12 angry men discuss whether Amy is hot enough for TV

May 6, 2015 8:03 PM

12 Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer Pitch-perfect reenactment of the Sidney Lumet classic. (SLYT - 21 minutes, and worth every one)

Shot-by-shot comparison with the original

posted by likeatoaster (95 comments total)

Were they echoing The Trial of Joan of Arc in the shot of Amy at the beginning?
posted by DirtyOldTown at 8:21 PM on May 6, 2015

Somehow more incredible than I imagined when I heard about it this morning. I imagine this was so cathartic to write.
posted by muddgirl at 8:29 PM on May 6, 2015 [3 favorites]

And of course in the youtube comments there are people talking about whether or not they'd sleep with her, the point of the sketch sailing so high over their heads they can't even see the contrail.
posted by winna at 8:29 PM on May 6, 2015 [31 favorites]

Just that she got to title it "12 Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer" is genius.
posted by Joey Michaels at 8:36 PM on May 6, 2015 [22 favorites]

(and the whole episode tops everything she's done so far - and she's been creating some amazing things lately - golden age of sketch comedy right now)
posted by Joey Michaels at 8:37 PM on May 6, 2015 [2 favorites]

As someone who has seen "12 Angry Men" more times than he can count, this is so beyond awesome.

And I'm convinced the guy playing Jack Warden's role must be related to him somehow.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 8:44 PM on May 6, 2015 [8 favorites]

This was brilliant.

I hope they nicknamed the dildo "Gregory Pecker".
posted by dr_dank at 8:50 PM on May 6, 2015 [20 favorites]

If I were on the MacArthur Grant jury I would be making some phone calls right now.
posted by No-sword at 8:52 PM on May 6, 2015 [18 favorites]

I watched this earlier today and was just blown away by it. It's excellent in pretty much every possible respect.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 8:59 PM on May 6, 2015

Inside Amy Schumer on Fanfare
posted by the man of twists and turns at 8:59 PM on May 6, 2015

I, too, was a Jo guy.
posted by grumpybear69 at 9:01 PM on May 6, 2015

"So you just carry that around wherever you go...in case a dildo based argument breaks out?"
posted by macfly at 9:01 PM on May 6, 2015 [29 favorites]

This has been cropped (apparently to avoid automatic detection algorithms?) and uploaded by an account with a total of 1 video, so chances are it's going to be taken down very quickly indeed.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:08 PM on May 6, 2015

This might actually be Paul Giametti's finest performance ever. I am not kidding.
posted by koeselitz at 9:19 PM on May 6, 2015 [11 favorites]

Nick DiPaolo is well cast since it doesn't require him to say anything he disagrees with.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:20 PM on May 6, 2015 [11 favorites]

"This has been cropped (apparently to avoid automatic detection algorithms?) and uploaded by an account with a total of 1 video, so chances are it's going to be taken down very quickly indeed."

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. But Comedy Central has been putting up complete segments from the show on YouTube fairly soon after it airs -- with last week's episode, the next day. Which hasn't happened yet with this one and given that this is almost the entire episode, they may not end up putting online. Or maybe not as quickly.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 9:23 PM on May 6, 2015

Nick DiPaolo is well cast since it doesn't require him to say anything he disagrees with.

I am convinced that Nick DiPaolo is so obtuse that he still doesn't know what this episode was about.
posted by shakespeherian at 9:27 PM on May 6, 2015 [12 favorites]

I, too, was a Jo guy.

She'd break you in half.
posted by The Gooch at 9:29 PM on May 6, 2015 [15 favorites]

I hope they nicknamed the dildo "Gregory Pecker".

I haven't watched this video yet but I thought the main guy in 12 Angry Men was Peter Fonda.
posted by Ratio at 9:37 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]

Nick DiPaolo is well cast since it doesn't require him to say anything he disagrees with.

