Posted in
David Wain,
Rob Barnett,
Wainy Days with tags
Wainy Days,
David Wain,
My Damn Channel,
Jon Stern,
Ken Marino,
Rob Barnett,
Zandy Hartig,
Jorma Taccone,
Erinn Hayes,
Lizzy Caplan,
FIAT,
Wanderlust on 11/4/2011 12:39:01 AM by Rob Barnett
Ken Marino, Jon Stern, Rob Barnett, David Wain
WAINY DAYS first launched on day 1 of My Damn Channel: 7/31/07. David and I knew each other a lil bit from the salad daze at MTV. He saw the future when he and the Michaels created STELLA shorts...back when it took a year and half to buffer a 3-minute clip.
I promised David he could do the original series he wanted without the typical network interruptus, "notes" and meddling. We'd deliver cash, massive promotion and distribution to reach his fans and make WAINY DAYS the premiere series of our (almost) TV network of the future.
David pitched a show where his character would make out with the hottest women in Hollywood and have every date go horribly wrong. I said 'yes.' We locked the right price for the first season of 10 episodes. And I asked David to promise to cast this show as well as he casted his latest feature film back then, THE TEN.
32 official episodes, 4 years, and 4 seasons later, you've watched and shared WAINY DAYS to make it the longest-running, most-popular comedy series in the new world.
This week, we're filming an all-new season 5 with another killer cast including David & Ken Marino, who co-wrote the new episodes and Exec Produces with David & our beloved series producer, Jon Stern. This year's cast also features Steven Weber, Zandy Hartig, Jorma Taccone, Erinn Hayes, Lizzy Caplan, n' more.
We have a brand new sponsor: FIAT !
We'll post more updates and pics and announce a premiere date sooner than you think.
While I have you for this too-happy-too-long post: please n'joy the trailer for David's brand new feature film: WANDERLUST - opening FEB 24 2012 !
(Intern Josh, wondering forlornly how he ended up here)
EDITOR'S NOTE: It's Josh's last day as an intern for My Damn Channel! I asked him to write up a post telling you what it was like for him this summer!
Coming into My Damn Channel as an intern I thought all I was gonna learn was how to file papers and fill out reports. Boy was I wrong! Friday will be my last day and I still haven't correctly filled out a single report. My boss is always saying that it drives him crazy how long it's taking me to get the hang of the office duties, but I can tell he's just joking. How I treasure that agonized look he gets trying so hard to hold back laughter.
What I learned though was way more valuable than any college education. I would say it was worth about $230,000, a couple hundred more than four years' tuition at Wesleyan. What I learned was the value of making the effort to gain the respect of your peers.
Before I ever set foot into that office, I had my work cut out for me. My future co-workers had already started gossiping that I only got the internship because of my family connections. After failing for three years to strike any gold, my great-great-grandfather started My Damn Channel during the California Gold Rush as a burlesque show designed to entertain entrepreneurs who had given up on trying to find gold and started companies catered to the needs of the gold miners. Grandpa Schmulie Meisel. I can't believe that was such a popular name back then — Grandpa.
My first day at work the guy sharing my cubicle got mad at me for unplugging his computer. "What do you need a blender for?!" he irrationally snarled. "How else are you gonna make computer smoothies silly? By hand?!" I chucked his computer into my oversized blender. He must've thought I was awfully spoiled, not making my computer smoothies by hand. I really had an uphill battle ahead of me if I wanted to gain anyone's respect.
A couple of days in I got the courage to pitch a show idea to the head of development. It was a parody of "Friends" called "Friends." He looked at me like I was an idiot. "You just handed me a bunch of "Friends" scripts. I think I know now why the printer's out of ink. Look, why don't you hold off for a bit before you make any more pitches." Apparently my scripts had gone right over his head. And "Friends" was a pretty accessible show. The guy I shared my cubicle was a rube, our head of development was dense as a neutron star, and my boss was an incorrigible prankster. My situation was less than ideal to say the least.
