"Between Two Ferns" Is Still Comedy Gold

Recently I have been going back and watching a ton of older "Between Two Ferns" shorts. I watched most when they came out and I have seen the movie multiple times.

I am a longtime fan of this little talk show. I think it was the fact that Zack Galifinakis was the host and that Scott Aukerman had his hand in a lot of the business, even directing the movie. It also had a ton of comedy people I really like attached to it. And add on the fact that it was a Funny or Die product, it felt like it was made with my comic sensibility in mind. Earlier today I was watching a blooper reel of some of the stuff from the movie and it made me laugh even harder. It also made me sit back and think about how much fun this show had to be to make.

For people that may not know, "Between Two Ferns" was a talk show that Galifinakis hosted on public syndication in a small town in North Carolina. He got celebrities to come in and he would roast them with his questions. The movie was the same thing with a story that the viewer followed. It is a simple yet hilarious premise. And when I say Galifinakis would roast the guests, I mean he ROASTS them. There is some very, very funny stuff that has happened on this show. Go back and watch the Paul Rudd stuff from the movie. It is classic. You can go back and watch the show when it first started and look at the way they go after Jon Hamm. The Matthew McCoungahy stuff is gold. When they had Barack Obama on he roasted Galifinakis more than he could roast him. They did a full sit down with Oscar nominees one year and the stuff that came out of that is genius. I love it all. The movie was a great way to get a bunch of people on and do what felt like a "best of" as well. It was a good decision to let them make a movie so you could pack in all kinds of new interviews that would for sure go viral.

That is what made me sit back today and look at the brilliance of the show this afternoon. To be able to get these questions off and keep a straight face has to be nearly impossible. I cannot even fathom how many takes just to get through a short interview. The blooper I saw with McCoungahy today featured him laughing the entire time. They had another on with David Letterman where neither he nor Galifinakis could keep it together. So to be able to do a show like this, to get something that is ready to view for the public and that comes off like there were not multiple takes, that takes a good amount of work and it impresses me very much. I love going back now and watching the older episodes and thinking about how much fun it was to make them. The Jerry Seinfeld and Cardi B episode is great. Seinfeld gets made fun of over and over and over again and just sits there taking it. And then Cardi B comes on and Galifinakis is sweet and nice. He makes Seinfeld the butt of even more jokes. Seinfeld is one of the world;s best stand ups and he is such a pro that he knows how to not mess up on film. The same could be said for the Steve Carrell episode. Even when he acts like he is mad and goes hard at Galifinakis, Galifinakis gives it right back to him and they were able to get enough to make a full episode. That is amazing. I love the Brie Larson interview and how uncomfortable it gets. But then you watch outtakes and you can see Larson is having a damn good time. I guess it impresses me when these comedy people get together and make something wonderful while having the time of their lives. I know it isn't something I could do so I like watching people more talented than me pull it off like the pros they are.

I am glad that "Between Two Ferns" is back in my life. Go watch it if you haven't yet. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Watches "Between Two Ferns: The Movie"

I just finished watching the "Between Two Ferns" movie. Literally, I just got done watching it, and it was pretty god damn funny. I like the internet talk show, I am a big time Zack Galifinakis fan, and I was very much anticipating this movie when I first heard. Also, whenever Will Ferrell is involved with something, for the most part, I am going to be on board. The "Between Two Ferns" movie is a Funny or Die production, and that is Will Ferrell's company, so of course, he is involved.

Anyway, this movie was exactly what I was hoping for, but so much more. It was goofy and odd and silly and takes on classic tropes to simply make fun of them. It did this perfectly. Having Scott Aukerman direct the movie, since he helped to create the show, was a great choice as well. You could see that he let the actors improv as much as they wanted, he let them have fun and he wasn't too much of dictator on set. The actors were all wonderful too. Galifinakis, as a heightened version of himself, was as excellent as he has always been on "Between Two Ferns". His crew, Lauren Lapkus, Ryan Gaul and Jiavani Linayao, were all funny and did a very solid job in the movie. Lapkus was phenomenal as Galifinakis' "right hand woman", as she called herself. She was funny and the heart and soul of the movie. Her never give up attitude was refreshing, while being hilarious. And the scene where she plays the trumpet was the funniest thing in the whole movie that wasn't the interviews.

