Middleditch and Schwartz

Last updated

Middleditch and Schwartz
GenreComedy
Created by
Directed byRyan Polito
Starring
  • Thomas Middleditch
  • Ben Schwartz
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes3
Production
Executive producers
  • John Irwin
  • Thomas Middleditch
  • Ben Schwartz
  • Casey Spira
CinematographyJay Lafayette
Original release
ReleaseApril 21, 2020 (2020-04-21)

Middleditch and Schwartz is an American improvisational comedy streaming television series created by and starring Thomas Middleditch and Ben Schwartz. The series of three hour-long performances was filmed at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, and premiered on Netflix on April 21, 2020.

Contents

Premise

Each hour-long episode is based on a random audience suggestion and is entirely improvised by performers Thomas Middleditch and Ben Schwartz. [1]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byOriginal release date
1"Parking Lot Wedding"Ryan PolitoApril 21, 2020 (2020-04-21)
2"Law School Magic"Ryan PolitoApril 21, 2020 (2020-04-21)
3"Dream Job"Ryan PolitoApril 21, 2020 (2020-04-21)

Reception

The series was met with critical acclaim, receiving an approval rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 13 reviews, with an average rating of 8.8/10. The website's critic consensus calls it a "brilliant series of specials sure to spark all kinds of joy" and "a masterclass in improv comedy." [2] On Metacritic, the show has a score of 86 out of 100 based on four reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [3]

Jesse David Fox, writing for Vulture , commented that the series "could have significant ramifications on improv’s position in our culture" by opening the door for other comedians to practice improv professionally rather than in an amateur capacity. [4]

Related Research Articles

<i>Curb Your Enthusiasm</i> American television series

Curb Your Enthusiasm is an American television sitcom produced and broadcast by HBO since October 15, 2000, and created by Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself. It follows David's life as a semi-retired television writer and producer in Los Angeles and, for one season, New York City. Also starring are Cheryl Hines as his wife Cheryl, Jeff Garlin as his manager and best friend Jeff Greene, Susie Essman as Jeff's wife Susie, and J. B. Smoove as Larry's house mate Leon Black. It often features celebrity guest stars, many of them playing fictionalized versions of themselves, including Ted Danson, Richard Lewis, Wanda Sykes, Rosie O'Donnell, and Jon Hamm.

<i>Love</i> (TV series) American romantic comedy-drama streaming television series

Love is an American romantic comedy-drama streaming television series created by Judd Apatow, Lesley Arfin, and Paul Rust. The series stars Rust, Gillian Jacobs, Mike Mitchell, and Claudia O'Doherty. Netflix originally ordered two seasons of the show. The first 10-episode season was made available on February 19, 2016, and a 12-episode second season premiered on March 10, 2017. Netflix renewed the series for a third season one month prior to the second-season premiere. On December 15, 2017, Netflix announced that the third season would be its last. Season 3 premiered on March 9, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Schwartz</span> American actor and comedian (born 1981)

Benjamin Joseph Schwartz is an American actor and comedian. He has guest starred as Jean-Ralphio Saperstein on the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation and Clyde Oberholt on the Showtime series House of Lies; voiced Randy Cunningham in Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja, Dewey Duck in DuckTales, and Leonardo in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; and appeared many times in the CollegeHumor web series Jake and Amir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Middleditch</span> Canadian actor

Thomas Middleditch is a Canadian and American actor. He is known for his role as Richard Hendricks in the HBO series Silicon Valley (2014–2019), earning a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. He has voiced Penn Zero in the Disney XD animated series Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero (2014–2017), Harold Hutchins in Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017), Sam Coleman in Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) and Terry in the Hulu adult animated sci-fi series Solar Opposites. Middleditch also appears in ads for Verizon Wireless.

<i>Youre the Worst</i> American comedy-drama television series

You're the Worst is an American comedy-drama television series created by Stephen Falk. Originally broadcast by FX, the series moved to its sister channel FXX beginning with the second season. The series follows Jimmy, a self-involved writer, and Gretchen, a self-destructive PR executive, as they attempt a relationship, along with their friends Edgar and Lindsay. The series premiered on July 17, 2014.

<i>BoJack Horseman</i> American adult animated sitcom

BoJack Horseman is an American adult animated psychological comedy drama television series created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg. It stars the voices of Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, Paul F. Tompkins, and Aaron Paul. Set primarily in Hollywood, the series revolves around the anthropomorphic horse BoJack Horseman (Arnett), a washed-up star of a 1990s sitcom who plans a return to relevance with an autobiography to be written by ghostwriter Diane Nguyen (Brie). It also chronicles his contentions with his agent, Princess Carolyn (Sedaris), former rival Mr. Peanutbutter (Tompkins), roommate Todd Chavez (Paul), and his declining mental health. The series is designed by cartoonist Lisa Hanawalt, a longtime friend to Bob-Waksberg who previously collaborated on the webcomic Tip Me Over, Pour Me Out.

