Comments on: Dangerously Delicious, DRM Free

Dangerously Delicious, DRM Free

paradoxflow — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:12:17 -0800

In the wake of Louis C.K.'s tremendously successful experiment (previously 1, 2), Aziz Ansari of Parks and Recreation fame has released his own self-produced comedy special, "Dangerously Delicious," straight to fans and DRM free.

By: Ad hominem

Ad hominem — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:16:21 -0800

Confirmation Email: "OH SHIITTTT!!!! Thanks for buying my new comedy special!!! THAT $5 IS MINE SON. Just kidding, but seriously it is."

By: pwally

pwally — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:20:16 -0800

And look out for Jim Gaffigan and Joe Rogan who are both releasing comedy specials soon a la Louis... the paradigm has shifted folks.

By: schmod

schmod — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:29:22 -0800

What the hell, Aziz? You named your special after a well-known pie shop in Baltimore?

By: stratastar

stratastar — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:30:59 -0800

Louis C.K.'s breakdown of initial fixed costs seemed high (not outrageous but still high); so I wonder if, as more performers start following with this model and general production costs begin to fall as well what that will mean for the market...

By: Apropos of Something

Apropos of Something — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:32:38 -0800

stratastar: "Louis C.K.'s breakdown of initial fixed costs seemed high (not outrageous but still high);" Louis has really high standards for production quality, and I imagine spent lots of that money on good cameras and talent behind them. Both the $5 special and his previous special Hilarious were the most beautifully produced comedy specials I've seen on film.

By: mellow seas

mellow seas — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:33:04 -0800

Halfway through reading the FPP I thought Ansari had a pilot for an incredibly sad and dark half hour comedy series, which didn't sound like something he would do. This makes so much more sense.

By: sixacross

sixacross — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:33:23 -0800

If this is the set he did last year (and I'm pretty sure it is), I really, really, recommend it.

By: carlodio

carlodio — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:37:18 -0800

I think we should officially name packaging and selling your own performance in order to subvert the traditional distribution channels a "Louis".

By: kenko

kenko — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:40:08 -0800

I think we should officially name packaging and selling your own performance in order to subvert the traditional distribution channels a "Louis". Not a "Trent"?

By: Honorable John

Honorable John — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:42:34 -0800

Louis has really high standards for production quality, and I imagine spent lots of that money on good cameras and talent behind them. Both the $5 special and his previous special Hilarious were the most beautifully produced comedy specials I've seen on film. Huh. My film friend was pretty annoyed about the quality of the $5 special. The different cameras were exposed totally differently and then not balanced in post, which is a pretty basic mistake, and distracting if you notice that kind of thing. I speculated that maybe Louis did the edit himself and just doesn't have that part figured out yet. I'm not saying you're wrong, though, just looking at different things -- what did you like about the production?

By: nadawi

nadawi — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:46:37 -0800

yes, he edited himself (on final cut pro).

By: nadawi

nadawi — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:48:10 -0800

he also edits much of his television show.

By: The World Famous

The World Famous — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:51:11 -0800

I think we should officially name packaging and selling your own performance in order to subvert the traditional distribution channels a "Louis". Not a "Trent"? Not a "George Lucas?"

By: odinsdream

odinsdream — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:55:16 -0800

...which is a pretty basic mistake, and distracting if you notice that kind of thing. Somehow I think this percentage of the audience is really, really, really small.

By: djeo

djeo — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:04:38 -0800

I don't have an opinion of Aziz Ansari but for $5 I'll take a shot. I like this model, artists please keep it up!

By: karathrace

karathrace — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:12:57 -0800

That dude is awesome.

By: carlodio

carlodio — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:16:57 -0800

Not a "Trent"? Not a "George Lucas?" no because the arbitrary rules of this arbitrary maneuver require that the name ends in an "ee" sound...

By: painquale

painquale — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:31:17 -0800

By: entropicamericana

entropicamericana — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:34:23 -0800

Not a "George Lucas?" That would be a variant where what you're selling is reheated crap.

