The Jeselnik Offensive

The Jeselnik Offensive was an American late-night television series that aired on Comedy Central. It was hosted by stand-up comedian Anthony Jeselnik, who extended his onstage character into weekly, topical humor with a sociopathic, dark twist. The show primarily consisted of a monologue and two panelists who joined Jeselnik in adding a humorous take on shocking, lurid news stories. The series premiered February 19, 2013, on Comedy Central and was renewed for a second season on April 26, 2013, and aired July 9, 2013.[1] On November 11, 2013, Comedy Central cancelled The Jeselnik Offensive after two seasons, due to low ratings.[2]

The Jeselnik Offensive
GenreDark Humor
Black Comedy
Created byAnthony Jeselnik
Tom Johnson
Presented byAnthony Jeselnik
StarringAnthony Jeselnik
Theme music composerTim Mosher & Stoker
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes18
Production
Executive producers
  • Anthony Jeselnik
  • Christie Smith
  • Jim Sharp
  • Krysia Plonka
  • Monika Zielinska
  • Tom Johnson
Running time22 minutes
Production companyMosaic Media Group
Release
Original networkComedy Central
Original releaseFebruary 19 (2013-02-19) –
August 27, 2013 (2013-08-27)

Format

The Jeselnik Offensive has been described as combination of the late-night comedy series and a podcast.[3] Each episode opens with a monologue from Jeselnik, which focuses on tragic news and dark humor.[3] The following segment can sometimes be a comedic remote or an audience-participation game ("Which Kind of Asian Is This?").[1] Several recurring bits are used: "Sacred Cow" is a segment that takes a subject deemed off limits, and proceeds to make several jokes about it.[3] Each segment uses its platform to tackle such "off-topic" topics as cancer, bullying and missing children through jokes. The following two segments feature guest panelists who continue the wicked take on news.[1] The final segment, "Defend Your Tweet," in which Jeselnik digs up an old tweet by each of the panelists and confronts them with it.[3] At the end of each show, Jeselnik looks back at faux "Best Moments" from the broadcast, and closes the show with his sign-off phrase, "Good night, kids, go read a book."

The series was live at Hollywood Center Studios in Los Angeles.

History

In preparing the show, Comedy Central was looking for a half-hour, four-nights-a-week show following The Colbert Report titled Midnight.[4] Jeselnik's main draw was the monologue, where he felt he could tell jokes that he was unable to do on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, where he worked in 2009. For the pilot, Jeselnik did a test interview with a celebrity but felt "so wrong [...] it just fit me like a bad suit."[5] For the show's first episode, Jeselnik performs cancer-related standup for a cancer support group. "I had to fight with Comedy Central to put that on the first episode," said Jeselnik. The network felt uneasy using the sketch as an introduction.[5] Jeselnik pointed to the premiere episode of Chappelle's Show, in which Dave Chappelle plays a blind African-American Klansman, which he regarded as "one of the edgiest things they ever did." As such, the sketch opened the first episode and received a positive reception; Jay Leno called to inform Jeselnik how much he loved the cancer segment.[5] Season 2 premiered July 9.

Jeselnik revealed in his Netflix Special "Thoughts and Prayers" that Comedy Central threatened to cancel the show after Jeselnik made a joke about the Boston Marathon bombing the day it happened on his Twitter account. After Jeselnik told Comedy Central he would not delete it (once they threatened to fire only him), they then informed him that they would simply cancel the show and fire everyone who worked on the show to which Jeselnik then deleted the joke citing "what I could not do, what I cannot do, is walk up to my cameraman and say, 'Hey, buddy, no work for you on Monday; I had this sweet Tweet.'" [6]

Episodes

Season 1 (2013)
No.
overall		No. in
season		PanelistsOriginal air dateProd.
code		US viewers
(millions)
11Aziz Ansari and Amy SchumerFebruary 19, 2013 (2013-02-19)1011.363[7]

Monologue references: to Christopher Dorner's manhunt, Pope resignation, Catholic Church and HIV/AIDS, North Korea's threats of 2013, Storage Wars' Mark Balelo suicide,[8] naming of park after Ku Klux Klan's founder,[9] Detroit's Osama Bin Laden targets sale,[10] Chris Brown's Porsche crash, Navy SEAL soldier unemployed.

Segments: Who Wore It Better?, Sacred Cow (Cancer, with Christy A. Russell, M.D.), Panel, Show's Best Moments.

