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Stella (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Stella was a short-lived television
series that originally ran from June 28, 2005 to August 30, 2005 on the American television channel Comedy Central
, created by and starring Michael Ian Black
, Michael Showalter
, and David Wain
, the three members of the sketch comedy troupe of the same name
and former cast members of MTV
's The State
. Stella, as a comedy troupe, has existed since 1997. It has a cult following
and plays to sold out shows across the USA
. The show aired on Tuesdays at 10:30 PM, EST.
In September, after 10 episodes, Stellas timeslot was filled by Mind of Mencia
. On March 8, 2006, the following message was posted on Stella' s official website: "The STELLA series was on Comedy Central last summer. The network has officially decided not to renew it for a second season," thus effectively cancelling the series. The first season DVD was released on September 12, 2006. Episodes have also been available on iTunes
and Hulu
and some episodes on Joost
. Stella premiered in Australia
on The Comedy Channel
on May 3, 2007.
In the pilot only, the third roommate was played by Rashida Jones
.
's stage show and short films. The series follows Michael, Michael, and David, three infantile men who always dress in suits, live together in a New York apartment, and apparently have no jobs. The show is somewhat a mix of sketch comedy and a sitcom; there is a definitive central plot for each episode and recurring characters, but the show purposely ignores continuity and often becomes surreal.
The trio made 28 short films between 1998 and 2002, which were shown as part of the live show. The shorts cover various topics such as searching for Santa, mustache growing, pizza eating, and other absurd situations. The group cleaned up much of its material for the show, as much of the humor in the sketches and short films was often derived from taboo or adult topics like necrophilia
and dildo
s.
The show employs absurdist
humor. Notable guest stars include Paul Rudd
, Sam Rockwell
, Topher Grace
, Tim Blake Nelson
, Alan Ruck
, Janeane Garofalo
, Elizabeth Banks
, and Edward Norton
.
. Some of these include:
Recurring elements in the show include:
:
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series that originally ran from June 28, 2005 to August 30, 2005 on the American television channel Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
, created by and starring Michael Ian Black
Michael Ian Black
Michael Ian Black is an American comedian, actor, writer and director. He has starred in several TV comedy series, including The State, Ed, Viva Variety, Stella and Michael & Michael Have Issues. He is also a prominent poker player, appearing on Celebrity Poker Showdown several times...
, Michael Showalter
Michael Showalter
Michael English Showalter is an American comedian, actor, writer, and director. He is a member of the sketch comedy trio Stella. Showalter first came to recognition as a cast member on MTV's The State, which aired from 1993 to 1995...
, and David Wain
David Wain
David Benjamin Wain is an American comedian, writer, actor and director. He is most widely known for the feature films Role Models and Wet Hot American Summer, the 1990s' sketch comedy series The State and for producing/directing/writing the Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital...
, the three members of the sketch comedy troupe of the same name
Stella (Comedy Group)
Stella is a comedy trio consisting of Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black, and David Wain . The group formed in 1997 as a weekly nightclub comedy attraction, performing at New York City nightclub Fez from 1997 until February 2005...
and former cast members of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's The State
The State (TV series)
The State is a half-hour sketch-comedy television show, originally broadcast on MTV between December 17, 1993 and July 1, 1995. The show combined bizarre characters and scenarios to present sketches that won the favor of its target teenaged audience...
. Stella, as a comedy troupe, has existed since 1997. It has a cult following
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
and plays to sold out shows across the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The show aired on Tuesdays at 10:30 PM, EST.
In September, after 10 episodes, Stellas timeslot was filled by Mind of Mencia
Mind of Mencia
Mind of Mencia is an American television comedy series on the cable channel Comedy Central. Hosted by Carlos Mencia, it aired from 2005 to 2008.- History :...
. On March 8, 2006, the following message was posted on Stella
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and Hulu
Hulu
Hulu is a website and over-the-top subscription service offering ad-supported on-demand streaming video of TV shows, movies, webisodes and other new media, trailers, clips, and behind-the-scenes footage from NBC, Fox, ABC, and Obstacle on October 20th 2011 Nickelodeon and CBS and many other...
and some episodes on Joost
Joost
Joost is an Internet TV service, created by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis . During 2007-8 Joost used peer-to-peer TV technology to distribute content to their Mozilla-based desktop player; in late 2008 this was migrated to use a Flash-based Web player instead.Joost began development in 2006...
