Our Idiot Brother

The new Paul Rudd-starring "Our Idiot Brother" opens in theaters this weekend, gifting America with the genial tale of a simple-minded fuckup (Rudd) and his exhasperated extented family. I haven't seen it yet, but David Wain has...

 

And while he's undoubtably correct, Mr. Wain may not be the most impartial critic. The "Brother" cast list reads like a who's who of Wainy Days All-Stars. Aside from Paul Rudd, there's Rashida Jones, Elizabeh Banks, and, let's see... looks like that's it. But hey, three's a lot! Besides, would David Wain ever steer you wrong?

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Wet Hot American Decade

 

Yes, long before Wainy Days was even a twinkle in the director's eye, Wet Hot showcased Wain's unique brand of unpredictable, absurdist humor, and featured a cast that now seems like a murderers’ row of the most important comedic performers of the early 21st century.

(Leslie Knope [L], and Johnny Limitless [R])

Some, like Paul Rudd and Elizabeth Banks, have turned up on Wainy Days; while others, like A.D. Miles, have gone on to create their very own (excellent) series like Horrible People.

To celebrate the film’s 10th anniversary, David Wain & Co. have mounted a nation-wide tour, featuring screenings, Q&A's, and live shows.  To wit, here's David Wain and Wet Hot co-star Jo Lo Truglio revisiting some alternate titles for the film.  And if you're jonesing for even more of Wain live, don't forget to check out the Wainy Days live show at this year's Just For Laughs.  And remember: if you wanna smear mud on your ass, smear mud on your ass, just be honest about it.

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Wish I Knew How to Quidditch You

A young George Costanza?

Maybe you've seen the ads on billboards, in bus shelters, or projected onto the insides of your eyelids.  Maybe you've seen Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, or the Other One making the rounds on the talk show circuit.  Or maybe you need only to consult your very own "Mug Life" abdomen tattoo to be reminded that today--yes, today!--marks the release of the final Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows, Part Two: Stagnetti's Revenge.

Yes, after a decade's worth of yeoman-like service at the multiplex, it's finally come time for this iteration of Harry Potter to power down, be put out to stud, and other such mixed metaphors.  It's a bittersweet day for fans, but hopefully the release of the final film in the franchise will at least provide the answers to some longstanding mysteries, like "What's the deal with the smoke monster?",  "Whatever happened to that Russian Paulie and Christopher let escape into the pine barrens?" and "So did A and X meet at this place last year, or what?"

Okay, so maybe I don't know anything about the Harry Potter franchise.  But our very own Daily Grace does...

And today, she bids a tearful adieu to the Boy Who Lived.  But if you want to avoid the waterworks, you can check in on Ms. Helbig in happier times, watching Part 1 of Deathly Hallows, or over on her Tumblr, wherein she ups her Hogwarts cosplay game considerably.

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Beat the Heat, Watch on Repeat

As we inch into mid-July and the gunpowder from Independence Day fireworks finally dissipates and settles on the ground like an ashy, foul-smelling snow, it comes time once again to face the fact that, like it or not, it's Summer.  For some, summer means long, lazy days spent at the beach or in the park, full of barbeques, bikinis, and melty ice cream cones.  These people are are insane madmen who are not to be trusted.  For the rest of us, summer is a time to stay indoors and near the air conditioning, cowering away from the sun like it was some kind of vengeful God.

Point is, it's hot out there.  Why not stay indoors and expand the depth and breadth of your pop culture acumen by doing a few complete-series re-watches of your favorite shows?  And sure, you could plow through your box set of 'The Sopranos' or 'The Wire' for the umpteenth time, but given the brain-boiling heat outside, wouldn't you prefer something a little more... digestible?  Might we suggest starting with Season One, Episode One of Wainy Days and working your way through the entire series?  Or Pilot Season?  Or Back on Topps?

It's easy, just pour yourself a nice cool glass of Four Loko, aim that oscillating fan at your genitals, click play, and check another one of your life's goals off the list.

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Win With My Damn Channel

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Versailles Season Finale!

And just like that, season one of Versailles is on the books.  Check out the season finale here, and get caught up with the rest of Season One on our Versailles channel.  And though the "You're in Sports" stage may be dark, there's still time to enter our Versailles Sweepstakes to try to win a chance to fly to Los Angeles to meet Versailles creator/stars and real-life marrieds Patricia Heaton and David Hunt.  Check out the Versailles Facebook page, or peep this blog for details.  Thanks for watching!

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Fly to LA to Meet Patricia Heaton and David Hunt!

