the comic's comic

Bob and David: "David's Situation" kaput, what's next?

Bob Odenkirk laid down the news tonight that he and David Cross have decided to scrap their own HBO pilot that played with sitcom conventions, called "David's Situation." Although they all thought the pilot succeeded, they felt that the format they had created, well, why don't I just let Odenkirk say it himself: We "lost interest in the overall concept. The show was a strange hybrid with a "sit-com" base. We used the actual set from Everybody Loves Raymond. The sitcom framework really felt like a drag on our energy and sensibility. This was fairly obvious to us and not as disappointing as it might sound because the whole experience energized us to create something new and more better." Maybe it was the Curse of Raymond?! At any rate, Odenkirk promises he and Cross will try to figure out what their next TV project should be and give the fans something to see and laugh at.

Related: Odenkirk this week did release three spoof ads he did for a new giant Samsung phone thingy, based on the new types of "mobile professionals" for jobs that do not exist, such as a Carousel Booking Agent, Brothers for Hire, and a freelancing firefighter (played charmingly by Paul F. Tompkins). I don't know that any of these ad-type videos make you want to buy the Samsung, but they are fun to look at for a few minutes. Well, maybe not the carousel one.

Vanity Fair interviews Bob and David

While most people today probably will visit Vanity Fair online to get all pervy over Miley Cyrus, please allow me to redirect you to this VF online interview with Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, in which Bob and David rehash Mr. Show and then some, talking about dealing with obsessive fans, the networks, and how their new show, David's Situation (pilot taping May 9, with a cast including Matt Besser, Eric Hoffman and Mo Collins), will be unlike both Mr. Show and The Ben Stiller Show.

Missing twins? Damon Lindelof & Jon Fisch

Earlier today, my friends at Comedy Central Insider alleged that Damon Lindelof, head writer, co-creator and executive producer on Lost (new epsiodes return April 24!), looked like a cross between David Cross and Jim Norton.

Let me add to this equation, to show that he looks almost exactly like comedian Jon Fisch. QED. You're welcome?

X (classified DNA project) =

Can you guess 2008's fastest-selling DVD?

Hint: It was the 2007 movie Alvin and the Chipmunks, which sold 2.6 million copies yesterday in its DVD debut (Variety). FOX also is promoting the DVD with a live touring stage show in shopping malls. And no, David Cross is not on that tour. Last night, in fact, Cross performed at Ochi's Lounge, the basement lounge of Comix comedy club in Manhattan for Andres du Bouchet's new monthly show. In case you or Patton Oswalt or anyone else were curious. But back to Alvin, Simon and Theodore...wow! Then again, I had no idea that movie managed to tally more than $216 million at the box office!

Michael Showalter's comedy feuds, both fake and real

Comedy Central is promoting its new season of half-hour Comedy Central Presents specials by asking its participating comedians with whom they are feuding. Here, Michael Showalter playfully takes on Human Giant for not recognizing The State as their greatest comedic influence.

In jest, perhaps. But Showalter sure doesn't take all comparisons of comedy troupes quite as lightly. Back in July, Showalter hosted the first anniversary party for Union Hall in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with a bill that included Eugene Mirman, Todd Barry, Janeane Garofalo and David Cross. Things were fun and dandy until Garofalo got sidetracked during her set (surprised?) and started talking about how she'd watched the movie Beerfest the night before and was laughing out loud (for real, an actual instance of LOL). "I didn't understand the Broken Lizard thing until Beerfest," Garofalo said. She then wondered if that's perhaps that's why Stella didn't succeed on Comedy Central. Perhaps you need to know the guys to laugh at their jokes. That was her premise. She moved on to Tony Snow's cancer, her best friend, her sleeping and TV viewing habits, touring with Henry Rollins, and other matters.

When Showalter returned to the stage, he called Garofalo out on comparing Stella to Broken Lizard. Garofalo reminded him that Wet Hot American Summer (very much a State/Stella production that also featured Garofalo) and Super Troopers (the first Broken Lizard comedy film) debuted together at Sundance. That didn't make Showalter feel any better about it. "I'm not angry. I'm hungry," Showalter said. Then he added: "To me, comparing Stella to Broken Lizard is like comparing The Police to White Tiger. But that's just me. So fuck Broken Lizard's butt." Garofalo insisted that perhaps Showalter wasn't giving them enough of a chance, saying that their comedy may be funnier for audiences who already know and understand what they're about.

David Cross, who went up afterward, began with an aside to Garofalo: "That went swimmingly. That could not have gone smoother." Laughs. "Well, that's what can happen from wearing your honest pants." Cross then proceeded with his set, deciding not to weigh in further on this particular feud.

Photographs from earlier that day/night after the jump...

David Cross defends his "Alvin" gig

David Cross writes today about his decision to take a small role in the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie, and isn't about to take any trash talk from anyone, even Patton Oswalt, about it. So there. Actually, what's really interesting to me about this is how something that normally a few years ago might've been a private conversation between two comedians has become something much more public and open thanks to the Internet and how it has modified our social behaviors, and with it, our expectations. But there's no turning back, is there?