I watched a few episodes as a kid and they kind of disturbed me, I never really liked them.
Over the last few years I’ve found that my sensibilites have changed and become so perverse that, when I watched KITH again for the first time, I was actually laughing out loud and enjoying myself. I can’t remember the last time I was even amused by a television show, but KITH has come to fit my twisted notions of comedy and even expand them.
One thing that I love about them is they have the best collection of short films I’ve ever seen.
Another thing is that they go into surrealism so quickly. They don’t overtly break the fourth wall and play it for laughs like lesser comedies, they mess around a bit with your head.
A good example is Kevin McDonald calling Dave Foley into his office.
Dave: Yes, Mr. Picklefeather?
Dave laughs at the name. Ignoring him, Kevin goes on to explain that the quality of Dave’s writing has been really shitty lately, juvenile even. Dave objects, so Kevin decides to prove his point.
Kevin: We expect a high quality of writing in your skits, here at… (opens his office door to see the name of the company) … Comedy Inc? (incredulous) That’s the best you thought of, Dave?
Dave grins boyishly and Kevin goes onto to explain how base an idea like that is.
Kevin: You’ve even got me hitting you with pies, Dave! That hasn’t been funny in years!
Dave keeps grinning as Kevin takes a pie out of his desk and starts explaining.
Kevin: You see, Dave, teamwork is like a pie…
He goes onto to explain how each fraction of the pie represents something, throwing those fractions at Dave. He saves the last piece for himself. Finally, he sits down at hs desk, having gotten nowhere. He taps impatiently for a long time.
Kevin: You forgot to write an ending, didn’t you?
Dave suddenly looks worried. Kevin throws up his hands in disgust and they just stay like that for a very long time.
They used this premise to bookmark the show. At the end of the show, they returned to the two characters.
Clearly much time has passed. They’re dishevelled and unkempt, facial hair indicative of time. Kevin is writing a “To whom it may concern” letter.
Kevin: we’ve eaten the last of the pie and remained hungry for days now. Even little goldie… (empty shot of the goldfish bowl) … was did not last long.
He goes on with the letter and finally signs off.
Kevin: I love you. Sincerely, … (he doesn’t know his character’s first name. He looks at Dave expectantly)
Dave: Beaufort. (then he giggles at the sound of it)
Kevin: (unimpressed) Sincerely, Beaufort Picklefeather. (Dave is laughing loudly now. He’s so clever)
See? I loved that skit. I’ve never seen anything else like it. It was so well done.
And another reason I like them is because there’s probably a large group of people out there who hate them and are offended/disgusted by them. They haven’t toned themself down to appeal to the widest possible demographic. Great stuff.
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