Very Important People (2023 TV series)

Very Important People is an American improvisational comedy talk show hosted by Vic Michaelis. The show features comedians being placed in extensive makeup and costumes, then participating in an in-character interview with Michaelis. The series premiered on Dropout in December 2023, and is currently in its second season.
The opening sequence of each episode features one or two comedians having extensive makeup and prosthetics applied to them by the makeup team, along with accompanying costume pieces, to alter their appearance; the comedians are not aware in advance what they are being turned into, and are prevented from seeing themselves before the process is complete. Once preparations are finished, the comedians are allowed to see themselves in the mirror for the first time, and they are given a few minutes to improvise a character based on their new look. Similarly, Michaelis is not given any details of these characters beforehand beyond their name and appearance.
When the episode begins, the comedians join Michaelis on the main talk show set, where they introduce themselves in character. The episode then proceeds with Michaelis, playing a heightened fictionalized version of themself, interviewing the characters, asking them questions about themselves and the reasons they have been brought on the show. Interviews will frequently be broken up by segments in which props are brought onto the set, prompting the characters to explain how the object relates to them; the interview may also cut away to photos or footage of the characters, which are shot on a green screen after the episode and added in post production. During interviews, Michaelis often alludes to their own fictionalized backstory and personal life, forming a loose narrative arc through the series; frequent mention is made of Michaelis's strained relationship with Bianca (played by Talia Tabin), their adult step-daughter who also works on the show. The final segment of each episode features Michaelis asking the characters a series of rapid-fire questions, concluding each time with "What is the meaning of life?"
Very Important People is a reboot of the 2010 CollegeHumor series Hello, My Name Is..., which featured Pat Cassels interviewing a different guest each episode, all played by Josh Ruben. Michaelis had previously been featured in minor roles on a few prior CollegeHumor productions before appearing as a contestant on Make Some Noise in 2022; their performance on the series led executive producer Sam Reich to cast them as the host for Very Important People.
Michaelis emulated public-access television presenters in their performance, attempting to instill in their host persona a feeling of believing they are destined for larger things and that their presence on the show lends it additional importance. Michaelis and director Tamar Levine sought to incorporate a narrative arc into the series, developing the "host Vic" character through their interactions with the guests. For the second season, the show's reception of a Webby Award was integrated into the narrative, with Michaelis describing the host character's progression as "just them trying to figure out potentially getting some wins in this career sector, while their personal life is really in the toilet. And trying to make it all work at this place that they don’t really want to be, while also still interviewing these characters." While the guests in the first season consisted entirely of comedians who had previously appeared in other Dropout productions, the second season expanded to include other performers from outside of Dropout.
Episodes are released on a biweekly schedule. After each episode airs, a "Last Looks" behind-the-scenes video is released, featuring Levine and makeup department head Alex Perrone explaining the creative decisions and technical process behind creating each guest's appearance.
Natalie Allton of The Observer praised the show, claiming "You'd be hard-pressed to find a show so delightful throughout, from concept to cast to creation to product." Benjamin Lassy of The Daily Campus gave the second season premiere a 4.1/5 rating, commenting that it "keeps the magic alive from the first season." Polygon ranked Very Important People 45th on their list of the 50 best shows of 2024.