

CHARACTERS
Grimm- One of two brother who tell stories

Miranda- A modern witch

Rapunzel, Snow White, Hansel- Story characters

The Secretary

 

Grimm sits at her desk. The phone buzzes.

 

SECRETARY: Mr. Grimm?

GRIMM: Yes?

SECRETARY: Your ten o'clock is here to see you.

GRIMM: Great! Send her in.

 

Miranda enters.

 

MIRANDA: Mr. Grimm?

GRIMM: Yes?

MIRANDA: Miranda Moonstone, president of the Wiccan Help Organization.

GRIMM: Who?

MIRANDA: I'm Miranda Moonstone, president of the Wiccan Help Organization.

GRIMM: I know, I just found it amusing that your organization's initials spell out the word "Who."

MIRANDA: Oh, ha ha ha, I hadn't ever realized that.

GRIMM: Really?

MIRANDA: Perhaps we can use that in our marketing.

GRIMM: You could have endless fun. "Someone to see you, Mr. Grimm." "Who is it?" "Yes!"

 

They both laugh.

 

MIRANDA: That's funny, Mr. Grimm. But I'll tell you what's not funny. The way you portray witches in your stories!

GRIMM: Really?

MIRANDA: Every single one of your stories portrays witches as being mean, wicked, and evil. That may have been the stereotype in the eighteenth century, but here in the post-modern age, no one believes in wicked witches.

GRIMM: I didn't realize.

MIRANDA: Most people don't. Nowadays, being a witch is pretty accepted. We go to work, we take our kids to school, we attend PTA meetings. We do everything most normal people do. It just so happens we also like to dance naked in the woods on a full moon.

GRIMM: Of course.

MIRANDA: No, I don't want to come in here and tell you how to write your stories, but I think it's high time you do a little revisions on some of the classics to reflect the modern era.

GRIMM: I suppose evil witches are out of date. But who could be the villain in my stories?

MIRANDA: If I may, I have an idea.

 

Rapunzel enters. Grimm and Miranda turn to listen.

 

RAPUNZEL: Once upon a time, there was a young girl named Rapunzel. Rapunzel was very beautiful and very sweet, but her mother was a mean, ugly, wicked Christian who locked her daughter in a tall tower so that Rapunzel could never drink or smoke or have sex or have fun of any kind whatsoever!

 

Snow White enters.

 

SNOW WHITE: Every day, Snow White's wicked Christian mother would go to her Bible and ask, "Bible, Bible on the shelf, who is more righteous than myself?" One day the Bible answered, "Snow White." The wicked Christian became so angry at the idea that someone was holier than she, she decided to kill Snow White.

 

Hansel enters.

 

HANSEL: Hansel and Gretl stumbled upon a house, where an ugly old Christian lived. "Come inside, dearies," said the mean Christian. "Unless you want to burn in the fires of Hell!" She brought the children into the house and began to feed them on dogma and right wing propaganda.

RAPUNZEL: The handsome prince called out to her, "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!" Rapunzel was scared, because she knew if she even looked at a boy, she would go to Hell. But then she thought to herself, "Heck, I'm only sixteen once. A girl's gotta have a little bit of fun, right? Who is she to tell me what to do?"

SNOW WHITE: Snow White didn't realize the old woman was really her wicked Christian mother in disguise. She took one bite of the apple, and fell over dead. The wicked Christian laughed and said, "That's what you get for shacking up with seven men, you dirty tramp!"

HANSEL: But before the wicked Christian could devour the children, Hansel and Gretl pushed her into the fiery oven, where she burned, just like she had told Hansel and Gretl they would burn if they disobeyed the Lord.

RAPUNZEL: Finally free of the wicked Christian...

SNOW WHITE: They lived happily ever after...

HANSEL: Free to live a life based on their own values rather than a dusty old book.

RAPUNZEL/SNOW WHITE/HANSEL: The end!

 

Rapunzel, Snow White, and Hansel exit.

 

GRIMM: Why that's marvelous! I'll get ahold of my brother, and we'll do the revisions right away.

