Joe's TV List Wants to Dip ... Never Mind

#26: The State
(MTV, 1993-1995)

While the sheer, long-running ubiquitousness of SNL (first host: Richard Burbage) contributes to its high ranking on this list, The State, which ran for just a few years on basic cable, gets a higher spot because it burned brighter. During the years I spent living at home post-college, this was ritual viewing for me and my brother, Jeff, and we still break out the references at family dinners. (“Could I get more of this neon blue … is it meat?” “No, it’s Muppet.”) The State, a company of 10 guys and one gal (most of whom still collaborate on various projects), managed to work within the sketch-company tradition while subverting it in subtle ways (particularly Ken Marino’s Louie, a parody of recurring characters whose entire persona was one ridiculous catchphrase). If nothing else, The State led indirectly to Michael Ian Black’s career in pop-culture snark at VH1, doing basically what I do on this blog, but getting paid for it. Anyway, if MTV ever gets around to releasing some State DVDs, scoop ’em up (unless you’ve doubled your orphans … you’ll need to spend that extra cash on food). Oh, and if you ever have the pontiff over for dinner, no need to fret about spilling waste oil on him. Because, seriously, the pope-a? He’s so nice-a.

Comments

[jeff]

"Noah didn't take no penguins with him on the ark, so penguins ain't natural...read your bible, there's no mention of penguins".

That's one of my favorite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb3XVCmNVY4&feature=related