Whatever Happened To Cult TV Shows?

June 28 marked the release of the movie version of one of Comedy Central's most genius shows -- "Strangers With Candy" -- and it's about damn time. Starring Amy Sedaris as the dumb-witted, sex-crazed junkie Jerri Blank, this show captivated the hearts and minds of several million viewers over a three-season period. After six years of hiatus, she's on the big screen along with director/actor Paul Dinello and Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central's popular mock-news program "The Colbert Report." It's about time the trio reclaimed the roles that got them their initial burst of stardom.\nBased on the same lines as after-school specials from the 70's and 80's, the show changed how viewers looked at cheesy morals presented through said TV specials. Some topics covered included eating disorders, mental disorders, monogamy, virginity, and of course, drugs. In the opening theme of the show, Blank claims to be a 42-year-old high school dropout. She was also "a boozer, a user, and a loser" who went to jail a couple times for a variety of things, including prostitution and larceny.\nSedaris plays the role of Jerri Blank like nobody else -- mainly because herself, Colbert, and Dinello all invented their characters together. Sedaris became Jerri Blank for the role, as did Colbert as history teacher Chuck Noblet, and Dinello as the ambiguously gay art teacher Geoffrey Jellyneck. \nUsing the morals as a common ground, each episode played off like a modern version of the classic 70's TV special. The main character would be presented with some socially unacceptable obstacle, and through the course of the show would have to learn a lesson. Traditionally, a common moral would be presented as the lesson. The "Strangers With Candy" morals vary slightly from the originals though: the moral undergoes an immoral and sometimes perverted twist that makes the show gold for viewers. In an episode about anorexia, the audience learns that anorexia is okay, because it will get people to notice you. In yet another episode, this one about sexually transmitted diseases, the moral is that one should not be ashamed of their STD's, but proud of being the "one in a million" that have one.\nAlthough Sedaris, who has recently written a book entitled "I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence," hasn't done too much since the show was cancelled in 2000, she reclaims her title role in the movie "Strangers With Candy." She's most recently played small roles in big-budget films such as "Elf" (co-starring Will Ferrell) and the movie version of "Bewitched," where she played Gladys, the nosy neighbor of Nicole Kidman's character. In 2005, she also provided her voice for the digital animation movie, "Chicken Little."\nPaul Dinello has also not done much since hiatus from "Strangers With Candy." Other than co-authoring a book with Sedaris and Colbert, titled "Wigfield," he's only appeared on Colbert's "Report" thrice. He played a character named Tad the Building Manager. In most cases, Tad is subjected to Colbert's peer-pressure, which usually ends up negatively for the socially inept Tad.\nThe most successful actor of the three would have to be Stephen Colbert. After ending "SWC" in 2000, he went on to star as himself (although considerably Conservative) in a mockery of "The O'Reilly Factor," called, suitably enough, "The Colbert Report." He's interviewed many famous politicians and celebrities, and has even performed at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in April of this year. The whole scenario was perfectly hilarious and awkward at the same time, for Colbert (as the character of Colbert, witty Republican) basically created his own roast of George W. Many of W's trusted officials walked out during the performance, the First Lady spoke her mind to Colbert afterwards, and even W himself seemed to be incredibly peeved about the situation. Even with a rosy red face, W still managed to shake Colbert's hand after the roast.\nSo how did the three manage to jump through so many loopholes to get their acclaimed TV show made into a movie? The world will never know, but at least America will finally get to know exactly how Jerri Blank made it back into high school at Flatpoint High, especially after all the years of being a prostitute, a druggie, and a sex-addicted alcoholic. A few clips of the movie can be viewed on YouTube, and the teaser and actual trailer of the movie can be seen on most movie sites and in the iTunes Music Store. If you want to see the movie, though, you'll probably have to travel, as the nation-wide release is limited to only a few lucky cities, one being Chicago.