Mr. Show with Bob and David

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HBO (ended 1998)
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Mr. Show was the insanely funny, critically loved but HBO-loathed sketch comedy that ran on the channel for 4 years from 1995-1998. The show was created, executive produced, written and starred comics/writers Bob Odenkirk (The Ben Stiller Show) and David Cross (Arrested Development). The show also starred Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants), Jill Talley and John Ennis. Featured performers/writers included Paul F. Tompkins, Jerry Minor, B.J. Porter, Scott Aukerman, Brian Posehn (Just Shoot Me), and Jay Johnston. Featured performers included Mary-Lynn Rajskub (24), Brett Paesal, and Sarah Silverman (Greg The Bunny). The show has spawned a movie based on popular character Ronnie Dobbs in Run Ronnie Run. After the show, the cast went on tour to colleges all over America and was wildly successfull. All four seasons are now on DVD. Bob's wife, Naomi Odenkirk, has compiled everything you could ever want to know about the show in her wonderful book, Mr. Show: What Happened. Bob and David have talked about a Mr. Show reunion, and possibly another movie (Hooray For America?). Bob, Jay, Jerry and John have appeared on David's show, Arrested Development. The show has been called the only sketch show in America to ever be in the same league as Britain's Monty Python's Flying Circus. The show is in the vein of Python in that sketches are "linked" together. Some shows had themes, but many were just random pieces of wackiness thrown in your face like America had never seen (or may ever see) before. Mr. Show may go down as the best sketch comedy in American TV History. To think, it lasted only 30 episodes. Broadcast History on HBO September 1995 - August 1998 .... Fridays, MidnightSeptember 1998 - December 1998 .... Mondays, Midnightmoreless
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Episode Guide

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S 4 :  Ep 12 Aired 11/16/03
S 4 :  Ep 11 Aired 12/28/98
S 4 :  Ep 10 Aired 1/5/99
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S 4 :  Ep 10 Aired 12/21/98
S 4 :  Ep 9 Aired 12/29/98
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Fan Reviews (24)

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  • thank god for ifc

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By jocey11, Dec 21, 2011
    when IFC started showing episodes from this show (this show existed before i was born) i fell in love with it. their comedy was genius and ahead of its time, i always laugh when watching this show. =] David Cross and Bob Odenkirk are so awesome!!!

  • sophistedcated sketch comedies within sketh comedy. mr. show with bob and david has me saying "did they jsut do that?" quite often. tune in for some off-color, off the wall comedy with the guy in the suit and that weird lookin' bald guy!moreless

    8.0
    "Great"
    By AlexKrycec, Sep 28, 2007
    mr show is an incredible staple in the world of short lived sketch comedies. although not many can compare to the kings of cross-dressing, the kids in the hall, bob and david put a new twist on sketch comedy with live performance and video broadcast.

    the fact that mr. show was an hbo original gave it a free pass to be as offensive as it wanted. so to those who are easily offended, you may want to sit this show out. this show is packed with laughs, however there are some episodes where laughs are few. despite that, i rate mr. show at an eight.

    i hope you'll rent a season and find the laughs that i did.moreless

  • Comedy Central needs to bring this pregnant monkey back!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By PatLTornado, Jul 27, 2007
    Mr. show was pure genius sixth grade humor comedy but unfortunely was ahead of it's time and paled to Mad TV and SNL who during the mid 1990s had found thier place in sktech comedy.

    Bob,David, Jay,John snd Brian were genius at writing bizzare and absurd skech comedy from the fartin' guy, the rapist/ insurance salesman,Globechem to the "Teardrop Awards" and "Fairsley and Gibbons" Mr. Show was ground breaking and needs to return to T.V. because for the past 3 seasons both MadTV and SNL's writing has been weak with lame and mundane skeches.

