| Runtime: | ~23 minutes |
| Company: | HBO Independent Productions |
| Creator: | Ben Stiller Judd Apatow |
| Starring: | Ben Stiller Andy Dick (Fox version) Janeane Garofalo (Fox version) Bob Odenkirk (Fox version) |
| Theme Music Composer: | Dweezil Zappa |
| Country: | United States |
| Network: | MTV (1990) Fox (1992–93) Comedy Central (1995) |
| Num Episodes: | 13 |
The Ben Stiller Show is an American sketch comedy series starring Ben Stiller that aired in two iterations, the first series airing six episodes on MTV in 1990, and the second series airing 12 episodes on Fox from September 27, 1992, to January 17, 1993, with a 13th episode airing in 1995 on Comedy Central. The Fox version also starred Andy Dick, Janeane Garofalo and Bob Odenkirk. Character actor John F. O'Donohue also appeared in every episode.
The program featured numerous filmed comedy segments, many of which parodied middle of the 1980s to beginning of the 1990s pop culture. Despite receiving mostly positive reviews, Fox canceled the series after only 13 episodes, due to low ratings.[1] [2]
Unlike most sketch comedy programs, The Ben Stiller Show did not use a studio audience, and was the first ever Fox sketch comedy program not to use a laugh track. The semi spinoff, The Andy Dick Show, used the same format. After cancelation, the series won the 1993 Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program.
The original MTV version of The Ben Stiller Show aired in 1990, and ran for six episodes. It is not available on DVD, although excerpts from the program are featured as a bonus on the release of the Fox series. Produced by Jim Jones, who would go on to produce the Fox series and starring Ben Stiller and co writer Jeff Kahn, it was a self effacing show within a show format.
Part of MTV's pre-Real World and experimental Vid-Com season of 1989 to 1990, it was interspersed with music videos that Ben and company would introduce in their short comedy sketches. Regulars included Harry O'Reilly and Ben's sister Amy Stiller. Guest stars included Ben's parents Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller, as well as John F. O'Donohue, Melina Kanakaredes, Al Lewis and MTV regular Martha Quinn.
Warner Home Video released all 13 episodes of the Fox version of The Ben Stiller Show on DVD in Region 1 on December 2, 2003.[3] [4]
In November 2012, there was a reunion at the New York Comedy Festival with the original cast members.[5] [6] Apatow hosted the reunion which featured Stiller, Janeane Garofalo, Andy Dick and staff writers Robert Cohen and Jeff Kahn. Bob Odenkirk also appeared via Skype video chat.[7]