Yeah, so this crossed my Twitter feed today, in reference to a recap ranking the hotness of the 12 angry men.
posted by HumuloneRanger at 9:37 PM on May 6, 2015 [7 favorites]

Jeff Goldblum! He's everywhere.
posted by GuyZero at 9:38 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]

This thing is wall-to-wall amazing lines.
posted by GuyZero at 9:44 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]

> I haven't watched this video yet but I thought the main guy in 12 Angry Men was Peter Fonda.

Well, his dad, Henry Fonda.

Damn, that was excellent! I used to show 12 Angry Men to my students when I was a teacher a bazillion years ago. This was a very, very well studied, well written sketch. Bravo!
posted by mosk at 9:45 PM on May 6, 2015 [2 favorites]

"The dying man is right!" As an older guy working in the tech sector with a ton of 20 year olds, this had me roaring.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 9:46 PM on May 6, 2015 [17 favorites]

"I was in my prime in the '70s, and everyone had a shit body. And every woman looked fuckable. We were all hairy, and sweaty, and we screwed all the time. Wasn't so bad."
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 9:55 PM on May 6, 2015 [16 favorites]

If I were to watch this parody would it ruin the ending of 12 Angry Men for me which I still haven't seen?
posted by rancher at 10:05 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]

This has been cropped (apparently to avoid automatic detection algorithms?)

They should do that crop/enlarge thing for every show, legit release or otherwise. Someone was putting Coronation Street up on YouTube that way, and it made things 193% more intense.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:07 PM on May 6, 2015 [2 favorites]

“Women don’t need orgasms — it’s science!”

I laughed so hard, I scared the dog.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 10:11 PM on May 6, 2015 [3 favorites]

I think the cropping on the youtube vid ruins it somewhat. Here's the official link, which requires some sort of log in from one's cable provider. You can usually find episodes of tv shows for download if you google them.

I had to wipe away tears of laughter when I posted it up on fanfare last night.
posted by Catblack at 10:13 PM on May 6, 2015

When the guy says "I thoroughly enjoyed Here Comes the Boom!" and Paul Giamatti gives him that look

that, for some reason, was when I lost it
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 10:44 PM on May 6, 2015 [2 favorites]

Was that Joad Cressbeckler?
posted by Mei's lost sandal at 10:59 PM on May 6, 2015 [4 favorites]

This youtube video really does the real episode a disservice. Its still really funny and the satire is great, but you miss the spot on cinematography and lighting that the better resolution of the streaming version/tv/download version gives you.
posted by kittensofthenight at 11:17 PM on May 6, 2015 [5 favorites]

If I were to watch this parody would it ruin the ending of 12 Angry Men for me which I still haven't seen?

Yes, it ruins the ending and all the major plot points.
posted by zixyer at 11:17 PM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]

I mean all you have to sit through is some ads, might as well watch the real version.
posted by kittensofthenight at 11:18 PM on May 6, 2015

loved it. loved it.

Amy has been discussing this issue (is she hot enough) for some time - like in her interview with Howard Stern: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SryDe59JIs
posted by greenhornet at 12:08 AM on May 7, 2015 [2 favorites]

This is brilliant.
posted by Swandive at 12:10 AM on May 7, 2015

I mean all you have to sit through is some ads,

and get a cable subscription or hulu plus or something
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 12:13 AM on May 7, 2015

Really? I don't have any of that. Just streaming from the Comedy Central site... although maybe it recognizes that we have comcast? I've never logged in or anything, just using regular internet at home (not public wi-fi or something)

ANYWAY I was only trying to stress that this is amazing satire, and the cinematography and soundtrack (And therefore quality) are integral to really getting how amazing this is. I usually dislike when her comedy focuses on how she is unattractive (it makes me uncomfortable) but this is amazing. Some of the lines are just soooooo brilliant and I never expected to see anything like this coming from Amy, its fucking amazing. It is important shit that will totally have an impact, I think especially in boyzone type spaces (or as I like to call them manarchist bro-space) where the technical aspect of something can really undermine it's intent. Luckily this is pitch fucking perfect.
posted by kittensofthenight at 12:23 AM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

