Amy Sedaris Movies

Join host Billy Crystal and narrator Amy Sedaris as they take a look back at some of the funniest men, women, and moments in American comedy history in this six-part PBS series co-produced by Thirteen/WNET and Ghost Light Films. From poking fun at American standards to ribbing our political system, race relations, gender issues, and common taboos, U.S. comics have a unique way of making us laugh through times of pressing social and economic change. Interviews with over ninety comedians, performers, writers, producers, and historians including Will Ferrell, Sid Caesar, Judd Apatow, Steve Martin, Larry David, Leonard Maltin, Carol Burnett, Roseanne Barr, and more help to meld history, performance, and biography in a way that's as educational as it is hilarious. Each one-hour segment, including "Would Ya Hit A Guy With Glasses?: Nerds, Jerks & Oddballs," "Slip On A Banana Peel: The Knockabouts," "Sock it to Me?: Satire and Parody," "When I'm Bad, I'm Better: The Groundbreakers," "Never Give A Sucker An Even Break: The Wiseguys," and "Honey, I'm Home!: Breadwinners and Homemakers" explores a unique genre of American comedy. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The youthful delusions of a wistful husband and father prompt him to seek out a childhood friend and embark on a soul-searching journey of self discovery to the one place where no adult demands will be made of him in director David Munro's surreal second coming-of-age comedy. Alby (Matt McGrath) is having an early midlife crisis. Convinced that the only way to overcome his current malaise is to seek out his childhood pal Elias (Judah Friedlander) and set out on the open road, Alby leaves behind his wife and son in hopes of recapturing the glory of his youth. Unfortunately for Alby, Elias is all grown up now, and isn't exactly overjoyed to see the "best friend" whose rosy vision of childhood largely came from the fact that he made Elias the unwitting butt of his every joke. When Alby learns that Elias is taking a group of disabled drama students on a trip to the local amusement park, Elias has no choice but to let his pushy pal come along for the ride. What follows is a pensively hilarious look life as seen through the eyes of a man who can't seem to move past his youth, and the effect that a student-clown bartender (Amy Sedaris), a disgruntled former amusement park employee (Alan Cumming), a retired water-park mermaid (Debbie Harry), and a whole host of colorful characters have in helping Alby to bridge the gap between the glory days of his past and an uncertain future. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

A minor Bay Area earthquake yields only one fatality: San Francisco philanthropist Henry Rutherford (Ross Petty), who was apparently killed by a falling object. A longtime friend of the Rutherford family, Sharona (Bitty Schram) brings Monk (Tony Shalhoub) along to pay a condolence call to Henry's young widow Christina (Janine Theriault). But as a result of this "friendly" drop-in, Monk begins obsessively dogging Christina's trail, certain that she has committed murder. Amy Sedaris of Strangers with Candy fame makes her first series appearance as Sharona's sister Gail. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jerri (Amy Sedaris) discovers she has a previously unknown talent in this episode of the off-color Comedy Central series. Kicked out of the Flatpoint High orchestra by Mr. Jellineck (Paul Dinello) for pounding on the timpani and refusing to follow directions, a distressed Jerri remains behind after class and begins experimenting with the various instruments. Eavesdropping on the horrible sounds coming from the orchestra room, Mr. Noblot (Stephen Colbert) is stunned when Jerri picks up the violin and starts playing beautifully. Soon taking her under his wing and forcing her to practice tirelessly, Mr. Noblot isolates Jerri from her friends and peers in order to vicariously experience the success that eluded him as a child. Distressed by the scratches on Jerri's hands from attempting to groom the family cat, Mr. Noblot brings Jerri to live with him so that she may focus entirely on her practicing. With Mr. Noblot's newfound obsession driving a wedge between him and Mr. Jellineck, and the disapproval of Jerri's father adding to the negative impact that practicing has had on her social life, Jerri decides to give up the "stringy paddle" (her name for the violin) the very night of the Tri-County Music Championship. