Off the subject

Off the Subject is an American Public Access Skit-Comedy show in East Central Illinois airing on UPTV at 12 am every Saturday night. The show is Created By, Directed By, Written By, and Stars all members of the Illinois Production Company, Slackers Selection Productions. Members of which include Alex Schopp, Ben Foutch, Derek Clem, Kyle Frederick, Andy Schopp, Tyler Mitchell and Ian Hastings.

Premise
The show follows five guys, a group of "Slacker Buddies", sitting around exchanging various 'what if' scenarios with each other and entertaining the occassional 'off the subject' skit. One of the major dilemas on the show is the constant feuding with the neighbors, which just so happen to be a group of Classic Hollywood Horror Icons, including Dracula, The Mummy, Wolfman, Frankenstein, and Igor. Both neighborly parties are continuously playing childish pranks on each other, everytime looking to one-up what the other just did. But the comedy is fresh and original, and the group shows much passion in their characters and skits. The group shows few boundries in their comedy (or how far they'll go for a joke), and the almost excessive length of their skits tends to become somewhat of a trademark. Another trademark for the show appears to be the groups more-than-obvious obssession with Mountain Dew, which is blatantly obvious in every episode (Reference Episode 2).

Also note the Title Music in the show. It's written and performed by Slackers Selection's own, Ben Foutch. The song is catchy, and does a great job of getting the viewer in a mindset for the show.

Episodes
Episode 1

Episode 1 introduces us to the main characters of the show, as well as a plethora of other "regulars" that stop by. One of the more notable characters to show up is Shred (played by Andy Schopp); an overly patriotic biker with a strong belief that he can do anything that anyone else can do (even if it's clearly unobtainable). We also see a very original sketch entitled 'Redneck Ghost Hunters', in which three "rednecks", (Alex Schopp, Andy Schopp and Ian Hastings) frivolously search out for the ghost of the late Dale Earnhardt. The laughs keep coming with this one, and the conclusion of this is memorable.

Also presented in the episode is the groups unique idea to work in a variety of non-plot-developing skits. At the end of the episode, they turn on the television, and slowly flip through a series of channels all featuring a different skit.

Episode 2

Again the same formula is presented as in Episode 1. The main characters are further defined, and even more side characters are introduced. Most notably, the character After Turnwright is introduced. He appears in a minor skit near the end of the show, but for all intensive purposes, he appears to be a Brittish-speaking sock puppet who enjoys eating books. If nothing else, you can't argue that the character is at least original.

Two very notable skits are presented in this episode. First, the adventure skit tagged 'Wildmen'. In this skit two friends get stuck in the woods (Kyle Frederick and Andy Schopp), and completely overreact about their situation, and revert back to their primal instincts (which of course they know nothing about). The pair does not cease to entertain though, and their complete idiocy is magnified even more by a third member tagging along, Alex Schopp (he does not follow in the other two's footsteps, but remains very much level-headed), who is always quick to point out their ridiculous antics. Alex's character does a great job of keeping the skit based, and the pairing of the two personalities make both sides of the comedy that much stronger.

We also see a skit that probably defines the group more than any in this episode in 'The Dew Skit'. In this skit, the group runs out of Mountain Dew, and we see the carnage and destruction that occurs after. The skit is set in slow-motion and to the tune of Carmina Burana by Carl Orff. The skit does do a great job gaining momentum with the song, peaks at the right time, and climaxes the same. This skit serves its purpose better than probably any other in the show.

Episode 3

Episode 3 is technically labeled as the groups 'Behind-the-Scenes'/Making-Of Episode, yet they create even more off-the-wall and exaggerated characters for themselves than originally on the show.

In the episode we see 'Associate Writer' Derek Clem making his on-screen debut, impersonating a big-wig hot-shot executive involved with the show only to further his career; Andy Schopp as a nudist just wanting to be able to hangout naked every now and then; Alex Schopp as a small 'action figure', complaining about the make-up work needed for every episode; Ben Foutch complaining about the other "amateurs" on the show, adamantly stating that the show and the skits are completely his ideas; Ian Hastings as a foreign something or another(?). His accents go from country to country, and his sexual orientation is very much in question here; and Kyle Frederick as an over-the-top drug and alcohol addict. Look for Frederick's performance to steal the show in this episode, as he hits this character spot on.

Along with the "behind-the-scenes" interviews, we also get to see some deleted scenes from previous skits as well as multiple outtakes from the show. There are a few good laughs in here, but overall, the episode lacks firepower.

Episode 4

In Episode 4 the group strays almost completely away from the comedy and instead turns to creating a mini horror film. The film has a few original twists and spins on it, and pays nice homage to some of the 70's and 80's slashers out there, but overall, is mostly is an excuse for a (low-budget) gorefest.

The film, entitled Fiasco on First Street, follows a killer who shows up at a house one night, and one by one, without reason, starts picking off the guests of the house. The originality of this one is that it's done completely through the eyes of the killer. The film runs for just over 20 minutes, and we get a total of 11 deaths. So the film is at least entertaining. And again, Ben Foutch shines with his original music for the film, creating great mood and atmosphere.

The only comedy of the episode is at the begining in a montage describing what happens when the whole group is not together (in which we see the mass destruction caused by an atomic bomb explosion). Also look for a very random bit of comedy after the credits in this one.

Episode 5

Episode 5 is the first of which Tyler Mitchell is introduced as a regular cast member on the show. The opening skit gets a good laugh (though more to the background sound editing than the material itself), and the group introduces to the audience the idea that group members Andy Schopp and Kyle Frederick may be "more than friends". We see this first in an early skit in which the two look back on previous events, recalling some of the great times they had together. The skit is beautifully done, and is enhanced even more by its pairing with song Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler. The skit starts out funny and gets great laughs, but by the end is more emotional and touching than anything.

We see a few more new characters introduced in the show, as well as an assembling of other previously introduced characters into one skit entitled 'Side-Show Dating'. Derek Clem does a great job as the overly enthused host of the "show", and all of the characters on the panel make for some good laughs as well.

Episode 6

In this episode, the comedy is weak, uninspired at most times, and poorly developed. There are a few funny moments mixed in though. We see Kyle Frederick and Andy Shopp show up again in an skit, this time washing a car. The skit is funny, yet at times almost grotesque. There's also a bit in here with a previously introduced 'redneck' character that is also worthy of a watch. Otherwise though, the episode falls flat.

Word is that tensions ran high among the group, and the tiresome shoot schedule (mixed with the entire groups involvement with full-time jobs), wore on everybody. There were creative and directorial differences among everyone, and by the 6th episode, things fell apart. The group ended the show after the episode and for the longest time made no mention of furture episodes.

However, it now appears that the group is back together, refreshed, and working on Season 2. Season 2 promises to be better quality all around, and the skits more original and thought out. No word on an offical release date yet, but look for some episodes to start hitting the airwaves in mid to late winter.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu