Stand up Comedian and writer Dave Attell was at the peak of his career when he filmed “Insomniac with Dave Attell” for Comedy Central from 2001 to 2004. Creators at Comedy Central came up with the idea to follow Attell around the cities he performed in after his stand up show each night. “Insomniac with Dave Attell” helped shape a new type of realty television. Attell served as a comic tour guide who wonders through bars, clubs, restaurants and landmarks in different cities in the United States and, in later episodes and specials, around the world. The show was entertaining, interesting and informative.
Here is how Dave Attelle’s show “Insomniac” shaped realty TV.
Who is Dave Attell?
Dave Attell was born in Queens, New York and found his niche in comedy early on. While attending New York University in the 1980’s Attell began to make the New York City comedy club circuit. Not long after he graduated in 1987 with a degree in Communications, Attell got his big break and appeared on VH1’s “Stand Up Spotlight” which was hosted by comedian Rosie O’Donnell. His appearance on “Late Night with David Letterman” in 1993 brought Dave Attell to the attention of “Saturday Night Live’s” Lorne Michaels. Michaels hired Attell to write for the iconic sketch comedy television show. Dave Attell went on to make HBO comedy specials and was a writer and commentator on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show”. Attell never lost his love of performing and continued his stand up routine at comedy clubs throughout the United States.
What was “Insomniac” about?
Comedy Central producers Nick McKinney, Dave Hamilton and Mala Chapple came up with the idea to record Dave Attell after his stand up performances in different cities. Attell would act as a comedic tour guide. The show aired on Comedy Central for four seasons from 2001 through 2004 and followed up with several special episodes following Attell’s performances at comedy clubs around the world. Each episode of “Insomniac” began with the end of Attell’s stand up performance. Attell would then visit famous landmarks, local bars or clubs, and restaurants in the city where he performed. He would be filmed walking the streets taking pictures with a disposable camera and joking with passer-bys. Attell would talk with a local person who worked a late night job. Each show would end with the sun rising and Attell’s tagline “Get Some Sleep!” followed by screen shots of the pictures he had taken that night. The popular show was recorded in towns including New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Boise, Anchorage, Columbus and Honolulu. International cities featured on the show included London, Amsterdam and Dublin.
New Reality TV
Realty Television was not new when Dave Attell’s “Insomniac” aired, but the show did help shape realty TV in many ways. We already unscripted shows like “Candid Camera”, home improvement and game shows, but “Insomniac with Dave Attell” brought a new type of realty television to light. A show could be unscripted, informative and funny. During the time “Insomniac” aired, realty TV took off. We soon saw shows like “American Idol” and “Jersey Shore” were soon entertaining households everywhere. We soon saw a rise in a variety of types of realty shows depicting everything from home improvement, travel and talent shows to shows following groups of young adults and families. “Insomniac with Dave Attell” certainly affected our idea of realty television and inspired many realty series to come. “Insomniac” introduced us to a realty television experience that was as interesting as it was amusing. We continue to see this type of realty TV today.
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