Stella is comedy trio consisting of Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black, and David Wain (all three of whom are alumni of the comedy troupe, The State). The group formed in 1997 as a weekly nightclub comedy attraction, performing at New York City nightclub Fez from 1997 until February 2005. Stella soon gained a wider cult following after a series of self-produced short films became available online at CollegeHumor. Now known for their unique blend of potently mainstream comedy and surrealist humor, Stella has garnered a small but extremely dedicated fanbase.
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Beginnings
Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black, and David Wain met at New York University where they all participated in the school's improv comedy club, Sterile Yak. Other members of Sterile Yak include Thomas Lennon, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Robert Ben Garant, (Reno 911), and Joe Lo Truglio who would all become members of the MTV series, The State. (www.stellacomedy.com), (The History of Stella, Stella: Season One DVD)
The Name
After The State ended, Black, Showalter, and Wain decided to join together and form a stand-up comedy troupe. The group originally performed under the name, Midnight Expressions. They changed the name to Stella when they got their first gig at the New York City nightclub, Fez because the manager who hired them was pregnant at the time, and Stella was to be the name of her daughter. (www.davidwain.com), (The History of Stella)
Short films
From 1998 to 2004 the troupe produced, wrote, and starred in 27 short films, originally intended for screenings at the group's live stage shows. They quickly became popular after being hosted on the internet through CollegeHumor and have since been distributed freely online by fans on video sharing websites such as YouTube and Dailymotion. Some of the actors to guest star in the shorts include Sam Rockwell, Paul Rudd, Janeane Garofalo, and Elizabeth Banks as well as several members of Stella's alma mater The State, such as Joe Lo Truglio.
Television
Before ever appearing on Comedy Central, Stella made a pilot to VH1 called Every Night. It was a late night talk show that included sketch comedy, improv, and material from the shortfilms. The show was not picked up by VH1. Stella had two brief stints on Comedy Central, the first as a one-time Comedy Central Presents adaptation of their stage show in 2004.
In 2005, the network commissioned ten half-hour episodes from the group, as the television series Stella. The resulting episodes were heavily reminiscent of the Stella shorts. As well as starring in the series, the troupe wrote every episode, with Wain directing three. Comedy Central released the complete series on DVD in 2006 which included the complete half-hour Comedy Central Presents special, The History of Stella, and other supplemental features. The complete Episode List, once found at www.comedycentral.com is:
- 1.Pilot- The guys get evicted from their apartment and become increasingly desperate for a place to live. Edward Norton guest stars.
Quotes:"We are three mustachioed business tycoons, and we're hoping to share an apartment."(Showalter)
- 2.Campaign- The guys decide they're not having any fun in their apartment so Michael Ian Black runs for President of the Residence Board.
"You won't be saying that after I kill you." (Wain)
- 3.Office Party- After crashing an office party, the guys enter the corporate business world. Paul Rudd, Joe Lo Truglio, and Sam Rockwell guest star.
"We'll show those guys who the real losers are. Them. Them are the real losers." (Showalter)
- 4.Coffee Shop- The guys decide that a coffee shop would be the perfect place to hangout.Alan Ruck guest stars.
"We're all out of large coffee." (Black)
- 5.Paper Route- The guys take on a paper route and some vicious twelve year old bullies.
Topher Grace guest stars. "I just made an educated guess. I'm a Harvard man." (Wain)
- 6.Camping- The guys take a camping trip to take a break from the stressful rat race. Tim Blake Nelson guest stars.
"You just shot the mountain man!" (Wain) "I thought it was a turkey. I swear to God!" (Showalter)
- 7.Meeting Girls- After a rowdy Friday night out, the guys choose their new relationships over their friendship. Elizabeth Banks guest stars.
"It's Friday night!!!" (All)
- 8.Novel- After meeting a renowned author, the guys take a shot at writing their own book. Janeane Garofalo guest stars.
"Haven't you heard? We're writers now." (Black)
- 9.Vegetables- In an attempt to save money, the guys try to grow their own vegetables...on their apartment floor.
"We'll save ten dollars a month. That's fifty dollars a year!" (Wain)
- 10. Amusement Park- After their day at the amusement park is rained out, the guys decide they need therapy.
"We did it! We did it together!" (All)
Film
Though Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black and David Wain have yet to appear in a feature film as their Stella alter-egos, the three have frequently collaborated on a number of feature films, including:
- Wet Hot American Summer (2001) - Directed by Wain, co-written by Showalter and Wain, starring Showalter and Black
- The Baxter (2005) - Written, directed by and starring Showalter. Black and Wain both have supporting acting roles.
- The Ten (2007) - Directed by Wain, co-written by Wain and Ken Marino, starring Showalter, Black and Wain in supporting roles.
Frequent Contributors
Stella is also known for casting actors they enjoy working with in many of their projects including:
- Elizabeth Banks (Wet Hot American Summer, The Baxter, Stella shorts and TV series)
- Janeane Garofalo (Wet Hot American Summer, The Ten, Stella shorts and TV series)
- Joe Lo Truglio (Wet Hot American Summer, The Baxter, The Ten, Stella shorts and TV series)
- Ken Marino (Wet Hot American Summer, The Baxter, The Ten, Stella shorts and TV series)
- A.D. Miles (Wet Hot American Summer, The Baxter, The Ten, Stella shorts and TV Series)
- Zak Orth (Wet Hot American Summer, The Baxter, The Ten, Stella shorts and TV series)
- Andrea Rosen (The Baxter, The Ten, Stella TV series)
- Paul Rudd (Wet Hot American Summer, The Baxter, The Ten, Stella shorts and TV series)
- Justin Theroux (The Baxter, The Ten)