I have Comcast and the CC website asks me to log in to watch this video. Maybe you logged in at some other point (Daily Show? Colbert?) and it remembered your info.
posted by sbutler at 12:26 AM on May 7, 2015

Yeah, maybe. That sucks right? Anyway sorry to derail. This is really good. Thanks for the post.
posted by kittensofthenight at 12:33 AM on May 7, 2015

"So you just carry that around wherever you go? In case a dildo-based argument breaks out?" is somehow a perfect line for Kumail Nanjiani. Maybe it's just because it sounds like his speech pattern as Dinesh from Silicon Valley, but it's a perfect line in the mouth of the perfect actor.
posted by Pope Guilty at 12:44 AM on May 7, 2015 [3 favorites]

I liked how obsessed he was with Ganesh's human body, like he's had that conversation before. And even the preceding line bringing it there was great.

Some great weird sidetracks in this.
posted by Swandive at 12:48 AM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

Inside Amy Schumer' Co-Creator Talks '12 Angry Men' Episode
posted by hippybear at 12:52 AM on May 7, 2015 [2 favorites]

Pure win.
posted by hoodrich at 1:40 AM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

I, for one, welcome"reasonable chub" as an acceptable legal standard.
posted by chavenet at 2:35 AM on May 7, 2015 [2 favorites]

It's the standard I use while navigating everyday life.*

I'm not perpetuating the patriarchy here... I get reasonable chubs from blue collar bearded man types generally. If the patriarchy found out, they'd beat me up in the parking lot outside the bar I just left.
posted by hippybear at 2:51 AM on May 7, 2015 [4 favorites]

I've been quietly repeating Goldblum's "donkey dick" line to myself off and on all day

Hung jury.
posted by MonkeyToes at 4:03 AM on May 7, 2015 [6 favorites]

SO. SMART.
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 4:09 AM on May 7, 2015

So glad to see Vincent Kartheiser pop up as a poindexter... and as usual I howled at a few of his deliveries. I didn't recognize him at first. And I think Paul Giamatti might have herniated something this time out - love that he seems to be a regular on the show these days.

But the true stroke of genius is John Hawkes in the Henry Fonda role. There aren't too many Fonda types around any more but they managed to find one.

likeatoaster, thank you for making my day.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 4:38 AM on May 7, 2015 [10 favorites]

My god. Brilliant.

I wish that the audience that needs to hear this would actually appreciate it, but its fantastic for the rest of us.
posted by Twain Device at 4:53 AM on May 7, 2015

This might actually be Paul Giametti's finest performance ever. I am not kidding.

He seems to be channeling Ted Knight with the overemphasized "Hmm?! Hmm?!" during the dildo scene.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 5:04 AM on May 7, 2015 [4 favorites]

We watched this last night via OnDemand (I keep forgetting it's on Tuesday nights) Holy cow. Just an amazing show. Really brilliant stuff. I've seen 12 Angry Men about a bajillion times and found myself chuckling gleefully, throughout this show, at the care Schumer & Co. took in emulating the movie. This was goddamn intelligent television comedy.

It's a bit creepy for me to say this, given my age when the show aired, but...Jo. Definitely, Jo.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:09 AM on May 7, 2015 [3 favorites]

I love Amy Schumer and her subtle attacks on casual sexism. She's just been on fire.
posted by Talez at 5:16 AM on May 7, 2015

Goldblum: I have a donkey dick. Hey, let's take another vote.
posted by leotrotsky at 5:22 AM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

Also...I really liked the...understated...dildo they used in the sketch. It kept the scene at that perfect balance. Had they used something more, shall we say, graphic, it would have hit like a cheap gag and completely broken the atmosphere. I just can't say enough about how well done this episode was. I don't think there was a false step throughout. There had better be an Emmy in this show's future.

