"Nick Swardson's Pretend Time" premieres tonight on Comedy Central

[BillBrasky]

After appearances in numerous hit movies, highly-rated stand-up specials and memorable comedic turns on "Reno 911!", Nick Swardson stars in "Nick Swardson's Pretend Time," a new half-hour weekly sketch series on Comedy Central. The series, consisting of seven episodes, is executive produced by Swardson, Tom Gianas and Doug Robinson (with Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions) and premieres tonight at 10:00 p.m on CC.

"Pretend Time" is a sketch show in which each sketch is filtered through the absurd point-of-view of Swardson. Nick takes the viewer into his goofy world through a series of sketches, including the adventures of a jealous man whose mother left her estate to the family cat, as well as sketches featuring Nick's popular character "Gay Robot", which follows the life of a gay robot and his frat boy friends. Swardson's world of make-believe incorporates every reach of the imagination -- from time travel accidents to a pirate crew's unfortunately located treasure map.

[punkdc]

I've seen the first few episodes and I really enjoy them. I hope it sticks around for awhile.

[PRC]

I like Nick Swardson. I think he's funny. I'm looking forward to "Pretend Time."

Hey, remember last fall when Comedy Central's big new premieres were "The Jeff Dunham Show" and "Secret Girlfriend"? Things are improving.

[BillBrasky]

You can thank Kent Alterman for that; picking up "Jon Benjamin Has a Van" and "This Show Will Get You High" also seem to be decisions instigated by him, although I don't know why he didn't try to prevent The Sarah Silverman Program and Demetri Martin's show from being cancelled.

[Krudler]

Hey, remember last fall when Comedy Central's big new premieres were "The Jeff Dunham Show" and "Secret Girlfriend"? Things are improving.

It ebbs and flows, baby. It ebbs and flows.

Remember how CC, on the heels of a recently-departed Chappelle's Show treated us to Mind of Mencia?

One of my favorite parts of Tosh.0 is the "We'll be right back with more *canceled Comedy Central show.*" Especially when he broke character and said, "with more, aw sorry to say, 'The Sarah Silverman Programme.'" Other than that sad shout out, most of the shows he mentions are a reminder of the hundreds of shows that lasted as long as the pre-premiere advertising did (that Wanda Sykes Does a New Job Show, etc.)

Unfortunately, the terrible shows get a big break as often as the brilliant shows last less than a season. That being said, I have high hopes for Pretend Time (network-support-wise), and I believe Benson Interruption has an excellent chance following Colbert. Especially if Stewart and/or Colbert ask viewers to "stay tuned!"

[PRC]

Great cameos! Natasha Leggero, Al Madrigal, Rob Huebel, Brian Huskey... and Ryan Phillippe?! I didn't expect that. Funny sketch, though; I love Gay Robot.

[sparklepicnic]

Oh, fuck, I forgot about "Secret Girlfriend"... that was bad. I feel like it would have been almost fine without the gimmick of the audience being the main character.

[Big McLargehuge]

I wish my cat was in a wheelchair.

[sparklepicnic]

Was anybody else dumbstruck by the 2nd episode? I thought the first one was uneven and didn't gel that great, so during the 2nd one my girlfriend and I kept staring at each other when laughing, surprised at how funny it was. And those fucking eyes... that was so creepy. AND when (Brian?) tries to get into the meat pit over at gay robot's place.

Sketch comedy, I have such a boner for you.

[BillBrasky]

It does have a "Human Giant" vibe to it, especially sketches like the opening hockey sketch in the first episode and the "Rip his head off!" sketch in this episode. I thought the painting thing was kind of dumb, but for some reason the "Catfight Oatmeal" ad, which was just as stupid, got a laugh out of me. The MLK/segregation signs sketch seemed like it was trying a little too hard to be Chapelle-like.

[sparklepicnic]

Yeah, I didn't think the painting sketch was "funny", but it frightened me to the point where I had to look away a lot. I think if you can make a sketch creepy, it's almost as good as just plain funny. Yeah, that oatmeal bit... I thought it was lame/eerie for a little bit, but then the homoerotic activity had me chuckling and then the payoff was great. I'm hoping this one lasts a few seasons. I think it's odd comedy central shows rarely seem to make it past two seasons, you'd think they'd milk them for a long time and then focus on dvd's and repeats. They can't be doling out too much cash for all these sketch/variety shows they keep canning.

[drbristol]

...but for some reason the "Catfight Oatmeal" ad, which was just as stupid, got a laugh out of me.

The Catfight Oatmeal theme song was great.

I did have to concentrate to hear the lyrics, given that my attention was being (successfully) directed elsewhere.

[Itslikeimsayin]

I'm really enjoying this show. Great cast, nice pacing and some oddball ideas. It looks really good, too. I liked the "where do I know you from?" sketch a lot.

[Ravi]

The MLK/segregation signs sketch seemed like it was trying a little too hard to be Chapelle-like.

It did feel like a Chappelle's Show sketch, but it was really funny, and they pulled it off. This is a funny show, and I hope it lasts for a few seasons.

[Mo!]

Finally saw it. Love it! Great first episode. Like the Chapelle Show, it will take a few episodes for this show to really hit its stride but I have faith. Unlike many of our AST-approved comics, Swardson has an enormous mainstream following.

[rutabega]

The third episode was absolutely fantastic. Both PFT sketches were really great, Nick Kroll was ridiculous, and the blind guy sketch was amazing. I haven't seen much written about this show anywhere, but if people who haven't seen it yet check out this episode, and it continues to be this good, I think it can gain some real traction.

It looks like most of the sketches are online at the Official Website and I would definitely recommend anyone who hasn't watched the show to check out "Where Do I Know You From?", "Blind Boss" and "Merv Farenz (PFT), Voodoo Lawyer".

[gloshi]

I've enjoyed it so far, Nick is hilarious and ridiculous, the Paul F. Tompkins sketches were great. It's always awesome to see Paul F. in sketches, he really deserves his own sketch show. I hope that happens sometime within our lifetimes.

[aenemaTron]

I was blown away by PFT's performance in the voodoo thing sketch thing. Do they do oscars for that? The way he pronounced "oops" as "ups" was splendid.

[sparklepicnic]

I go nuts every time I see the guy from this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6oPWh_gJoc in an episode. "Good Neighbor" be some great sketch comedy dudes.

[invisiblegrapefruit]

DUHH NICK SWARDSON PRETEND TIME DUHHHHH FRRRRT