Strangers with Candy (1999–2000) User Reviews

Why do they take good stuff off the air?

[lambiepie-2 · 8/10 · 26 May 2003]

Stranger's With Candy has such a funny premise, and a highly un-believable one that you just have see it to believe it. I loved this series, bravo for Comedy Central to show it. In some respects it was like a very warped after school special but mixed in were themes of older adults trying to attend 'school', to compete against youngsters, and re-live a hey-day they never had in the first place.

Jeri is a character that is trying to get her life back ontrack, and at her age, she went right back to the beginning, the high school she dropped out of. Oh -- gosh-- how funny it would be to see ANY of the high school drop outs decide to go back after 15, 20, 25 years of leaving and to RE-LIVE that horror all over again!!!

This series was funny, bittersweet, and yes, more like a warped after school special but the question "Strangers With Candy" asked that we all should be asking is:

"Do I set my work aspirations higher or do I chose to work at the plastic flower plant plant like everyone else?"

Learning all the right lessons the wrong way.

[Daleylife · 8/10 · 11 January 2007]

"Strangers With Candy" is the clever show from the comedy team of "Exit 57." Jeri Blank is 46 and just got out of prison. She decides to start her life over, and that means entering high school as a freshman. As she starts her life over, she learns life's important lessons, all the wrong way. The show is hilarious in all respects. The show follows the old formula of each episode dealing with one situation of a teenager's life and how they learn from it. However, things are warped in this show's universe. I tell you, laughing will never stop. The show is filled with one liners, characters are hilariously funny, situations are turned upside down, and each end credits segment has a unique dance sequence! Pick up the Series DVD today!

Ridiculously funny

[roseanddavid-57620 · 8/10 · 19 December 2019]

This show is about doing a 46 year old high school student who is doing "all the wrong thing right". This show isnt meant to make since. Its ridiculously funny as hell. Makes you say wtf.

Insidious!!!

[SheBear · 6 August 2004]

Words cannot explain Strangers with Candy. You need to see it to believe it and even then you'll be scratching your head in disbelief (while laughing your ass off of course).

The premise is that of a sick and twisted after school special from hell where all of the wrong lessons are learned. (Great one from Jellineck – `if you're going to smoke marijuana you have to be prepared to spend a lot of time laughing with your friends').

It is one of the smartest, subversive and exhilaratingly un-pc shows ever. It a makes fun of authority figures, the handicapped, minorities and that's just for starters. Each episode is crammed with one-liners and sight gags so numerous they'll make your head spin.

It's all in the delivery, folks. Principal Blackman (Gregory Hollimon), Noblet (Steven Colbert) and Jellineck (Paul Dinello) are all pitch perfect. In the hands of lesser talents these jokes would fall flat. The show has huge laughs. The entire Hit & Run episode comes to mind, as does the scene in The Virgin Jerri when Drake removes Jerri's toe separator from her filthy feet and sniffs it lustily or when Jerri recites the poem Packing a Musket to the class.

I could go on and on but just trust me - you HAVE to watch this show.

Worship!

[ppiiaa22 · 10/10 · 1 January 2012]

To me, this is perhaps the best comedy show ever written and acted. I just re-watched it to be sure. Amy Sedaris is too good! Stephen Colbert does a good job, but Paul Dinello goes further!

The writing is totally free and making fun of all we cannot mention, without using forbidden words. That is the beauty, they dance around, and make that a skit on its own. The words are so clever, so free flowing!

Dissecting morality is always great. If you make it funny, it is grand!

This show makes me want to get a kitten and forget to feed it! Nooooo!

This is a sharp and deadly show. We need more!

Brilliantly absurd sitcom.

[sonya90028 · 10/10 · 17 October 2008]

I never saw Strangers With Candy, when it was on Comedy Central. Trolling the Video store one afternoon, I decided that I wanted to rent a comedy DVD. So I thought I'd check this one out.

