Upright Citizen mocks gamers through showtune

by Justin McElroy { Mar 30th 2007 at 9:15AM }

Sure, a recent MySpace video posted by comedian Matt Bessler (you may know him from such comedy troupes as The Upright Citizens Brigade) has a little fun at the expense of gamers. But there's enough on-the-nose stuff here that it's probably a bit self-deprecating as well. All the classic stereotypes are touched on: Cheeto addiction, pot use, never knowing the touch of a woman, and the soul-crushing, barren emptiness that is the life of the gamer ... no, not you of course. Everybody else.

Bessler may not be breaking down any stereotypes, but he has made a particularly bold musical choice for the video, which the more theatre-savvy among you will recognize as young Cosette's heart-wrenching ballad "Castle on a Cloud" from Les Misérables. Wow, it's almost a shame that musical geeks and gaming geeks aren't warring factions. Bessler could be both Romeo and Juliet. Juliomeo, even. Feel the drama, right after the break.

[Thanks, Ethan]

Tags: comedy, video

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

is @ Mar 30th 2007 9:24AM

I have absolutley NO problem with people ripping on aspects of my life for comic purposes: i believe everything is fair game for comedy, from videogames to VD.

But this just isnt funny? Its cliched, predictable and boring, with no clever bits or witty takes on the subject to make it good.

Poor.

PacoDG @ Mar 30th 2007 9:31AM

Myspace videos are blocked for me for some reason, did a quick search, here it goes from youtube (also so you can embed it in the news post here)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flfnyV7pjR4

(delete this post if you embed the video I suppose)

KilgoreTrout XL @ Mar 30th 2007 9:37AM

It got a laugh out of me, though I've never played san andreas before. It's on PC too?

He looks like Matt Stone.

Greg @ Mar 30th 2007 9:44AM

You spelled his name wrong both times in the second paragraph, just so you know. Fun video, though.

LunarDuality @ Mar 30th 2007 9:48AM

Yeah, I'm with "is" on this one.

I enjoy a little fun-poking in my general direction but this wasn't particularly amusing.

As for the battle between musical geeks and gaming geeks...I'd be stuck in the middle since I'm both (and yes, I know Castle on a Cloud very very very well.)

I guess the musical tastes of gamers are expanding, we've got Les Miz for this and Philip Glass on the GTA IV trailer. Good stuff.

TTL Jericho @ Mar 30th 2007 10:26AM

I know Matt from the Chicago Improv scene. He's a total dick.

Shmil @ Mar 30th 2007 10:38AM

video was lame,
like everyone else said i can take a joke very easily, the video was just bland and not really funny

Miles @ Mar 30th 2007 10:45AM

This hurts. I like the UCB , and this shit is hack. Wow.Why bother?

Boss Tempo @ Mar 30th 2007 10:50AM

Well at least he put on just the right amt of weight to look the part. Chubby bastard. Guess Amy Pohler was the only Upright Citizen to really do anything with herself. Look forward to the next flop from this bozo.

Douggy @ Mar 30th 2007 11:47AM

I don't know, seemed alright to me. Not terribly original, but pretty well done...

Hyrcan @ Apr 3rd 2007 2:17PM

yawn.

Totally agree with poster #1 'is'. While the video is well made and certainly better than anything I could come up with at the moment. The content falls flat...

And GTA? People still play that?

Lamonster @ Mar 30th 2007 12:32PM

Wow, the white thermal pajamas hit a little close to home...haha

CubeGuy @ Mar 30th 2007 2:57PM

Ugh. I'm more offended by the horrible singing. Les Miserables deserves better than that guy. =P

Alphanose @ Mar 30th 2007 3:36PM

Wow... Little Cosette grew up. And is a man, apparently.

NoHitHair @ Mar 30th 2007 6:02PM

"Castle on a Cloud" is not heart wrenching. In fact, Cosette's character provides the embodiment of Les Miserables' underlying message - the intelligent and good die quickly while the apathetic and ignorant entwined lovers survive the horrors of the French revolution. Though not to be taken as a literal interpretation of reality, I felt the musical's metaphorical message was quite clear.

Victor Hugo himself spoke of this irony.