Mean streak. I’m so embarrassed. My two current favorite television shows are “Stankervision” on MTV2 and “Cheap Seats” on ESPN Classic. Both rely heavily on sarcasm and caustic humor. I laugh.
The hosts of “Cheap Seats,” which makes its third-season premiere at 8 p.m. Monday, are twin brother comedians Randy and Jason Sklar.
The Sklar boys sit on a couch in what is supposed to be the ESPN film library, watch old videos of Grade-B sporting events (refrigerator pulls, wrestling, high-school cheerleading, etc.) and make snide comments.
They’re not just funny, they’re smart. A guest on one of their recent shows was a wrestling grammarian, the back of whose robe read, “Strunk and White.” If you get it, you get it.
“We avoid going for the easy joke,” said Jason.
When we talked, the Sklars were on their way to St. Louis to “save Busch Stadium,” which, like their campaign to get former Cardinals shortstop Jose Oquindo inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, is doomed to failure.
They are so cosmically joined at the comedy hip it was sometimes difficult to tell who was telling which punch line.
A highlight for the boys was baseball’s All-Star Game at which they hung out with Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, a fan of the show. “You forget he’s a 29-year- old young guy,” said Randy. “He gets it. He could not have been nicer.”
A target for them was Denver radio personality Michael Floorwax, seen gagging his way through a 1980s charity golf tournament.
Turns out, they love the guy, and he loves them. In fact, they’re scheduled to appear on the “Lewis & Floorwax” show on KCFR 103.5-FM on Monday morning.
“If you can’t make fun of the stuff you did in the ’80s, you gotta be pretty uptight,” Floorwax said Wednesday. “That was such a big deal to me at the time. I had a big mullet, and nobody’s funny. I like those boys.”
“Cheap Seats” has been a surprise hit. “People tell us all the time, ‘Have you seen …?”said Jason. Added Randy, “And a professional beard and mustache competition. If that’s not sport, I don’t know what is.”
Around the dial
KCNC-Channel 4 reporter Jodi Brooks hosts “After Katrina: A CBS4 Special Report” live from New Orleans at 6:30 tonight … Devotees of what’s going on in New Orleans can tune in WWL at 870 AM for reports. It’s also available online at wwl.com … “Colorado Matters,” hosted by Dan Meyers, takes a two-part look at immigration and the federal visa program today and Friday (10 a.m. and 7 p.m., KCFR 1340-AM) … ABC’s “Primetime” kicks off a new season with Diane Sawyer’s report on a growing trend in America – stepfamilies (8 tonight, KMGH-Channel 7). … Quotable: “The sports are so bad, the well is deep.” – Jason Sklar.
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
