Sunday, July 22, 2012

Burning Love

If you're making a list of the most far-reaching and influential comedy troupes in history, by this point The State have to be near the top of the list.  As a memorable Splitsider article detailed, the State are basically comedy's answer to the Wu-Tang Clan.  I guess it's easy to be far-reaching when your troupe has 11 people, but still, it seems like at least one State member (or State collaborator) has been involved in virtually every big comedy of the last decade, with multiple members involved in projects like Party Down, Children's Hospital, Wanderlust, Wet Hot American Summer, Reno 911, Role Models and I Love You, Man.  Hell, Thomas Lennon even has a small role in The Dark Knight Rises, which is HILARIOUS.  (I kid…but seriously folks, Dark Knight Rises was goddamned amazing.) 

If you've never heard of the State before, that's understandable, given that their MTV sketch series went off the air about 15 years ago.  Still, of the 11 members, you'd doubtlessly recognize several as "Hey, that guy!" actors.  For instance, you have Burning Love, a web series produced for Yahoo that spoofs reality dating shows.  Directed by and starring ex-Stater Ken Marino, written by Erica Oyama (Marino's wife), and featuring roles for ex-Staters Michael Ian Black and Kerri Kenney, not to mention regular State collaborators like Adam "Not The Golfer" Scott, Paul Scheer and a wide array of talented comic actresses.  It is HIGHLY entertaining and, since every episode is around 10 minutes long, the series can be run through in a single afternoon.  You won't not not enjoy it. 

No comments: