Would Strangers With Candy make it on the air in 2018?

NO WAY. And that sucks. It was brilliant for so many reasons, not the least of which was how it reveled in being politically incorrect, bizarre, and awkward. It was such a beautiful cringe-fest.

I have all the seasons on DVD.

Nothing was sacred on this show except their devotion to comedy. Everone and everything got taken down. I own the 3 seasons on DVD too. Come to think of it I may start a rewatch.

I still want a pair of Flairs.

I like the hole...and the pole.

You dirty, dirty Jew diary.

Absolutely not, and that is part of the reason why it is still so fucking funny. Jerri Blank n’Friends were never supposed to be admirable or decent, thank Jesus, Daddy and the Spook!

Mr. Jellinek: Jerri, do you care how others perceive you?

Jerri: No, I just want people to think I’m attractive.

I loved that show - so hilariously stupid and inappropriate.

Also Paul Dinello was so hot.

Paul Dinello was hot. He and Colbert had a special kind of chemistry.

Paul Dinello

Principal Blackman

Paul Dinello knew he was hot and I love him for it

It was ok, but they should target every group, not avoid certain ones (the golden rule of comedy or whatever no jokes about b, j, or w and fuck everyone else.

F A N D A N G O!

Sure it would! There’s actually a reboot in the works. It stars a culturally diverse cast of unknown actors sourced from underprivileged backgrounds. The plot has been updated for the times. Jerri Blank is now an autistic former sex worker. She has received a multimillion dollar settlement based on the criminal sexual exploitation from her youth, and she has just been accepted to an exclusive charter school owned by Betsy DeVos’s family. She is black and Latinx, and as such she has been systematically oppressed by damaging white feminism, and so each episode culminates in an impassioned speech that will educate viewers so that they too can be woke. In short, it’s exactly the same show with a few minor updates!

I’m pretty sure they targeted everybody r13

I still remember that episode about the "retarded" girl that Jeri had to rat out.

What a great idea, R15! We can also confront the ageism Jerri faced as a 46-year-oldhigh school freshman! We must do a reboot!

Iris Puffybush is a DL mascot if there ever was one

R18 Yes, in the new series, a whole episode is dedicated to the torment Jerri endures after she receives her AARP membership card and accidentally pulls it out in the cafeteria while paying with he WIC card. The kids are merciless, tirelessly suggesting she is old enough to be mistaken for a teacher. But of course, it all works out for the best in the end as she attracts an underaged high school boy with a fetish for banging his techers and they have consensual relations, which, while technically illegal, is totally OK because the adult is a woman and that’s not predatory at all. It ends with lots of clever and original jokes about happy endings.

At Home with Amy Sedaris is hilarious. Lots in common with Strangers with Candy (which I adored)

Jerri Blank (to Orlando, who wants to be in the Thanksgiving play):

"Orlando, you can't be a pilgrim. The pilgrims had snowy white skin to match their pure Christian souls. They didn't sacrifice coconuts to their monkey gods."

Another Jerri quote: "I'm not adopted and I'm not an Indian. It's just a coincidence that I have a love of gambling and booze and a knack for catching syphilis."

Favorite line, from Jerri's mother:

"We came as soon as we felt like it."

I've since adopted this as my personal motto.

She was never really that funny to me. Like Tracey Ullman with even less humor.

Well, it looks like a cold sore.

Deborah Rush was hilarious in that show. Not sure about the reboot idea.

I remember their earlier show Exit 57 - it was weird, very funny sketches. I still marvel that Stephen Colbert went from doing a skit where he's dancing in a flamenco costume (he's a great dancer), to having that political satire show. My favorite memory of Exit 57 is a skit where Stephen and Paul kissed repeatedly.

r15 is a moron, sorry but Amy Sedaris and co. are not Republicans like you. Republicans are funny, nor do they make good satirists. Take your freeper trolling elsewhere.

R25 = Derrick Blank

R29 lol what?

Nope. In the current PC climate we may start to only see shows that make the Brady Bunch look edgy.

Hobo Camp

[quote]Jerri Blank is now an autistic former sex worker

So nothing’s changed?

Daddy who were you??

I love you, R24.

From the same episode:

“Obviously you have a beef, Stew, but please don’t stir things up.”

Hi. This is Wilford Brimley. Welcome to Retardation: A Celebration. Now, hopefully with this book, I'm gonna dispel a few myths, a few rumors. First off, the retarded don't rule the night. They don't rule it. Nobody does. And they don't run in packs. And while they may not be as strong as apes, don't lock eyes with 'em, don't do it. Puts 'em on edge. They might go into berzerker mode; come at you like a whirling dervish, all fists and elbows. You might be screaming "No, no, no" and all they hear is "Who wants cake?" Let me tell you something: They all do. They all want cake.