During panel, there were additional segments, namely Best Worst Thing of The Week, Worst Worst Thing of The Week, The JonBenét Ramsey Memorial Parenting Segment, Latino Voices, Defending your Tweet.
22Nick Kroll and Patton OswaltFebruary 26, 2013 (2013-02-26)1021.26[11]

Monologue references: ex-pornstar Scarlett Rouge charge with second degree murder,[12] Adam Lanza tried to beat Anders Breivik murder record, Mindy Kaling's new show.

Segments: Black Name Spelling Bee.

Panel references: man was stabbed during a ménage à trois after he refused to change positions, Oscar Pistorius' alleged murder of Reeva Steenkamp and segments Not Buying It[13](about Four Loko) and Defending Your Tweet.
33Billy Eichner and Kristen SchaalMarch 5, 2013 (2013-03-05)103N/A

Monologue references: Hot Air Balloon crash - Egypt hot air balloon crash killing 19 people, Miss Teen Delaware porn video, Boston face transplant recipient,[14] Mindy Kaling new show, 'One Million Moms' Wants Geico Pig Commercial Pulled,[15] Carrie Fisher Bipolar episode,[16] Man who claims to have $7500 of porn stolen,[17] Joe Francis's Girls Gone Wild creator files for bankruptcy,[18] Xavier Nunez who stabbed a classmate with a screwdriver,[19] Bobby Brown convicted of DUI[20]

Segments: Sacred Cow (Missing Children, with private investigator Logan Clarke[21]), Elderly Shaming, What's their problem? and Defending your Tweet.

Panel references: Scott Lively proof that President Obama is Homosexual,[22] Veteran Pornstar Ron Jeremy aneurism heart surgery,[23] Abducted Alabama child,[24] Elder abuse,[25] Tiffany Ennis who Duct Taped Children's Faces and Sent Pictures To Dad,[26] Daytona 500 Crash, Kara Vandereyk caught having sex with pit bull,[27] man broke into a firehouse and masturbated on gear.[28]
44Brian Posehn and Doug BensonMarch 12, 2013 (2013-03-12)1041.12[29]
55Andy Kindler and Brett GelmanMarch 19, 2013 (2013-03-19)1051.266[30]
66Jonah Ray and Jeff RossMarch 26, 2013 (2013-03-26)1061.38[31]
77John Mulaney and T. J. MillerApril 2, 2013 (2013-04-02)1071.206[32]
88Jason Mantzoukas and Natasha LeggeroApril 9, 2013 (2013-04-09)1081.29[33]
99Abby Elliott and Pete HolmesApril 16, 2013 (2013-04-16)1091.23[34]
1010Reggie Watts and Kumail NanjianiApril 23, 2013 (2013-04-23)1100.88[35]


Season 2 (2013)
No.
overall		No. in
season		PanelistsOriginal air dateProd.
code		US viewers
(millions)
111Jim Norton and Amy SchumerJuly 9, 2013 (2013-07-09)2010.655
122David Koechner and Kumail NanjianiJuly 16, 2013 (2013-07-16)2020.551
133Adam Pally and Casey WilsonJuly 23, 2013 (2013-07-23)2030.765
144Doug Benson and Rob HuebelJuly 30, 2013 (2013-07-30)2040.600
155Dave Attell and Joan RiversAugust 6, 2013 (2013-08-06)2050.572
166T.J. Miller and Eric AndréAugust 13, 2013 (2013-08-13)2060.846
177Thomas Lennon and Marc MaronAugust 20, 2013 (2013-08-20)2070.64
188Nick Kroll and John MulaneyAugust 27, 2013 (2013-08-27)2080.613

Reception

The series received positive reviews. Kevin McFarland of The A.V. Club wrote, "The Jeselnik Offensive is one of the best [Comedy Central shows]. It's a highly intriguing and reliably funny take on the late-night format," adding, "Jeselnik and his writers prove that the key to making jokes about touchy subjects is actually being funny instead of simply trying to be edgy."[36]

