for the uninitiated, Drunk History is a show that got it’s start on Funny Or Die, and will make the jump to Comedy Central next month. the most well-known episode is probably the one where Abraham Lincoln (Will Ferrell) meets Frederick Douglass (Don Cheadle) ppl get drunk, and then recount famous historical events, complete with re-enactments. Entertainment Weekly gave it a pretty good write-up, calling it one of the best new shows of the summer.
the series premiere is currently available on Comedy Central’s web site. just a heads-up, I guess they wanted ppl to enjoy the total viewing experience, so they included the commercial breaks too, hooray!
Washington, D.C. is the focus of this episode. true DC historians may be disappointed to learn that while the episode is heavy on politics, there is no story about DC’s greatest politician, Marion Barry.
The Watergate Scandal – Bob Woodward and (to a lesser extent) Carl Bernstein uncover the break-in at the Watergate Hotel, that lead to the resignation of President Nixon. the guy telling the story becomes ill, and they incorporate it into the scene, by having Woodward vomit during his meeting with “Deep Throat” Nathan Fielder as Bob Woodward; Bob Odenkirk as President Nixon; Fred Willard as “Deep Throat”
Lincoln Assassination – this was the most informative story in the episode, b/c I didn’t know John Wilkes Booth had a brother, much less that they had a sibling rivalry. I think I saw Maya Rudolph sitting behind Lincoln. Adam Scott as John Wilkes Booth; Will Forte as Edwin Booth; Stephen Merchant as Abraham Lincoln
Elvis Meets Nixon – this is the story of when President Nixon made Elvis Presley an honourary federal agent. Elvis later arrests a guy for stealing some jewelry from him, only to let him go, and Elvis also gives him $200. this was my personal favourite of the three. Jack Black as Elvis Presley; Dave Grohl as a member of the Memphis Mafia; Jack McBrayer as Nixon aide; Bob Odenkirk reprises his role as President Nixon
series creator, Derek Waters, makes a cameo appearance in each vignette.
I enjoyed the first episode, and look forward to seeing the other seven episodes. Drunk History premieres July 9 at 10 PM.
netflix: 4/5
imdb: 8/10
My Stupid Blog 