The Edge

Somewhere in my vast collection of Video Tapes (most of which are in storage) I have every episode of this show. It followed Ben Stiller's superior sketch show, but his show was good too. None of the other user comments mentions that this was really Julie Brown's show. Julie had first had success with the MTV show 'Just Say Julie', and also recorded 'Trapped in the Body of a White Girl' and 'The Homecoming Queen's Got a Gun'. A very funny woman. What first struck me about 'The Edge' was Jennifer Aniston, who looked like, to me at least, a dark haired Christina Applegate. I found it funny, years later, when Christina Applegate turned up on 'Friends' playing Rachel's (Jennifer Aniston) sister. FOX many times gave shows a little time to develop despite low ratings, but Ben Stiller's & Julie Brown's shows weren't recipients of that courtesy. It's too bad, because those were two funny shows.

After Fox declined on furthering "Get a Life," David Merkin's next step towards his run on "The Simpsons" was this little show that had a 9:30 timeslot on Sunday Nights but yet was neglected until it died. Somehow, it lasted a full season but that was a miracle itself.

"The Edge" was a sketch show featuring a great deal of comic talent and ruled with it's non sequiturs and macabre humor. The bowling bag/severed head skit still remains with me to this day, along with "What is Casper the Friendly Boy doing now".

But, the cancellation has a happy ending. Merkin went on to do "The Simpsons" during it's classic years and Wayne Knight went to other, better-paying things.

Since this show is only a memory, I remember it fondly because of Julie Brown who was on MTV regularly as West Coast Julie Brown. Days Of Our Lives' actor, John Aniston's daughter, Jennifer pretty much made her debut in a variety of roles mostly comedic and pushing the edge of comedy and dramatic situations. This show was before MADtv and the Ben Stiller show but aired in regularly prime time viewing. The skits were funny and offensive. I think it would be worth while to have this show's only season out on DVD to showcase Jennifer Aniston, Julie Brown, and the other talented cast members. I only wished that there were more seasons of this show but a season appeared enough. I remember there was a controversial sketch spoofing the hit show, Beverly Hills 90210, that caused even the legendary Aaron Spelling to take action against the network.

Well, even though it wasn't the best sketch comedy show, it was star studded. Of course everyone knows Jennifer Aniston and Wayne Knight, but it was also one of the shows that launched Jill Talley and Tom Kenny into the spotlight and probably helped them get into mr. show. Edd Hall, of Tonight Show fame did voice overs and Alan Ruck(Spin City, Ferris Bueller's Day Off) and comedian Rick Overton rounded up the cast.

A show that people may look back on as a launching pad for young talent in the future.

"The Edge" was by far one of the best primetime comedies ever to be shown. In the spirit of "In Living Color" skits, "Saturday Night Live," and today's "MAD TV," The Edge included raunchy yet smart comic skits such as "The Armed Family," and other greats. It was a great show which unfortunately will never be seen again.