The latest episode of The Simpsons had quite the nice tip of the cap to HBO’s Silicon Valley this past weekend by doing a version of the Silicon Valley opening, but over Springfield.
It’s almost a frame-for-frame recreation minus all the tech giants and plus Moe’s, etc.
If you’ve somehow not seen any HBO over the last couple of years and are wondering what all the fuss is about, this is a pretty good opportunity.
As a gift from HBO and their streaming service HBO NOW, you can now watch and share the first episodes of 12 series within their vast acclaimed catalog, free of charge.
This includes Veep, Girls, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Silicon Valley, and Eastbound & Down.
Get into it (or back into it as the case may be for many of you) here.
(via Bloomberg)
Mike Judge is ensuring the satirical nature of his show Silicon Valley hits as close to home as it possibly can.
Dick Costolo, who ran in the sort of tech circles that the show sends up on every episode, now has plot and story run by him for authenticity purposes at the Silicon Valley writers’ room. In a way, it’s as almost if he’s a Neil DeGrasse Tyson for the shows portrayal of tech corporate culture.
Just like people can’t believe the source material that Another Period is actually based on, we’re sure Costolo will also bring something that shows life is stranger and probably funnier than fiction.
You can not only get into the headspace of many today’s top comedy showrunners, but what their headspace is like when they’re all in a room together.
Jill Soloway of Transparent, Robert Carlock of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Kenya Barris of Black-ish, Alec Berg of Silicon Valley, Jay Duplass of Togetherness, and Steve Levitan of Modern Family all came together to sit and chat at The Hollywood Reporter’s fascinating roundtable discussions about their shows and how they fit into the booming and constantly evolving landscape of television.
As you’ll see, there are plenty of the reasons that each one of these shows with these folks at the helm are successful.
Watch the hour long discussion here.
Comedy Central received 26 Primetime Emmy nominations as a network, 9 went to Louis C.K. for his show Louie/hosting SNL/his own stand-up special and Veep, and 7 went to both Silicon Valley and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Actually, Veep, SNL, Inside Amy Schumer, Silicon Valley, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Key & Peele, The Late Show with David Letterman, Louie, The Big Bang Theory, Modern Family, The Simpsons, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, Last Man on Earth, and Last Week Tonight got more than four nominations each.
As far as networks go, Comedy Central racked its 25 Emmys between it plethora of acclaimed series including Inside Amy Schumer, Key & Peele, The Daily Show, @midnight with Chris Hardwick, South Park, Drunk History and The Colbert Report.
Cartoon Network got 4 nominations, Adult Swim received 3, and Funny or Die, IFC, and LouisCK.net all received 2.
Here are the individual nominees in the major categories:
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
black-ish-Anthony Anderson
Episodes-Matt LeBlanc
House Of Lies-Don Cheadle
The Last Man On Earth-Will Forte
Louie-Louis C.K.
Shameless-William H. Macy
Transparent-Jeffrey Tambor
Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series
The Comeback-Lisa Kudrow
Grace And Frankie-Lily Tomlin
Inside Amy Schumer-Amy Schumer
Nurse Jackie-Edie Falco
Parks And Recreation-Amy Poehler
Veep-Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Outstanding Variety Talk Series
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
Late Show With David Letterman
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Outstanding Comedy Series
Louie
Modern Family
Parks And Recreation
Silicon Valley
Transparent
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Veep
Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
Drunk History
Inside Amy Schumer
Key & Peele
Portlandia
Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
Brooklyn Nine-Nine-Andre Braugher
Girls-Adam Driver
Key & Peele-Keegan-Michael Key
Modern Family-Ty Burrell
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt-Tituss Burgess
Veep-Tony Hale
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory-Mayim Bialik
Getting On-Niecy Nash
Modern Family-Julie Bowen
Mom-Allison Janney
Saturday Night Live-Kate McKinnon
Transparent-Gaby Hoffmann
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt-Jane Krakowski
Veep-Anna Chlumsky
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series
The Comedians-Mel Brooks
Inside Amy Schumer-Paul Giamatti
Saturday Night Live-Bill Hader
Saturday Night Live-Louis C.K.
Transparent-Bradley Whitford
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt-Jon Hamm
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
The Big Bang Theory-Christine Baranski
Girls-Gaby Hoffmann
Louie-Pamela Adlon
Modern Family-Elizabeth Banks
Shameless-Joan Cusack
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt-Tina Fey
Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series
Episodes
The Last Man On Earth
Louie
Silicon Valley
Transparent
Veep
Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series
The Last Man On Earth
Louie
Silicon Valley
Transparent
Veep
Outstanding Variety Special
Bill Maher: Live From D.C.
The Kennedy Center Honors
Louis C.K.: Live At The Comedy Store
Mel Brooks Live At The Geffen
The Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special
Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Inside Amy Schumer
Key & Peele
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
Outstanding Writing For A Variety Special
The 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards
Key & Peele Super Bowl Special
Louis C.K.: Live At The Comedy Store
Mel Brooks Live At The Geffen
The Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special
Outstanding Directing For A Variety Series
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Inside Amy Schumer
Late Show With David Letterman
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Outstanding Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program
Between Two Ferns With Zach Galifianakis
Billy On The Street
Childrens Hospital
Key & Peele Presents Van And Mike: The Ascension
Outstanding Interactive Program
@midnight With Chris Hardwick
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
Saturday Night Live: SNL40
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Outstanding Animated Program
Archer
Bob’s Burgers
Over The Garden Wall
The Simpsons
South Park
Outstanding Short-Format Animated Program
Adventure Time
Disney Mickey Mouse
Regular Show
Robot Chicken
Steven Universe
Wander Over Yonder
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance
Bob’s Burgers-John Roberts
Family Guy-Seth MacFarlane
Robot Chicken-Seth Green
The Simpsons-Dan Castellaneta
The Simpsons-Tress MacNeille
The Simpsons-Hank Azaria
Take a good long look at all of this note how this is a transitional period for comedy as the likes of Parks and Recreation, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and The Late Show with David Letterman have come to a close while Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Last Man on Earth signal the arrival of newcomers.
Get the full list of 2015 Primetime Emmy Nominees here.
Following their great roundtable discussion with some of comedy’s most prominent women, The Hollywood Reporter sat down and did the male counterpart in this panel discussion series about the ins-and-outs of comedy as well as doing great/bad impressions.
Amongst those at THR’s table are Fred Armisen…
…and Don Cheadle.
Clueless Gamer has just marked its very first multiplayer episode with a 3-on-3 showdown with Halo 5: Guardians.
Conan O’Brien enlisted the help of Aaron Bleyaert and Andy Richter to take on Thomas Middleditch, TJ Miller, and Zach Woods from Silicon Valley.
The results of the battle are all the trash talking, skill disparity based on generational differences, and bribing that you’d want from a Clueless Gamer battle.
Looks like cable and online streaming networks are still killing it.
Only one network sitcom got an award from this year’s Critics’ Choice Television Awards, which is yet another example of how well cable and Amazon/Netflix/Hulu/etc. are doing.
Last night, the winners were announced, which, in the comedy categories, included:
Best Comedy Series-Silicon Valley
Best Actor in a Comedy Series-Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent
Best Actress in a Comedy Series-Amy Schumer, Inside Amy Schumer
Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series-Bradley Whitford, Transparent
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series-T.J. Miller, Silicon Valley
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series-Allison Janney, Mom
Best Talkshow-The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Best Animated Series-Archer
Louis XIII Genius Award-Seth MacFarlane
You can get the full list of winners here.
We’re not sure where this is all leading in terms of life possibly imitating art, but we’re enjoying the ride.
While the fictional Pied Piper from HBO’s Silicon Valley is supposedly hiring, the show has now added a website for Hooli, the tech company that goes head-to-head at every turn with Pied Piper and is the company that Mike Judge seemingly likes to use the most to satirize the real Silicon Valley with,
Gavin Belson isn’t hiring quite yet, but you can still enjoy the subtle ridiculousness of Hooli’s site here.