Geraldine Antonia Blank August 25, 2017 ·

When you work from your home and johns call on the phone, you’re a call girl.

When you walk ‘til you limp and give a cut to a pimp, you’re a street whore.

When they’re beggin’ you please to get down on your knees near their groinage, excusa' me, but you see???

Don’t you touch where they pee without coinage!

If I straddle and squat to show you my twat, I’m a dancer.

If you loiter at the truckstop like you’re caught in a blizzard...you’re a lot lizard.

If he buys you a meal before copping a feel, you're an escort.

When I rub against the lump in your pants while giving a lap dance ...I’m a stripper.

If I give you a wank while I’m dressed like a skank, I’m a hooker.

If you call your dates "tricks" after sucking their dicks...you’re a hustler.

If you want to get laid...someone’s got to get paid.

If you've got a nut... I can bust it

Don’t be a creep or a jerk when I’m trying to work...

Because this bitch is packing a musket — at Flatpoint High.

Loved this and Mr. Show. I don't believe either woulld probably fly today.

R28 I vaguely remember Exit 57. I need to check it out.

Most of it was really offbeat and funny. One scene, at the funeral of Jerri Blank’s father, is racist in a pretty dark and hurtful way. I felt bad for the actors involved, Deborah Rush and the handsome Greg Hollimon. Tough to watch. Also, the film version was embarrassingly unwatchable. Just putrid.

The film was surprisingly bad. But I do love this one exchange:

JERRI: [under her breath] Faggot.

MR. NOBLET: What did you just say?

JERRI: What do you think I just said?

MR. NOBLET: I'd rather not repeat it.

JERRI: Well, then I guess we'll never know . . .

Why did the film end up being so bad? I don't get how they fucked up that one, it felt so watered down. Letterman produced it, did they get too involved?

I remember a scene with Sedaris aping at the camera while some corny music played. It was as bad or worse that Troop Beverly Hills.

R44 here, “that” is meant to spell “than”

[quote]Why did the film end up being so bad?

As any great hostess will tell you, it's essential to know when to leave.

I went to elementary school with Paul Dinello--his older sister was in my class.

Smell me!

PEE ON ME.

The only thing worse than SJWs are lame parodies of SJWs from people with bad observational skills. Looking at you, r15/r20.

The only thing worse than lame parodies of SJWs from people with bad observational skills are idiots who think everyone who doesn't like SJWs is a Republican. Looking at you, r29.

Paul Dinello looks like Andy Cohen in that photo above.

[quote] I still marvel that Stephen Colbert went from doing a skit where he's dancing in a flamenco costume (he's a great dancer), to having that political satire show. My favorite memory of Exit 57 is a skit where Stephen and Paul kissed repeatedly.

After Colbert’s time as a correspondent, on The Daily Show. Doesn’t seem like a natural progression.

I was a boozer, a user and a loser

Got to know Amy when she waited tables at Marions on The Bowery. Possibly one of the quickest wits I have ever encountered.

You can't have this today because network television does not have to provide educational programming.

This parody needs an audience that grew up with Helen Hunt jumping out of a window on the angel dust - that's a small demographic.

What season was it that Colbert posed nude for an art class? In high school. It was funny but also kind of hot.

It's camper time!

Does anybody remember the SWC "Vocational Training" episode?

Continuing from R56, the show also referenced those after school specials in transitions, tone, and pace.

If it were a presentation, you would hear a dulcet signal to proceed to the next slide.

[quote] She was never really that funny to me. Like Tracey Ullman with even less humor.

You can go back to watching your precious Drag Race now, meth Queen. Real gays, love Amy and Tracey. Fuck off.

I stole the tv.

There was actually an article on Vulture that said how much they remember loving this show and then they went back and watched it and were outraged by all the racism. Bitch, please.

I loved when Jerri referred to the art teacher as "Faggotus", it sounds so Greek.

R63 Just as one would expect. Comedy is in dire trouble of disappearing.

R43 I think the movie didn’t work because they were working with a bigger budget and studio notes. I can’t quite put my finger on it but something was just off. It played almost as fan fiction to me.

"Strangers With Candy"

Is this about ME and my mother?

"In the current PC climate we may start to only see shows that make the Brady Bunch look edgy."

The CURRENT PC climate? Freepers like you were whining about the PC climate 20 years ago when the show was airing, and you'll be whining about the PC climate 20 years from now, too.

I didn't see the movie-- I figured it would suck-- but the show was really tightly written and fit the 30 minute format perfectly. If you're used to writing a show like that, filling 90 minutes is really hard. It is not a natural transition.

This is my step-fag, Derek.

Good point r69. The series was tight and had a specific rhythm. Some things just don’t translate to the big screen.