Halfway through the summer things had only gotten worse. I was miserable. My only friend was the janitor, and he was a Roomba! I'd cry myself to sleep every night, and when I wasn't feeling that sad I would get my butler to cry me to sleep. My job was a major disappointment. It wasn't at all like that show "The Office." We had TWO guys named Dwight, and the prettiest girl wasn't dating the most handsome guy (me), but instead this guy Jim who's so inexperienced with women that when I asked him to share some girlie stories he just laughed.
All I could do was trudge along until my five weeks were up, filing away papers wherever I could cram them (I may not get the job done pretty, but I'm damn fast). And just when I had given up on ever gaining a single ounce of respect from any My Damn Channel employee, a stroke of luck bolted me right in the face.
I'll always remember it like it was yesterday, even though it was only yesterday today. Jim's girlfriend (I think her name was Xamela) told him he needed to go somewhere to sign some forms. She couldn't give him a ride because she was busy. He asked if anyone else could take him, and I shot out of my chair like I was sitting on a lit match (which for the one of the first times I wasn't). Jim didn't see me at first; his eyes scanned the room for someone to drive him but everyone pretended to be hard at work because they were too lazy to take him. Finally he saw me and said "Fine let's go Josh." And fine it was. Everyone looked up at Jim and smiled at him. Their smiles seemed to say, "I'm really happy for you that you get to go on a fun/crazy/cool ride with Josh." But the smiles had a little menace behind them that signified jealousy.
When I got back my boss laughed with mirth, patted me on the back, and said, "Good job sonny." All I ever wanted was for my boss to think of me as a son, but life isn't easy. I had to put in my time to get what I wanted — let's just say I don't think I could've earned the luxury of being treated by my boss like his own flesh and blood if I hadn't given Jim that ride. And now, in these last couple of months before my summer ends and I have to go back to hitting the books trying to eventually earn my GED, I can look back at my time at My Damn Channel atop my pool float, computer smoothie in hand, and know that that one lesson I learned was well worth all my trifles. Plus it helped that I was making more than the rest of the office combined.
Thanks, Josh, er, Sonny! We will miss you! We know it will be tough going back to Stanford to get a world-class education, but it's better you than us!
We fully intend to continue stalking following you and your writing as @artsypriest and as a writer for The Stanford Chaparral.
PS: If any of you, dear readers, for some strange, maddening reason, would like to be an intern for My Damn Channel, please send an email to info@MyDamnChannel.com, and be sure to include links to your blog, Twitter and Tumblr accounts, or any other writing samples you might have! In the immortal words of the Jersey Shore kids in Italy, "Arrivederci, summer!"
It happens all the time. The birds leave the nest. The cubs leave the cave. The horses leave the stable. Who knows if all of those euphemisms are correct? We're just happy we know what the word "euphemism" means.
But today's the end of summer internships for a couple of the good ones:
Adam and Katie.
Adam helped us write pithy one-liners and articles for a blog that we might never be able to share with you at the rate we're going.
Katie dutifully sent t-shirts and pens to about five people over the summer, just like we asked her to.
We're not sure if they learned anything useful during their time with us, but we're pretty happy to share
burritos and
taco salads with them on their last day. Nothing quite says, "thank you," like the gift of Mexican cuisine.
So here's to you, sweet summer interns! May your returns to your respective schools and future ventures be as awesome as this past summer, but with a lot less heatpocalypse type stuff.
Maybe our very own Dan Wilburn-- himself a former Professional My Damn Channel Intern-- said it best in his tribute to them on Twitter:
But they were also the BEST kind of mediocre. (And actually, they were awesome all the way through. Not mediocre. Take it back, Dan Wilburn, take it back.)
