Human Giant Hijacks MTV

We don't know how something as original, subversive, and hysterical as The Human Giant can be so successful, but apparently it is, because MTV is letting the group take over their network (and its sequel channel) for 24 hours this weekend starting Friday at noon. This sounds as crazy on MTV's part as parents leaving their six-year-old twins in charge of the house for the weekend, but you the viewer get to reap the rewards. Aziz Ansari assures that they have free reign to do whatever they want to do for 24 hours, including airing any show they want and inviting any guest they want, so of course they've invited a superteam of comic heroes like Bob Odenkirk, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Showalter, Jon Benjamin, Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, Jon Glaser, Eugene Mirman, Andy Blitz, and Rob Riggle, many of whom have already appeared on the sketch show. There will also be musical guests and, presumably, some Human Giant episodes or something. The Crazy Police will be on call in case, you know, things get too crazy.

Join them live at your television set for the full extravaganza if you can, because there's not a whole lot of 24-hour torrents out there.

Interview Roundup

The last few news days have been too slow even for our Slow News Day department. The Coen Bros. and George Clooney have announced new dark comedies with little in the way of plot or cast, Les Claypool's Electric Apricot, Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show, and a few other long-wrapped features were picked up for distribution, the Simpsons are getting their own damn ride, and that's been about it. All the comedy mainstays must be out promoting their current projects instead of making new ones, so why not check out this bevy of recent interviews?



The AV Club talks to Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost, keepers of last weekend's biggest per-screen box office numbers, about 138 different cop movies and how to act like a monkey.

Michael Showalter has an awkward phone call with Human Giant.

CHUD talks to Paul Rudd and Ken Marino about those pesky State DVDs and imaginary comedy battles.

The AV Club talks to Master Shake, Frylock, Meatwad, and Carl about peanut butter, mimes, and condoms.

People asks Adam McKay how to get your daughter to curse like a sailor, and then has a brief e-mail dialogue with the Landlord herself.

Gothamist talks to Jon Benjamin about his new Super Deluxe cartoon, his formative years, and "fuck powder."

Slow News Day: Giant Falls Early, Mystery Men II, Paul and Patton's Pilot, Just Not That Promising

ITEM: Great news for premature ejaculators and non-cable owners: The entire first episode of Human Giant is now on iTunes for the price of no dollars. Yay.

ITEM: NBC has graciously allowed Tracy Morgan to continue being hilarious on a second season of 30 Rock. Whew.

ITEM: Ben Stiller is producing a new animated superhero satire for Dreamworks called Mind Master, which follows the empty life of a supervillain after he accidentally kills his nemesis. Meh.

ITEM: Comedy Central is taping a new pilot this week for a courtroom game show called Root of All Evil, featuring Paul F. Tompkins, Patton Oswalt, Andrew Daly, and Greg Giraldo, from Simpsons producer David Sacks. Go here if you'd like to attend. Whee.

ITEM: From the "Cancels Itself Out" News Department comes the announcement that Ken Kwapis will direct the film version of Greg Behrendt's non-fiction man-guide He's Just Not That Into You. Kwapis is a mainstay of contemporary classic television including Freaks and Geeks, The Larry Sanders Show, and The Office, cancelled out by the fact that he directed The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. And Behdrendt is a hilarious live comedian and David Cross associate, cancelled out by also hosting his own shitty daytime talk show. The final score, if you haven't been paying attention, is zero. Blah.

Slow News Day: The Onion Gets Bigger, the Networks Go Small

ITEM: The funny-news vets at The Onion have given up on their long-struggling motion picture (they're "no longer associated with that project"), but that hasn't kept them from going live. New streaming segments are continuously added throughout the day, so start tuning in.

ITEM: Chris Kattan has signed on to host a game show in his head. No, wait...it's a real life show on CBS called Game Show in My Head.

ITEM: Jennifer Coolidge, best known for stealing scenes in Chris Guest movies, and for being the original MILF, has signed on to ABC's Family of the Year, which also features Alan Ruck, best known for accidentally breaking his overbearing father's Ferrari.

ITEM: Rob Huebel will play a con man in NBC's new comedy Zip, which hopefully won't distract him much from the fucking-hilarious-looking The Human Giant show for MTV.

This Week in Funny 2/12/07-2/18/07

Monday, February 12:

Bill Maher on Tavis Smiley (PBS)

Tuesday, February 13:



New on DVD: Mutual Appreciation (click here to buy)
New on DVD: School for Scoundrels (Unrated Widescreen Edition) (click here to buy)
Harry Shearer on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS)

Wednesday, February 14:

New The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show: “Salute to America” (Comedy Central)
Marc Maron on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC)

Thursday, February 15:

New My Name is Earl: “The Birthday Party” (NBC)
New The Office: “Business School” (NBC)
New Scrubs: “My Perspective” (NBC)
New 30 Rock: “The C Word” (NBC)
New The Sarah Silverman Program: “Positively Negative” (Comedy Central)
Jim Carrey on Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC)

Friday, February 16:



New Psych: “Game, Set, Muuurder?” (USA)
Tracy Morgan on Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant on Last Call with Carson Daly (NBC)
Barry Levinson on Tavis Smiley (PBS)

Sunday, February 18:

New Extras: “Episode 12” with Jonathan Ross (HBO)
New The Simpsons: “Springfield Up” (with guest star Eric Idle) (FOX)
New King of the Hill: “Blood and Sauce” (FOX)
New Family Guy: “The Tan Aquatic with Steve Zissou” (FOX)
New American Dad: “Black Mystery Month” (FOX)
New Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job! (Cartoon Network/Adult Swim)
New Saul of the Molemen (Cartoon Network/Adult Swim)

Live Comedy Watch:



2/13/07: Ricky Gervais at Carling Apollo in Manchester, UK
2/13/07: Tenacious D at Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara, CA
2/13/07: Mike Birbiglia at Mo Pitkins House of Satisfaction in NYC
2/13/07: Doug Benson at UCB Theatre in LA
2/13/07: Comedy Death-Ray with Human Giant, Andy Kindler, and Chris Hardwick at UCB Theatre in LA
2/13/07: Marc Maron at Comix in NYC
2/14/07: Paul F. Tompkins and Marc Maron at You’re Welcome at the Meta Theater in LA
2/14/07: Invite Them Up with Eugene Mirman at Rififi in NYC
2/15/07: Ricky Gervais at Opera House in Blackpool, UK
2/15/07-2/18/07: Nick Swardson and Tig at the Improv in Houston, TX
2/15/07: Eugene Mirman at PA’s Lounge in Somerville, MA
2/15/07: Human Giant at UCB Theatre in LA
2/16/07: Tenacious D at Paramount Theater in Seattle, WA
2/16/07-2/17/07: Emo Philips at Historic University Theater in Seattle, WA
2/16/07-2/17/07: Eugene Mirman at the Comedy Studio in Cambridge, MA
2/16/07-2/17/07: Paul F. Tompkins and Morgan Murphy at Aimee Mann’s Valentine’s Day Revenge at Largo in LA
2/17/07: Sarah Silverman at House of Blues in Las Vegas, NV
2/18/07: Tearing the Veil of Maya with Michael Showalter and Eugene Mirman at Union Hall in NYC
2/18/07: Free ASSSSCAT at UCB Theatre in NYC
2/18/07: Free ASSSSCAT at UCB Theatre in LA