We talk a lot about the best show you’re not watching on this blog (Friday Night Lights, Community, Party Down before its unfortunate demise). To that list we now proudly add Delocated.
If you’re a fan of Adult Swim you might have caught Delocated on a random night/morning around 1:45am. The show was created by and stars Jon Glaser, longtime NY comedian and former writer (and performer) on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. If you’ve been around comedy in NY you probably know him, and if you own a TV you’ve probably seen him and not even known it, with appearances on 30 Rock, Human Giant, and Cheap Seats. In his early days he was also a writer on The Dana Carvey Show, which was basically to up and coming comedians as The Outsiders was to young, hunky, male actors (The line-up included Carvey, Glaser, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Louis CK, Robert Smigel, Dave Chappelle and, curiously, Charlie Kaufman. It was pretty much the ’27 Yankees of comedy).
The first season of Delocated comprised six 10-min episodes (and an amazing Paul Rudd cameo), and features Glaser as “Jon,” a member of the Witness Protection Program who agrees to move his family to NY and turn their life into a reality show, despite the fact that this requires wearing masks and using voice modulators.
Vodpod videos no longer available.The show also stars Eugene Mirman as Yvegni Mirminksy, an aspiring stand-up comedian who happens to also be a member of the Russian crime family that Jon ratted out.
Vodpod videos no longer available.The second season has been expanded to twelve 22-min episodes, and with the added length the show has broadened its scope, increased the violence, heightened the drama, and upped the absurdity. It’s a dumb-smart, surreal, brilliant show, capable of silly comedy, and, as we find out in the season two premiere, silly drama. It’s one of TV’s best kept secrets, but unlike “Jon’s” identity this is one secret that should be revealed to all.
Catch up on season one on the Adult Swim website, and then move right onto the new season (below!). Also, catch new episodes Sundays at 10pm, just before Childrens Hospital (which, now that we mention it, is another best show you’re not watching).
Vodpod videos no longer available.Bonus features:
Jon Glaser on Jimmy Fallon last night!
Vodpod videos no longer available.Also, Jon Glaser reads letters from his deceased father, Dave Glaser, to his father’s former band mates ZZ Top. One of the funniest things I have ever heard.
And finally, for extra credit check out the Delocated Blog and the PFFR website.
Jumped The Snark 