Adding on to the cast was the impressive list of top of the line stars they got to be on the talk show. People like Matthew McConaughey, Bruce Willis, Keanu Reeves, Brie Larson, Tessa Thompson, Chance the Rapper, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rashida Jones, Adam Scott, John Cho, Jason Schwartzman, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Jon Hamm and Paul Rudd. I mean, that's wild, and I forgot to mention Tiffany Haddish, Hailee Steinfeld, Awkafina and David Letterman. They were all game, and they were all funny. I also loved the stuff that was written beneath each celeb. For example, they spelled pretty much everyone's name wrong. Underneath Awkafina's name it said, "crazy, rich, Asian". That is so funny on so many levels, and it is top notch comedy writing. David Letterman's interview was amazing because, for one, they got David freaking Letterman to be in their movie, and he is a super funny dude that was fully on board to goof around in this movie. The Chrissy Teigen scene was so funny and so perfect in a movie like this. It was unexpected, and super duper hilarious. Teigen is so funny. The opener interview with McConaughey was great and a perfect way to introduce the rest of the movie. Jon Hamm was hilarious, so was Chance the Rapper. But my favorite interview was the Paul Rudd one. He was great, he was game and he couldn't keep a completely straight face the whole time, and you know that means he was having a good time.

"Between Two Ferns: The Movie" is going to delight fans, but I also think people who just want to dip in and check out a solid comedy, that takes on classic tropes, will be enthused by this movie. Also, it is only 82 minutes long, so it is not a humongous commitment. As I said, I watched it while my daughter was napping before I had to get my son at school. But that is besides the fact. Just check this movie out. It is hilarious.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. The only thing Ty thinks that Will Ferrell has done wrong is not playing his greatest character anymore. We need Ashley Schaeffer back.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

I Will Miss the Great "Baskets" When it is Gone

It was announced about a week ago that the show "Baskets" on FX would be concluding the series with the season 4 finale on August 22nd. I don't know if this was decided by the creators or the network. I would like to think that the creators decided for themselves. I'm bummed by this, but I understand why they are ending it in 2 weeks. This season has felt like a finale all season long. The way the characters have developed throughout the series feels like it was all leading to a conclusion from the first episode of season 4. Some minor spoilers are coming. Fair warning.

Chip is the CEO of the family barn, and is starting to stand up for himself a bit more. He has become an adult, which seems like it was his arc. Dale is insane, and living in a wild trailer park, but he has been there for his family when they have needed him, and he and Chip have had a moment where it seems like they finally understand, and accept, one another. Martha has become more confident, and she doesn't beckon to every call from the Baskets family. Dale's ex wife has moved on. Their 2 kids are growing up, and they seem to be happy enough with their lot in life. Christine is married to her one true love, and she finally seems genuinely happy. All of the main characters have pretty much wrapped their individual stories with 2 episodes left.

All that being said, I will really miss this show for some different reasons. I like how different it is from most shows on TV right now. It is original and funny and moving and shows what it is like to be in a weird, yet loving family. Louie Anderson has been an absolute delight as Christine on the show. I was stunned when I saw him playing the mom, but after about a minute, I forgot, and totally bought it. That is the sign, to me, as a character really inhabiting the role and making it so believable and real. Martha is one of the most underrated comedy characters on TV. She is so monotone and never changes her facial expressions, yet she may be the funniest person on the show. Every time she has had an episode dedicated to her character, I have always found myself laughing, or feeling remorse, for her. She is wonderful. Zach Galifinakis has been tremendous in his 2 roles. He plays both Chip and Dale, and the fact that I forget that he is playing both twins speaks volumes to his performance. As Dale he is so wild and sad and southern and dumb. As Chip he was such a pushover and a follower that turned himself into a real adult, like I said before. He has played these 2 guys so very well. "Baskets" is filled with great, unique performances from very solid actors.