Amy Sedaris (David Sedaris' sister), stars as Gerri Blank, a 46-year-old high school student. Seems that Gerri never got the chance to finish school when she was still a teen, due to her being a drug addict/prisoner. So, after being released from her lengthy prison-stint, Gerri decides to return to high school.

Gerri is also living at home with her catatonic father, surly younger brother, and antagonistic step-mother. Ridiculed by her classmates and teachers at school, Gerri's family doesn't treat her much better. Daily, Gerri struggles to win approval, while those around her consider her to be a pathetic specimen of humanity. She tries so hard to succeed both socially and academically, that the viewer can't help but root for Gerri.

The other characters in this show are a menagerie of off-beat, bizarre, people. Be forewarned, this is not a P.C. show. It regularly pokes fun at minorities, women, drug addiction, etc. It's all clearly done in a tongue-and-cheek way, though. This show is also laced with liberal amounts of vulgar language, and flagrant sexual innuendo. It's definitely not a G-rated sitcom.

Gerri conveys a child-like vulnerability, with her sorrowful, hang-dog face. Though she has quite a checkered past, Gerri is a kindly person at heart, who only wants to be accepted for who she is. That makes her only human after all. She reminds me of Louise Lasser's character in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. Like Gerri, Mary Hartman was another child-woman, that's thoroughly bewildered by the world around her.

Strangers With Candy certainly doesn't take itself too seriously. Like Married, With Children, it deliberately pushes the proverbial envelope, as an absurd sitcom. And it works brilliantly.

So funny it hurts.

[TOMNEL · 10/10 · 27 October 2005]

stars: Amy Sedaris as Jerri Blank, Stephen Colbert as Mr. Chuck Nobblets, Paul Dinello as Mr. Goffrey Jellynacks, Gregory Holliman as Principal Onix Blackman.

Reccurring stars-Orlando Pintaban as Orlando, Maria Thayer as Tamilla.

Hilarious! This show is basically a spoof of teen shows and of soap operas. The main character is Jerri Blank, a 46 year old high school drop out who became a prostitute and a drug addict, now back in high school. Her teachers are the most hilarious thing on the show. Stephen Colbert is totally hilarious trying to act serious all the time with such silly material. Gregory Holliman and Paul Dinello are also pretty good. One of the subplot stories in several episodes is that Mr. Jellynack and Mr. Nobblets (Nobblets is married and has kids) are homos and having a love affair. All the kid performers are great too. Maria Thayer plays Jerri's red-headed friend and is totally beautiful in every episode shes featured in. Great show! TV-14. 30 episodes.

J.B. Gives Good B.J. Signed J.B.!

[popularstrangers · 10/10 · 21 October 2004]

"Scary Jerri So Hairy Down Therey" One of the most original lines in strangers with candy. Thats hilarious stuff. This show was so original in so many ways. and they had to cancel it. why do they always cancel the best shows. there are so many lines i could tell u from this show because it was genius. "See thats my one leg and this is my other leg and SNATCH IT DOWN!" funny stuff. it was almost as if she was meant to play this character because she is so great at it. The things she does with her face and eyes are brilliant. "Junkie whore, wait i've already done that". anyway this show was one of the most original sick twisted dirty not right but genius comedies ever made. Cant wait until the movie i can just imagine how beyond over the top they went for the silver screen. "But my vagina's all PUFFY" anyway "You stupid bloodfart!

Put it on video or DVD please!!

[sbunc92-3 · 10/10 · 8 April 2002]

A classic show that is extremely funny but is not for everyone. But if your sense of humor leans toward twisted you will love it. Although Comedy Central shows it currently at 3am during the week I know it will be off the air soon. Please put this out on video or DVD!!!

Funny as hell!!

[stephenchase-63504 · 10/10 · 8 February 2021]

The best star is Stephen Colbert

Good times...

