Smallscreen Reviews

HBO cinches late night laughs with Funny or Die, original sketch comedy triumphs

By April MacIntyre Feb 15, 2010, 19:44 GMT

Will Ferrell Fame Pictures, Inc - Santa Monica, CA, USA -

There has been a dearth of late night laughter, for those of us weaned on the weekend late shows of Monty Python's Flying Circus, SCTV, Trailer Park Boys and the like.

Now HBO and the online comedy hothouse website Funny or Die did the peanut butter and the chocolate thing, and merged the two mediums into a delicious creamy chunky delight for the insomniacs and the party down crowd.

Enter the "Funny or Die" show premiering on HBO in February 19 at midnight.

You have Will Ferrell and Adam McKay to thank for nurturing a new playing field of comics and actors who probably would not have had a shot via traditional development routes.

It's a bonus of the Internet age, as talented people can break their own material via YouTube, Crackle and other hosting sites.

EP Andrew Steele has amassed a veritable who's who of top line talent to dot the vignettes, as you will see array of talent such as Rob Huebel, Wayne Newton, Paul Scheer, Zach Galifianakis, Fred Willard, David Spade, Don Cheadle and more.

One standout sketch was "Drunk History," when a wine-sotted comic tries to re-enact a serious historical conversation between Abe Lincoln (Will Ferrell) and Frederick Douglas (Don Cheadle).

Also debuting on HBO that night is the radio show-turned podcast-turned animated smallscreen effort, "The Ricky Gervais Show," a 13-episode series. And when you add the return of "Real Time with Bill Maher" to the mix, back for Friday nights, not having any plans to go out becomes less problematic.

One standout sketch for me was "Designated Driver"  Donuts with Paul Scheer & Rob Riggle premiering on Funny Or Die Presents Feb. 19th on HBO @ Midnight

Zach Galifianakis sketch