And, I really want to see more outtakes.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:24 AM on May 7, 2015 [6 favorites]

But the true stroke of genius is John Hawkes in the Henry Fonda role. There aren't too many Fonda types around any more but they managed to find one.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 7:38 AM on May 7

John Hawkes is a national treasure!
posted by magstheaxe at 5:30 AM on May 7, 2015 [4 favorites]

And I'll give this to Nick DiPaolo: I don't particularly enjoy his comedy, and think many of his opinions are abhorrent, but he was really game for this.


And that final scene- he does "broken shell of a man" really well.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 5:47 AM on May 7, 2015 [4 favorites]

I mean all you have to sit through is some ads,

and get a cable subscription or hulu plus or something

And live in the United States.
posted by jb at 5:50 AM on May 7, 2015 [3 favorites]

Jo. Definitely, Jo.

Could we maybe not do that in here so we don't collapse under the weight of the irony
posted by shakespeherian at 5:51 AM on May 7, 2015 [21 favorites]

This is the best thing I've ever seen. Twice ever.
posted by damnitkage at 6:10 AM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

I preferred Schumer's alternate last line to the judge (from an outtake at the very end of the video):

"But I was on trial for vehicular manslaughter!"
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:04 AM on May 7, 2015 [10 favorites]

First season of Amy Shumer I was really disappointed, and perhaps I didn't watch enough, but it seemed like another woman doing "guys/girls are all like this-comedy." My husband made me start watching this season from the beginning and I am so glad. She really is astute and while sometimes she is banging you over the head with a message (Football Town Nights), sometimes people need to be smacked in the head with a message.
posted by Sophie1 at 7:06 AM on May 7, 2015

OMG, I didn't really get that line the first time except as sort of absurdist, but if you go back and imagine that entire scetch as the unspoken subtext of a jury deliberating in a murder trial...
posted by straight at 7:11 AM on May 7, 2015 [6 favorites]

I was a Jo guy. Girl. Whatever. I actually just wrote about it on my blog.

I liked much about this. I was irritated by the fat guy being all focused on lunch early in the sketch—a stupid, annoying joke about fat people always being obsessed with food, a cheap shot, an easy laugh. The rest of the sketch shows that the writers can do much better, and a joke based on an offensive stereotype really doesn't belong in a sketch satirizing appearance-based sexism.

I haven't seen Amy Schumer before. I'd never heard of her before a couple of recent mentions on MetaFilter, some of which, like kittensofthenight's comment above, express discomfort with her comedy focusing on her appearance, and I had a hair of that watching this. The gorgeous filming, the 12 Angry Men framing, and the wonderful performances really elevated it.
posted by not that girl at 7:28 AM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

I was irritated by the fat guy being all focused on lunch early in the sketch—a stupid, annoying joke about fat people always being obsessed with food

Not just any food, though - he's obsessed with hot dogs. At one point, he declares, barely euphemistically, "What really plumps my frank" in case the symbolism isn't clear enough. And in the closing scene, the character leaves the courthouse, thoughtfully contemplating his wiener on a bun. Subtle Amy Schumer is not.

The only false note was when "the dying man" (ha!) mentions Marilyn Monroe's dress size and John Hawkes's character counters that Schumer's is smaller. The guys who have this discussion in real life neither know nor care about such differences. When it comes to evaluating "hot enough for TV", dress size is not an applicable metric.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:39 AM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

welp looks the video has been pulled -- sorry everyone! But you should go watch the full episode somewhere else because it is great.
posted by likeatoaster at 7:43 AM on May 7, 2015

Were they echoing The Trial of Joan of Arc in the shot of Amy at the beginning?

While the shot did bring to mind one of the many close ups in La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc (and I should know, since my user name is taken from the actress who played Joan in the film), I believe it is actually echoing a shot of the accused from the 12 Angry Men.
posted by Falconetti at 7:48 AM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

The video's been removed.
posted by Philosopher Dirtbike at 8:38 AM on May 7, 2015

The only false note was when "the dying man" (ha!) mentions Marilyn Monroe's dress size and John Hawkes's character counters that Schumer's is smaller. The guys who have this discussion in real life neither know nor care about such differences. When it comes to evaluating "hot enough for TV", dress size is not an applicable metric.

