How's Your News?

OK, so this was originally part of my Movie Monday post I was working on this morning for posting tomorrow morning before I jet off to spring training for a few days. But, the material was so vast, so funny, and required a certain amount of explanation that it needs its own post.

“How’s Your News?” is a new MTV shot produced by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone about mentally disabled reporters who do newscasts and interview celebrities and stuff. Wowie.

It debuted on Feb. 8 and by the videos I’ve seen, is an absolute riot. If any of you at first glance are offended, don’t worry -- they aren’t making fun of them, just letting them tell a story. And as anyone who has worked with the mentally disabled knows (and the WKTFB have) humor is an important part of life with these people. In fact, their joy and unabashed realism is what they (especially people with Down syndrome) do best. Their honestly and demeanor make for riveting television. Trust me, it’s OK to laugh.

A little background first: the concept started in Massachusetts actually, when a few campers at a summer camp for adults with mental disabilities made a few news tapes. They sent some to Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who predictably loved it. When they got huge with SP, they made a documentary out of some of the HYN tapes and it eventually aired on HBO. Two years ago, they pitched the ideas to a variety of networks, with MTV signing on for the series.

Two of the reporters (Bobby Bird and Sean Costello) are from the original. And if you don’t want to chill with Sean Costello, you are nuttttss. Take a look:





Ho ho how ‘bout a John McCain interview?



And with Bam Margera, who is very ill: