Fuck The Networks

Holy shit, a 5th entry in one day. I'm feeling rather inspired today after a lovely weekend spent in NYC.

I just read on SheckyMagazine.com that Joe Matarese's "What's So Funny?" pilot didn't go over well when he pitched it to a few networks at the Just For Laughs Festival up in Montreal. Here's what Shecky wrote:

"The only show that had actual standup in it was the one envisioned by Joe Matarese and his third cousin, psychologist and comedian Matt Bellace. Their trailer for "What's So Funny" (described by the two as "Premium Blend meets Dr. Phil") featured comics Jim Norton and Artie Lange. The premise is that the comics do standup and then get psychoanalyzed on the spot by Bellace. Their underlying premise being that all comics are fucked in the head and that America would like to look over Bellace's shoulder while he peers inside their skulls. Matarese serves as the liason between the world of psychoanalysis and standup. Of course, we here at SHECKYmagazine are constantly trying to stamp out the notion that standup comics are, as a rule, narcissistic and self-indulgent. Bellace told us (on a later shuttle ride) that he was aware of our crusade. We good-naturedly busted his chops for holding that opinion, even though it was the lynchpin of their entire project.) In spite of our opposition to the nasty stereotypes it might help to perpetuate, we still thought that most of the criticism of it were unfounded. (We think TV execs are narcissistic and self-indulgent! So there!) And that video was well-produced. One more thing: To the exec who doubted that people would find the show entertaining? Uhh... in their quest to create the pitch video, Matarese and Bellace actually did the show at least twice, in front of live audiences and what they showed Thursday afternoon was videotaped evidence that their show was indeed entertaining. All those people howling with laughter and applauding on the tape was our first clue!"

Once again, true standup gets fucked in it's asshole. I guess these execs were following Comedy Central's lead, and would rather give an ethnic hack like Carlos Mencia 30 minutes a week to spew out his tired premises and mug for laughter after each predictable punchline. Yuck.

Here is the trailer that was show at the "Just Pitching It" event at the Festival:

What's So Funny? (Quicktime, 8mb)

May someone out there have the foresight and take care of this wonderful idea. Joe Matarese is a great guy and deserves to have this project get the green light