I felt like this was meant as an easter egg for women who are sick to death of this whole "Marilyn Monroe was a size ___" bullshit, or just dress size bullshit in general, complete with the absurdist punchline, "Well, Amy is a size SIX!" (I laughed out loud as someone on the side of it who gets barraged with REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES ONLY A DOG LIKES A BONE--and then has to bite my tongue from participating in this nonsense and simultaneously taking my own "dog's bone" hourglass down a notch by informing them that, actually, at a size 2 at my height I still have a thicker waist and a fatter ass than she did, so whatever the fuck that means for my purported reality as a female shaped object. In other words, I loved this sketch so much.)
posted by blue suede stockings at 8:43 AM on May 7, 2015 [6 favorites]

I have seen people I'm pretty sure were men arguing about Marilyn Monroe's dress size. If you were to go on reddit and post the Pinterest version of that story (that Marilyn Monroe was a size 12 or 16 or whatever), you'd very likely find that many bros have prepared arguments.

Also, that sketch was tight, and I'm anxiously awaiting an official version because I want to show it to everyone I know.
posted by ernielundquist at 8:55 AM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

I was kind of nervous after this season's premiere episode (previously) because I thought every single sketch in that episode was a home run and got worried that somehow she (or the network or something) put all her best material into that one episode. How very, very wrong I was.
posted by mhum at 9:14 AM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

Damn it, this has been pulled from YouTube, and I don't have a cable provider.
posted by ChrisR at 9:27 AM on May 7, 2015 [2 favorites]

Is there anywhere else to see it?
posted by eggkeeper at 10:40 AM on May 7, 2015

Is there anywhere else to see it?

Like most things that require me to log in via my cable provider (which I have btw but refuse to be inconvenienced), the torrent is now in my queue.

Season 3 Episode 3 in glorious HD quality. 2 minute download.
posted by laptolain at 11:46 AM on May 7, 2015 [2 favorites]

Amazon has it on Instant Video for $2. Probably not available outside the US, but it's a legal option for those willing to pay for great satire.
posted by aabbbiee at 1:28 PM on May 7, 2015

Here's a mirror. (That site allows you to download the file or view it in your browser. The viewer seems to take a few moments to appear.)
posted by Rhomboid at 1:28 PM on May 7, 2015 [9 favorites]

I'm watching this right now. Holy shit, it's 21 minutes long. Also, it's not tagged with "Goldblum". How can this not be tagged with "Goldblum"? I mean, come on! It's Goldblum.

Goldblum.
posted by I-baLL at 4:02 PM on May 7, 2015 [3 favorites]

She would shatter you in half.
posted by GuyZero at 4:03 PM on May 7, 2015 [2 favorites]

I hate to be that guy but....


Double-U eeeEEEEEEeeeeennn B C.
posted by I-baLL at 4:13 PM on May 7, 2015 [3 favorites]

And because I'm an asshole:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZBtdvzDns0

Okay, I'm going to stop overposting in this thread now.
posted by I-baLL at 4:27 PM on May 7, 2015

HBO Orders an Amy Schumer Standup Special Directed by Chris Rock
posted by Room 641-A at 6:01 PM on May 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

This is excellent, but Amy needs to find topics other than how fat or ugly she thinks she is.
posted by anothermug at 7:03 PM on May 8, 2015

This is excellent, but Amy needs to find topics other than how fat or ugly she thinks she is.

1. You've missed the point. It's about how fat and ugly OTHER PEOPLE think she is, and the fact that it doesn't actually matter.
2. Like a couple of days ago there was a post about her anti-rape culture sketch, which I'm pretty sure was unrelated to her appearance.
3. I've seen her do standup about her supposed ugliness and it brought the house down.
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:13 PM on May 8, 2015 [3 favorites]

You've missed the point.

