Webcoms

I love me a good comic web-series (webcom?). Yes, there is a lot of crap out there, but it's such pleasure to come across one that holds up despite the limitations of the medium and the resources. Take the VGL Gay Boys, Jeffery Self and Cole Escola's short-lived web-based sketch-comedy show (webskom?), before they found a wider audience and a more mediocre comic-style on one of the gay networks. These early videos were rough and sloppy, but completely, bust-a-gut hilarious. They live randomly on YouTube; search "VGL Gay Boys" and watch away. My faves are Meeting Meryl Streep, VGL Gay Boys with Bernadette Peters, and The Recession Video. VGL Gay Boys on Gay Marriage is a hoot too.

A more recent discovery, and with higher production values, is Jack in a Box (http://www.jackinaboxsite.com/), a delightful series about a nelly NY bear-cub(ish) actor/resentful box-office employee who loves cupcakes. His mother and aunt are hilariously over-the-top, and his best girlfriends appropriately irreverent/clueless. Some seriously quality cameos, too. Yes, I watched the entire series (22 episodes) in one sitting a few months ago. What? They're only about 8 minutes each.

And finally — but ironically least brilliant — is Lisa Kudrow and Don Roos' Web Therapy (http://www.lstudio.com/web-therapy/). I heard about it because Showtime is picking it up, or repackaging it, or something. I love both the creators and practically squealed when I saw La Streep in three episodes — yet, I didn't fall over myself laughing. Much of it is improvised, and I fear it shows. Thing about improv, it needs to be structured. Chris Guest gets this. Improv the shit out of something in rehearsals, then structure it for performance. Filming improv is never as funny for an audience as it is for the performers. Still, worth watching, if only for the Streep outtakes reel. Never get tired of watching that woman laugh.