I Am the Ted McGinley of Fake Talk Shows

Flashback to May of last year-- I join the writers/ cast of Sara Schaefer is Obsessed With You for the last 6 months of its two-year run. It's one of the more popular (at least, for the size of the venue) comedy shows in the city, and, although talk-show-format stage shows were certainly not a new idea, SSIOWY did it before it became the cliche it now seems to be.

During my time with the show, the success continues. We have one of our biggest guests in Lisa Loeb (and standing backstage listening to her perform "Stay" live, a song that I remember first seeing on MTV in high school, is still one of my most treasured NYC comedy memories). We get considered for the Aspen Comedy Festival, and, though we don't ultimately get called back, it's an honor to have been scouted.

And then the show ends shortly thereafter.

We go out in top form, with a final episode I'm very proud of. Sara goes on to a justly deserved job as a web-host for AOL Music's "The DL" (check it out, people). Fellow writer Amanda goes on to a justly deserved job writing for Greg Giraldo (although she's currently free--hire her, people!). Kara Lee departs for new horizons in L.A. And Patrick continues in his day job as Conan O'Brian's personal assistant. And I go on to...

The Primetime Kalan-- another live talk show, hosted by Daily Show associate producer Elliott Kalan. It was originally conceived as an unwritten midnight talk show. With the move to an earlier hour, Elliott decided to tighten things up with more pre-written bits, and kindly asked me to join. Much fun is had, particularly due to the never ending stream of Daily Show guests, courtesy of Elliott's delightfully shameless connection-pimping.

I stay with this show for about nine months of its two year run.

And it's ending. Next weekend.

Clearly, something is happening here. I am forced to come to the conclusion that I am the Ted McGinley of Fake Talk Shows-- Ted, of course, being "the patron saint of shark jumping." My presence apparently marks some sort of death knell for semi-successful basement-comedy-talk-programs. On the bright side, my staying power seems to be gradually increasing. When I join the cast of Late Night With Jon Kingman is Obsessed With Being Primetime, I may even make it a whole year before bumping the thing off.











"The McGin" -- just, you know, hangin'

On the other hand, perhaps I'm misreading the situation. Perhaps I am not the Ted McGinley of stage talk shows, but merely the Cousin Oliver-- perhaps I'm the guy brought on in a last ditch attempt to revitalize a slumping show by virtue of my adorableness and ability to bring in a wider audience. That audience being, specifically, my college friends who live in the NYC area. Hey, that extra 20 people is nothing to be sneezed at!

Either way, next time I hope to get paid.

SSIOWY in July!

The second of our two "taping shows" in July is on Friday the 15th at 8 PM, at Juvie Hall . Tickets are $8. Sadly, Ed Helms, The Daily Show correspondant, who was to be our guest, had to cancel due to unforseen circumstances (although we may have him back in the future). But not to fear; Sara has some exciting replacement guests in the pipeline just waiting for confirmation, so check out her site regularly to find out who Sara's obsessed with this month. And Ed may not be able to make it, but musical guest Oceanographer will still be there, described by The Dallas Observer as, "A sweet-and-low soundtrack for filling ashtrays and emptying wine bottles."

Our previous taping show was a big success. You can read discussions of it online here and here. The sold-out crowd seemed to enjoy Sara's time-travelling office adventures, novelist Chris Genoa's ape-like behavior, and (especially) Lisa Loeb who sang three songs (including, yes, Stay). Lisa's voice is even more beautiful and her glasses more adorable in person, and we couldn't have been happier to have her come by.

Which one is Lisa and which one is Sara? Only their optometrist knows for sure.

Oh, and a lot of friends have asked whether I perform in Sara's show or just write for it. I suppose I should be more clear. I do both. My primary responsibility is the writing (I am one of five writers, along with Kara Lee Burk, Amanda Melson, Patrick Stubbins, and Sara herself). I do appear in the shows, however, much as the writers for TV talk shows like Conan O'Brian's show up in bits and sketches. The conceit of Sara's show is that she's doing it from her day job-- the cubicle she works at in a financial office. The writers play her co-workers, which are basically just comedy versions of ourselves-- using our own names, clothes, shameful sexual secrets, etc.-- but ourselves as if we worked with Sara. In some ways, the show is less reliant on traditional talk show "bits" and more like a mash-up of an absurdist meta sitcom (like "It's Gary Shandling's Show," or something similar) and a talk show. Often there's a complete storyline that takes us through the show's more traditional monologue, interviews, and musical guest. That being said, the show's focus is definitely on Sara, which is as it should be, seeing as she's both eponymous and titular. Every episode of SSIOWY comes complete with 100% more Sara Schaefer. You can buy tickets for Sara Schaefer is Obsessed With You here or via Juvie Hall .