MIRANDA: Thank you. The sisters will be thrilled.

GRIMM: You know, you should go see Frank Baum about this. I bet his story could use a brush up.

MIRANDA: Frank Baum. Which story did he write?

GRIMM: The Wizard of Oz.

MIRANDA: Oh no. We can't change that story. What about Glinda?

GRIMM: Glinda?

MIRANDA: Yes. Who ever heard of a good Christian?

Jesus is brought to you today by... GUNS?

The local Christian talk radio station was on in the car this morning, so I let it be and listened to a really good sermon from the local megachurch. No really, it was a GOOD sermon. They don't sugar-coat things over there, nor do they promise God will make you rich, handsome, and popular. They preach the gospel. Period. And this morning, a little gospel was good to hear.

 

Then the program ended. A soft-spoken announcer came on to tell me what the next few programs would be.

 

Then all of a sudden... A LOUD MOUTHED ANNOUNCER WITH A KENTUCKY ACCENT CAME ON TO TELL ME TO GET TO THE GUN RANGE! COME IN AND SHOP THEIR WAREHOUSE FULL OF GUNS, GUN ACCESSORIES, AND AMMO, AND THEN SQUEEZE OFF A FEW ROUNDS AT THE MACHINE GUN RANGE!!

 

Um, what?

 

As intriguing as the idea of firing a machine gun is (and I admit, it's very intriguing), I couldn't help but think, what does Jesus think of the idea that his gospel, his saving grace, is being sponsored by guns?

 

I never have understood why we, as Christians, are supposed to be gun lovers. I know we're supposed to be Republicans because we believe in religious liberty and the sanctity of life. But how do guns play into the Christian worldview? Don't cite the Constitution. I know what it says, and why it said it at the time. Show me scripture that says I have a right to own an automatic rifle so I can hunt Bambi.

 

No, I am not anti-hunting or vegan or whatever. Just don't see the need to take an Uzi into the woods to take down wild game.

 

Those of you who believed that I didn't have a liberal bone in my body, well, you just saw the one.

No small parts

Emily, Aly, Brooke, Emma, Regan, Riley, Grace, and Hannah did not a lot of attention. Not from their director. Not from the audience. They did not get a lot of notes in rehearsals. Only a handful, who had some extra business here and there, had specific notes that were for them alone. Yet we could not have performed A Midsummer Night's Dream without them.

Who are they? They are the fairies.

The role of fairy is not a big part, not unless the name Puck, Oberon, or Titania is in front of it. But these "small" roles are just as important as Bottom, Theseus, and the four lovers from Athens around whom the play revolves. The fairies do not get center stage. They take the first bow, not the last. Yet you cannot take them away without taking out the essence of the play. What is Midsummer if not a fairy tale? And how empty would this play be without fairies?

I don't want you to think I willfully neglected these girls. I haven't given then all the praise I could, but I haven't had to spend a lot of time coaching them either. This group has been a breath of fresh air for the way they listen and do - the first time. That's more than I can say for a lot of lead actors I've directed. They do their job well. They don't upstage. They blend in. But again, take them out - it's no longer Midsummer.

It reminds me of the scripture that describes the church as one body with many parts. Every part of the body has a different function that has to be done, or the whole will not work right. If one girl misses a cue, it can ruin a whole scene. That goes for the fairies just as much as the leads. Everyone needs to be ready, alert, on their mark, focused. Everyone must do their part.

Yet so many times, people in the church behave like Bottom, who was not content merely playing Pyramus. "Let me play Thisbe too! Let me play the lion too!" Even those with leading roles are not satisfied to play their part alone. They take on too much. They take on roles they cannot possibly carry. The whole group suffers, and the one who took on too much comes off looking like an... well, you know how Bottom ended up, right?

There are no insignificant parts in a play. There are no insignificant roles in the family of God. That's why it is so vitally important that we not only seek out, identify, and cultify our gifts - but that we content ourselves to fulfill that role, even when it seems insignificant.

Don't deny a God-given urge to seek more, but don't argue if God says, "Here you go - grow where you are planted." We all have our role to play. Step out of that role, and all of us suffer for it.

