The Chris Gethard Show

The Chris Gethard Show
Created by Chris Gethard
Written by JD Amato
Noah Forman
Chris Gethard
Dru Johnston
Emma Noble
Directed by JD Amato
Starring Chris Gethard
Shannon O'Neill
Bethany Hall
Murf Meyer
David Bluvband
Mimi Fischer
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of episodes 155 + 11 specials (MNN)
12 + 1 special (Fusion) (list of episodes)
Production
Location(s) Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States
Running time 60 minutes (MNN)
22 minutes (Fusion, season 1)
43 minutes (Fusion, season 2-)
Production company(s) Funny or Die
Release
Original network MNN (2011-2015)
Fusion (2015-current)
Original release June 22, 2011 (2011-06-22) – present
External links
Website

The Chris Gethard Show is, according to its website, "the most bizarre and often saddest talk show in New York City."[1] After starting off as a live show[2] at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York, the show moved to cable access on June 22, 2011. It is a call-in and variety show hosted by Chris Gethard that originally aired every Wednesday night at 11:00PM on MNN.[3] It transitioned to the cable channel Fusion on May 28, 2015. The show can also be found distributed across the web. The public-access television show is written and produced by Noah Forman, Dru Johnston, J.D. Amato and Chris Gethard. It is directed by J.D. Amato. The show, known for its "no cool kids" atmosphere,[4] has been called "oddly uplifting",[5] a "cult hit,"[6][7] "an often riveting experiment in seat-of-your-pants broadcasting,"[8] and has gained viewers from around the world.[9]

On January 5, 2016, Gethard announced that the show had been renewed for a second season by Fusion, now expanded to one-hour episodes, to air in the spring.[10]

Format

The format of the MNN show was extremely loose, but almost every episode features the panel interacting with callers. Episodes are usually based around a call-in topic, a game, or occasionally a plot. On public access, every episode ran one-hour in length and broadcast live on Wednesday nights. On cable, season one episodes were taped Tuesdays with a live-streamed interactive taping, with an edited half-hour version premiering on Thursdays. Season two episodes are taped Thursdays, with a live-streamed interactive taping, with an edited one hour version premiering on Wednesdays.

Cast and crew

Main cast

Chris Gethard

Chris Gethard is the show's host, namesake, and an executive producer. Often openly discussing his neuroses, including anxiety and depression, Gethard has a habit of putting himself in painful and/or degrading situations.

Shannon O'Neill

The artistic director of the Upright Citizens Brigade theatre, Shannon O'Neill is Gethard's sidekick, and often plays the serious straight man, contrasting with Gethard's less-restrained, anxious behavior.

The Human Fish

The Human Fish is a character performed by comedian David Bluvband. The Human Fish[8] is a half man, half fish hybrid who emerged from the sea in order to learn about humans, almost always dressed in goggles, blue swimming trunks and flippers. The Human Fish always has something on his mind, often phrased in an x vs. y format.[11] The character was briefly retired during the final episode of the first season on MNN, with Bluvband later joining the panel out of character. The Human Fish later returned for the final MNN episode, and remained a main cast member during the Fusion series.

Bethany Hall

A performer at the UCB Theatre and the show's stage manager,[11] Bethany Hall is known to all as the nicest, kindest and most rational member of the TCGS cast, often protesting the use of violence against Chris or other members of the show. Starting with "The Mole", Bethany serves as the show's "internet liaison", participating with and speaking for the show's chat room.

Murf Meyer

Murf Meyer is the show's announcer. Otherwise known as The Reservoir Dog, Murf claims to have stolen a handle of whiskey from Gimghoul castle, the headquarters of a secret society based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and is known for his rants about the Order and his attempts to divulge their secrets, which have become the subject of several specials.[12] He proposed to his then-girlfriend Diana Kolsky at the end of the "First Times" episode.

The Random

The Random is a rotating panelist who, prior to joining the show, must have had no previous interactions with the cast or crew, and remains on the panel for 15 weeks. This tradition began in the second MNN episode, "The Episode Where Everything Started",[13] when a woman named Jean called into the show confused as to what the show was even about. She was asked by Chris if she wanted to join the cast, to which she agreed and immediately became a part of the show, until she left for a job in California 15 weeks later, which begun the 15 week cycle tradition.[14]

There have been eight regular Randoms in total. The only one to remain on the show past their 15 weeks is Alex Clute, known as Random Messenger Bag. During his time as Random, Clute was given an offer by the show's director, J.D. Amato, to restart his tenure if he abandoned a handcuffed Gethard, leaving him at the mercy of cast members who would attack him; staying would result in Clute's departure from the show at the end of the episode. Clute took the offer; upon the conclusion of his time as Random, Clute later joined the show's house band, the llc.

Mimi on the Hoops

Mimi Fischer - A hooper who hoop-dances behind the cast throughout the entire show.

