|
Men
Who Find Themselves Drawn Together:
An Interview with Dave Jeser and Matthew
Silverstein
What
happens when eight cartoon characters stop performing and
start living? Writers Dave Jeser and Matthew Silverstein
wondered the same thing, along with a much more important
question: would somebody pay them to find out?
It
turns out that yes, Comedy Central would. And so these comedy
vets, who have worked on offbeat shows such as Action and
Greg the Bunny, were allowed to produce Drawn Together.
In the end, they've created a show that perfectly captures
the strange narcissism of reality television while completely
skewering cartoon conventions.
The
animated series makes its debut tonight on Comedy Central
at 10:30 p.m. after South Park, with an opener that focuses
on a fairy tale princess discovering she has new dreams
to come true.
I'll
admit that at Comic-Con 2004 I only stayed and watched the
Drawn Together panel because I was tired of walking around.
And then something happened: these guys impressed me with
their sheer commitment to their bit, and then the excerpt
they showed of Drawn Together made my jaw drop from the
sheer wrongness of it all. I was laughing, and felt really
really bad about it.
Then
they revealed that one of their staff writers is only thirteen
years old, and my amusement turned to envy. Then regret
that at my age, I can no longer qualify as a prodigy. Still,
from the depths of my bitterness I mustered the courage
to approach them for an interview. Matt bought me off with
a Drawn Together yarmulke.
And
so, this week, we completed the interview process via e-mail.
I have no idea who answered which question, but I don't
think it matters.
Fanboy
Planet: What kind of screening process did the
characters have to go through to get cast? Dave
and Matt: We'd like to say that we spent weeks
looking through applications but the truth is, everyone
cast was friends with one or another of the Jew producers
on the show.
FBP:
Are there any genres you haven't gotten to skewer yet that
you're trying to get in for a Season Two?
Dave
and Matt: Are you on crack? Season two? I don't
think we'll finish season one. In fact, one entire episode
has already been shelved due to questionable content.
FBP:
Okay, seriously, what inspired you to do this show besides
a naked grab for money?
|
|
|
A dream
...or a nightmare?
|
Dave
and Matt: If you knew what we were getting paid
for this nonsense you wouldn't ask that question.
FBP:
Are there any actual reality stars you would want
to have on Drawn Together?
Dave
and Matt: One man, one name: PUCK. None of us would
be here if it weren't for him.
FBP:
Are there any actual reality stars?
Dave
and Matt: Are there any actual reality moons, hearts,
clovers or purple horseshoes? Think about it... think about
it.
FBP:
Have any companies complained that you're getting too close
to their properties?
Dave
and Matt: If by companies you mean fathers and
by properties you mean their sixteen-year-old daughters,
than yes.
FBP:
What's more damaging to a 13-year-old's mind: watching an
episode of Drawn Together or writing an episode of Drawn
Together?
Dave
or Matt: I'd have to say, being molested by your
priest... or rabbi.
FBP:
Does having a minor on staff put fear into your heart about
your own obsolescence?
Dave
and Matt: He's a pretty heavy user so chances are
he'll be dead or in rehab before that becomes an issue.
FBP:
And how do you top having a kid on staff? What's
next? Trained dogs with word processors?
Dave
and Matt: What? That's impossible. I mean, seriously,
no one uses word processors anymore.
FBP:
How much freedom has Comedy Central given you on
this one? Are there any gags you wanted to do, but censors
killed?
Dave
and Matt: To be perfectly honest, the censors (or
S&P) are totally cool. They don't ever want us to sacrifice
any of the funny and are incredibly fair. The network executives
censor a lot more than the censors do. For the most part,
we see eye to eye with the executives... but their have
been some painful cuts that will hopefully find their way
onto the DVD.
|