Given that he’s eaten beef in record time on Conan, this is all par for the course for TJ Miller.
TJ Miller continues to leave an indelible presence with every talk show appearance as evidenced by his latest sit down with Conan.
As the host of the upcoming Golden Trailer Awards, having a role in the Deadpool movie, and being the subversive Erlich Bachman on Silicon Valley, TJ naturally just talked about the craziest trailer that you’ll possibly ever see, some “unbelievable” details about Deadpool that Marvel might get mad at, and showed how to be Erlich in real life.
From seeing this and every other talk show appearance by TJ, you could easily cut together a full length comedy special.
Apparently, they’re looking to fill very legit sound positions for the company featured on the fictional show.
A few days ago, the Pied Piper site, an extension of the company that HBO’s Silicon Valley is centered around, got updated with some company profiles and more as, per the show’s storyline of bringing a new investor, they’ve got some dough to spend on upgrading Pied Piper.
So, if you’re a Core Compression Library Engineer, API Developer, Unit Tester, or a Video Hacker, Pied Piper is looking for you.
This might be an elaborate joke featuring a bunch of tech nomenclature or, perhaps, Silicon Valley is looking for more consultants to make sure their jokes are logically sound from a tech standpoint. We don’t have any details beyond the job listing.
Even still, maybe they’re going to build a real Pied Piper?
Forget imitating. Life might just becoming art in this case.
The number of times NBC has to bleep out the word “dick” is past midnight is pretty funny just by itself.
Kumail Nanjiani stopped by Late Night with Seth Meyers this week and explained how many of the jokes he makes on Silicon Valley get often quoted to him in inappropriate real life situations, which, given the content of the show, is a lot of the time.
The moral of the story here is that you don’t tell the world’s greatest dick joke without it following you wherever you go.
The season premieres were last night and season renewals were ordered today. If only that happened more often on TV.
There indeed will be a season 3 of Silicon Valley and a season 5 of Veep coming to HBO even though the second and fourth seasons, respectively, have just started.
For those of that you don’t have an HBO subscription, HBO Now looks even more tempting, doesn’t it?
Yes, there is more than just Game of Thrones tonight.
Following Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley and Veep have their season premieres tonight starting at 10PM and 10:30PM on HBO respectively making for one of the best hour blocks of comedy on television.
Do note that this is the last season that Veep’s creator Armando Iannucci will be at the helm and that this is only Silicon Valley’s second season after getting all the accolades as a freshman series.
So, again, don’t miss out.
As a cord cutter, you can now binge watch Veep, Silicon Valley, Last Week Tonight, The Comeback, Girls, Togetherness…
…Curb Your Enthusiasm, Eastbound & Down, Bored to Death, Flight of the Conchords, comedy specials from the likes of Louis C.K. and way, way more.
HBO’s standalone streaming service HBO Now has just launched promising a 30 day free trial before paying $14.99/month for access to all HBO has to offer past, present, and whatever the future holds when it becomes the present. It’s available on Apple TV and iOS right now.
Don’t take our word for it thought, let John Oliver fill you in.
HBO’s Silicon Valley has some “unique” fans.
Season 2 of Silicon Valley is just right around the corner with the premiere set for this Sunday Apr. 12th at 10PM on HBO.
To get us all excited, cast members Zach Woods, Thomas Middleditch, Martin Starr, and Kumail Nanjiani answered some “fan mail” (there’s a real liberal use of the word “fan” here).
Watch it here and take note how to not ask TV series cast members questions.
Shots has been fired and the forces of Pied Piper and Nucleus will be clashing in Silicon Valley.
Not only is the whole Pied Piper gang back, but they’ll be duking it out with Richard’s former boss still from the confines of a house rather than a sleek office building. Just watch and enjoy in this trailer.
The stage is set perfectly for season 2 of Silicon Valley, which will premiere on Sun. Apr. 12th at 10PM on HBO.
The second season of Silicon Valley premieres Fri. Apr. 12th at 10PM on HBO and the whole gang is going to be back in full force, seated comfortably in a repurposed living room at their computers next to their white board with a disgruntled TJ Miller in a robe.
