Comedy Bang! Bang!: “Eddie George Wears A Navy Suit And Half-zip Pullover”

In “Schoolboy Q Wears A Patterned Bucket Hat And Glasses,” LaToya Ferguson ponders the qualities that help a guest match Comedy Bang! Bang!’s peculiar cadences, pointing out that it’s an uphill battle for a guest from outside the world of comedy.

Eddie George makes that battle look easy. His earnest assurance and open, expansive presence dovetail with Scott’s persona—tonight, that of the nerd put upon by jocks—to make the whole show flow smoothly.

I was #blindsided by how effortlessly funny this episode is. From the out-of-studio opening sequence that establishes the framing device—Johnny Tigers’ decree that the nerds of Comedy Bang! Bang! and the jocks of Sports Circumference squash their prank war once and for all by swapping subject matter for one fateful episode—to Eddie George’s interview segment to the Sports Circumference supplements, every element worked in harmony… harmony as sweet as that barbershop “Deeeeeeeeeal” that Reggie, Scott, Steve, and Pat belt out to clinch the bet.

Of particular note is Eddie George’s in-universe improv of an apology to Scott for the (fictional) prank of putting a (fictional) snake in his (fictional) locker. It occurs just two minutes into his appearance, and the sudden depth of his sincerity, and of Scott’s vulnerability, promises that this episode will be both deeply silly and completely secure in its silliness.

That brief descent into sentiment is buffered by Scott and Eddie’s string of exotic-burger jokes and Eddie George’s chyron-assisted Super Bowl predictions, both long, successful runs that hit their comic beats and let Scott, Reggie, and their guest share the spotlight—and the punchlines—equally. From fainting at the sight of the Eagles’ emblem (“Their logo looks like a ghost!”) to spiking the flowers Scott hands him, George commits to each bit with game good humor and aplomb. Overall, he’s is breezy, brimming with confidence, and a pleasure to watch.

Some of Comedy Bang! Bang!’s strongest segments and episodes center around affectionate, detailed spoofs of television formats (Talk Show Rescue and Sporty 4:40, It’s A Teardown, Spin 2 Win), and Sports Circumference continues that tradition with note-perfect set design, sound, graphics, and especially performances.

It’s no secret I’m a fan of Cedric Yarbrough, so his consistently funny performance here is no surprise. With a few distinctive gestures and speech patterns, he transforms a sketched-out stereotype into a fully-inhabited characterization. Kyle Bornheimer has made a cottage industry of playing casually cruel bullies and smug jerks from Breaking Bad to Party Down to Marvel’s Agent Carter, and I didn’t expect him to display the same comedic acumen that Yarbrough brings to every appearance—but once again, I was #blindsided.

Their opening play, Who’s Up First?, illustrates how thoroughly and artlessly Steve Smiley and Pat Dantrick plunge into the unfamiliar world of comedy. It balances Pat’s glib recitation of a batting line-up and the reasons behind its changes (a batter with a hot streak and a knack for getting hits off southpaws) with Steve’s giddy amusement. The whole bit is an exercise in making comedy out of the absence of comedy. It’s a standard Comedy Bang! Bang! ploy, and they just plain nail it here.

Dantrick’s detailed breakdown of Flippy and Dippy’s technique in Stupid’s Arrow replicates the sometimes dry tone of sports analysis: “When you’re bonking someone on the head, you want to get that full arm extension like you see here. That way, you can put all your power into the bonking.” Smiley chimes in with both enthusiasm and precision, pointing out the slowpoke defense for the double-pronged eye attack. Their contrasting energy and affect, as well as their rapport, make them a strikingly plausible team of commentators.