. Stella premiered in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on The Comedy Channel
The Comedy Channel
The Comedy Channel is an Australian subscription television channel available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television.-History:...
on May 3, 2007.
The "Guys"
- Michael Ian Black as Michael Ian Black
- Michael Showalter as Michael Showalter
- David Wain as David Wain
The Girls Downstairs
- Andrea RosenAndrea RosenAndrea Rosen is an American comedian and actress most notable for her work with comedy troupes Stella and , and for her appearances in numerous television commercials.-Biography:...
as Jennifer. In real life, Rosen is Showalter's former roommate. - Samantha BuckSamantha Buck-Biography:Buck was born in Dallas, Texas, but raised in Washington, D.C.Buck played Det. G. Lynn Bishop in Law & Order: Criminal Intent, temporarily replacing Det. Alexandra Eames while the latter was on maternity leave. Buck's television roles have not been limited only to drama; she also played...
as Amy. - Heidi Neurauter as Stacy.
In the pilot only, the third roommate was played by Rashida Jones
Rashida Jones
Rashida Leah Jones is an American film and television actress, comic book author, screenwriter and occasional singer. She played Louisa Fenn on Boston Public and Karen Filippelli on The Office as well as roles in the films I Love You, Man and The Social Network...
.
Recurring
- Justin Lord as Various (Co-Op Board President, The Mayor, Don Robinson, Justin Lord)
Plot
Stella is an adaptation of the Stella comedy troupeStella (Comedy Group)
Stella is a comedy trio consisting of Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black, and David Wain . The group formed in 1997 as a weekly nightclub comedy attraction, performing at New York City nightclub Fez from 1997 until February 2005...
's stage show and short films. The series follows Michael, Michael, and David, three infantile men who always dress in suits, live together in a New York apartment, and apparently have no jobs. The show is somewhat a mix of sketch comedy and a sitcom; there is a definitive central plot for each episode and recurring characters, but the show purposely ignores continuity and often becomes surreal.
The trio made 28 short films between 1998 and 2002, which were shown as part of the live show. The shorts cover various topics such as searching for Santa, mustache growing, pizza eating, and other absurd situations. The group cleaned up much of its material for the show, as much of the humor in the sketches and short films was often derived from taboo or adult topics like necrophilia
Necrophilia
Necrophilia, also called thanatophilia or necrolagnia, is the sexual attraction to corpses,It is classified as a paraphilia by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. The word is artificially derived from the ancient Greek words: νεκρός and φιλία...
and dildo
Dildo
A dildo is a sex toy, often explicitly phallic in appearance, intended for bodily penetration during masturbation or sex with partners.- Description and uses :...
s.
The show employs absurdist
Absurdism
In philosophy, "The Absurd" refers to the conflict between the human tendency to seek value and meaning in life and the human inability to find any...
humor. Notable guest stars include Paul Rudd
Paul Rudd
Paul Stephen Rudd is an American actor and screenwriter. He has primarily appeared in comedies, and is known for his roles in the films Clueless, Wet Hot American Summer, Anchorman, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Dinner for Schmucks, The Object of My...
, Sam Rockwell
Sam Rockwell
Sam Rockwell is an American actor known for his leading roles in Lawn Dogs, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Choke and Moon, as well as for his supporting roles in The Green Mile, Iron Man 2, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Frost/Nixon, Galaxy Quest, Matchstick Men, The Assassination of...
, Topher Grace
Topher Grace
Christopher John "Topher" Grace is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Eric Forman on the Fox sitcom That '70s Show, Eddie Brock/Venom in the Sam Raimi film Spider-Man 3, and Edwin in the 2010 film Predators....
, Tim Blake Nelson
Tim Blake Nelson
Tim Blake Nelson is an American director, writer, singer, and actor.-Early life:Nelson was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of Ruth Kaiser Nelson, who is a noted social activist and philanthropist in Tulsa, and a geologist father...
