"Clark and Michael" on the surface appears to be the search for former "Arrested Development" star Michael Cera to find an online venue for his awkward mannerisms and shy yet humorous demeanor. This web show, upon a closer viewing, proves that the duo of Cera and Clark Duke on a small screen may be a more successful venue for this type of humor than the boob tube was for "Arrested Development," without losing any of the much desired fast-paced humor and deep character and story development.
The story revolves around the desire of these two teens to pitch and gain fame from a television script they devise based on their own lives. The web show is shot on handheld camera, with all of the quick moves and zooms immediately recognized from "Arrested Development." On the small computer screen, the rack focuses and quick cutaways do not ruin the experience. The video quality is really great. The compression is clearly high-quality and there is little artifacting on screen. Close-ups and two-shots are many, lending this show to the small screen as well. Cleverly, the shaky camera moves are integrated into the show with the explanation that the teens hired a film crew to document their journey to fame, at their own expense.
The witty, off-beat humor takes place, primarily, in the apartment that Clark and Michael seem to be living on their own in. This is a huge part of the comedy: that this show consists of two teenagers living, dressing, and interacting like adults, with other adults. They are out there, alone in the market for a job, which makes for some hilarious web television! The apartment location, along with the exteriors and other locations - including offices and bars - are beautifully and professionally lit.
A second element to the success of this show are the random, quirky characters. In the first episode, Clark and Michael's neighbor Randy makes an appearance, and I instantly recognize him as the Mayor from Adult Swim's "Tom Goes to the Mayor." In a random and awkward scene, Randy clearly yearns for the boys' friendship, and invites them to a pasta party in his apartment, promising them 15 varieties of pasta. The boys let him down easy, "its not about variety Randy," and Randy's face of rejection as the door closes on him is hilarious. This web show has a constant, fresh stream of these awkward, funny moments.
Clark and Michael succeed in producing many episodes of this web series in this fashion because they are likable characters and we learn about them as they address each other and talk into the camera. Awareness of the documentary camera is also funny. After the teens are caught crying in the bathroom after an executive passed on their script, they are then scene screaming at who appears to be a PA on the set, "WHAT DOES OUR CONTRACT SAY? NO BATHROOM STUFF! WHY WOULD YOU FILM THIS?"
And so, an executive passed on the boys' script, but after episode 1, it is clear they have only begun to fight for fame. With high quality video and audio, well-framed for the computer screen, this web show definitely has the fast humor and camera work, along with the character and story necessary to captivate its audience for each approx 10 minute webisode. "Clark & Michael" use the elements that made "Arrested Development" so funny, and perfectly transitions them for the web, to prove that television definitely has a life on the Internet.
Webisode Pitch: I would pitch a webisode of "Clark & Michael" as two young kids posing as adults, full of quirky humor as they try to sell a television script they are writing. It's like "Seinfeld" meets "Arrested Development." Lots of awkward moments and embarrassing humor that only these two actors, Michael Cera and Clark Duke, could perfectly deliver.
Monday, May 12, 2008
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