‘Insomniac’
appeals to late-night viewers
By Jill S. Thomsen
On-line Forty-Niner
Insomnia
is defined as prolonged and abnormal inability
to obtain adequate sleep. “Insomniac with
Dave Attell” is defined as a travelogue
of after-hours experiences in cities across
the country. Insomnia could also be defined
as a documentary examining how many bars
comedian Attell can solicit before he begins
to slur his words.
Each episode of “Insomniac” is filmed in
a different city, as Attell seeks out the
local nightlife and graveyard shift personalities
that make the show one of Comedy Central’s
sleeper hits.
Beginning its third season Dec. 5, “Insomniac”
follows Attell as he explores the many occupations
of insomniacs like himself, and exposes
viewers to the unique mix of people who
work and play during the night. The season
premiere takes Attell to Myrtle Beach, South
Carolina.
The show is immensely entertaining for reasons
I cannot really fathom.
Each 30-minute episode begins at 10:30 p.m.
with Attell performing stand-up comedy at
a local club. He then proceeds to frequent
many bars, making friends and enemies along
the way.
People with multiple piercings or extremely
tight clothing seem to gravitate towards
Attell, resulting in a “Girl’s Gone Wild”
meets Anger Management tour vibe.
Amidst the drinking and eating shenanigans,
Attell takes a break long enough to examine
local industries or stores that are still
kickin’ it in the late-night hours. These
could include visits to a steel mill, airport,
theme park and, in a particularly interesting
sidebar, a visit with the production crew
behind a Scorpions concert in Albuquerque.
Those giant stages and lights have to come
down sometime. Attell has also gone on a
police ride-along and attended a late-night
Monster Truck Jam.
Attell’s improvisation makes the show extremely
amusing as he makes comments to and about
the bar-hoppers he encounters. The comedian
has appeared on television shows such as
Conan O’Brien and Late Night with David
Letterman. Attell once served as a writer
and performer on Saturday Night Live. His
many quips and puns, as well as his juvenile
nature, prove to be infectious.
Attell also has a predilection for strip
clubs and tattoo parlors, which are invariably
open late. Many a raised middle finger and
cries of “Hey you’re that guy!” greet Attell
as he roams the streets.
“Insomniac” is shown on Comedy Central and,
true to its name, it can only be found late
night at random times on the network’s schedule.
The show currently airs in Long Beach at
11:30 p.m. Sundays, midnight Thursdays and
Tuesdays at 1:30 a.m.
The show has already been renewed for a
fourth season, which began production last
month.
|