You want critical acclaim? Both of these shows have been getting great press from all over the place. Check it:

Praise for Sara Schaefer is Obsessed With You:

"A compelling, funny take on the boxed-in conventions of both television and office work."

- The Onion

"Much more fun than anything you'd catch on basic cable."

- Amelia David, Backstage

"Her hyper-kinetic routine is what makes her endearing, honest."

-Lionel Beehner, The New York Press

"Sara Schaefer's show is charming, funny, sweet, and nutty. Just like her."

- Jonathan Ames, author of What's Not to Love? and Wake Up, Sir!

"Her show is cooler than any daytime talk show you'll ever see."

- Rachel Kramer Bussel, The Gothamist

A TimeOut New York Critic's Pick

Emerging Comics of New York Award Winner

New York Post Hot List

All Over the Internet Like Free Porn

I got my first mention in The Apiary which is kind of like a gossip-column-blog, specifically covering New York comedians and the New York comedy community. It's the sort of thing people like me read, secretly hoping to see their name. And now I have. Which was exciting. Plus, they were nice enough to link to this very page.

Anyway, my name-check was part of a discussion of the last (sold out!) Sara Schaefer is Obsessed With You, with special musical guest Lisa Loeb. I was really pleased with this episode. I got to take the first pass at the time-travel plot, and the extra time we had to prepare gave me and all the writers-- the astounding Patrick Stubbins, Amanda Melson, Kara Lee Burk, and Sara herself-- a ton of time to punch up and expand on the script and make it high-larious. Some key plot points-- Amanda played "future Sara Schaefer," (despite looking nothing like Sara), who came back in time as to warn Sara about the doom that would befall everyone at the end of the show, but refused to give specifics for fear of changing the future. Kara Lee played "future Dan" (SARA: In the future you're a woman? ME: Yeah... turns out I've got a lot of unresolved issues that I won't deal with for another couple of years.") who came back in time with no scruples about changing the future. Eventually future Dan became Sara's personal assistant, helping with the aid of her total knowledge of the future, and I ended up getting drunk and sleeping with the future version of myself. At the end of the show we discover that the horrible thing that was going to happen at the end of the show was that all the messing with time has changed SSIOWY's theater into a movie house showing Ashton Kutcher's "The Butterfly Effect." Thankfully we're all saved from having to watch it by future Dan, who has brought back a tape of Sara's future E! True Hollywood Story, detailing her rise to fame. Thus, everything ends happily.

The guests were also great. Lisa is just as cute as you would imagine, and she played three songs, including "Stay." It was one of those moments, where I was like, "Hey, I remember watching this video on MTV in high school. And now I'm standing back stage at a show for which I'm a writer, and she's playing it live," where I felt like, even if my career goes no further, this is kind of wonderful. That moment eventually passed though. Please pay me for my writing. Also, Chris Genoa, the novelist (and Sara's fiancee) was very funny-- you should read the post on The Apiary for more details.

In addition to the shout-out at The Apiary, Rachel Kramer Bussel, the famed Lusty Lady and comedy fan wrote about us on her comedy weblog. She's been a big fan of Sara's show since way back-- certainly long before I was even involved with it, and I know everyone appreciates all her support (she even wrote a great interview with Sarah for Gothamist some time back). Anyway, like I said, it was a good show. We had three cameras taping it, along with some special sound equipment, etc., so maybe it'll get us into some comedy festival or something.

Also, The Apiary mentioned that Jest Magazine's going national. They also call it "Mad Magazine for manchildren," which, to be honest, is pretty fair. I'm just glad people are paying attention, as I've been contributing regularly for almost a year now and I love it when the rag gets any publicity. Also, I actually got my first fan letter in Jest's most recent issue. Maybe I'll type it up for you guys when I get a chance.

Say... Who's the Musical Guest at this Week's Sara Schaefer is Obsessed With You?

Well, here's a little hint:


















In addition to our musical guest, Sarah will be interviewing Chris Genoa, novelist... and her fiancee. Pre-marital sparks are sure to fly. Also, someone might act like a monkey.

See the show at Juvie Hall Sketch Comedy Theater, this Friday, June 17th at 8 PM. The address? 24 Bond Street, btw Bowery & Lafayette. Tickets are $8, through SmartTix 212-868-4444, or at the door. Seats are going fast.

...Oh, and happy birthday to me, this Sunday.