What if Pepperdine had its own comedy to rival that of “The Office?” What if Steve Carell didn’t make his talents exclusive to Hollywood? What if that campy pun-laden so-dense-it’s-clever humor wasn’t exclusive to Thursday nights on NBC?
Sensationalized comparisons aside there is hope. Pepperdine proudly presents its resident sketch comedy broadcast: “The Randumb Show.”
Created in 1995 by then-Pepperdine student Mike Richards (now executive producer of “The Price Is Right”) “The Randumb Show” was the result of Richards being kicked off the news team and being given his own segment on Pepperdine’s TV channel TV-32 where the show airs.
“We produce one episode a month and showcase students’ work executive producer Seth Allison said. It’s the longest-running Pepperdine television show and has been active for 16 years.”
Behind Allison a senior who is also an actor and overseer are his co-producers senior Mishy Turner senior Blake Curtis and sophomore Hayden Christensen (also one of the actors).
As far as humor goes (without spoiling the premiere) “The Randumb Show” seems to be continuing its reputation for more tongue-in-cheek humor mixed with the sort of laughs you might find in an episode of “The Office”: It’s foolish at first glance but upon closer inspection it reveals itself to be quite witty.
“[We’re] a comedy show a lot like Monty Python’s Flying Circus explained Allison. We only put out the freshest funniest flabbergastiest product for our viewers.”
Another thing they share with “The Office”: Steve Carell.
Yeah that Steve Carell.
Through a Hollywood connection Allison managed to schedule an appearance for him on the show’s premiere airing Friday at 6 p.m. in Elkins Auditorium.
“I’m in charge of everything from scheduling the premieres to overseeing people’s sketches to producing/acting in my own sketches Allison said about his role. I also oversee our funny committee.”
The Randumb show airs nightly on Charter cable channel 32 and about two weeks after it premieres on therandumbshow.com and in the form of clips on YouTube.
“Our reel is our YouTube profile said Allison on their affinity toward Google’s video-sharing site. And when your reel gets viewed millions of times and tweeted by Ashton Kutcher you get exposure.” (Yes that actually happened.)
Though their audience is mainly Pepperdine students they aim to reach more of Malibu as a whole through events such as their season premiere events on campus where “everyone is invited to come … it’s more of a community activity Allison said.
We had around 200 people at our last premiere and only around 20 people were not students Allison said.
Also according to Allison, the crew plans to double our audience” at the event Friday and strive to make the show the “most anticipated event of the month.”
To help spread the word they maintain their website a Facebook page a Twitter account (@therandumbshow) and YouTube accounts for just about every actor on the show.
“People watch YouTube videos explained Allison. Lots of people including casting directors agents producers celebrities etc. [They’re] in many ways a moving growing and easily accessible headshot/resume.”
They also accept sketch ideas and donations through their website.
According to their website they run their operation on a “very amateur” student budget spending out of their own pockets for the things that require funding.
During a recent filming session the “Randumb” crew went to work under the Pepperdine bridge near Firestone Fieldhouse.
Christensen in fact had an accidental run-in with the underworkings of the bridge (head meet concrete foundation) which left the shoot in jeopardy. But the crew— true to their “Randumbness”— decided to run with it on the fly writing in a joke concerning the flub at the end of the scene.
It was pure Hollywood Randumb-style.
From the acting to the film equipment the shoots are surprisingly professional complete with top-notch video quality.
“We shoot everything on full digital HD Allison said. We use the telecommunication department’s cameras and equipment as well as our own personal equipment.”
Technology creativity and production quality: it’s all there. And they’re not done yet.
“Steve [Carell] is but a small mint among our vast Candyland castle elaborated Allison. We hope to connect with many more celebrity actors.”
“[We want to be] bigger than Rush bigger than Dance in Flight bigger than Songfest! Probably not bigger than Convo…”
Long story short Pepperdine’s sketch comedy masterpiece is available to you in several different digital flavors airs nightly on cable TV is totally student-run and will feature Steve Carell in an episode. What more is there?
Don’t be greedy just watch the show.