Comedy Bang! Bang! is unique in both its origin (the podcast that beget a network that beget a television show) and its execution. Aukerman and gang are just as happy with a roulette of random sketches as they are with a heavily-themed episode. In “Dax Shepard Wears A Heather Grey Shirt And Black Blazer,” Bang! Bang! attempts a high-minded concept episode that pays off in spades.
Immediately, Mr. Stingy drops in to set up the episode’s frame. The evil landlord conducts an illegal inspection and finds multiple violations (“You’ve completely demolished the fourth wall!”). Aukerman has to raise a ridiculous amount of cash by the end of the show or they will all be evicted. This is a rote MacGuffin for Bang! Bang! by now, Aukerman must do something by the end of the episode or else the show is no longer. Watts suggests the addition of a new roommate and we’re off.
Enter Natasha Lyonne as Katie, a possible new roommate who seems a bit crazy to Reggie (“I’m Katie. I definitely won’t dress up as you and copy everything you do. I’m Katie”), but totally awesome to the host. Leggaro’s doppelgänger/stalker introduces a more subtle layer to the entirety of the episode. Throughout, “Dax Shepard Wears A Heather Grey Shirt And Black Blazer” plays with the line between drama and comedy. This is addressed directly in the Dax segments, but it informs every skit in the episode. It’s the proverbial rug that ties the room together. Bang! Bang! manages to innovate even fifty-plus episodes in.
Shepard demonstrates his acting skills to Aukerman by performing the same line, “Your car is ready,” in a comedic then dramatic way. Both are equally ridiculous and it’s a nice touch to add the honky horn (official name) on the dramatic bit as well. Aukerman then asks Shepard an odd question in a lighthearted tone (comedy!) and Katie steps in to ask the same question in a darkly dramatic tone (drama!). Leggaro is great as a creepy stalker; I was oddly unsettled when she said “I wanted to see how the words feel in my mouth.”