In praise of Dr Steve Brule

Following my last post, in which I sang the praises of Rashida Jones from The Office, comes another of my new TV heroes. The new [adult swim] live-action comedy show, Tim And Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! is pretty excellent all-round. For British readers, think Vic & Bob, only more surreal, more puerile and definitely more divisive for the audience.

I'll agree that it won't be for everyone's tastes, but John C. Reilly's cameos as fictional TV station, Channel 5's advice guru, Dr Steve Brule is something that everyone seems to think is fall-down funny. Reilly's displayed his comedy chops in the past, in films such as Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby, Anger Management and Tenacious D: The Pick Of Destiny, but for most of you, John C. Reilly is the well-respected and very serious character actor from Chicago, Gangs Of New York and all of Paul Thomas Anderson's films.

This is why Dr Steve Brule is such a revelation. His spots, alongside Married News Team, Jan and Wayne Skylar (played by Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, respectively), in which he gives advice on how to get those pesky leaves off your driveway ("Just hose 'em off, dummy!"), how to know whether your milk has gone bad or what you should do if you catch fire are just comedy gold.

Also, he brings a more actorly bent to proceedings. Even though his role is a peripheral one and he isn't in every episode, he manages to inject his character with a real sense of pathos. This might seem like a ridiculous statement, seeing as TAEAS,GJ! is only a comedy sketch show (only running at eleven-plus minutes an episode), but Reilly brings a likeability and a certain gravitas to this parade of grotesques and the show wouldn't be the same without him.

Anyway, see for yourself...

The Brule Report - Digestion Problems (The point where Reilly says "That, that was my birthday" is one of the best stand-alone pieces of acting I've seen on a comedy show for a long while.)

Dr Steve Brule - A Special Report On Cool Cars (Just brilliant)

The Brule Report - Cool Clothes

Brule's Rules - Leaves

Brule's Rules - Milk

Brule's Rules - Fire

For your health!