The Andy Milonakis Show - The Complete First Season
Though plenty of comedians have utilized a man-child persona in the past (from Jerry Lewis and Pinky Lee to Pee Wee Herman), TV sketch comic Andy Milonakis takes the schtick one step further because he physically resembles a child (he's actually in his 30s, and his appearance is reportedly due to a health issue). That incongruity lends an extra layer of lunacy to his already bizarre, freeform humor--is thatreallya 12-year-old boy playing with ham or harassing elderly strangers on the street?--and undoubtedly accounts for the popularity of his show. Summarizing the 10 episodes of season 1 is nearly impossible, since there's no narrative flow to the program. Andy, his dog, and his pals zip from one surreal scenario to another with little time for the viewer to catch a breath between laughs (or stunned reactions). If any structure can be applied to the show, episodes seem to be divided between "sketches" (Andy wrestles his toaster when it burns his breakfast; Andy jumps into his television and meets Snoop Dogg) and "pranks" (Andy challenges strangers to a footrace or hassles them for their autograph), with occasional participation by bewildered celebrities (Black Eyed Peas, Ying Yang Twins, Carson Daly). Your tolerance for non-sequiturs and just plain silliness will determine whether you view Andy as a riot or a nuisance, but there's no denying that he's got energy--and weirdness--to spare. The DVD offers commentary by Andy and his castmates withNY Daily Newsreporter Richard Huff as moderator, several unaired skits and extended scenes, as well as interviews with the cast and a featurette on Andy's rise from Internet cult icon to TV star.--Paul Gaita