Midsummer Reflection

We're coming up on the final weekend for A Midsummer Night's Dream at Hayswood Theatre in Corydon, Indiana. If you're in Southern Indiana, and you've never been to a show there, you are missing out. Google them and find out why. 

I'm used to one weekend runs of plays a Christian Academy, which never feels like enough. But if one weekend is not enough, three may be too many. The cast is on fire, and every night, it gets funnier. But they're pooped, and ready to move on. And now that we have it on video (some of which I hope to post online!), so am I.

This has been an extremely liberating play for me. I've never had this much freedom to be creative and over the top - and I've taken full advantage. Not just me, but the cast as well. From day one, they took ownership. I let the cast decide what time period we would set the play in. The 80's won over the Victorian age by 2-1 margin. While I guided them in shaping the play as a whole, everyone contributed ideas.

There are hundreds of little moments, some only in the background, throughout the play. When a monologue is happening downstage, anything could be going on upstage, from Puck feeding sugar cubes to Bottom the donkey to Lysander and Demetrius getting their butts whipped by a four foot tall fairy. (8 year old Hannah is a big scene stealer!) The gallant young lovers wield all six weapons from Clue as they chase each other through the woods. And when Bottom sings the tune that causes Titania to fall in love with him, he transitions from the words of Shakespeare to the words of Sir Elton John (as performed by William Shatner and Stewie Griffin): "And I think it's going to be a long, long time, til touchdown brings me back again to find..."

Many of the actors took full advantage of the freedom I gave them and brought some truly unique touches to their characters. The actress playing Helena (one of my students from Christian Academy), decided that a girl as desperate as her would wear a wedding dress when she pursues Demetrius into the woods. She has suffered no end of wardrobe issues, as the wedding dress has succumb to all sorts of abuse in the play. Despite her costume woes, the actress has blossomed into a great leading lady thanks to her involvement in this production.

Another unique performance came from Titania, who transformed the charming, seductive queen of the fairies into a sexually frustrated (though slightly inept) character who can't close the deal with Bottom. Every time she thinks she has Bottom alone, where she wants him, he starts calling on her fairies to attend on him. It is a truly original spin on the character, and very funny.

Much of the comedic action grew from who the actors are. We have three actors playing Puck (whom we portray as a shapeshifter), two young ladies around 5 foot six and a guy six foot nine. You can guess which Puck appears on stage whenever Oberon is angry. We also gave Oberon a box to stand on so he can yell in Puck's face, and at the taller Titania.

The actress playing Hermia happened to write on her auditon form that she's a black belt. We put her skills to good use in the big throw down scene between the four young lovers, as Hermia unleashes some martial arts fury on the boys. Meanwhile in the background, a giddy super-sized Puck chows down on popcorn as he enjoys the back and forth slapstick action between the four lovers. It's ten minutes of non-stop action, and it's got audiences on the edge of their seats every night.

The setting of the 80's played into the development of the show, especially once the music was added. Scene transitions occur to the music of Billy Idol, Tone Loc, The Smiths, Journey, The Cars, Run DMC, Thompson Twins, and other 80's icons. The Pucks led the audience in singing the end of "Love Shack" at the end of intermission. Pyramus and Thisbe performed a dramatic interpretation of "Time After Time" as their bergomask. We even recreated moments from two classic music videos: "Thriller" and "Simply Irresistible." (Yes, "Thriller" was added as a tribute the night Michael passed away.)

Of course it's not truly 80's without "The Look," and our cast had "The Look." Costumes included leg warmers, sweatshirts off the shoulder, fluorescent colors, tight-rolled jeans, and even the classic Choose Life T-shirt from Wham's "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" video. The Pucks wore matching costumes straight out of "Flashdance," and Hermia, Lysander, and Demetrius literally look like they just stepped out of the poster for "Sixteen Candles."

