RSS
Home
David Wain: Underappreciated comedic genius
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
David Wain on the set of "WHAS"
For those of you who don’t know, Tuesday, July 14 (one week from today) marks the long overdue release of MTV’s “The State” on DVD. If you’ve never heard of the show, it comes as no surprise, even though the series lasted four seasons in the early 90s. For some unknown reason, the show passed by unnoticed by many and fell into obscurity after its 2 year run. Fans of the show, however, know that “The State” is without question one of the funniest sketch comedy shows of all-time, marking the beginning of several successful careers including that of writer/director/actor David Wain.
You haven’t heard of him either? Also, not a surprise. Even with the success of Wain’s last effort “Role Models,” he still hasn’t become a recognizable name to the general movie-going public.
After “The State” ended in 1995, Wain became engrossed in the alternative comedy scene in New York City. He worked on several smaller projects, including working as a member of the three person comedy troupe Stella, up until the release of his first feature film “Wet Hot American Summer” in 2001. “WHAS” reunited Wain on screen with former “State” cast members Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, and Ken Marino, while bringing in recognizable names such as David Hyde Pierce, Molly Shannon, and Janeane Garofalo. The film is a bizarre comedy gem considered by many to be a cult classic.
After “WHAS,” Wain carried on with his genuinely original take on humor, continuing his work as a member of Stella. A television series by the same name was developed and aired for one season on Comedy Central in 2005. The show was cancelled after 10 episodes, but Wain along with Stella troupe members Michael Showalter and Michael Ian Black continued with their act, taking it across the country.
Wain took some time away from live comedy in 2007 to direct his second feature film “The Ten” which again included ex-”State” cast members, along with Paul Rudd, Winona Ryder, and Jessica Alba. This time, Wain took aim at the 10 Commandments, in 10 different stories each inspired by one of God’s laws. “The Ten” isn’t as highly regarded as “WHAS,” but still serves notice to Wain’s talent and obscure sense of humor.
Wain directed “Role Models” a year later which went on to great box office success, but inevitably drew comparisons to the work of Judd Apatow. Apparently, these days, Judd Apatow owns the comedy genre and all other directors and producers who even dare to step into his domain will be judged accordingly. Obviously, many of the critics who claimed “Role Models” lacked the Apatow touch have no clue about Wain’s long history in comedy.
What’s next for David Wain? There's a rumor of a "WHAS" prequel in the works, but nothing official has been announced. With the success of “Role Models” it seems that the sky is the limit for this multi-talented entertainer. One thing is for sure, whatever path David Wain chooses the results will be absurd and hilarious.
Related Articles:
Comments