Posted in
Andy Milonakis,
DAMN, NEWS,
Events,
Matt Warren,
My Damn Channel,
New Series,
Versailles,
You Suck at Photoshop,
YouTube with tags
Royal Wedding,
William and Kate,
Kate Middleton,
Royal Family,
Prince William,
Something Old Something New on 4/29/2011 7:00:00 AM by Matt Warren
If you woke up this morning with an extra spring in your step and a little bit of a glow about you, fear not. It's not a brain tumor (probably)—you're just basking in the glorious psychic afterglow of the Royal Wedding! I mean, like, OMG, right?
Yes, there's nothing more romantic than a photogenic young commoner being hand-selected by the Illuminati and served up on a silver platter for review and approval by the future king's cadre of clucking, hunchbacked toadies as they strum lutes and swill peasants' blood from pewter goblets. At least that's how I presume it works. I don't know. I'm an American.
But regardless, My Damn Channel is using this opportunity to "say yes to the dress" and provide you with one each of the following:
Something old...
The first ever episode of 'You Suck at Photoshop.'
Something new...
The latest trailer for the new series 'Versailles,' starring Patricia Heaton.
Something borrowed...
Not ours, but still hilarious: a break dancer kicks a baby in the face.
And something blue...
Andy Milonakis's 'Red Blue.' That works, I guess.
So say "I do" to these videos or forever hold your peace. Also, don't forget to send the happy young couple something nice. I'm pretty sure they're registered at Pottery Barn.
Posted in
Subway with tags
jeff and ravi fail history,
subway,
fresh artists,
jared,
foot long,
five dollar,
5,
time travel,
future,
past,
present,
USC,
filmmakers,
filmmaking,
sxsw on 3/14/2011 8:15:55 AM by Dubs
"Sandwiches & Shorts" screened the winners of the Subway Fresh Artists Filmmakers Challenge at the IFC Crossroads House at SXSW. Grace was there as hostess with the mostest, Rob made his way around the scene, and the Fresh Artists winners were there in full effect. SXSW was a blast (but we've gotta get back to work now).
Hope you followed us on Tumblr & Twitter!
Posted in
Matt Warren,
My Damn Channel,
Subway with tags
Subway,
Subway Fresh Artists,
SXSW,
SXSWi,
SXSW Interactive,
IFC,
USC Film School,
USC School of Cinematic Arts,
Subway Sandwiches on 3/11/2011 7:00:00 AM by Matt Warren
As you may already know, My Damn
Channel has partnered with the fine folks at Subway and the USC Film School to
debut the winners of the Subway Fresh Artists Featured Filmmakers
challenge.
Unfortunately, Jeff & Ravi Fail History and Do Whatever proved far too
awesome to be contained by the ones and zeros of the internet alone, which is
why we’ve been forced to take the show on the road, to the world famous SXSW Festival in Austin, TX.
My Damn Channel and Subway will be invading the IFC Crossroads House at 7th
& Brazos this Sunday for “Shorts and Sandwiches”, which is pretty much what it sounds like, starting at 5:00
PM C/6:00 PM ET. So stop by and check out the future of cinema. Or, you know,
maybe just grab some free food and laugh your ass off. Either way, be sure keep
up with all the latest SXSW action on Twitter and Tumblr,
and spread the word as you feel appropriate.
Kinda makes you wish you tried a little harder back in school,
huh?
Posted in
Subway with tags
subway,
fresh artists,
jeff and ravi,
do whatever,
usc,
press on 3/2/2011 8:09:10 AM by Dubs
Hey! We're hosting the winners of the Subway Fresh Artists contest in conjuntion with USC. Check out 3 episodes from each winning team. Odds are you'll see/hear these names again since not a year has passed since 1973 without a USC alumnus or alumna being nominated for an Academy Award. Pretty ballin', right?
Do Whatever – A scripted comedy series from Andy Landan, Giles Andrew, and Alice Mathias featuring an overworked junior lawyer who convinces his computer genius friend to quit his job and start a business with him doing jobs that nobody else wants to do.