We had at least one gag in the play that came out of a technical necessity. The fight between the lovers ends with a bucket of popcorn on Hermia's head. This means the remaining popcorn is spilled all over the stage - right where Hermia and Lysander must lie down to sleep. So how do we move the popcorn? Soon as the last of the lovers has exited, we roll the old Carol Burnett Show theme, and an actress dressed as Carol enters with a push broom. A technical need becomes a huge joke that the older members of our audience have loved.

And then... there was Pyramus and Thisbe. 

Again, I set the tone for the actors. First off, I put in a gag I've wanted to do for years. The Wall is a giant sheet made up to look like the album cover from Pink Floyd's "The Wall." To the rest, I said, "We're doing Star Wars. Pyramus will be a Jedi. Thisbe, Princess Leia. And you'll stab yourselves with a lightsaber." (No, not my idea. I heard it's been done before.) The actors took it from there. Snug the Joiner wears a Chewbacca mask to present the part of "Lion." And Thisbe - six foot six Thisbe, a future MP in the US Army - enters every night in a Princess Leia costume. From Jedi. The metal bikini. Oh yes, we went there. HE went there. And in his death throes, he gives Pyramus the Hulk Hogan leg drop, the Randy Savage elbow drop, and the anachronistic (but funny nevertheless) Jon Cena Five Knuckle Shuffle.

Since the show opened, we've continued to tinker with it, adding and modifying bits nightly in order to get the most laughs out of our audience. No, this is not how it is supposed to be done. Once the show is handed over to the stage manager, traditionally, the director is not allowed to change things. But in our case, we don't have a formal stage manager (as no one bothered to find one). So it's been really easy to say, "Do this," "Try it this way," or "Change it to this." We toyed with one brief crossover for three nights before we finally got a laugh out of it. Peter Quince seeks refuge in the bathroom (which is on stage at Hayswood) after Bottoms is transformed into a donkey. He wasn't getting laughs sneaking out until we had one of the Pucks grab the donkey mask and scare him as he tried to run for safety.

I'm as proud of this show and this cast as I've ever been of any show. Several current and former students of mine are in the show, and all of them are drawing praise from the Hayswood audiences. One actress in particular has truly blossomed in this show and turned into a solid leading lady - despite a series of wardrobe difficulties. I've made some great new friends as well, and I am looking forward to working with a number of them on other projects. Two cast members were offered roles in Fluffy 3 as a result of this play.

I'm looking forward to having more than a month's rest between the end of this show (Sunday) and the start of the next; I'm directing "Get Smart" this fall at Christian Academy. I miss spending the whole weekend at home with my wife and kids. But I look forward to the end of the road with one of the most enjoyable casts and funny shows I have ever been a part of.

Three to go... let's break a leg guys. (But not you, Lizzie.) And remember, whether you have a good night or a bad one, don't let it get you down. Because no matter how good you are, the only thing people will be thinking later on is, "There was a man on stage, in the Princess Leia metal bikini..."

Website update

Once again, I've come to a point where I have too many domains and too many websites, so once again, I've moved everything I can back to the place where it all started, www.righteousinsanity.com.

 

If you're looking for skits or plays, www.righteousinsanity.com now has more than 1000 to choose from. And as always, if you don't see what you need, we would be happy to write it for you at a price that won't blow the church budget. You'll also find free sample scripts, downloadable scripts and training materials, and video previews of a number of scripts, all free on the site.

 

Righteous Insanity also has movies, short films that you can use just for fun or as part of your ministry. All of our films are posted online for free, and they are free to use. Of course if you want to get a DVD, those are available for purchase through Amazon. The information's on the film site, and the film site is www.righteousinsanity.com/film.

 

And if you happen to be a fan of science fiction, you can get that on the RI website as well. I've written 2 novels and one short story collection so far, with at least two more books on the way by the end of the year. You can read samples from each book, along with some "fan fiction" pieces, all on the fiction side of the website, www.righteousinsanity.com/fiction. 

 

Here are several other sites you may want to look over as well:  

 

Adam's Letter (free play for youth) - www.adamsletter.com

Morbidman (super hero plays from RI) - www.righteousinsanity.com/morbidman

Fluffy (movie series) - www.fluffythemovie.com

Getyoked.net (film and humor site for singles only) - www.getyoked.net

 

And for more about who I am and what I do, visit www.johncosper.com

Reunited with The State

I spent last night with "The State." And it was just as good as I remember.