I'm not saying it's not funny. I've seen tons of her material (her "Cutting" CD e.g. is excellent), and I've watched episodes of her show over and over again. It's all funny, and I love her material. It sounds a little parental, but I worry about how many of her sketches, and her bits, deal with her appearance. Yes, you're right, the football/rape piece was stellar: I didn't mean to imply that absolutely everything is about her appearance, but lots of it is. For example, 2 of the 3 sketches in episode 2 (Amy as the cop too plain to notice, and Amy as so ugly the boy band wants her to put on makeup) deal with appearance.
posted by anothermug at 7:27 PM on May 8, 2015

I'm not sure I ever think she's being self-deprecating or personalizing those kinds of sketches at all; in sketches like the boy band video it feels very much like she's a proxy for women and their experiences in general. At least that's how I relate to those sketches as a woman.
posted by Room 641-A at 8:02 PM on May 8, 2015 [1 favorite]

Amy Schumer's comedy is about appearance - about her appearance and the way others perceive it, principally. Yeah, that means there are a lot of jokes and sketches about that. I will confess that at times in the past it's seemed overmuch and even a little defensive. But this season, I feel like she's hitting it dead on, and managing to make this about a lot more than just her. She was right to reference Lena "holocaust" Dunham (ha) in this episode; that was a similar deal - a demonstration of how cemented the old standards still are, how unflinchingly they'll be enforced. I am more willing now than I was last season to go with it when she starts dealing with the way she is perceived physically, because it feels like she's really doing something there - unlike, say, Chris Elliott's preoccupation with his purported fatness on "Get A Life," which always felt like a defensive posture masquerading as meta-satire (as brilliant as the rest of that show was).
posted by koeselitz at 9:16 PM on May 8, 2015

not sure I ever think she's being self-deprecating or personalizing those kinds of sketches

Yes, that's a good point. I guess I am thinking of it more simply: no matter whether it's herself or her as proxy, or whether it's funny or not, I'd just like to see more topics. Just like if a lot of her sketches were about firetrucks, I'd say, yes, that's funny, but I want to see topics other than firetrucks.
posted by anothermug at 9:31 PM on May 8, 2015

I'm pretty sure there are other shows which deal with other topics.

Wishing for that one comedian who does that thing with that approach to do something else is actually a bit insulting to that comedian.

"Oh, I wish Rush would play Anne Murray ballads." I mean, really.
posted by hippybear at 9:28 AM on May 9, 2015 [2 favorites]

Also I'm pretty sure that firetrucks aren't a massive and polarizing issue in modern society
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:29 AM on May 9, 2015 [1 favorite]

Also I'm pretty sure that firetrucks aren't a massive and polarizing issue in modern society

I will now cease trying to get my point across. Wow.
posted by anothermug at 9:40 AM on May 9, 2015

bwuh?
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:41 AM on May 9, 2015

I mean do you really think that firetrucks and women being taken to task for their appearances are somehow equivalent? Wow right back at you.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:41 AM on May 9, 2015

I mean do you really think that firetrucks and women being taken to task for their appearances are somehow equivalent? Wow right back at you

The "wow" was because I was using firetrucks as an example, stripped of all connotations and triggers, and I thought it was obvious I didn't mean it literally.
posted by anothermug at 9:44 AM on May 9, 2015

I think we all understand your point, anothermug. We just disagree with it. Comedy is all about connotations. You simply can't strip it out. Amy Schumer writes jokes about what she knows. What she knows is working as a comedian and a woman on TV. So of course her appearance is a frequent topic of her comedy - like they say in the sketch: her appearance is her life, whether she likes it or not. It's like saying Louis CK should make fewer jokes about how he's an old crotchety man.
posted by muddgirl at 9:50 AM on May 9, 2015 [2 favorites]

The "fat guy wants lunch" derail aside, I have to say that Inside Amy Schumer is great in that so many sketches feature performers (male and female) of larger size as characters just having regular lives and doing regular stuff (including romance), and while they are the butt of jokes, it's not usually because of their size, unlike the "lol fat people" humor of like Kevin James or Mike and Molly.
posted by dhens at 6:44 PM on May 11, 2015