, Alan Ruck
Alan Ruck
Alan Ruck is an American film, stage and television actor, perhaps best known for his roles as Cameron Frye in Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Stuart Bondek on Spin City.-Early life:...
, Janeane Garofalo
Janeane Garofalo
Janeane Garofalo is an American stand-up comedian, actress, political activist and writer. She is the former co-host on the now defunct Air America Radio's The Majority Report. Garofalo continues to circulate regularly within New York City's local comedy and performance art scene.-Early...
, Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Maresal Mitchell , known professionally as Elizabeth Banks, is an American actress. Banks had her film debut in the low-budget independent film Surrender Dorothy...
, and Edward Norton
Edward Norton
Edward Harrison Norton is an American actor, screenwriter, film director and producer. In 1996, his supporting role in the courtroom drama Primal Fear garnered him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor...
.
Season 1: 2005
| # | Title | Original airdate | Prod. Code |
|---|
Allusions
Stella is riddled with allusions to the creators' earlier works. The most prominent of these are to the movie Wet Hot American SummerWet Hot American Summer
Wet Hot American Summer is a 2001 satirical comedy film written by David Wain and Michael Showalter, and directed by Wain. The film takes place during the last day at a fictional Jewish summer camp in 1981, before closing for the summer...
. Some of these include:
- The appearance of Janeane GarofaloJaneane GarofaloJaneane Garofalo is an American stand-up comedian, actress, political activist and writer. She is the former co-host on the now defunct Air America Radio's The Majority Report. Garofalo continues to circulate regularly within New York City's local comedy and performance art scene.-Early...
(Beth), Paul RuddPaul RuddPaul Stephen Rudd is an American actor and screenwriter. He has primarily appeared in comedies, and is known for his roles in the films Clueless, Wet Hot American Summer, Anchorman, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Dinner for Schmucks, The Object of My...
(Andy), Elizabeth BanksElizabeth BanksElizabeth Maresal Mitchell , known professionally as Elizabeth Banks, is an American actress. Banks had her film debut in the low-budget independent film Surrender Dorothy...
(Lindsay), Zak OrthZak OrthZak Orth is an American comedic actor known for his roles in Wet Hot American Summer, The Baxter, Melinda and Melinda, In and Out, and Music and Lyrics...
(J.J.), A.D. Miles (Gary), Joe Lo TruglioJoe Lo TruglioJoseph "Joe" Lo Truglio is an American actor, writer and comedian best known for his work as a cast member on the cult MTV sketch comedy series The State...
(Neil) and Ken MarinoKen MarinoKenneth Joseph "Ken" Marino is an American actor, comedian, director and screenwriter. He was a cast member on MTV's The State and on the Starz comedy Party Down. He currently co-stars on the Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital.-Early life and career:Marino was born in West Islip, New York to an...
(Victor). - The song "Higher and Higher" by Theodore ShapiroTheodore ShapiroDr. Theodore Shapiro, MD, is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst in New York, where he is a professor emeritus in psychiatry and pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical College and the Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic...
and Craig WedrenCraig WedrenCraig Wedren is the former lead singer of Shudder to Think and now the lead for the newer pop-mash project, "BABY".Wedren has also contributed vocals to the musical act Tweaker with Chris Vrenna, formerly of Nine Inch Nails, The Verve Pipe's self-titled album, the musical act Cex, The Dead...
in the episode "Office Party." - The sign behind Michael Black's coffee stand in "Coffee Shop" reads "Gene's Two Way Radio", a reference to the character Gene in Wet Hot American Summer.
- In the episode "Novel", there is a direct recreation of dialogue between the camp director Beth and Professor Newman from Wet Hot American Summer.
- In the episode "Meeting Girls" Black says to a man in the bar, "Hi, I'm Michael Ian Black. I love the '80s!" in reference to his appearance on the VH1VH1VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
television program.
Recurring elements
Although the series lasted only one season, the trio had been working together honing their act for years (through the live show and the original, more vulgar Stella short films). As such, by the time the TV show came to be, the trio had a strong sense of who the 'characters' were and a unique comic sensibility.Recurring elements in the show include:
- The trio shouting "yay!" in unison any time something good happens (inversely, they "boo" in unison when something bad happens).
