Night Stand

This was on E! when it was actually entertaining, making fun of all those stupid talk shows and doing it well. Tim Stack is a genius.

The 90's brought us a lot of good things and it also brought shows like "Jerry Springer" which is what "Night Stand" is all about making fun of. Whereas "Jerry Springer" was partially scripted and it was all a set-up, "Night Stand" was nothing but a scripted sit com done in the style of trash TV.

Every week the host, Dick Dietrick, or "Dickie" as he was known, would have some characters on the stage to reveal some shocking aspect of their lives to a friend, relative or co-worker, then there would be a surprise guest, a fight might break out and Dickie would give his closing statements on the whole thing.

But it was played straight and that was the genius of it. Dickie would say something innocent to the crowd that could be taken in a different way only to go, "noooo... not like that" when the hooting and hollering would start. Or he'd say when the surprise guest showed up, "oh! I hope there's not going to be a fight, " which invariably there always was.

It was a show that made fun of trash TV and what the TV landscape had become. Too bad it only lasted two seasons and this was before the Jerry Springer show actually came clean and admitted their show was a setup. I would have loved to see Dickie react to that.

I never would have heard of "Night Stand" except for my ex-fiancé who was already a fan when we moved in together. We taped all of the episodes, replayed them and memorized entire sketches. There weren't many shows, but you guessed it, he took all the tapes. :sigh:

It was years before I could keep a straight face while snapping my fingers and saying bewilderedly, "oh people, no no." I used to wait for the chance to say that in staff meetings or anywhere a double entendre needed a quick response.

If "Night Stand" and "Sports Monster" (with Nick Bakay and Joe Bolster) are ever released on DVD, I will die happy.

Let us consider: 'Friends', one of the unfunniest, blandest "comedies", and I use that term loosely here, ever to grace the small screen, is a huge hit. 'Night Stand Starring Dick Dietrick' is hands down the funniest show in the history of television and barely lasted a season. In fact, this show (a satire of Jerry Springer/ Ricki Lake sleaz-oid talk shows) was so dead-on perfect, middle america probably thought it WAS a sleaz-oid talk show and the jokes sailed right on over their heads. Watching this show with my dad, is the only time I can remember the two of us laughing out loud together until South Park came along. I'm telling you, this show was so funny I almost died suffocating myself laughing so hard.

As a complete spoof of the Jerry Springer show, Nightstand was hands down the funniest show around. Repeat guests such as The Amazing Andy, Bob the Sexaholic, Dr. Lonnie Lanier, various audience members, 2Pac Zemekis, and others have VERY unique personalities and some use hilarious catch phrases they use when they greet Dick Dietrick. The show is filled with hidden jokes, inside jokes, and things you must think about before you find it funny. When Dick takes a look at the audience and says, "No no no, people", that is a good clue there was a joke just then. Creative real life names are used like Porkhead and Weiner on MVT (Music Video Television). Timothy Stack is funny just to watch and he plays a PERFECT talk show host. Sadly, the show had about 2 years on Fox I believe and now is using reruns on E! As Dick Dietrick would say, "For now, I'm Dick Dietrick".