 

You might never have heard of "The State," but if you've ever seen Reno 911, Viva Variety, Stella, Mike and Mike Have Issues, Wet Hot American Summer, The Ten, Taxi (the Jimmy Fallon movie), Herbie Fully Loaded, Let's Go to Prison, or even Night at the Museum, you've seen their work.

 

"The State" was MTV's first venture into sketch comedy. It ran for four very short seasons in the early 90's. The cast was a crop of unknowns who came together at NYU: David Allison, Michael Ian Black, Ben Garant, Todd Holoubek, Michael Patrick Jann, Kerry Kinney, Tom Lennon, Jo LoTruglio, Ken Marino, Michael Showalter, and David Wain. (Yes that was from memory.) Their brief rise to prominence on MTV coincided with my own blossoming as a sketch writer, so it's no coincidence my own style of comedy is very reflective of theirs.

 

"The State" style was fast, loud, anarchic, and absurb. Reality was usually chucked out the window in a matter of seconds, and sketches could turn on a dime and veer in any direction. Less structured than SNL, the skits feel more along the lines of Mr. Show and Kids in the Hall. (With only one woman in the ensemble, the guys spend every bit as much time in drag as the Kids in the Hall.) There's a talk show where a primate zoologist describes his own brand of research that he calls "Monkey Torture;" a game show, where contestants compete not for prizes or money, but orphaned children; and a public service announcement warning you not to let your kids play outside, lest they end up running guns for the Yakuza.

 

The cast is fairly well-balanced on screen, with nine of eleven members sharing the majority of screen time. (Jann and Holoubek usually filled in as bit players.) Still, there are stand outs among the cast. Michael Ian Black stood taller than the rest with his goofy grin and "dumb guy" routine. Tom Lennon is a versatile wonder, showing early on why he is one of the most under-rated funny guys in Hollywood, particularly in sketches like "Foreign Exchange Student" and "Monkey Torture." His Reno 911 castmate Ben Garant shows up in nearly every sketch, playing leads and supporting roles with equal aplomb. Kerry Kinney, the lone female on the show, doesn't hit the comedic heights she has with Trudy Weigel on Reno, but she's consistently solid and funny, more than holding her own with the boys. Michael Showalter gets spotlighted frequently, playing everything from introverts to slackers, and Ken Marino is a scene stealer with over the top, high volume characters like the ever-popular Louie. David Allison, Joe LoTruglio, and David Wain also get their moments to shine, proving there's just not a weak spot in this cast.

 

Some of the skits have lost a tad it of their mojo, thanks to the legal issues between MTV and the record companies whose songs were used on the original show. (In the days before DVD, TV contracts did not cover the use of music on home video distribution formats. This is the same problem that has kept - and may forever keep - "The Wonder Years" from appearing on DVD.) Skits that were filmed live had to be re-dubbed when the new music was added in place of the new. It's not always noticeable, but sadly, the Barry and Levon sketches do feel a little less "groovy" for the change. Despite this one draw back, the show remains faily timeless, thanks to the timeless nature of the group's humor. Although a few sketches make mention of popular music (such as the one with the housewife who has a "Slash" in her house - you gotta see it to get it), there's no pop culture parody, no dated jokes, and best of all, NO politics here!

 

I can't recommend "The State" for viewing by youth or church groups, as some of their material is offensive or sacriligious (though not to the degree you see on TV today; this was MTV, but it's MTV in the early 90's, when some taboos still existed). That said, if you are a student of sketch comedy, if you loved Kids in the Hall and Mr. Show, if you want to see what else was out there besides SNL, or if you want to see what those Reno guys did when they were kids, "The State" is worth a look. Just remember, this is not your mom and dad's brand of sketch comedy. This is what happens when mom and dad are gone and the kids tie up grandma and start to play with matches.

 

I'm so glad it's finally on DVD.