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The temptations of the past resurface to haunt Jerri (Amy Sedaris) in the season one closer of Comedy Central's Strangers With Candy. When comely stoner Trish (Stephanie Sanditz) offers to share a joint with Jerri in the bathroom after gym class, the lustful Jerri quickly caves to temptation and begins her decent down the same slippery slope that found her homeless over 30 years ago. Subsequently baking brother Derrick's (Larc Spies) basketball and attempting to throw the turkey intended for dinner through the basketball hoop, Jerri faces real trouble when she shows up at Sara's (Deborah Rush) MMAD (Mad Mothers Against Drugs) meeting noticeably high and then fails Mr. Noblot's (Stephen Colbert) final exam the following day. As the final class of the semester draws to a close, undercover cop Savillon (Mitch Rouse) arrives in class under the guise of being a transfer student and promptly maces Mr. Noblot after noticing the word "opium" written on the chalkboard (Mr. Noblot had been teaching his class about China's Opium War). Mr. Noblot offers Jerri a make-up lest he have to put up with her for another semester, and despite Orlando's (Orlando Pabotoy) best efforts to sway Jerri toward her studies that night, a party invite from Trish proves too much to resist for Jerri. Though Jerri promises Orlando that she won't get high at the party, she promptly breaks her word and ends up failing Mr. Noblot's exam when she arrives in the classroom five hours late. Attempting to prove to Orlando that she wasn't high, Jerri puts him in the hospital by nearly slashing him to death, and when she visits him, Orlando can't remember how he got there, so Jerri makes up a lie but eventually admits that it was her fault. Officer Sullivan then arrests Jerri after overhearing her confession, and as the season closes, Jerri is doomed to once again repeat her freshman year of high school. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The premier episode of Comedy Central's warped take on the after-school special introduces viewers to series protagonist Jerri Blank (Amy Sedaris) as she attends a high school anti-drug rally. Recently released from jail and having lived the life of a teenage runaway for 32 years, 46-year-old Jerri has decided to clean up her act, move back home and re-enroll as a freshman at Flatpoint High. Announcing her upcoming party during Mr. Noblot's (Stephen Colbert) history class in a bid to win over the popular crowd, it seems that no one is interested and, to make matters worse, Mr. Noblot informs Jerri that, although it's only three days into the term, Jerri is in danger of failing his class. After Jerri is once again shot down in her bid to befriend popular Poppy Downs, her lone ally Orlando (Orlando Pabotoy) confides to her that her classmates are saying terrible things about her behind her back. Undaunted, Jerri seeks the advice of art teacher Mr. Jellineck (Paul Dinello), who insists that Jerri should, "go with what you know." Imbued with a newfound sense of confidence, Jerri runs into Poppy in the Girls' Room and offers to whip her up a primo batch of homemade Glint (a homemade narcotic made by mixing household chemicals and subsequently spreading the mixture on your lips). When Poppy takes a bit too much of Jerri's concoction the following day, her speed on the track impresses Coach Wolf (Sarah Thyre), though things take a bad turn when Poppy, believing herself to be a bumble-bee who must return to the hive, induces a coma while attempting to fly though a keyhole. Sneaking into the hospital that night to pull the plug on Poppy's life supports system lest she finger Jerri as her supplier, Jerri is relieved to learn that Poppy died earlier in the evening. As Principal Blackman (Greg Hollimon) rallies the students to discuss the tragedy and dedicate a time capsule to the fallen student, Jerri takes advantage of the situation by announcing a "Poppy Downs Memorial" party, to which the students eagerly respond. Kicking off the party by attempting to make out with Poppy's ex-boyfriend Brad, things soon go from bad to worse as Jerri realizes that she accidentally mixed the hot fruit in the same bowl she had used for the Glint. