The Higgins Boys and Gruber
Encyclopedia
The Higgins Boys and Gruber was an American
cable television show that aired on weekday afternoons on The Comedy Channel, the precursor to the cable network Comedy Central
, from 1989
to 1991
. It was one of the first television shows to air on the channel. The eponymous sketch comedy
trio that comprised the show's cast consisted of Dave "Gruber" Allen and brothers David Anthony Higgins
and Steve Higgins
.
Higgins Boys was created and co-written by Joel Hodgson
, the creator and original lead actor on Mystery Science Theater 3000
, another Comedy Channel program which was picked up at the same time. Similar to MST3K, much of The Higgins Boys and Grubers comedy consisted of obscure pop culture references. The trio were presented as archetypal slacker
s who sat in a kitchen stage set, drank coffee, chain-smoked cigarettes, and talked between clips of various comedy shows, movies, and stand-up comedy
acts. Aside from the standard format presented, the dialogue was largely improvised. The show was also distinctive for rerun
ning episodes of Bob and Ray
, Clutch Cargo
, and Supercar
in their entirety, with interstitial commentary by the trio before and after commercial breaks.
The cast of The Kids in the Hall
guest-starred in one episode. Joel Hodgson
also appeared on the program with MST3K co-producer/co-star Jim Mallon
.
The theme song of the show, entitled "Fillet of Soul", was written and recorded by The Young Fresh Fellows. The song originally appeared as the b-side of the band's rare 1986 "Beer Money" single, and has never appeared on compact disc.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cable television show that aired on weekday afternoons on The Comedy Channel, the precursor to the cable network Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
, from 1989
1989 in television
For the American TV schedule, see: 1989–90 United States network television schedule.The year 1989 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1989.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
to 1991
1991 in television
For the American TV schedule, see: 1991-92 United States network television schedule.The year 1991 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1991.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
. It was one of the first television shows to air on the channel. The eponymous sketch comedy
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
trio that comprised the show's cast consisted of Dave "Gruber" Allen and brothers David Anthony Higgins
David Anthony Higgins
David Anthony Higgins is an American comedic actor, best known for playing the roles of Craig Feldspar from Malcolm in the Middle and Mr. Bitters from Big Time Rush....
and Steve Higgins
Steve Higgins
Steve Higgins is the announcer for NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. He was previously a cast member, writer, and producer for the show The Higgins Boys and Gruber, and he has a long-time association with Saturday Night Live in mostly behind-the-scenes roles as writer and producer. Higgins was...
.
Higgins Boys was created and co-written by Joel Hodgson
Joel Hodgson
Joel Gordon Hodgson is an American writer, comedian and television actor. He is best known for creating Mystery Science Theater 3000 and starring in it as the character Joel Robinson. In 2007 MST3K was listed as "one of the top 100 television shows of all time" by Time.com...
, the creator and original lead actor on Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
, another Comedy Channel program which was picked up at the same time. Similar to MST3K, much of The Higgins Boys and Grubers comedy consisted of obscure pop culture references. The trio were presented as archetypal slacker
Slacker
The term "slacker" is used to refer to a person who habitually avoids work. Slackers may be regarded as belonging to an antimaterialistic counterculture, though in some cases their behavior may be due to other causes ....
s who sat in a kitchen stage set, drank coffee, chain-smoked cigarettes, and talked between clips of various comedy shows, movies, and stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
acts. Aside from the standard format presented, the dialogue was largely improvised. The show was also distinctive for rerun
Rerun
A rerun or repeat is a re-airing of an episode of a radio or television broadcast. The invention of the rerun is generally credited to Desi Arnaz. There are two types of reruns—those that occur during a hiatus, and those that occur when a program is syndicated. Reruns can also be, as the...
ning episodes of Bob and Ray
Bob and Ray
Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding were an American comedy team whose career spanned five decades. Their format was typically to satirize the medium in which they were performing, such as conducting radio or television interviews, with off-the-wall dialogue presented in a generally deadpan style as...
, Clutch Cargo
Clutch Cargo
Clutch Cargo is an animated television series produced by Cambria Productions and syndicated beginning on March 9, 1959. Notable for its very limited animation, yet imaginative stories, the series was a surprise hit at the time, and could be seen on 65 stations nationwide in 1960.- Plot :The...
, and Supercar
Supercar (TV series)
Supercar was a children's TV show produced by Gerry Anderson and Arthur Provis's AP Films for ATV and ITC Entertainment. 39 episodes were produced between 1961 and 1962, and it was Anderson's first half-hour series. In the UK it was seen on ITV and in the US in syndication...
in their entirety, with interstitial commentary by the trio before and after commercial breaks.
The cast of The Kids in the Hall
The Kids in the Hall
The Kids in the Hall is a Canadian sketch comedy group formed in 1984, consisting of comedians Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson. Their eponymous television show ran from 1988 to 1994 on CBC in Canada, and 1989 to 1995 on CBS and HBO in the United States...
guest-starred in one episode. Joel Hodgson
Joel Hodgson
Joel Gordon Hodgson is an American writer, comedian and television actor. He is best known for creating Mystery Science Theater 3000 and starring in it as the character Joel Robinson. In 2007 MST3K was listed as "one of the top 100 television shows of all time" by Time.com...
also appeared on the program with MST3K co-producer/co-star Jim Mallon
Jim Mallon
Jim Mallon is an American television and film producer and writer, most notable for being executive producer of the Peabody Award-winning series Mystery Science Theater 3000 ...
.
The theme song of the show, entitled "Fillet of Soul", was written and recorded by The Young Fresh Fellows. The song originally appeared as the b-side of the band's rare 1986 "Beer Money" single, and has never appeared on compact disc.