    Yes folks, the blame goes to HBO for making "Mr. Show" underatted but there's plenty we can do to bring it back, online petition is one, while writing letters to "Comedy Central" can be another factor to saving the world of sktech comedy which right now is in the same palce it was in back in 1994-1995: Weighted down by weak preformances by cast and mediocre writingmoreless

  • Edgy Satire (probably ahead of its time)

    8.5
    "Great"
    By Evil_Dead_Ash, Jun 25, 2007
    This show was an intelligent comedy sketch show featuring a talented cast anchored by comedians Bob Odenkirk and David Cross.
    Also impessive were the seamless 'links' that joined the sketches into a cohesive show.

    To enjoy this show, you have to enjoy irreverant and satirical humour. I'm also convinced that a higher than avergage intellect is necessary as well (otherwise the jokes will fly over your head).

    Of course, not ever sketch was a winner; but there was something funny in the majority of sketches.

    Also, a final warning - those easily offended probably should not watch this show. If you're worried about vulgar language...don't watch! And religion was a favorite target of the show (you've been warned).

    But if you have a good sense of humour and don't take things too seriously, this is a great show!moreless

  • "It could be one young person and one companion together or one young person and one companion seperately..." Trust me, Mr. Show is the funniest sketch show since Monty Python and its completely bizaree, twisted, absurd, and I love it.moreless

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By StarFry, May 27, 2007
    As the HBO logo disapeers you hear a catchy tune with a weird logo of man in woman's shoes, a big mouth with a full beard, a little hat, dead flowers, and fireworks. You got Mr. Show in your head.

    If you haven't heard of Mr. Show, I don't blame you. Not a lot of people actually heard of it at the time when SNL and MADtv was viewed for free. I suggest look at SOME of the sketches on YouTube.

    My introduction to the show was another great but cancelled show Arrested Development starring David Cross as one of the many characters. I looked up his name to see what else he has done and Mr. Show came up. I now have all the DVD's up to point, and just watching the episode from time to time is great replay value.

    Mr. Show was not as the same as other sketch shows. There weren't a lot of repeated characters but if you notice, some repear from time to time such as Bob Odenkirk's Slob ("This museum isn't a baby-sitting place *eats donut() or David Cross' British Person ('Ugh, Air Conditioning?") and lets not forget Three Times One Minus One ("Woo wea woo wea Wee-ooh... Damn..."). The humor had many levels of style in terms of shocking the audience ("Cause life is precious, and God, and The Bible") and how absurd a situation is ("Can both of you watch me and my husband do it?"). There was not a lot of physical comedy, but there was a lot of singing. I personally did not like "Jeeper Creepers Musical" but I did like "Fuzz: The Musical" and "3 Holes Musical" but loved "Teardrop Awards" and "3 Times 1 Minus 1". Mr. Show does follow some traights from other shows like going from live-action to pre-taped similar to Python. But what shows true effort from the cast is for example: Bob and David has a producer who is a prisoner. In live-action on the stage they are talking to the producer, but what the producer is doing and saying was pre-taped so the timing is great. Another great thing that borrows from Python is going from one sketch to another without having a short intermission with a logo showing. Somehow one minor character introduces a major character. For example: An adult orphan has a balloon following him which is minor, then he enters a p**n shop which is the major sketch and goes into a "booth". Although I feel some intervening of the sketches are obvious, its great the humor is non-stop.

    The humor may not be easily accesible, most of the humor is for those who enojyed Seinfeld, Curb your Enthusiam, The Larry Sanders Show, The Office (both versions), and Napoleon Dynamite to name a few. I was really confused of the "God Making a Book On Tape" sketch actually and I hope I'm not the only one. Fans of SNL or MADtv (especially) may find it diffucult to keep up of Mr. Show but the ride is fun. The entire (Main and Featured) cast is great.

    Overall, I love Mr. Show and you should definately pick it up. If you're worried, rent Season 3, the best season between 1-4. I would like to end this review by saying...

    "Why should we blow up the Moon, when we already have so much to destroy on Earth?"

    XDmoreless
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celebrity impersonations, cerebral, dry humor, issues with authority, laugh track

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