Searching for Sonny - part 2 - World Premiere

[allegrita]

Work, work, work.

You're a giver.

[Lilly]

Francis, in case you're not 100% certain you want to add these guys to you "follow" list, even though they are brilliant performers wrapped up in lovable goofball packaging, I have a little story that might sway you.

I had exchanged a couple of messages with Brian and Nick on Facebook after I met them last year. They had just become the spokesman for the Cartoon Network and were appearing onscreen dressed as the letters "C" and "N" doing little promotional spots between the shows. We don't usually watch the Cartoon Network, but I tuned in out of curiosity to see them.

As many of you know, my younger son is autistic. Although there are a couple of shows he tolerates, he generally hates to have the television on and insists that it be turned off most of the time, so he wasn't at all happy about my having tuned into this unfamiliar network at a time of day he could usually rely on quiet. I explained to him that I wanted to see a couple of guys that his brother and I had met in Texas and then we could turn it off. As soon as they came on the screen, he was captivated by their zany banter and wanted to know when they would be back. We ended up watching the network for quite a while that day trying to catch as many of spots as we could of the "'C' and 'N' guys." Randomly, a couple of weeks later, he proclaimed, "I'm glad those guys exist."

I ended up sharing this story with Brian and Nick (through FB) and offering my own appreciation for the reaction they had gotten from my son. They seemed to be very touched by the story.

Fast forward to Friday night after their live show: I went up and re-introduced myself. We talked a bit about my son -- that he had seen the trailer for Sonny and thought it was funny, and that he hoped to meet them someday.

On Saturday night, they greeted us before the premiere, and we talked a bit afterwards and again at the after party. Sometime after 1am, when about half the people had left, I went over to where Brian and Nick were standing with a handful of other younger people. Brian saw me approaching and said, "Hey, (Lilly) -- what's up?" I told him I had a huge favor to ask him -- I was wondering if I could get him and Nick to just say "hi" to my son on video (recorded on my phone). All I wanted was a simple, "Hi, xxxx -- it's Brian and Nick," so that my son could hear them say his name and know that the greeting was especially for him. Brian immediately called Nick over, saying, "Nick, Nick -- We've got something we need to do for (Lilly)." What I ended up with was a minute-long impromptu skit with Brian introducing himself as Brian McElhaney and Nick also introducing himself as Brian McElhaney. They both appealed to my son by name, each trying to convince him that they were Brian. It was totally improvised on the spot and it was amazing.

So as these two become more and more famous, and the world discovers what a big chunk of the internet already knows, I will always look past the creative genius, lightning fast wit and irreverent, off-the-wall, off-color humor, and see them for the down-to-earth sweethearts they really are.

[wpgrace]

Very cool, (Lilly).

[francis]

Alright, Lilly, they just moved to the top of my list just after Alex and Jason.

[Lilly]

[librarian_7]

Good choice, francis!

I wanted to add a few words about their comedy show, which Lilly and I were fortunate enough to catch Friday night. (I'm figurning, it was sort of part of the whole Searching for Sonny premiere hoopla, and belongs on this thread.)

Okay, first off, the theatre. This was a tiny storefront performance space, located in an, um, less-than-stellar neighborhood in Austin. At least we were able to find it easily, located in a building that shared space with a small (and interestingly colorful) restaurant, and a barber shop. The theatre had a small raised dais as a stage, with no "backstage" area to speak of, and 2-3 rows of seats around it. Lighting and technical gear was tucked back in a corner, and I think there was one tiny dressing room. The best term to describe it is "funky."

The theatre was packed almost to capacity Friday night, with people milling around and searching for seats. I think no one was farther than 15-20 feet from the performers. Brian and Nick came out, and announced that their show would consist of two parts, a sketch comedy section, and an improv section. They also showed one of their recent internet vids, to start off the show.

I don't want to give away the jokes...because the live performance was so hilarious, but I will comment that these two guys can do a sketch, playing multiple roles, and somehow make the audience see costumes, props, and an array of characters on the stage, all with only their words and movements. They are quite astonishingly talented at this.

I was amused, slightly shocked, and laughing until my sides hurt.

After the show, they stood around and mingled with the crowd. It had the feel of a couple of teenagers putting on a show for an extended family group...a really intimate and lovely experience.

And funny. Did I mention funny?

More on this later, but at least this is a start.

Lucky

[fairytoes]

It sounds like you all had a fabulous time at the premiere and at Nick's and Brian's live performance. I love reading every little tidbit about it.
Nick and Brian seem to be really sweethearts .
And how incredibly lovely of Jason to ask you Lucky, if you're okay.
Thank you Alle, Lilly,and Lucky for sharing. And I love the pics.

[Lilly]

Here's a picture of the Q & A...





L to R: Red Sanders, Andrew Disney, Nick Kocher, Brian McElhaney, Jason Dohring, Greg Beauchamp, Jeff Waldron and Alice Wood


Photo op time...

[maggatha3]

Thank you, ladies, for sharing this amazing experience with us. You got to meet and have such a good time and that is exciting on its own, but also, it is really wonderfully sweet to know that those talented young men that we have grown to love are not just talented but also down-to-earth and loving. Real sweethearts!!

[librarian_7]

Hey, I know this article is old, but I ran across it this morning, and wanted to share...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/may ... -spiderman

And you'll see why, when you read it.

Lucky

[Lilly]

I remember that. Very cool to read it again.


And here's a fun interview from the Premiere with Andrew, Brian and Nick: http://uweeklyaustin.com/article/q-a-ca ... onny-3490/


That picture in the article was taken just minutes before the screening...

[allegrita]

I love that interview--it really captures the feel of the night. Imagine trying to corral all that zaniness and energy in a few short questions! It must have been a really fun, crazy experience for the interviewer.

[librarian_7]

Brian and Nick, especially, are so used to riffing off each other, that they are extremely entertaining to listen to. And extremely difficult to keep on topic...

[Lilly]

Here's a review from The Daily Texan: http://www.dailytexanonline.com/life-an ... ic-balance

I'm a tad annoyed with their comment about Jason having "disappeared from the screen" since Veronica Mars , but I'll forgive them because it's a darn good review.

[librarian_7]

I sorta commented, and tried to set the record straight about that "downtime."