[nunya6552 · 10/10 · 9 November 2021]

I judge people based on if they know about this show or if they like/dislike the show. If they know about it and love it, they are my soulmate. I want a reboot immediately!

pitiful

[goulds1 · 1/10 · 27 December 2006]

I attempted to watch this, and was highly disappointed. Don't expect intelligent and insightful humor ala Amy's brother David amidst this dreck... it is the polar opposite. But if you're into poop, fart and boner jokes, you'll be in seventh heaven. This is bathroom humor aimed, I assume, at those who've had several bongs, which can only explain why many ecstatic reviewers have heralded this crap as "the best television writing ever." I assume that those who hate such simpleton humor were unable to watch long enough to care to submit a review, but I am just sending out a warning shot to those unaware viewers who are looking for high-end comedy. The characters overact. The shock factor is set to 10. And the laughs are set to zero (unless, of course, you seek juvenile, low-brow humor.)

I made it through 40 minutes, praying the whole time it would turn the corner toward worthwhile entertainment, but alas, it just got worse and worse. And beware of Amy's ever-present and hammy overbite expression - it will set your eyes rolling. It was nice to see cameos by recognizable comedic actors I enjoy, but I can only assume they agreed to participate as a favor to the Sedaris family.

To those who loved it, I'm sorry... this is my opinion. It was so bad it inspired me to write my first review.

Great fun - surrealism you can only find on short-lived shows.

[Sintek · 11 March 2004]

I'm surprised to see only one negative review on IMDB. Having been a fan of the show since its debut, I knew from the start it would be a love or hate series for many people.

It's a great show not for its intellectual qualities (or on the surface, lack thereof), but its originality. Teen dramacom parodies have come before, though none as brave as this. SwC reminds me in part of the Nickelodeon series from the early-mid 90s such as "Salute your Shorts", which is perhaps why I and many others who grew up in that era have a soft spot for it.

It's sad to think we might not see many more divisive T.V series. The dumbing down of the masses by shows in which greedy people vote one another off fake islands ensures subtly and wit will soon be regarded as the real enemies of television.

GREATEST SITCOM OF ALL TIME

[klasikvhs · 10/10 · 26 September 2021]

(#2 is Absolutely Fabulous) Snowflakes need NOT watch Strangers With Candy! You could NEVER get this show greenlighted today & nothing like it will EVER be again! I just wonder how long it will take PC uber-sensitive snowflakes to start trying to get it banned. The writing is PURE genius. They didn't miss a single joke. Colbert, Sedaris, Dinello & the under appreciated DEBORAH RUSH are 100% brilliant.

The "film" totally SUCKED though. A 100% disappointment. I recommend NOT seeing it. It will spoil how you feel about the whole mishegoss.

The Surreal Deal

[jackladon · 10/10 · 19 April 2021]

I remember watching this for the first time and thinking YES, a show that truly gets my sick sense of humor. Sedaris anchors this brilliant series, that enlists a brilliant cast. It's the absolute perfect role for her (with her one on Kimmy Schmidt coming in second), for her to really display her perfect timing and all too glorious twang and cadence. Mocking the teen coming of age shows seems like an easy target, but who would've thought they would tackle it with such a surreal and wicked touch. Please bring this show back or at least an off-shoot of it, where the Z Gen is addressed. Also, the perpetually frozen DAD lolll.

The funniest, most original show I've seen -- EVER!!!

[SirLizrd · 10/10 · 25 August 1999]

"Strangers With Candy" is by far the most original program on television at this time. From the first episode it instantly became my all-time favorite show. I've watched a lot of television over the years, so that's saying a lot!

High school can be such a hideous experience and SWC just slightly distorts and then magnifies this ugliness. Jerri tells it like it is. When she does speak her mind it doesn't appear that the other denizens of Flatpoint are very shocked or surprised. Everyone (in Flatpoint, but in real life as well) seems to have their own quirks and foibles.