I also like how the show had such an odd premise, Chip is a real clown from Paris that moves back home to Bakersfield with his family. It sounds simple-ish, but the stories went in so many different directions, and they were all told so very well. I also liked how they showed another side of California that we don't see on TV. Bakersfield seems like such a boring, old timey town. That is not the California that is usually shown. There are no models or big studios or fancy stuff going on. Bakersfield looks like a real town that you'd pass through without even recognizing it. And I really like all the odd side characters the show has brought on from time to time. There are Chip and Dale other adopted twin brothers that are famous DJ's. They were great. The old time fair guy that works at the barn was funny, yet sad. The people that live in the same trailer park as Dale are nuts and wild themselves. The pastor that has a church right next to the barn was a delight. He has a beautiful singing voice too. Martha's parents were so old, yet so funny. It was filled with excellent side characters as well as the main cast.

Like I said, I am bummed that the show is ending, but I get it. And, I still have 2 episodes left to enjoy before it ends its 4 year run. Honestly, that is 3 seasons longer than I thought it would get. Kudos to the creators and writers and actors of "Baskets". I will always remember this show, and I am grateful that I got to see it in real time. I would bet a good amount of money that it will become a cult classic whenever it ends up on a streaming service. It is that good of a show.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He is tired of all his favorite tv shows leaving him. Why can’t “Young Sheldon” be given only three seasons and then we can have “Love” back for more.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Season Three of "Baskets" Lets Martha Take Center Stage

I feel like I am one of a small bunch of people that watch the highly underrated show "Baskets". In fact, I wrote about how incredible Louis Anderson is as Zach Galifanikis' mom on the show. You read that right. The show just had its third season premiere about 3 weeks ago. I was excited for this season because last season ended on a big cliff hanger, and I wanted to see where they took every character's story from there. I was also pumped because a show like this was getting another opportunity to grow. I feel like FX is one of the few networks that will let a show grow. They will give it time to really suss out stories and characters.

This season, so far, has been doing just that, and today, I want to focus on another actor on the show that I think is doing a wonderful job. In previous seasons, Martha, played by Martha Kelly, has kind of been Chip's, one of the twins Galifinakis plays, sidekick. She is his ride everywhere. She will drop whatever she is doing to help him, and his family out. She has a full time job at Costco, in their main department. She helps take care of her mom. She is a main character on the show, and this season they are really letting her show some growth and change. In the first 2 seasons Martha was kind of a pushover. As I said, she would kind of stop whatever she was doing to help out the Basket family. At the start of this season we come to find out that she is seeing a self help coach, and this coach seems to be really teaching her how to be strong and forthright and honest. She is letting Chip know that she cannot boss him around. She is doing more things for herself. She is definitely standing up for herself. It is great.

