THE STATE V. SLASH
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 at 12:30pm by Axl Rosenberg
This is gonna be a long, Lefsetzian rant that is only peripherally related to metal. Don’t read it if that’s gonna bother you.
MTV’s The State came out on DVD yesterday – the complete series. For those of you too young to remember, The State was a sketch comedy series that launched all the guys (and girl) who went on to make Wet Hot American Summer, Stella, Reno 911, and a whole bunch of shit I’m forgetting.
(The troupe’s members have also written and/or acted in some terrible movies, I’m sure because it paid well, but if it funds their own work, then whatever.)
So last night after we shuttered the MetalSucks Mansion Grand Study of Doom & Horror (where we do all our “work”) for the evening, I went out (To fucking Best Buy – because there is now no place else in the city to purchase DVDs) and bought The State, came home, “got right” as Ron Saint Germain would say, and sat down to watch a show I haven’t seen in sixteen years.
Holy shit, that makes me feel old.
So. Second episode, first disk – there’s a sketch where this woman has a rodent infestation. Only, it’s not a rodent – it’s Slash (or, at least, an actor playing Slash). And in the end, they capture him with a giant mouse trap, using a sub as bait.
Hilarious. Just friggin’ hilarious.
The thing is, there’s a note that comes with the DVD that basically says they couldn’t afford to get every last one of their original music cues on the DVD, so in some places their composer has made substitutions. And the best part is, the music “Slash” plays does, in fact, sound awful GN’R-esque. I mean, not good GN’R, necessarily, but it could totally be from a latter Beautiful Creatures album. But I can’t remember if the sketch originally had actual GN’R music – and, of course, I can’t seem to find the sketch on YouTube or any place like that to verify.
But that’s just as well. I strongly encourage you to either buy The State or Netflix it (or just rent it, if you’re fortunate enough to still have a local video store). I can’t quite tell if I still find the show funny because it’s funny or if it’s just nostalgia, but it still seems funny. And a good reminder of why anyone used to watch MTV.
Fuck you, The Hills.
-AR
My favorite music update on the new State episodes so far is the skit where Michael Ian Black is shopping for pants.
The original used the Breeders ‘Cannonball.’
Well, the new version of the music is a generic song that sounds about as identical to Cannonball as can be, without actually being that song.
It’s like hiring Fat Angus to play a stadium instead of AC/DC.
Oh, and ‘I wanna dip my balls in it!’
when i was a little kid my baby sitter would make me watch it while we ate frozen pizza. well, it wasn’t frozen when we ate it, but you get the idea
I know. And now I’m afraid to watch it, because I already mourned MTV years ago. I don’t need to go there again. I’m in a better place now.
Who remembers other great MTV shows? I was quite fond of “The Head” myself.
I miss when MTv loved acid as much as I do now.
Oddities was awesome. I always liked The Maxx; I used to own a couple of the actual comic books as well.
Dudes, two words: Liquid Television. Granted, some of the sketches were kinda duds, but talk about “acid days” of MTV…
Don’t forget that the new show Michael & Michael Have Issues debuts on Comedy Central tonight. It’s Messers Showalter and Ian Black so you’re bound to dig it.
They’re not funny.
You’re not funny.
Neither are you.
Actually, your butthurt is kinda funny.
Good show, sir.
This is the greatest television show ever made. I held a marathon viewing of the entire series on Sunday. YES.
/obsessivenerd
I ordered Chinese takeout and watched three episodes in a row yesterday. That was one whirlwind hour!
I love your grandmother’s Creeaammmy Potatoooo Chowdaaaaa!
dammit, i should have listened to the disclaimer and stopped reading there.
I am old enough to remember, but old enough that I’ve forgotten.
that sketch was on the other night on comedy central I think. I could have sworn they used a bottle of booze for bait instead of a sub though.
How dare you forget Viva Variety?!?! With Michael Ian Black as Johnny Bluejeans!
i fucking LOVE the state. i’m so fucking excited for this shit!!!!
This has been running along side Stella on Comedy Central late night, as well as on MTV2 on friday nights at 10:00 PM. Way to waist your money.
And to waste your money too…
Nah, he actually meant “put a corset on your money.”
This DVD set arrived from the interwebs at my house this past Friday and it made my fucking weekend. My roommate and I just tore through the seasons. It brought back some memories of a better fucking time.
MetalSucks has won points with me for giving The State “the bump.” Everyone should see this.
I’m Doug, I’m outta haaaaiiir.
I can dip my balls in it!
Hurry! Da popa isa coming!
your gonna dip ur balls in what?
HELL yes, I’m getting this box set.
‘Levon & Barry…..$200 with tha puddin’……’
‘Levon & Barry, where DID you get the $200?’
‘Ain’t none of your concern…’
I also loved Captain Monterey Jack and ‘Doug’.
Funny you mentioned The State, Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter’s new show premieres tonight. Hope it’s good.
may I suggest that I forcibly lower my scrotum sack to be concealed by said object?
Lolarbears @ this show. Going to get the dvd, get stoned and watch it as I roflcopter around my house on lolarskates.
The music substitution didn’t bother me that much. I’m just happy that I finally have the only DVD I would dip my balls in.
And yes, the Slash skit originally had part of “November Rain”.