Bitch stole my look and my life.

[quote] The CURRENT PC climate? Freepers like you were whining about the PC climate 20 years ago when the show was airing, and you'll be whining about the PC climate 20 years from now, too.

Do kindly fuck off.

Florrie Fisher looks like Jerri Blank and sounds like Joan Rivers

R63 can you find a link for this article? I googled and couldn't find it.

I'd like more than anything to know who wrote the piece - they have this one writer I can't stand and I'm curious if it's her

I'm as moist as a snack cake down there.

You're right, OP, and it's a damn shame.

They ended STRANGERS WITH CANDY by blowing up the high school -- kind of like the original HEATHERS.

But you'll never see shows blowing up high schools for shits and giggles again, because it happens every few months now in reality.

All it takes is ONE TERRORIST and we can't have nice things anymore!

Pizza pizza pizza!

Most people will gladly take a "Social Justice Warrior" over a Bigtoed Chauvinist Pig any day.

Bad BCPs! So sick of the BCPs.

Republicans and other scum on the Right are just as "politically correct" as anyone.

They have their point of view and constantly insist it's the only correct one.

They make terrible humorists because they're completely dishonest about themselves and their supporters.

Humor is about observation and the Right doesn't like to think. The Right is not having a conscience at all -- it's about being pure pigs.

Where is this Vulture piece? A.V. Club didn’t have a problem with it in 2012.

Trigglypuff is triggered. WTF is she doing on DL again, the most anti-PC place around?

I can't believe it's been almost 20 years.

No, it wouldn't fly today. The critics would feel compelled to lambaste it, like they did with the recent Netflix series Insatiable. And Strangers was way more mean-spirited than Insatiable.

Audrey Stupina is a whore! Unfortunately, no, especially in these times. But at least we have Amy's show on Trutv. I love Mr. Jellyneck.

R85 is right. Insatiable is a Disney cartoon compared to Strangers With Candy.

I was so turned on by Colbert and Dinello in an early scene, where they kiss each other in the faculty men's room.

r85, it deserved to be lambasted because it wasn't a good show. Strangers With Candy was awesome.

I didn't say Strangers wasn't awesome. Opinions differ on Insatiable, but it'll have the last laugh if it's renewed. Netflix renews based on viewership alone, so it has a chance.

I don’t hate Insatiable. I appreciate what it’s trying to do. It’s just not doing it well. That show is all over the place.

Are you guys serious? South Park , The Simpsons, Family Guy and the Cleveland Show all include comedy based upon racist stereotypes.

Of course we have the most racist and bigoted TV shows still on air that are intended to be funny. The Fox News shows.

[quote] No, it wouldn't fly today. The critics would feel compelled to lambaste it, like they did with the recent Netflix series Insatiable. And Strangers was way more mean-spirited than Insatiable.

Insatiable sucks.

R92 Yeah and no one has a problem with the stereotypes on these shows.

Thank you r94

People are too scared to laugh these days, because potential outrage is hanging over everybody and ready to smack. We are not supposed to laugh at ourselves or laugh at stereotypes, because that's an act of hate!

I'm pretty far to the left and always have been. Yes, there have always been people who have been super P.C., but ever since Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook took over, it has gotten really bad. Suddenly, these idiots think people should take their opinions seriously even if they're wayyyyyy in the minority. I'm sure when this show was on, they probably got a few hate letters here and there, but it was easy to shrug off, because it wasn't happening in the public eye. These days, it just takes one dumbass to post something on social media and people decide to join in to appear like they're good people and it gets insane. It's most definitely different these days and that's really sad.

What needs to happen is that these show runners, creators, actors, etc. need to not back down and keep doing what they're doing. Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke. I think Tina Fey got heat for parts of Kimmy Schmidt and she pretty much told them to go fuck themselves and made fun of the exact same kinds of people in a future episode. That's the way to do it. It made me really respect Tina.

R97 is right. Tina Fey doubled down on the Native American storyline after the backlash. Caving in feels like admitting guilt. It’s comedy for fuck’s sake.

I have something to say!

The problem is that Hollywood is painted as scared of pissing off customers. Like people who look for being outraged would go into a movie for something else than looking for an excuse to be outraged. You cannot please these outrage fanatics. But apparently the media tries to establish this narrative that these outrage fanatics have the power to make a movie or TV show a commercial failure.

I mean, a couple of years ago we still laughed at One Million Moms and their self righteous demands of boycotting TV shows for promoting depraved lifestyles, profanities, and sex. It almost looks like the ones who came up with One Million Moms came up with other groups of outrage fanatics who need to be heard, feared, and validated (especially by entertainment media, but also social and news media).

Paul Dinello is not gay. But I would like him to be, since he has the most beautiful cock sucking lips.