Celebrity guests

Throughout the show's run, several guests have appeared on the show and sat on the panel, including Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Zach Galifianakis, Sean Combs, Hannibal Buress, Jack McBrayer, Scott Adsit, Bobby Moynihan, Blanche Baker, Matt Besser, Wyatt Cenac, Tami Sagher, Horatio Sanz, Kurt Braunohler, Aidy Bryant, Colt Cabana, Antonio Campos, Kay Cannon, Pat Cassels, Jimmy McMillan, Adam Pally, Grizz Chapman, R. L. Stine, Myq Kaplan, Jordan Klepper, Danny Tamberelli, Nicole Byer, Brady Corbet, Gabe Delahaye, Sean Durkin, Don Fanelli, Jake Fogelnest, Jon Hamm, Dave Hill, Will Hines, Jesse Lee, Zachary Levi, Joe Machi, Joe Mande, Mike Maronna, Josh Mond, John Mulaney, Griffin Newman, Mike O'Brien, Lennon Parham, DC Pierson, Jeff Rubin, Tom Scharpling, Rich Sommer, Cipha Sounds, Dino Stamatopoulos, Dan St. Germain, John Gemberling, Brian Huskey, James Adomian, Tito Santana, Sal Vulcano and Andrew W.K.

Crew

The Chris Gethard Show has an ever expanding list of people working behind the scenes to make the show possible. Many have worked several jobs on the show. Much of the crew appears on the show, and can be considered just as much a part of the cast as the panelists.

Regular callers

Fans and other guests

Characters

Frequent Characters

Occasional Characters

The LLC

The LLC is the house band of The Chris Gethard Show. The LLC are: Hallie Bulleit (lead vocals, kazoo, percussion), Bill Florio (glockenspiel, vocals), Jon Vafiadis (guitar), Alex Clute/Messenger Bag (guitar[15]) and Mikey Erg on cajon, percussion and vocals. They create original music for every episode of the show and have created themes for many of the recurring sketches. They have also occasionally featured other players, like Mal Blum and Random Melissa.

They write a new song for virtually every episode. Some of their recurring songs are: "The Main Theme", "Persephone Please" (Credits),"The Awkward Song", "Jerkface!", "Why Don’t You Give Us A Call?", "So Glad You Gave Us A Call!", "#HollywoodGethard", "Technical Difficulties" along with themes for: Alyssa, Walter, The Human Fish, Dan Klein, The Wiffle Bat Gang, Bethany, Stellan, Callstead, Don Fanelli, Shannon, The Ratz Carlton, Rob Malone, BananaMan, Mimi, Connor Ratliff, Jersey Dave, Fred From Honolulu and Tracksuit Enforcer.

Episodes

Transition to cable

On November 20, 2013, it was announced that Comedy Central had ordered a pilot of the show,[16] but on May 13, 2014 Gethard announced through tumblr that Comedy Central had passed on the show. He also added that the show would not end, and that they were already talking to other networks.[17]

On December 17, 2014, Gethard announced the show would be moving to an unspecified cable network in 2015[18] and would be finishing its run on public access in January. On January 28, during their final broadcast on MNN, Gethard revealed that they will begin airing episodes on Fusion. The Chris Gethard Show was succeeded in its time slot on MNN by The Special Without Brett Davis; during The Special's first episode, which aired on February 22, 2015, Gethard appeared to hand off hosting duties to Davis.

On January 5, 2016, it was announced that Fusion had renewed the show for a second season. Ten episodes have been ordered, with the major change being the show's length going from a half hour to a one hour program.

References

  1. ↑ The Chris Gethard Show, Retrieved 23-04-2012.
  2. ↑ Scouring the City for a Laugh, The Wall Street Journal, Retrieved 6-11-2012.
  3. ↑ Chris Gethard Show One Year Anniversary on MNN, Retrieved 13-09-2012.
  4. ↑ Last Night, Tina Fey, Seth Meyers, And Others Surprised One Of Their Biggest Fans On Public Television, Retrieved 13-09-2012.
  5. ↑ Brian Raftery The Carson of Cable Access, New York Magazine. Retrieved 13-09-2012.
  6. ↑ Best Presidential Ad Ever: Candidate Announces Campaign On The Simplest Of All Platforms, Retrieved 13-09-2012.
  7. ↑ IFC Developing TV Series Based on Chris Gethard’s ‘Bad Idea I’m About to Do’, Retrieved 13-09-2012.
  8. 1 2 The Rise of the Anti-Talk Show, The New York Times, Retrieved 6-11-2012.
  9. ↑ Comedian Chris Gethard Talks To Mediaite About Finding The Future Of Entertainment Via Public Access TV, Retrieved 13-09-2012.
  10. ↑ TCGS SEASON TWO ANNOUNCEMENT. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016 – via YouTube.
  11. 1 2 The Chris Gethard Show: Episode 1, Retrieved 07-09-2012
  12. ↑ The Chris Gethard Show: Episode 38, Retrieved 07-09-2012.
  13. ↑ The Chris Gethard Show: Episode 2, Retrieved 07-09-2012.
  14. ↑ Sims, David (October 8, 2013). The A.V. Club http://www.avclub.com/review/ithe-chris-gethard-showi-103927. Retrieved June 28, 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ↑ "EMG_GUY comments on TCGS pilot behind-the-scenes: the llc warming up also feat. messenger bag". reddit. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  16. ↑ Nellie Andreeva. "Comedy Central Orders Pilot For New York Public Access Staple 'The Chris Gethard Show' From Funny Or Die, Zach Galifianakis - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  17. ↑ "Comedy Central Has Decided To Not Pick Up The... - The Chris Gethard Show". Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  18. ↑ "'The Chris Gethard Show' Is Headed to Cable". Splitsider. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
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