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Jerri's (Amy Sedaris) role in the Flatpoint High Shool production of A Raisin in the Sun leads her stepmother into an alcoholic haze in this installment of the irreverent and outrageous Comedy Central series. Passing over Flatpoint's African-American students to give the lead roles to the three sole white students in his class, Mr. Jellineck (Paul Dinello) casts the remaining students as trees. Elated that she has been chosen as the lead, Jerri rushes home to share her excitement with her stepmother, Sara (Deborah Rush), who had once taken the stage as Peter Pan. With Sara soon diving headlong into a haze of jealousy, regret, and hard liquor, Jerri worries that her upcoming Parent-Teacher day is heading for disaster. Her fears are soon confirmed when her slurring stepmother drunkenly comes on to Mr. Noblet (Stephen Colbert) and insults Jerri in front of the her peers, their parents, and the teachers. Though Jerri is soon buried in denial and preparation for the play, Mr. Jellineck threatens to replace her following a disastrous rehearsal the following day. When Jerri arrives home that night to find Sara passed out in a Peter Pan costume, she decides to attend an Ala Colholics meeting in a desperate bid to remain in the play. With Mr. Jellineck feeding Jerri her lines the night of the play, everything seems to go as planned until a drunken Sara storms the stage resulting in a total fiasco. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Jerri (Amy Sedaris) and Orlando's (Orlando Pabotoy) friendship is put to the test when a new student arrives at Flatpoint High in this episode of the edgy Comedy Central series. Instantly attracted to new arrival Ricky despite the fact that everyone seems out to get him, Jerri quickly caves to peer pressure and humiliates Ricky at every possible opportunity. When Orlando presents Jerri with a friendship collage, Jerri promptly modifies it and presents it to Ricky in hopes that he will join her at the golf-themed Bogie Nights dance despite Principal Blackman's objections. After a jealous Orlando tips off Mr. Jellineck (Paul Dinello) as to how much time Jerri has been spending with the new guy, Jerri's jealous friend attempts to cause trouble for Ricky at every turn. Confronted by the girls in her class as to the nature of her relationship with Ricky, Jerri reluctantly informs them that she will be attending the dance with sociopathic Spike. When Ricky appears at the dance to inform Jerri that he will soon be leaving Flatpoint, Orlando urges the students to beat Ricky with their golf clubs, resulting in an impassioned plea for tolerance from Jerri. Touched at Jerri's dedication to Ricky, Principal Blackman (Greg Hollimon) declares the couple "Mistress and Master of Bogie Nights" before Spike returns from the bathroom and attempts to attack Ricky. After saving Ricky by crashing her golf cart into Spike, Jerri and Ricky head to the parking lot to make out -- only to discover that Ricky is in fact Jerri's long-lost son. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

She was a user, a boozer, and an all-around loser, but now forty-something ex-junkie prostitute Jerri Blank (Amy Sedaris) is going back to Flatpoint High School to take back her life in Comedy Central's acclaimed After School Special satire Strangers With Candy. Not much has changed since Jerri dropped out nearly three decades ago, and in addition to her hateful, impossible-to-please stepmother, Sara (Deborah Rush), and her abusive brother, Derrick (Lark Spies), the middle-aged high schooler must also contend with her brutally sarcastic history teacher, Mr. Noblet (series co-creator Stephen Colbert); her effeminate and overly sensitive art teacher, Mr. Jellineck (series co-creator Paul Dinello); and her strict, omni-present principal Onyx Blackman (Greg Holliman). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Director/screenwriter David Gordon Green adapts Stewart O'Nan's popular novel to the screen in this feature, which tells the parallel tales of a teenager named Arthur (Michael Angarano) and his onetime babysitter Annie (Kate Beckinsale) -- whose turbulent relationship with her estranged husband, Glenn (Sam Rockwell), leads the small-town waitress down a troubled path. Arthur is a high-school student from a dysfunctional family, and does everything in his power to avoid hanging around the house while mom and dad quarrel. When he's not practicing his trombone and performing with the high-school marching band, Arthur can usually be found bussing tables at the local Chinese restaurant and flirting with older waitress Annie. Annie used to be Arthur's babysitter, and is currently struggling to separate from her former high-school sweetheart, Glenn. But being a single mother isn't easy, especially since the troubled Glenn wants nothing more than to clean up his act and reunite his family.

