The State (TV series)

Categories: Sketch comedy shows | MTV television series | CBS network shows | 1990s TV shows in the United States

The State was a sketch comedy television show broadcast on MTV from 1994 to 1995. The show combined kooky characters and bizarre scenarios to present sketches that won the favor of its target twenty-something audience. The cast consisted of 11 twenty-something comedians and actors who, with exception of Kevin Allison, were also the show's writers. Several memorable characters were created for the show, and for a short time their catch-phrases entered into popular lingo (see below). Network television politics caused the show's premature cancellation when American network CBS optioned to buy the show after its second year on MTV. The show switched networks and CBS intended to test the water with a Halloween special, which bombed. The show was not continued after that.

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Cast Members of The State

"The State" also refers to the comedy troupe that made up the cast of the show, as they have continued to successfully work together on film, television and in the world of journalism (in various groupings.) A book, State by State With the State (ISBN 0786882131) was a best-seller. Rumors persist that MTV will be releasing The State on DVD although nothing has yet materialized.

Contents

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Cast list

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Theme song

The opening sequence was set to Boys and Girls -- Action by Craig Wedren of Shudder To Think and Eli Janney of Girls Against Boys.

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Recurring characters and memorable sketches

The cast (most notably David Wain) have repeatedly said that they were not really interested in creating recurring characters, but were repeatedly pressured by the network to emulate Saturday Night Live in this matter. Ironically, these characters are probably what their fans remember most.

  • Louie, a genial fellow with a strong desire to dip his "balls" (actual balls, not testicles, although the innuendo was certainly intentional) in various things, played by Ken Marino
  • Doug and his Dad, a wannabe rebel and his surprisingly allowing father, played by Michael Showalter and Thomas Lennon, respectively
  • The Jew, the Italian and the Redhead Gay, good-naturedly broad stereotypes (first roommates, later Charlie's Angels-styled crimefighters), played by David Wain, Ken Marino and Kevin Allison, respectively
  • Barry and Levon, suave swingers of ambiguous sexual orientation, played by Thomas Lennon and Michael Ian Black, respectively
  • Capt. Monterey Jack, a nonsense-spewing motivational speaker, played by Michael Ian Black


Some memorable one-off sketches include:

  • The Bearded Men of Space Station 11, in which the titular men attempt to convince their commanding officer that men can grow beards in space, and that they are thus not aliens.
  • Porcupine Racetrack, a short musical in which the slowest porcupine in town attempts to win a race and thereby save an orphanage. During the introduction, the cast claims that MTV specifically asked them not to perform this sketch.
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Popular catch-phrases

  • "I wanna dip my balls in it!"
  • "Awwwwww yeah!"
  • "Two hundred and forty dollars...worth of pudding."
  • "I'm outta heeere."
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Other shows featuring the cast

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See also

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External link