<i>Lady Dynamite</i> American comedy television series

Lady Dynamite is an American comedy series starring Maria Bamford, and is loosely based on her life. It was created by Pam Brady and Mitch Hurwitz, on Netflix. The twelve-episode first season was released in its entirety on May 20, 2016. The series was renewed for a second season on July 27, 2016. The second season premiered on November 10, 2017. On January 13, 2018, the series was canceled after two seasons.

Sarah-Violet Bliss is an American screenwriter and director best known for writing and directing the independent comedy film Fort Tilden and the TBS dark comedy television series Search Party.

<i>Better Things</i> (TV series) American comedy-drama television series

Better Things is an American comedy-drama television series created by Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K. for FX, starring Adlon as a divorced actress who raises her three daughters on her own. FX gave a 10-episode order on August 7, 2015. The series premiered on September 8, 2016. The series was renewed for a fifth and final season which premiered on February 28, 2022. The series concluded on April 25, 2022.

<i>Casual</i> (TV series) 2010s American TV series

Casual is an American television comedy-drama series that premiered on October 7, 2015, on Hulu. Created by Zander Lehmann and directed by Jason Reitman, it centers on Valerie, a newly divorced single mother living with her brother Alex and her daughter Laura. The cast also includes Frances Conroy and Nyasha Hatendi.

<i>One Day at a Time</i> (2017 TV series) 2017 American comedy television series

One Day at a Time is an American sitcom based on the 1975 series of the same title. Executive producer Norman Lear's company, Act III Productions, approached Sony Pictures Television with the idea of reimagining the original series with a Latino family. Lear had previously executive produced the original series. The series was developed by Gloria Calderón Kellett and Mike Royce, with Lear and his producing partner Brent Miller as executive producers.

<i>Dark</i> (TV series) 2017 German science fiction TV series

Dark is a German science fiction thriller television series co-created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese. It ran for three seasons from 2017 to 2020. The story follows characters from the fictional town of Winden, Germany, as they pursue the truth in the aftermath of a child's disappearance. They follow connections between four estranged families to unravel a sinister time travel conspiracy that spans several generations. The series explores the existential implications of time and its effect on human nature and life. It features an ensemble cast.

<i>Entanglement</i> (2017 film) 2017 Canadian film

Entanglement is a 2017 Canadian romantic comedy-drama film directed by Jason James and written by Jason Filiatrault. It stars Thomas Middleditch, Jess Weixler, Diana Bang, and Randal Edwards, and follows Ben (Middleditch) who forms a romance with Hanna (Weixler) after discovering through various means that they could have almost ended up siblings. This is the first feature film produced through Dark Star Pictures and premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival on March 19, 2017, before being theatrically released on February 2, 2018.

<i>Ugly Delicious</i> 2018 TV series or program

Ugly Delicious is a non-fiction original series on Netflix combining travel, cooking, and history. Each episode highlights one dish or concept, and explores how it is made in different regions and how it evolves.

<i>Silicon Valley</i> (season 2) Season of television series

The second season of the American comedy television series Silicon Valley premiered in the United States on HBO on April 12, 2015. The season contained 10 episodes, and concluded on June 14, 2015.

<i>I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson</i> American sketch comedy series

I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson is an American sketch comedy series created by Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin, with Robinson also starring in most of the sketches. The first season premiered on Netflix on April 23, 2019, while the second season was released on July 6, 2021. The series was renewed for a third season in May 2022, which premiered on May 30, 2023.

<i>Space Force</i> (TV series) American television series

Space Force is an American workplace comedy streaming television series created by Greg Daniels and Steve Carell for Netflix. It centers on a group of people tasked with establishing the sixth branch of the United States Armed Forces, the United States Space Force. It stars Steve Carell, John Malkovich, Ben Schwartz, Diana Silvers, Lisa Kudrow, Tawny Newsome and Jimmy O. Yang. It premiered on Netflix on May 29, 2020, to mixed reviews. In November 2020, it was renewed for a second season which premiered on February 18, 2022, to generally favourable reviews. In April 2022, the series was cancelled after two seasons.

<i>Rutherford Falls</i> American television sitcom

Rutherford Falls is an American sitcom television series that premiered on the streaming service Peacock on April 22, 2021. It was created by Ed Helms, Michael Schur, and Sierra Teller Ornelas. In July 2021, the series was renewed for a second season, which was released on June 16, 2022.

<i>Murderville</i> Comedic murder-mystery television series

Murderville is an American comedic murder-mystery television series with improvised elements developed by Krister Johnson for Netflix. The series is based on the BBC Three television series Murder in Successville. Murderville premiered on February 3, 2022 with the release of all six episodes of the first season.

References

  1. "Netflix Releases Official Trailer For Middleditch & Schwartz, A Collection of Three Completely Improvised Comedy Specials". Netflix Media Center. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  2. "Middleditch & Schwartz: Season 1", Rotten Tomatoes, retrieved May 21, 2020
  3. "Middleditch & Schwartz". Metacritic. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  4. Fox, Jesse David (April 24, 2020). "What If Improv Were Good?". Vulture. Retrieved June 29, 2020.