Just check the first promo and then save the date.
One of the sharpest comedy blocks on TV, Veep and Silicon Valley, is set to return Sun. Apr. 12th for their fourth and second season respectively along with something called Game of Thrones (via EW).
HBO just announced a whole row of premiere dates for 2015 for their returning shows as well as announcing that their latest series, the dark geopolitical comedy “The Brink” starring Jack Black and Tim Robbins is coming this Summer (via zap2it).
As The Brink centers on crisis due to a possible nuclear strike through the eyes of a Secretary of State, a veteran pilot, and a government official, this is probably the closest we’ll ever get to a Dr. Strangelove as a TV show, which is something we’re completely on board for.
(via Variety)
If you loved Going Deep with David Rees on NatGeo last year, you’ll be thrilled to hear that The National Geographic Channel is only headed more in that direction for 2015.
Case in point, John Atschuler and Dave Krinsky, who have been involved in producing and/or creating Silicon Valley, King of The Hill, and more are now going to make a comedic world history series for NatGeo. Puppets, sketches, etc. are to be employed in this show, which we’re already excited for.
We are now wondering if they’ll have a segment where they will compare actual time period to ones fictionalized for comedic effect by Mel Brooks’ History of The World Part 1.
With The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail now on Comedy Central, both Jonah and Kumail joined Conan O’Brien in a nice chat covering Kumail’s mom getting grossed out by a certain fictional graffiti logo on Silicon Valley as well as Jonah and Kumail’s hell gig stories and their cartoon crushes that seem to hold true even as adults.
Tickets for San Francisco’s upcoming Outside Lands on Aug. 8th-10th are already sold out. So, if you were somehow able to get tickets or somehow able to get tickets now, be sure to catch the live comedy at The Barbary Comedy Tent.
You’ll get to catch:
Lewis Black
Aisha Tyler
Stars of Silicon Valley
Garfunkel & Oates
The Improvised Shakespeare Company
improv4humans with Matt Besser and guests Chris Gethard, Lauren Lapkus, and Seth Morris
Rory Albanese
Matt McCarthy
The Chris Gethard Show
Aparna Nancherla
Ali Mafi
That’s sounds pretty great to us and you should really look into to getting in somehow if you can.
The Primetime Emmys Announced Their 2014 Nominees
Among the comedy nominees were:
Louie, Silicon Valley, Veep, Modern Family, Orange Is The New Black, Spoils of Babylon, Derek, Episodes, Girls, Parks and Recreation, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, SNL, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Key & Peele, Portlandia, Sarah Silverman, Billy Crystal, Inside Amy Schumer, Between Two Ferns, Children’s Hospital, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, “@midnight”, Archer, Futurama, Bob’s Burgers, South Park, Adventure Time, Phineas & Ferb, Robot Chicken, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Community, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
While not all of these shows got Outstanding Comedy Series, it’s great to see Silicon Valley get nominations in its first season (one of them being Outstanding Comedy Series), Key & Peele get the respect it deserves, and have things like Between Two Ferns also get nominated for an Emmy.
The Hollywood Reporter gathered together comedy showrunners Mike Schur from Parks and Recreation, Jenji Kohan from Orange Is The New Black, Mike Judge from SIlicon Valley, Armando Iannucci from Veep, Jenni Konner from Girls, Chuck Lorre from Two and Half Men (and so many more), and Marc Maron from Maron to chat for awhile about being a showrunner for a comedy series in 2014.
The results are pretty intriguing and enlightening. At one point, due to the modifier asking the entire group a number questions that they qualified with an exemption of Lorre’s shows, Chuck Lorre asked, “What am I doing here?”
Silicon Valley Very Well Might Have Told the Best Dick Joke Ever
Considering how many jokes have been done on the subject of male genitalia throughout the history of comedy, it’s a bold statement to claim that any single dick joke could be the best one.
HBO’s Silicon Valley makes a case for a damn good one. And, to answer your question, yes, it involves complex mathematical equations.