Thanks to the magic of the internet, every episode of the "You're in Sports" gang's regret-and-gin-soaked shenanigoats is available for free and forever on our Versailles channel, thus completely negating the need to fake your own death and move to a new city under an assumed identity.  Besides, such a mad plan would be doomed to failure.  If there's anything Evelyn Anders & Co. have taught us, it's that escape from one's past is impossible.

But what's NOT impossible is a chance to actually meet Versailles stars Patricia Heaton (Evelyn) & David Hunt (Colin) in Los Angeles. 

How?  By entering the Versailles Sweepstakes Giveaway on our Facebook page! 

Here's the deal: "like" us on Facebook, then enter as many times as you want to increase your chances of winning. 

Plus, every time someone else enters the sweepstakes after YOU invite them, you get THREE ADDITIONAL ENTRIES. 

And while you're at it, go ahead and "like" our official Versailles Facebook pages for a full FIVE ADDITIONAL ENTRIES.  It's almost obscene how many chances we're giving you to win this.

Complete, lawyer-y entry information can be found here.  And follow us on Twitter to keep up to date with all the latest sweepstakes info.

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You Have a (Ball) Point...

Hot on the heels of last week's National Donut Day, today marks yet another charmingly inane "holiday" celebrating yet another piece of contemporary bric-a-brac.  I'm talking, or course, about National Ball Point Pen Day!  So fire up your out-of-office reply function, put on your party shirt, and cut out of work early.  You don't want to be late for the parade, and besides, those Bic-themed cocktails down at the National Ball Point Pen Day barbeque aren't gonna drink themselves. Just be safe out there.  You know how drivers are on BPP Day.

And in the spirit of the season, we're giving away some free My Damn Channel promotional pens over on our Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook.  Nothing to scoff at, especially since it's been well-established that pen > sword = mightier.  Click the links for a chance to win.  What's that you say?  How DARE you insinuate that this is all just a cheap ploy to unload the huge surplus of pens we ordered to give away at our 4th birthday party on Monday.  Who cares that there are boxes full of My Damn Channel pens piled floor-to-ceiling in our offices, creating a fire hazard that will likely kill us all.  That's no reason to read anything duplicitous into this whole free pen giveaway thing.  You guys are acting crazy.

So happy holidays.  Don't forget to send your mom a card.

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Awards 'n Extras

Season One of My Damn Channel's hit show Gigi: Almost American may have come to an end, but that doesn't mean everyone's favorite pie-eyed foreigner is MIA.  On the contrary, each Wednesday will see the debut of new Gigi-related bonus material.  Sort of like a DVD extra, except, you know, on your computer.  You can stretch your throat muscles with a little Gigi theme song karaoke, or bop along to Episode 2's bouncy, '80's-inspired "Squirt Gun" (free download included!).  There are also outtakes, promos, and interviews galore—everything you need for your Elks Club's next Gigi: Almost American theme party.  And look out for more in the weeks to come.

And since we're talking about Gigi, we'd like to take this opportunity to wish our pal Josh Gad good luck this Sunday at the Tony Awards.  The Gigi creator/star is up for Best Lead Actor in a Musical for his awesome work in Trey Parker & Matt Stone's The Book of Mormon.  BOM is also up for Best Musical, Best Original Score, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Direction, Choreography, Orchestration, Scenic Design, Costume, Lighting, and Sound.  I mean holy shit, right?  That's a lot of nominations.  Break a leg, Elders!

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Do or Donut, there is no try...

Never let it be said that the Night Feed doesn't contain multitudes.  Sure, yesterday we told you about Mark Malkoff's quest to turn his doughy flagon of untoned flab into a rockin' six pack, but today we're taking a sharp left turn away from the world of health and fitness to indulge in another one of our not-so-secret passions: donuts! 

Chocolate, sprinkles, glazed, old-fashioned... we're not picky; we like them ALL.  And today is National Donut Day -- an actual holiday created by the Salvation Army to honor the battlefield nurses of World War I who coaxed injured soldiers back to health via the medium fried dough food (thanks, Wikipedia!).

And you don't need to be a mustachioed beat cop or having a support group meeting in a church basement to eat donuts anymore.  Everyone's doing it, including minor local television celebrities like Colin Tickler (David Hunt), son of legendary B-movie actress Evelyn Anders (Patricia Heaton).  Here's Colin extracting some donut innards from Episode 3 of the new My Damn Channel series Versailles...

Sexy, right?!  We bet introverted "You're In Sports" intern Sara Wolper (Martha MacIsaac) would agree.  So throw away your fertility talismans and Axe Body Spray.  Show some holiday spirit by rubbing a glazed donut across your bare chest and smearing your face with custard.  The Salvation Army demands it.
 

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