Racist fruit vendor scores job at new 'Office'

For those of you who maybe forgot that a spinoff for "The Office" was in the works — and in doing so hoped that the whole ill-advised endeavor would simply go away — here comes some news that brings the project one step closer to reality.

Variety reported yesterday that actor/comedian Aziz Ansari is the first member of the yet-untitled sitcom's cast to be hired. What role he'll be playing — doofish boss? lovelorn slacker? a new, exciting stereotype perhaps? — is being kept mum. But executive producer Greg Daniels isn't so tight-lipped as to why Ansari — a member of MTV sketch troupe Human Giant — was picked. "We met him pretty early on and thought he was very funny," Daniels said. "We loved his work in 'Human Giant,' which I'm a huge fan of, as is (co-executive producer Mike Schur), and we have a good character for him."

As good a character as Sinjay, the racist outdoor fruit vendor and certified mutha'ucka from "Flight of the Conchords"? Because I'll admit, I've never watched "Human Giant" (is it on MTV? Yeah, then I've never seen it), and therefore am only familiar with Ansari's portrayal of a prejudiced produce monger, whose misplaced hatred for New Zealanders drove a fruit-deprived Bret and Jemaine to unleash a fury of extended middle digits. But he was funny enough — "You can have fruit from the New Zealand section ... it's for dogs from America and people from New Zealand" — that his involvement in this stupid damn "Office" spinoff malarkey gives me a glimmer of hope that it won't entirely suck.

Also promising is this rumor from E! that the focus of the spinoff will be none other than Karen a-Filippelli, played by button-cute Rashida Jones. Here's what E!!! says: "While one inside source (who has always been reliable) says 'it's true' that Rashida will be a part of the new series, another source inside Rashida's camp says, 'As far as I know, she has not been approached.'" C'mon, E!!!!!!, get your facts straight.

— Adam Reinhard, areinhard@greenbaypressgazette.com

Now playing at the Chuckle Hut: Conchords album to land; Human Giant begins tonight

It's not often I'll direct you to MTV, but fans of sketch comedy who can't believe "Saturday Night Live" is passing off its sad Hillary-Obama commentary as "sharp political humor" should check out "Human Giant."

Don't let the MTV affiliation dissuade you from taking a look. "Human Giant" is the fabric softener scented sock beneath MTV's predictable pile of tween and teen-centric garbage. The show stars indie rock loving smartasses Aziz Ansari, Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel, the latter two making names for themselves on VH1's "Best Week Ever." You might recognize Ansari (right) from a hilarious viral video clip that involved a man losing a bet and being forced to carry around a boom box playing the world's worst mix tape.

(Disclaimer: there's a bad word tossed in the video, along with an even worse Paula Cole song. Hope your eyes and ears can take it.)

Anyway, the show can be hit or miss, but when it's on, it's about as good as you'll find in sketch comedy these days -- at least now that classics like "Kids in the Hall" and "Mr. Show" are only available on DVD. And what of "Giant's" MTV predecessor, "The State?" Yeah, I'm still waiting for that one to be released.

The Season One DVD came out last week and Season Two kicks off tonight at 10 p.m. The DVD also contains footage of their 24-hour MTV marathon from last year that featured appearances by John Krasinski ("The Office"), Rob Riggle ("The Daily Show," unfunny Budweiser pitchman), Will Arnett ("Arrested Development"), Michael Cera ("AD," "Juno") Ted Leo, the National, and an unforgettable gimmick where the "Giant" crew played Aphex Twin's subversive "Come to Daddy" video on a Times Square jumbotron. I think 800 car accidents were reported during that time span.

And while it isn't the most natural segue -- though Ansari did appear on the show as a New Zealand bashing fruit vendor -- the tracklist has been released for Flight of the Conchords' self-titled full length, due in stores April 22. The album follows the Grammy winning (?) "Distant Future" EP and is being issued by Sub Pop.

Not all the songs from the EP made the final cut. And what, no "Tape of Love?"

Tracklist:

"Foux Da Fa Fa"
"Inner City Pressure"
"Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros"
"Think About It"
"Ladies of the World"
"Mutha'uckas"
"The Prince of Parties"
"Leggy Blonde"
"Robots"
"Boom"
"A Kiss Is Not a Contract"
"The Most Beautiful Girl (in the Room)"
"Business Time"
"Bowie"
"Au Revoir"


-- Thomas Rozwadowski, trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com