Nirvanna the Band the Show
| Nirvanna the Band the Show | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by |
Matt Johnson Jay McCarrol |
| Written by |
Andrew Appelle Robert Hyland Curt Lobb Matthew Miller Jay McCarrol Jared Raab |
| Starring |
Matt Johnson Jay McCarrol |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Location(s) | Toronto, Ontario |
| Cinematography |
Jared Raab Andrew Appelle |
| Editor(s) |
Robert Hyland Curt Lobb |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Zapruder Films |
| Release | |
| Original network | Viceland |
| Picture format | 1080i (16:9 HDTV) |
| Original release | February 2, 2017 – present |
| External links | |
| Website |
video |
Nirvanna the Band the Show is a Canadian mockumentary television series created by Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol. It premiered on February 2, 2017 on Viceland. It is based off the former web series of the same name.[1]
Premise
The show stars the duo as "Nirvanna the Band," who engage in a series of complex publicity stunts around Toronto in the hopes of landing a gig at The Rivoli despite the fact that they have never actually written or recorded a single song.[2]
The show is a combination of scripted scenes, candid camera footage of people unaware the show is being filmed, and improvisation. Often times the show is influenced by events that happen in reality. For example, in the fifth episode, "The Big Time", creators Johnson and McCarrol used the premiere of Johnson's real life movie Operation Avalanche at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival to film an episode around the concept of the character Matt sneaking a fictional movie of the same name into the festival. In the same episode, a woman unaware of the show being filmed intrudes on a scripted conversation between Johnson and Kevin Smith (appearing as himself), offering Johnson alcohol, which inspired Johnson and McCarrol to include the concept of the character of Matt discovering a love of alcohol in the episode. The show frequently blends the line between fiction and reality in ways like these, with actors breaking character and characters breaking the fourth wall.[3]
Originally created as a web series between 2007 and 2009, it was later expanded into a full television series which premiered on Viceland on February 2, 2017.[4][5] Three episodes were also screened at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival as part of its Primetime program of television projects.[6] The series was originally announced in 2016 as slated to air on City, but was later shifted to Viceland with City airing only the first episode as a preview special.
The characters, Matt and Jay, are based on characters McCarrol and Johnson started developing in high school in Mississauga.[7]
Episodes
Season 1 (2017)
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Banner" | Matt Johnson | Andrew Appelle, Robert Hyland, Curt Lobb, Jay McCarrol, Matthew Miller, Jared Raab | February 2, 2017 | 0.063 |
| In an effort to raise awareness about the band, Matt and Jay drop a huge banner across from The Rivoli. | |||||
| 2 | "The Booking" | Matt Johnson | Andrew Appelle, Robert Hyland, Curt Lobb, Jay McCarrol, Matthew Miller, Jared Raab | February 9, 2017 | 0.053 |
| Matt and Jay book their own gig by sneaking into the music listings page of Toronto's alt weekly newspaper. | |||||
| 3 | "The Bean" | Matt Johnson | Andrew Appelle, Robert Hyland, Curt Lobb, Jay McCarrol, Matthew Miller, Jared Raab | February 16, 2017 | 0.038 |
| The guys try to get a float into the annual Santa Claus parade; challenges abound, and they are left wondering if they will get their Christmas miracle. | |||||
| 4 | "The Blindside" | Matt Johnson | Andrew Appelle, Robert Hyland, Curt Lobb, Jay McCarrol, Matthew Miller, Jared Raab | February 23, 2017 | 0.042 |
| Matt goes temporarily blind on opening day of The Force Awakens. | |||||
| 5 | "The Big Time" | Matt Johnson | Andrew Appelle, Robert Hyland, Curt Lobb, Jay McCarrol, Matthew Miller, Jared Raab | March 2, 2017 | N/A |
| Matt spirals out of control after he sneaks his film into Sundance and becomes a pseudo-celebrity. | |||||
| 6 | "The Boy" | Matt Johnson | Andrew Appelle, Robert Hyland, Curt Lobb, Jay McCarrol, Matthew Miller, Jared Raab | March 9, 2017 | N/A |
| Matt and Jay befriend a sick kid to use his final wish to ask for Nirvanna the Band to play the Rivoli. They wind up showing him the time of his life. | |||||
| 7 | "The Buffet" | Matt Johnson | Andrew Appelle, Robert Hyland, Curt Lobb, Jay McCarrol, Matthew Miller, Jared Raab | March 16, 2017 | N/A |
| Jay writes Matt a letter saying that he is leaving the band. Over a feast at an all you can eat Chinese buffet, Jay tries to work up the courage to read Matt the letter. | |||||
| 8 | "The Bank" | Matt Johnson | Andrew Appelle, Robert Hyland, Curt Lobb, Jay McCarrol, Matthew Miller, Jared Raab | March 23, 2017 | N/A |
| Matt and Jay become unwitting players in a hostage situation. But Matt sees it as an opportunity to finally make it to the Rivoli. | |||||
References
- ↑ "'Can-con bad boy' Matt Johnson: Meet the enemy inside TIFF’s gates". The Globe and Mail. September 9, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
- ↑ "Nirvanna the Band the Show is back – but this time it's bigger and on proper TV". Now Magazine. June 6, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
- ↑ "Thoughts on Nirvanna the Band the Show". Youtube.
- ↑ "nirvanna the band the show". Exclaim!. September 11, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
- ↑ "Viceland’s original comedy ‘Nirvanna the Band the Show’ arrives February 2". Cartt.ca. January 27, 2017. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
- ↑ "Nirvanna the Band the Show to premiere at TIFF". Now Magazine. August 3, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
- ↑ "Nirvanna the Band the Show puts Toronto front and centre in hilarious new show for VICELAND". Now Magazine. February 2, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
External links
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