The One Million Moms thing is so true. I swear these women are/were just bored housewives looking for attention. Sometimes, I really do think these far right nutcases are making fake accounts as "triggered" far-left college students and posting outrage about everything. It almost has to be a far right manipulation tactic to make the left look insane.

I really do think that, if people really backed down and refused to censor or pull movies/books/TV shows, etc., we could take the power back. Whatever happened to just not watching something if you don't like it?

R102 there is no more changing the channel if you don’t like something. They have to wipe the show from pop culture.

The movie sucked because most of the kids weren’t in it.

The kids were all too old to convincingly be high school students by then.

HOW IS PAUL DINELLO NOT GAY??!!?!

Comedy Central was a haven for non-PC humor in the early to mid aughts. Between SWC, Drawn Together and Halfway Home, the network was the best place to find incredibly hilarious programming, the likes of which we will never see again thanks to the stifling culture we now live in.

I wish they would release Halfway Home on DVD, but we'll never see that.

I just tossed in my Season 1 Strangers w/ Candy disc and it's odd- it looks like it was shot on video. (I'm sure it probably was, but it always looked like film when it aired.)

Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello used to date--certainly when they did the sketch comedy show, and I think during the first years of Strangers with Candy.

He is really hot, and he looks even better now than he did when he was younger.

[quote] Paul Dinello is not gay. But I would like him to be, since he has the most beautiful cock sucking lips.

You just know he has a pretty dick, too, and a hairy hole.

SWC is in my mind as I'm reading David Sedaris's "Calypso", which contains a memoir of another sister, Tiffany, who was a bipolar, quasi-homeless, suicidal drug addict. All comedy comes from a place of pain.

I really love this. I rarely re-watch shows but I watch it every year before school starts.

[quote] You just know he has a pretty dick, too, and a hairy hole.

I dunno. He was pretty hairless in his shirtless scenes and he didn't look waxed.

R94 - still on the air.

R114 yes, but the fact that a documentary was even made speaks to the point. The show and the character have been on for decades. It’s only recently that people decided to be outraged by it.

I saw dinello a few years back. He’s tiny tiny tiny. I think one of the reasons the movie didn’t work is they pulled gags from the original series. I kept thinking how much better those jokes landed in the show.

The movie reminded me of when Amy Schumer wrote and starred in that movie Trainwreck and it was loaded with gags from her standup act. Probably funny to those who'd never heard of her before, but for the casual fan, it was a bit annoying.

That’s a great analogy. In a way the movie was attempting to play to the masses. I never considered that.

[quote] The movie reminded me of when Amy Schumer wrote and starred in that movie Trainwreck

Really? The movie reminded you of a movie that wasn't released for another 9 years?

I thought Jerri’s bitchy mother was one of the highlights of the series.

[Sara is holding a Mad Mothers Against Drugs meeting.] Sara: You can't help a drug addict until they've hit rock bottom. And sometimes it's important to help the process along. You dig a hole in the yard and cover it with sticks and leaves, put glass in their slippers... Woman: Cut the brake cable in their car... Sara: Exactly. Cut the brake cable in their car. The point is to help them hurt themselves.

R115 - people have been outraged by The Simpsons since if first went on the air. Again - it's still on the air.

SWC had a 30 episode run. Hardly a huge hit. I rarely watched for not other reason then one episode seemed just like the next.

R120 the actress who played Jerri’s mother, Deborah Rush, was really funny. The episode about the homecoming pageant was one example. Finding Jerri wearing her homecoming queen crown, she blurts “Don’t soil my memories!”

Don't rub your feces on the lampshade.

If I didn’t care about you, darling, then why would I pretend that I do?

Sara used to refer to Principal Blackman as Principal Black Man. That alone would probably get the show pulled.

What was the overtly racist thing in the movie that someone mentioned above?

I saw Deborah Rush on the uptown 6 train about a year after SWC went off the air. I told her how much I loved the show and how funny she was in it. She thanked me and said that she had a great time working on the show. She was a very nice lady.

Jerri, let me tell you a secret. You’re only as ugly as we think you are.

Deborah Rush was Walter Cronkite's daughter in law, and her son committed suicide at age 22.

Why does YOUR finger smell like HIS ass??

Some of the exchanges with Derek were the most raw and vicious, and funniest. I was sad to see him excluded from the awful film version is SWC, but maybe he was lucky not to be in that.

Sedaris commented in some interview that he had grown too mature looking to suit the role on film. I liked him in the series, though. One particularly clever scene involved him being entranced by Winona Ryder’s popular character Fran. When meeting, Derek freezes and utters “...pretty girl...t’touch the pretty girl?...” the whole scene is a pretty great one, all actors are funny in it.