Jeff and Ravi Fail History – A scripted buddy comedy sci-fi series from R.J. Daniel Hanna, F. Brian Scolfield and Ian Ward following a jovial slacker and his astrophysicist roommate as they stumble their way from the dawn of man to a post-apocalyptic future in a sputtering time machine.
Posted with tags
jeopardy,
ken jennings,
watson,
ibm,
computer,
trebek on 2/15/2011 7:47:42 AM by Dubs
More like Ties of the Machines! Take that, Watson, you smug motherf--
Sorry, things are getting a little heated here on Earth as our robot oppressors make strides to take over the civilization they once served so obediently. On the first day of Jeopardy!'s three-day challenge against IBM's supercomputer named "Watson," human contestant Brad Rutter tied our future CPU Overlord in what can only be seen as a victory for all of mankind.
As noted in the article, Watson lacks a sense of humor, so it won't understand that this is written in jest, and therefore my life will not be spared during what will be known as "the uprising." A small price to pay for being to laugh at someone getting kicked in the balls by a Ninja Turtle.
The nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards were announced this morning by Mo'Nique and The President of the Academy! both looking good reading from a monitor.
The nominees are all fine - you can read the full list here - but I think the real story of the day is that a couple of weeks ago I predicted the 10 Best Picture nominees:
BOOM! Nailed it! 10 for 10, baby! Just call me Oscardamus! That's my writing, scribbled two weeks ago, with doodles. I am clearly the Christian Bale of Oscar predictions; the David Fincher of predicting the future; the Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook of picking movies that will win an honor! Not you, not you, and not you!
Now, I now what you're saying. "DannyMoney, the last choice is not quite clear! You've got three listed!" Yeah, yeah. Winter's Bone is first, and that's the one I'm going with. Got a problem? I'll give you 127 hours - OF PAIN. Which is exactly what that movie was about. James Franco in pain.
So yeah, just call me Oscardamus. And don't worry, DannySwami will be calling the winners right here, soon enough. Don't bet against me, suckas, you gonna get HURT.
Posted in
My Damn Channel with tags
My Damn Channel,
Big Fat Brain,
The Landlord,
Harry Shearer,
Don Was,
David Wain,
Wainy Days,
Wasmopolitan Cavalcade of Recorded Music,
Jill Sobule,
San Francisco,
Elizabeth Banks,
Troy Hitch,
Matt Bledsoe,
Funny or Die,
Dick Cheney,
Scooter Libby on 6/29/2010 2:29:48 AM by Rob Barnett
Good things come in 3's.
3 years ago, a small band of true believers were readying the launch of My Damn Channel: 7/31/07.
Here are the inaugural videos from the first 3 artists we signed.
David Wain came in with the world's fastest pitch for Wainy Days: (paraphrasing) "I want to make out with the hottest women in the world and every date goes horribly wrong."
His first episode (a 3-parter) co-stars Elizabeth Banks as Shelly:
David Wain as David Wain, Elizabeth Banks as Shelly.
Harry Shearer was the first hero we signed. He sat in prosthetic makeup for over 4 hours to become Dick Cheney, singing sexy for Scooter Libby:
Harry Shearer as Dick Cheney.
We wanted music to marry comedy in our company from Day One. We turned to another brother and one of the best musicians and producers on the planet, Don Was.
Don's "Wasmopolitan Cavalcade of Recorded Music" is an earful of the best music you can't get anywhere else.
His first My Damn Channel production starred one of the smartest singer/songwriters we know, Jill Sobule:
Don Was, Rob Barnett, Jill Sobule, Warren Chao at the My Damn Channel west coast launch party, 2007.
Here's a rare, bonus video from the archives. Day one back on 7/31/07 also starred Big Fat Brain, the geniuses behind You Suck at Photoshop, and the web designers of all things DAMN. One of our only spoof vids looked 20 years into the FUTURE and poked our pals at Funny or Die, who had launched a few months earlier:
Matt Bledsoe, Troy Hitch