- Group discussions about God (Showalter often offers that God could be "a table or a leaf" etc.)
- The trio singing "who is it?" in unison whenever somebody rings the doorbell.
- Using fake moustaches, usually as a means of disguise. (see the "Pilot", "Office Party" and "Meeting Girls" episodes)
- Mention of "Marcus", a person whom none of them actually know.
- David Wain being the "odd man out" of the trio, as the two Michaels exclude him. (See the "Election", "Meeting Girls" and "Novel" episodes). This happens in all of their live performances.
- Michael Showalter being the "emotional" one of the group, often overreacting to situations.
- Michael Showalter saying "We don't have... this money." or "What I did was wrong and I'll be the first to admit it."
- Absurd time frames. The group often changes in extreme manners over a short period of time, such as full grown beards or strong relationship bonds. Very often this is hidden until someone brings up the point that something happened "just two days ago!"
- David Wain being the Casanova of the three, attracting and making out with different women at a moment's notice (See "Pilot", "Camping Trip" and "Coffee Shop" episodes). The one exception is the "Meeting Girls" episode, where only David has no girlfriend. Although, at the end David admits to sleeping with Black's girlfriend
- Michael Ian Black being the evil conniving one of the group, the first to resort to murder and the first to betray one of the friends. He even once coerced David and the other Michael to resort to cannibalism.
- The title screen and theme music appearing abruptly, often contrasting with and interrupting whatever is going on in the scene.
- "The Important Guy" in many episodes, actor Justin Lord appears in a position of power (co-op board president, mayor, music producer, CEO and president of Ultimate Amusement Inc.)
- The three learning a lesson about the importance of friendship.
- Winning awards or prizes at the end of an episode, even if their actions have not been in any way worthy of praise.
- Wearing suits at all times, even in inappropriate situations such as bathing and working out.
- The trio vocally harmonizing (poorly).
- Breaking of the fourth wallFourth wallThe fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a traditional three-walled box set in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play...
, usually by looking directly into the camera. - Simple camera tricks (e.g. in "Camping" Michael Showalter cracks raw eggs into a frying pan, which is panned offscreen and back on, and meanwhile the pan has been replaced with fully cooked eggs.)
- The three mention Simon & Garfunkel throughout the series, (See "Campaign", "Office Party" and Novel")
- The guys saying, in unison, "We did it! We did it TOGETHER!"
- The guys suddenly breaking into choreographed song or dance numbers.
DVD release
Season Releases| DVD Name | Release Date | Ep # | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season One | September 12, 2006 | 10 | "History of Stella" documentary, "Comedy Central Presents - Stella", Deleted scenes, Extended takes, Bloopers, Easter eggs (see below). |
Easter Eggs
The DVD also contains three Easter eggsEaster egg (media)
Image:Carl Oswald Rostosky - Zwei Kaninchen und ein Igel 1861.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Example of Easter egg hidden within imagerect 467 383 539 434 desc none...
:
- An unreleased Stella short titled "Bar," featuring H. Jon BenjaminH. Jon BenjaminHenry Jon Benjamin , known professionally as H. Jon Benjamin and Jon Benjamin, is an American actor, comedian and writer best known for his voice-over roles as Jason and Coach McGuirk on Home Movies, Ben on Dr...
. - A montage of outtakes from the opening of the "Meeting Girls" episode.
- A reel of Comedy Central's advertisements for the Stella TV show.
External links
- StellaFans.com
- Collected Stella links
- "Stella: The New Marx Brothers" --Rolling StoneRolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
interview - "A Streetcar Named Hilarious" --The Phat Phree interview
- "Stella" --The OnionThe OnionThe Onion is an American news satire organization. It is an entertainment newspaper and a website featuring satirical articles reporting on international, national, and local news, in addition to a non-satirical entertainment section known as The A.V. Club...
interview - "Stella" --Brian M. Palmer interview
- "Gag Order" --Slate.com article
- Stella: season 1 episodes