Happy Sunday, Streamers.
Recently, two readers reached out with the same idea on the same day:
“What if you highlighted a great show that originally fell through the cracks but is now finding a second life on a streaming platform?”
Ellen B and Tim T - this week’s new section is for you.
Introducing Zombie Rec Room, where we highlight a canceled show that never broke through when it premiered but is now rising like a phoenix from the ashes as audiences discover it for the first time on a streaming platform. This week, our zombie rec is all the way from 2018, originally courtesy of YouTube Premium (lol).
Now let’s get to it.
ZOMBIE Rec Room: Champaign, ILL
What It’s About: Two friends (Adam Pally and Sam Richardson) have been living off the coattails of their childhood best friend, a wildly popular rap icon. But when they’re suddenly ousted from the entourage, they’re forced to move home to Champaign, Illinois without a dollar, sense of direction, or any common sense.
Why You Should Watch: For smart writing, mile a minute jokes, and unexpected meditations on grief.
The premise for Champaign, ILL is simple enough and not exactly new (riches-to-rags stories are everywhere in culture, from Bob Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone” to Trading Places). What makes this show so fun is the cast. Pally and Richardson’s tight comedy chops, perfected through years of improv at Upright Citizens Brigade (the same outfit that gave us Amy Poehler, Adam McKay, Aubrey Plaza, Donald Glover, Nick Kroll, and Jason Mantzoukas), infuse Champaign, ILL with a kinetic energy that make even the most banal premises absurd. Their wacky mastery of the form is on display throughout the show, but is most evident in the extended improv-laden outtakes shown during the credits (Episode 2 ends with a hilarious, extended costumed dick pic riff). On top of their performances, the whip-smart writing ensures the show never feels stale (even though it’s almost five years old), and even offers some some surprisingly perceptive takes on grief later in the season. The 10-episode season on Hulu goes quick, and is perfect if you’re looking for some palette-cleansing laughs to wash down darker fare that may have left you feeling queasy (looking at you Black Bird).
Who’s In It, and Where You Probably Know Them From:
Adam Pally - An Upright Citizens Brigade alum, this comedian and actor has been a part of many cult classics, the most famous being Happy Endings (another show cancelled too soon). He has also been on The Mindy Project, Bojack Horseman, Kroll Show, and Key and Peele.
Sam Richardson - Another UCB alum, you probably recognize Sam fromVeep. He’s also been on Ted Lasso, Detroiters, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office, New Girl, and Portlandia.
Jay Pharoah - You most likely recognize him from his stint on Saturday Night Live, or his truly insane impressions.
HONORABLE MENTION: Keith David, who is not only a prolific voice actor, but also plays the hard-ass/skeptical general in Armageddon.
Who Made It, and What Else Have They Done: The show was created by Jordan Cahan, Daniel Libman, and David Caspe, who most notably have written for and/or produced Happy Endings and Black Monday.
Where You Can Watch: Hulu
Stream It or Skip It?
First, the results from last week: The Stream Team urgently voted to skip Andor AND Samaritan. I have to say 30% of you being interested in Samaritan is about 30% more than I would have guessed, and I laughed out loud when it beat Andor. On that note - even though a whopping 80% of you voted to skip Andor, I will admittedly be first in line to watch. George Lucas has had his in claws in me ever since he re-released the original Star Wars trilogy, and despite how mostly bad all these sequels/prequels/spinoffs are, I will forever consume the latest from a galaxy far, far, way as I chase that original high I got at the Stamford Mall’s Landmark Theater in 1997.
This week, we’ve only got one piece of content that we want to get your thoughts on, but man is it juicy. Use the polls to tell us - are you going to Stream It? Or Skip It?
House of Hammer
Coming to Discovery+ on September 1, this documentary promises to delve into the recent unraveling of actor Armie Hammer. The heir to the Hammer family fortune and movie star was convicted in the court of public opinion after it was revealed he allegedly had a taste for bondage, sexually assaulting women, and… cannibalism. Here’s hoping House of Hammer can tell us more about all of that, as well as shed light on his new (alleged) career as a timeshare salesman in the Cayman Islands.