See also

References
  1. Lacey Rose (April 26, 2013). "The Jeselnik Offensive, Nathan for You Renewed by Comedy Central". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  2. "'The Jeselnik Offensive' is cancelled according to its host", The Laugh Button, accessed November 25, 2013
  3. Kevin McFarland (April 24, 2013). "The Jeselnik Offensive — Finale". The A.V. Club. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  4. Robert Mays (February 22, 2013). "Q&A: The Jeselnik Offensive's Anthony Jeselnik on His New Show, His Stint With Jimmy Fallon, and Trying to Hit a Home Run Every Time". Grantland.com. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  5. Nathan Rabin (March 12, 2013). "Anthony Jeselnik on roasting, ripping off Jack Handey, and giving the devil his own TV show". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  6. "Watch Anthony Jeselnik: Thoughts and Prayers Online - Netflix". Netflix.
  7. Kondolojy, Amanda. "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Tosh.0' Wins Night + 'Pretty Little Liars', 'The Daily Show', 'Snooki & JWOWW', 'Real Husbands of Hollywood' & More". Archived from the original on March 2, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  8. "Mark Balelo found dead". foxnews.com. February 12, 2013.
  9. The park was renamed Health Sciences Park on February 5, 2013. Sainz, Adrian. "Memphis renames 3 parks that honored Confederacy". Retrieved February 6, 2013.
  10. Moran, Lee. "Detroit, Michigan, gun shop pulls AK-47-wielding Osama bin Laden skeleton target after protest by Muslim group". Daily News. New York. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  11. Bibel, Sara. "Tuesday Cable Ratings:'Tosh.0' Wins Night, College Basketball, 'Pretty Little Liars', 'Cougar Town', 'Real Husbands of Hollywood','Justified', 'Face Off' & More". Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  12. "PORNSTAR SCARLETT ROUGE CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER!".
  13. "Four Loko Cans Will Now Make Clear They're Loaded With Alcohol". NPR.org. February 13, 2013.
  14. "Face transplant recipient reveals new look and looks forward to what's next in her life - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com.
  15. "'One Million Moms' Wants Geico Pig Commercial Pulled For Depicting 'Bestiality' (VIDEO)". The Huffington Post. February 26, 2013.
  16. "Carrie Fisher on Bipolar Disorder: 'I've Got to Learn from Catherine Zeta-Jones'". Extra.
  17. "Vintage porn collection worth $7500 stolen". USA TODAY.
  18. Melanie Cohen (May 31, 2013). "The Broke and the Beautiful: Joe Francis Redux Edition". WSJ.
  19. "Xavier Nunez, College Student, Arrested For Stabbing Classmate With Screwdriver". The Huffington Post. February 21, 2013.
  20. "Bobby Brown May Serve Only 9 Of His 55 Day DUI Jail Sentence: Report". The Huffington Post. March 20, 2013.
  21. "Home". loganclarke.com.
  22. Anti-Gay Pastor Posts New ‘Proof’ Obama Is Homosexual
  23. "Ron Jeremy Recovering From Surgery After Heart Aneurysm (PHOTO)". The Huffington Post. February 6, 2013.
  24. "Alabama Boy Held Hostage In Bunker, Gets Funds, Toys From Donors". The Huffington Post. February 21, 2013.
  25. "Elder abuse, use of shelters rising". USA TODAY. January 27, 2013.
  26. "Tiffany Ennis Duct Taped Children's Faces, Sent Pictures To Dad, Ohio Police Say". The Huffington Post. February 25, 2013.
  27. Nadine DeNinno (February 21, 2013). "Kara Vandereyk Arrested: Woman Caught Having Sex With A Pit Bull In Las Vegas [MUGSHOT]". International Business Times.
  28. "Police: Man broke into firehouse, masturbated on gear". WLKY. March 3, 2016.
  29. Kondolojy, Amanda. "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Tosh.0' Wins Night + 'Pretty Little Liars', 'Snooki & JWOWW', 'Justified', 'Real Husbands of Hollywood' & More". Archived from the original on March 16, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  30. Bibel, Sara. "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Tosh.0' Wins Night, 'Pretty Little Liars', 'Justified', 'Cougar Town','Top Gear', 'Dance Moms' & More". Archived from the original on March 23, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  31. Kondolojy, Amanda. "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Tosh.0' Wins Night + World Cup Qualifying Soccer, 'Hardcore Pawn', 'The Game', 'Snooki & JWOWW' & More". Archived from the original on March 30, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  32. Bibel, Sara. "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Tosh.0' Wins Night, 'Hardcore Pawn', 'Justified', 'Cougar Town','The Game', ' Dance Moms' & More". Archived from the original on April 7, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  33. Kondolojy, Amanda. "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Tosh.0' Wins Again + 'Counting Cars', 'The Game', 'Hardcore Pawn', 'The Daily Show' & More". Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  34. Bibel, Sara. "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Deadliest Catch' Wins Night, 'Tosh.0', 'Awkward', 'Storage Wars','Dance Moms' & More". Archived from the original on April 20, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  35. Kondolojy, Amanda. "Tuesday Cable Ratings: NBA Playoffs Win Night + 'Deadliest Catch', 'Tosh.0', 'Storage Wars' & More". Archived from the original on April 27, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  36. "TV Review The Jeselnik Offensive — Finale · TV Club · The A.V. Club". The A.V. Club. April 24, 2013.
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