In the most recent episode there is a self help retreat the she and Chip were invited to, and this episode has let Kelly do some of her best work. Martha is very monotone, and usually upbeat no matter what the circumstance. She pretty much always sees the bright side. Well, in the second episode, she is the pessimist when it comes to Chip looking for a new home. She continually lets him know that he can't afford the places he really wants, and even pulls him, physically, out of one of the condos he is considering. Well, in the next episode, we see Chip has bought the condo. I then remember that Martha brought him to one of the seminars, and the teacher took an immediate liking to him, and encouraged him to ask his mom, Anderson, for a loan. He got it, and the class loved it. Well, everyone except Martha. Now, in the last episode, we see Chip ask her to borrow her car, and even though he takes it, this is the first time we really see her fight him on it. She really needs her car, but Ship is selfish. Then, when she sees that they are both at this seminar, she gets pissed. She even tells him that the self help thing is her thing, and he is infringing on her time. She tells the teacher as much. When the teacher tells her that she is going to take Chip on a walk, you can see Martha get even more angry. Then, when they are preparing dinner later, after Martha has had one too many drinks, the real truth comes out. Chip claims to be a vegan, which Martha knows is untrue, and she lets him know it. She tells him, in only the way that an actor like Kelly can, and it is awesome. She calls him on his bullshit, but it is very monotone, and if I didn't know her like I do, I'd think she was being sincere. She was not. She is drunk and mad. So mad that she even calls Peter Cetera, who is at this retreat, that he is a "pussy", "because the potatoes aren't that hot". It is a real great performance from an actor that really deserved her chance to shine on this show. She totally knocks it out of the park, and my love for her character only grew after seeing this. It shows that she has a lot more inside of her than just being Chip's chauffeur, and the Basket family helper.

"Baskets" is a great show with a really solid cast. Louie Anderson was a surprise, Galifinakis is always good in what he does, and now Martha Kelly is fast becoming one of my favorite comic actors. She is excellent on this show. I highly recommend people check this show out so you can see great performances like Kelly's on a weekly basis. What a gem.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He used to chauffeur the head editor around. They have many incredible stories about it on one of our first podcasts.

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Louie Anderson on "Baskets" is Must See TV

Go change the channell and watch Louie Anderson on "Baskets"

From time to time I like to point out certain actors that I feel like are doing something exceptional. For instance, I wrote about Jaime Foxx in “Baby Driver”, and Rob Lowe in pretty much any comedic performance he’s done recently. Today I want to talk about the wonderful job that Louie Anderson is doing on the show “Baskets”.

I was a fan of this show from the beginning. One of the things I’ve liked the most is the fact that Anderson plays Chip and Dale Basket’s Mom, Christine. I had no idea that Anderson was going to be on this show, let alone, playing a mom. His performance has been truly remarkable. During the first season, for which he was critically acclaimed, and won some awards (the Emmy), it was always kind of wild to see him playing a mom. But, he totally pulled it off. He was believable. He doesn’t even have to change his voice or his appearance, besides wearing a wig, and I started up but his performance by the second episode of season one. What I loved was how caring/gullible Christine is/was on the show. She loves her kids, including her adopted twin DJ sons. But, she also runs up credit card debt and makes poor decisions based on getting people to like her. It was great.

In season 2 Christine met a man while trying to help Chip, who did some unfortunate stuff. She met a father of a lady that Chip was hanging with while jumping trains. Again, the best thing was how believable their relationship is. I totally bought it again. The episode where Christine takes him to a Reagan(screw they guy) museum was tremendous. It is one of the better 25 minute TV episodes that I have seen. By the end of season 2 I found myself rooting for Christine and this gentleman to get together. And, spoiler alert, they do. When they shared their first kiss, it was perfect for this type of show.

Now that “Baskets” is in their third season, Anderson’s Christine is the true star. He has taken over for Zach Galifinakis. The show is supposed to be about him, but this season has been all Christine. A bunch has happened and it’s all really centered on her journey buying the rodeo and other things outside her life. The stuff with her friends is tragic and heartbreaking and Anderson pulls it off. The opera at the rodeo episode was amazing because of Anderson. The back and forth between her and Martha has been awesome. The stuff with her and the horses and the old cowboy, riotous, but also sad.

Louie Anderson has been the true star of the show this season. His performance is so amazing, and I’m very excited to see where they take Christine from here. I never really saw Anderson do anything besides stand up before this, and he is absolutely nailing it. This is an odd show, but if you decide to watch it, I think you will be amazed at how well Anderson is pulling good role off. It is quite a feat. My hat is off to him.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He always thought that Louie Anderson's career would be defined by his iconic role as "Flower Deliveryman" in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". It is ok to be wrong.  

Follow Ty on instagram and twitter.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.