I've recorded the episodes and watch them over and over, laughing just as hard (or harder) each time. Hopefully Comedy Central will bring the show back for Jerri's next shot at passing from freshman to sophomore. She doesn't stand a chance of graduating before she turns 50!!! Let's hope we have the opportunity to see it.

Surreal and Blue

[skinnygaillard · 8/10 · 27 March 2022]

I'm not usually a fan of heavily-applied blue humour; it's usually just crass and the audience is left to suffer with the gaucheness. Strangers With Candy has a lot of this humour but does it well, often down to the absolute absurdity of the show's setting and characters. Questionable jokes never come off as sincere or make you uncomfortable, as they are played as a jibe at characters' lack of scruples. Plus, everything is too ridiculous to be taken seriously.

SWC has all the charm of 90s-2000s TV series but has a real edge of originality. The basis of the show is fairly simple, but further beneath is the creation of a unique character, based on an idiosyncratic, yet little-known, real-life person. The attention to detail, especially concerning the set, it commendable, and there is definitely some intelligent writing that ties together the surrealism quite neatly. Sedaris is plain hilarious in anything she does, too. Overall, it's a great comedy.

90s Cult High School Sitcom

[sarahsceviour · 10/10 · 2 June 2020]

This 90s cult show is a fan favourite that has held up over time. Amy Sedaris is one of the most entertaining character actors, and she demonstrates this ability in her role as Jerri Blank. Each episode has a fresh new idea that keeps you on your toes, and pushes the boundaries of social structure. The episodes contain life lessons and ironic takes on high school life that are invaluable.

Below Average

[coles_notes · 4/10 · 3 April 2023]

Created by and starring Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello, and Stephen Colbert, this wacky adult sitcom follows Jerri Blank (Sedaris), a 46-year-old ex-drug addict who returns to high school after being released from a long stint in prison. With three seasons produced by and airing on Comedy Central, the series continually strives to offend, often in ways that haven't aged the best. Making fun of those very special episodes of many high school drama past and mixing in adult themes of sex and drugs, we end up with a raunchy, often shocking comedy that stars a great lead but is otherwise surrounded by very questionable creative decisions. While I did gut laugh multiple times over its run, much of the humour had me equally appalled and disappointed at its laziness. Most episodes contain plenty of eye-rolling race and sexual preference based humour, from the principal named Onyx Blackman (yeah, that lazy), to Dinello and Colbert's gay and in love but secretly closeted characters. It could be argued whether these stereotypes taken to extremes were really in poor taste or if they were actual somewhat intelligent commentary on those previously mentioned after school specials the show was satirizing and their often tone-deaf takes on social issues. So maybe the poor acting and horrid takes are excusable, but I don't know, I just don't buy it or believe that. Sedaris as Blank is hilarious, definitely the biggest draw to the show, her facial contortions and ticks grew on me over the series run. Her great physical comedy skills are something missed by her more recent voice acting roles (Bojack Horseman). I had started the series originally for Colbert, but again he has terrible acting throughout, his character just wasn't funny, however I managed to finish the series for Sedaris. I liked Danillos character and acting as well, was the be best besides Jerri herself, but again the humour was just not up my alley and too often rubbed me the wrong way, but maybe I'm just a prude. The best episode was the one where Mark McKinney, Winona Ryder, and Paul Rudd all show up at the same time, but unfortunately that's also literally the shows final finale, so you got to get through the rest to see it. I laughed harder at the Paul Rudd cool guy poses more than other part of the show, iykyk. Wouldn't ultimately recommend, but if it seems like you're kinda thing after one episode you'd probably like the rest.

Clever and funny

[Xophianic · 23 February 2000]

When I saw the commercials for this show, I thought it looked stupid and annoying. But I gave it a chance, and loved it. I think this show, although a bit strange and sometimes extreme, is very very funny. I find myself still laughing at some of the jokes days after I watch it. It's very different from most sitcoms, and most of the timing and originality of the jokes are pulled off terrifically. Amy Sedaris is incredible as the strange (and really ugly) Jerri Blank. Steven Colbert is also really funny. Give this show a chance, you will not regret it.

Good TV series, but way too bizarre for most tastes

[MikeK-7 · 5/10 · 7 November 1999]

This show had a great idea, what if a 46 year-old convict had to go back to high school, starting at freshmen year? But watch one episode of the show and you'll see what I mean. Who ever came up with the last name of Blackman for a principal. Perhaps the writers were white supremists....

*(don't know if supremists is spelled correctly!)

Brilliant Satire, soon to be a movie

[Philloz3000 · 2 September 2004]

Amy Sederis is brilliant as Jerri Blank amid a cast of other excellent comic writer/actors, including Paul Dinello and "The Daily Show's" Stephen Colbert. It had me consistently on the floor with it's inventiveness, audacity and vicious wit (i.e., the prayer at the Families of Alcoholics meeting: "Dear God, please give me the strength to blame those who did this to me, to accuse those who didn't, and the wisdom to know the difference.") It's long since disappeared from Comedy Central, but DVDs of Seasons One and Two are out, and a movie version by the same team is on its way for 2005. BTW, whoever suggested that the writers were "white supremists," I sincerely hope you are joking. It's called satire, in the vein of Swift and Voltaire.

A breath of fresh air

[bregund · 15 May 2004]

With so much garbage on television these days, it's refreshing to see a show so original and well-written as Strangers With Candy. I am glad that Comedy Central is re-running this hilarious program. It is politically incorrect, vulgar, and rude...it's fantastic! The writing is some of the best I've ever seen on television, every sentence uttered by every character is funny. The one-liners fly so fast that you barely have time to laugh before the next joke. In one episode, she and a classmate become secret lovers, but he's so ashamed of being with her that she hides in dumpsters, air ducts, etc.; it's a howlingly funny sight gag to see her head poking up out of the garbage as she waits for her lover. I think this show moved too fast for today's television audience and their limited attention span, so it's a shame that it was cancelled.

Super Sit-Com!

[achmura · 8 May 1999]

This new show from Comedy Central is completely loopy! Give it a few minutes of your time and you too will succomb! Amy Sedaris is outrageously funny as Jerry Blank, a 47 year old reprehensible ex-convict trying to graduate Flashpoint High "right where she left off." Her catatonic senior citizen father and alcoholic and abusive step-mother are both superb!

Jerry always struggles to do the right thing. She rarely succeeds. Every episode Jerry has a new pet. A lobster (that is boiled accidentally). A turtle (who is shot out the living room sliding glass doors after a serious one-on-one with a golf club, and is later cremated and commingled with Jerry's mother's ashes). And a constrictor (nothing untoward it seems happens to this pet). Poor Jerry, as she struggles to gain weight to play Ma in Raisin in the Sun and spy on a nice classmate who the teachers feel is retarded!

At the end of each episode I feel gratified that Jerry never does the right thing, but that is ok. In fact the episodes end happily because Jerry gave someone an overdose of home brewed drugs or she snitched on her retarded friend who stood up for her. The list of Jerry's misdeeds is long, but as her teacher, Mr. Jellinek, advises her, "...stick with what you know!"

one of the best shows out there. its a shame it got canceled.

[freefall_wthout_a_parachute · 25 May 2004]

many people fail to see the brilliance in strangers with candy.it is an extremely funny show.there are also a lot of subtle jokes or references that may go above the viewers head but if gotten, are hilarious.

there could'nt be a better cast for SWC. they are all talented,funny individuals who also come up with some of the script and often improvise certain lines that turn out as if planned.

the show requires an open sense of humor. those who lack that open humor might find some of the material offensive. what they need to realize is that the writers are not white supremist or hateful ignorant racist and there intent is not to come off in that light. rather, there intent is to be comedic and that is plain to see. all in all, i believe strangers with candy is one of the best shows thats been aired.