This week on Wits … a special episode of the moments on the show that are just a little off. Sketches and songs that are funny, surprising, moving and weird, where Mr. Rogers turns into a werewolf, letters from Civil War soldiers who are animals, an office trainee who doesn’t understand idioms, a spa filled with insects. Featuring Colin Hanks, Amy Sedaris, Andy Richter, Tig Notaro, Kristen Schaal, Patton Oswalt, Keegan-Michael Key, Loudon Wainwright III, Robyn Hitchcock and more.
Colin Hanks has quickly become one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors. His natural talent and raw energy have secured him a place as one of Hollywood’s young leading men. Colin was nominated for an Emmy and the Critics Choice Television Awards for his role in FX’s critically acclaimed mini-series “Fargo.” Prior to “Fargo,” Colin made several memorable guest appearances on the popular crime series “NCIS,” “Burning Love,” and the Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning series’, “Dexter” and “Mad Men.” On the silver screen, he was most recently seen in the historical drama Parkland and The Guilt Trip alongside Seth Rogen and Barbara Streisand, and he recently wrapped production on No Stranger than Love, a romantic comedy with Alison Brie and Justin Chatwin.
Amy Sedaris is a five-foot Grecian spitfire from North Carolina who studied and performed with Chicago's Second City, an improv and sketch comedy theater. She's a best-selling author and starred in Comedy Central's Strangers with Candy. She has guest-starred on many popular television shows, including Sex & The City, Raising Hope and Hot in Cleveland. She most recently appeared in a several-episode arc on The Good Wife. She has been in several films including Elf, Snow Angels, Puss in Boots and The Best and the Brightest.
Andy Richter has been on television for 20 years, and he can currently be seen every weeknight on "Conan" on TBS. In addition to numerous primetime guest-starring roles, Richter starred in the series "Andy Barker, P.I.," and the Emmy-nominated, "Andy Richter Controls the Universe." His feature film work includes Robert Altman's "Dr. T and the Women," "Elf," "Talladega Nights," and the animated "Madagascar" movies.
Tig Notaro blew people's minds when she performed a set in L.A. last year and talked about her cancer and other troubles. Top-touring comedian Louis C.K. called it "masterful." Tig is known for her Professor Blastoff podcast and her role on Comedy Central's The Sarah Silverman Program. She has been a guest on This American Life, and later this year, she'll be in the film In a World.
Kristen Schaal is unforgettable as stalker fan Mel from HBO's Flight of the Conchords and as Hazel Wassername on NBC's 30 Rock. Kristen currently voices the character Louise on FOX TV's Bob's Burgers and the character Mabel on Disney Channel's Gravity Falls. She and her husband are co-authors of the humor book, The Sexy Book of Sexy Sex.
Patton Oswalt is one of the top touring comedians today. He won hearts as the voice of Remy in Ratatouille. He starred opposite Charlize Theron in Young Adult and with Steve Carell and Keira Knightley in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, and was in TV's King of Queens. Patton is also the author of the essay collection Zombie, Spaceship, Wasteland.
Keegan-Michael Key is best known for starring in the Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning Comedy Central series Key & Peele. He got his start in comedy at Second City Detroit, and later moved on to their Chicago company where he received awards for his writing and performance. While still in Chicago, Key made the jump to TV, starring in Fox's MADtv for six seasons, and scoring reoccurring roles on shows like RENO 911!, FX's Fargo, and USA Network's Playing House. Key can also be seen on the big screen in movies including Role Models, Due Date, Just Go With It, and Let's Be Cops, as well as the upcoming Horrible Bosses 2.
Grammy winner Loudon Wainwright III’s recording career started in 1970 and now includes 25 albums. The latest is Older Than My Old Man Now, which employs Wainwright’s unique mix of poignancy and devastating wit to examine aging. Wainwright’s songs have been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash, Earl Scruggs, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Rufus Wainwright, and Mose Allison, among others. Also an accomplished actor, Wainwright has appeared in films directed by Martin Scorsese, Hal Ashby, Christopher Guest, Tim Burton, Cameron Crowe, and Judd Apatow, and can next be seen in the independent film Pleased To Meet Me, and a one-man-play entitled Surviving Twin.
Robyn Hitchcock is one of the godfathers of alternative rock, and a prolific songwriter, having written and recorded more than 500 songs. He appeared in the 2004 remake of The Manchurian Candidate and Rachel Getting Married. Since founding the art-rock band The Soft Boys in 1976, Hitchcock has played with John Paul Jones, Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings, Peter Buck, Nick Lowe and more.