Back at school, Arthur and pretty classmate Lila (Olivia Thirlby) have been bonding over their mutual love for all things geeky. Though the casual friendship shows promise of evolving into something more when Lila expresses her true feelings for Arthur, he can't help but becoming distracted by his chaotic family life: his father is moving out of the family home, and his mother is doing everything in her power to maintain some semblance of normalcy. Realizing that happiness is fleeting as his family becomes shattered and Annie experiences a series of distressing encounters with Glenn, Arthur gradually begins to fall for Lisa despite his growing cynicism concerning long-term relationships. Later, on a cold winter morning, Glenn and Annie's past catches up with them in a blinding flash, and the lives of everyone they know are suddenly and irrevocably changed. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

The cult-favorite television series which offered a fun-house version of '70s "after-school specials" returns in this big-screen prequel to the show Strangers With Candy. Middle-aged ex-prostitute, former drug addict and all-around lowlife Jerri Blank (Amy Sedaris) emerges from prison at the age of 46 ready to start her life over again. Jerri arrives at her parents' home to discover that her father Guy (Dan Hedaya) divorced Jerri's mom and remarried before slipping into a coma. Jerri's stepmom Sara (Deborah Rush) decides to let her stay with the family in the hope her presence might bring Guy around, though she doesn't seem very fond of her new "daughter." Jerri decides to complete the education she abandoned years ago by enrolling at Flatpoint High School, where Principal Blackman (Greg Hollimon) has bigger fish to fry than a middle-aged sex offender as a student. It seems Flatpoint's science scores have been dreadful, and only a first-place entry in the county science fair will maintain the school's accreditation. Science fair guru Roger Beekman (Matthew Broderick) is brought in with hopes of creating a winning project, but science teacher Mr. Noblet (Stephen Colbert) objects to using outside talent and starts a separate team of his own, bringing in Jerri to give her something to do. As it happens, Noblet's team comes up with a potential prize-winner with their Soup Can Superconductor, while Beekman foolishly accepts the help of art teacher Mr. Jellineck (Paul Dinello) and ends up with a dance routine instead of a science presentation. Determined to win out over Noblet's team, Beekman tries to get his hand on the plans for Noblet's project by convincing handsome Brason (Chris Pratt) to charm them away from weak-willed Jerri. Strangers With Candy also features cameo appearances from Philip Seymour Hoffman, Allison Janney, Ian Holm, and Kristen Johnston. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

A man struggling to save the life of another finds himself drawn into a strange netherworld he didn't know existed in this stylish thriller. Sam Foster (Ewan McGregor) is a psychiatrist living in New York City with his girlfriend, Lila Culpepper (Naomi Watts), who was once one of his patients. However, it's another one of his patients who becomes the focus of his obsessions when Henry Letham (Ryan Gosling), a disturbed young man whom Foster took over from a colleague, announces during a session that he intends to commit suicide in three days, on his 21st birthday. Sam takes the threat quite seriously and tries to track down Henry, who seems to have disappeared. Sam speaks to a number of Henry's friends and acquaintances -- his mother (Kate Burton), the man he claimed was his father, Dr. Leon Patterson (Bob Hoskins), a waitress who regularly served Henry at the coffee shop where she works (Elizabeth Reaser), and his former therapist Dr. Beth Levy (Janeane Garofalo). As Sam talks to people in Henry's circle, he finds he's learning more about himself than the man he's supposed to save, and he begins to drift into an emotional netherworld where the supposedly dead and the living cross paths. Stay was directed by Marc Forster, who had previously enjoyed breakthrough hits with two very different films, Monster's Ball and Finding Neverland. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide