The Ben Stiller Show

The Ben Stiller Show is an American sketch comedy series that aired on MTV from 1990 to 1991, and then on Fox from September 27, 1992 to January 17, 1993. The Fox program starred Ben Stiller, Andy Dick, Janeane Garofalo and Bob Odenkirk. Character actor John F. O'Donohue also appeared in every episode.

The Ben Stiller Show
Created byBen Stiller
Judd Apatow
Written byBen Stiller
Judd Apatow
Robert Cohen
David Cross
Brent Forrester
Bob Odenkirk
Sultan Pepper
Dino Stamatopoulos
StarringBen Stiller
Andy Dick
Janeane Garofalo
Bob Odenkirk
Theme music composerDweezil Zappa
Opening theme"Groove Holmes" by Dweezil Zappa
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes13
Production
Running time~23 minutes
Production companyHBO Independent Productions
DistributorWarner Bros. Television Distribution
Release
Original networkFox
Comedy Central (episode 13)
Original releaseSeptember 27, 1992 (1992-09-27) –
January 17, 1993
Episode 13:
August 26, 1995

The program featured numerous filmed comedy segments, many of which parodied middle of the 1980s to beginning of the 1990s pop culture. Despite mostly positive reviews, Fox canceled the series after only 13 episodes, due to low ratings.[1][2]

Unlike most sketch comedy programs, The Ben Stiller Show did not use a studio audience or a laugh track, and was the first ever Fox sketch comedy program not to use a laugh track. The semi spinoff, The Andy Dick Show, used the same format. After cancellation, the series won the 1993 Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program.

MTV series

The original MTV version of The Ben Stiller Show aired in 1990 to 1991, and ran for 13 episodes. It is not available on DVD, although excerpts from the program are featured as a bonus on that release. Produced by Jim Jones, who would go on to produce the Fox series and starring Ben Stiller and co writer Jeff Kahn, it was a self effacing show within a show format.

Part of MTV's pre Real World and experimental Vid-Com season of 1989 to 1990, it was interspersed with music videos that Ben and company would introduce in their short comedy sketches. Regulars included Harry O'Reilly and Ben's sister Amy Stiller. Guest stars included Ben's parents Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller, as well as John F. O'Donohue, Melina Kanakaredes, Al Lewis and MTV regular Martha Quinn.

Episodes
No.TitleOriginal air date
1"Pilot"September 27, 1992 (1992-09-27)
2"With Bobcat Goldthwait"October 4, 1992 (1992-10-04)
3"With James Doohan"October 18, 1992 (1992-10-18)
4"On Melrose Avenue"October 25, 1992 (1992-10-25)
5"With Colin Quinn"November 1, 1992 (1992-11-01)
6"With Sarah Jessica Parker"November 8, 1992 (1992-11-08)
7"With Rob Morrow"November 15, 1992 (1992-11-15)
8"With Flea"December 6, 1992 (1992-12-06)
9"With Garry Shandling"December 13, 1992 (1992-12-13)
10"With Dennis Miller"December 20, 1992 (1992-12-20)
11"At the Beach"January 3, 1993 (1993-01-03)
12"A Few Good Scouts"January 17, 1993 (1993-01-17)
13"ZooTV at Night"August 26, 1995 (1995-08-26) (on Comedy Central)

Home media

Warner Home Video released all 13 episodes of the Fox version of The Ben Stiller Show on DVD in Region 1 on December 2, 2003.[3][4]

DVD Name Ep# Release Date Additional Information
The Ben Stiller Show: Complete Series 13 December 2, 2003
  • Audio Commentaries by Ben Stiller, the entire cast and writers for the show on 7 key episodes
  • Featurette: A Brief History of The Ben Stiller Show including alternate versions of the pilot and two early parodies made for MTV
  • Deleted scenes: 5 unaired sketches with optional commentary
  • Outtakes
  • TV Special: An E! "Behind The Scenes" Special
  • Easter Egg

Reunion

In November 2012, there was a reunion at the New York Comedy Festival with the original cast members.[5][6] Apatow hosted the reunion which featured Stiller, Janeane Garofalo, Andy Dick and staff writers Robert Cohen and Jeff Kahn. Bob Odenkirk also appeared via Skype video chat.[7]

References
  1. "The New York Comedy Festival Announces Additional Shows To 2012 Schedule - New York Times". Markets.on.nytimes.com. 2012-09-21. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
  2. "The Ben Stiller Show | DVD Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
  3. "The Ben Stiller Show : DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video". Dvdtalk.com. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
  4. Wolk, Josh (2003-12-05). "Stiller Standing". EW.com. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
  5. Itzkoff, Dave (2012-09-21). "'Ben Stiller Show' Reunion Is Set for New York Comedy Festival - NYTimes.com". Artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
  6. Itzkoff, Dave (2012-09-22). "ARTSBEAT - Reunion at Festival For 'Ben Stiller Show' - Brief - NYTimes.com". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
  7. Luippold, Ross (2012-11-12). "Janeane Garofalo Forgot She Was Married For 20 Years". Huffington Post.
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