Spring Break
Lab Rats plan to get 'Stuck in the Maze'
Matt Clark
Issue date: 2/16/07 Section: Entertainment
Lab Rats, which has been taking over live stages around campus since 2003, will soon be taking over your television.
Mississippi State's acclaimed comedy troupe is about to begin airing its own biweekly television show, "Stuck in the Maze." The show is the brainchild of Mike Schatz, current executive producer of the University Television Center's sports program.
"I wanted to branch out and try something different," Schatz said. "I had been to their shows before, so I knew they had talent, and I always wanted to do some kind of comedy show."
The show's format will be comparable to that of Saturday Night Live and will feature a lot of sketch comedy. However, Lab Rats' signature improvisational comedy will also be present.
"We came up with a little different format so it's half sketch, and it shows off their writing, but also the improv is still there," Schatz said.
The show will be a very organized production, including credits and a host. The show will feature two blocks with short commercial breaks. The material for skits, much like those featured in the troupe's live shows, is quite unique.
"Will Cooper is my sketch director, and his assistant is Gabe Smith," Lab Rats manager Chris Tyer said. "I tell them, 'Read newspapers, watch TV, watch the news. Pick and pull things locally, nationally, and try to write stuff about what's going on.' And then some of [the sketches] are just things we find funny. We don't want to just do political humor. We want to make sure that it's open and that we can do anything that we want."
The sketches airing on the first episode of "Stuck in the Maze" include two, titled "Awkward Date," which portrays a date between two nervous people who can't seem to make anything work, and "Happy Last Day on Earth," in which a group of friends reinforces a man's desire to commit suicide.
"They're both extremely funny," Tyer said.
One of the major draw points of Lab Rats' live shows is its uncensored feel. While a little editing is unavoidable, the troupe hopes that the television show maintains the envelope-pushing nature of their act.
Mississippi State's acclaimed comedy troupe is about to begin airing its own biweekly television show, "Stuck in the Maze." The show is the brainchild of Mike Schatz, current executive producer of the University Television Center's sports program.
"I wanted to branch out and try something different," Schatz said. "I had been to their shows before, so I knew they had talent, and I always wanted to do some kind of comedy show."
The show's format will be comparable to that of Saturday Night Live and will feature a lot of sketch comedy. However, Lab Rats' signature improvisational comedy will also be present.
"We came up with a little different format so it's half sketch, and it shows off their writing, but also the improv is still there," Schatz said.
The show will be a very organized production, including credits and a host. The show will feature two blocks with short commercial breaks. The material for skits, much like those featured in the troupe's live shows, is quite unique.
"Will Cooper is my sketch director, and his assistant is Gabe Smith," Lab Rats manager Chris Tyer said. "I tell them, 'Read newspapers, watch TV, watch the news. Pick and pull things locally, nationally, and try to write stuff about what's going on.' And then some of [the sketches] are just things we find funny. We don't want to just do political humor. We want to make sure that it's open and that we can do anything that we want."
The sketches airing on the first episode of "Stuck in the Maze" include two, titled "Awkward Date," which portrays a date between two nervous people who can't seem to make anything work, and "Happy Last Day on Earth," in which a group of friends reinforces a man's desire to commit suicide.
"They're both extremely funny," Tyer said.
One of the major draw points of Lab Rats' live shows is its uncensored feel. While a little editing is unavoidable, the troupe hopes that the television show maintains the envelope-pushing nature of their act.
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