By: nadawi

nadawi — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:45:43 -0800

painquale - there are lots of clips on youtube.

By: holdkris99

holdkris99 — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:45:51 -0800

Produced by Entertainment 720?

By: Sys Rq

Sys Rq — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:47:43 -0800

I know that you can't judge a comedian by the character he plays in a certain context, but I find Aziz Ansari's character on Parks and Rec so loathsome that I'm having a hard time dissociating him from the role. Is his style of humor Tom Haverford-like? The preview clip really does not inspire me with confidence. Not really. He's mostly just a nerd comic. He has an alter-ego that he occasionally plays (RAAAAAAAANDY, his character in "Funny People") which is basically where all the superdouchey jokes go, but it's made pretty apparent that that is Aziz making fun of superdouchey comics.

By: mecran01

mecran01 — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:53:25 -0800

From what I can tell, there is no essential difference between Tom Haverford the character on Parks and Recreation and Aziz Ansari, except Aziz is a little louder and definitely feels like a college comedian: sample.

By: jbickers

jbickers — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:58:50 -0800

That guy is the sole reason I cannot stand to watch Parks & Recreation. Which means he is single-handedly responsible for me not being able to enjoy Ron Swanson. Which means there's no way in hell he's getting any money from me. Patton Oswalt needs to do a special like this.

By: Sphinx

Sphinx — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:27:11 -0800

I try to keep a list of what I consider the "best bang for my buck" and that Louie CK $5 special is still on top. Even though I can sometimes find Surly Furious for $2 a glass. Seriously, the middlemen are committed to destroying us just so they can make another hundred bucks.

By: Yowser

Yowser — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:35:52 -0800

this special is indietastic

By: Mental Wimp

Mental Wimp — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:36:28 -0800

I was semi-amused that on the previous threads about Louis C.K.'s gambit, some commenters seemed to think the point was that this would prevent free downloading. I think Louie's intent was to show you could make a good profit while essentially ignoring the free downloading.

By: rollick

rollick — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:37:15 -0800

In the UK, Richard Herring and Stewart Lee (previously) also have £5 downloads made available recently. "90s Comedian" in particular has one of my favourite endings of any piece of comedy in the last decade.

By: Space_Lady

Space_Lady — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:38:20 -0800

I want this model to succeed so, so hard.

By: gilrain

gilrain — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:57:23 -0800

Mental Wimp: I was semi-amused that on the previous threads about Louis C.K.'s gambit, some commenters seemed to think the point was that this would prevent free downloading. I think Louie's intent was to show you could make a good profit while essentially ignoring the free downloading. There is a lot of peer pressure in the pirating community to not pirate these sorts of projects, actually. They still get pirated, of course, but it's very much "not cool", even amongst people for whom casual piracy is second nature most of the time. Now, that would likely stop if this distribution method became the standard. For now, though, while it's still novel? There will likely be less piracy of the project, and a not insignificant number of purchases made just to show support for the model. If I were an entertainer, I'd be jumping on the bandwagon before the novelty wears out.

By: billyfleetwood

billyfleetwood — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:27:03 -0800

my prediction is that someone will do this and have it be massively successful (I could see Dave Chappelle doing huge numbers self-releasing like this) and then the networks and middlemen will find some way to co-opt it.

By: ericb

ericb — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:27:08 -0800

From today's New York Times:

Comics Are Now Selling Laughs by the Download -- "Louis C. K.'s pay-per-download experiment has shown other comedians that Internet performances might be a way to avoid middlemen and censors."

By: fetamelter

fetamelter — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:21:58 -0800

prepare your mind FOR A MIND EXPLOSION

By: Apropos of Something

Apropos of Something — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:47:50 -0800

Honorable John: "what did you like about the production?" I'm mostly thinking of Hilarious here, because I feel like that's the place where Louis established his visual tone, but sitting down with it in the theater, I remember being absolutely captivated by how low key it was. When Chris Rock (to grab a handy example) does a stand up special, the first three to five minutes are all about how great Chris Rock is and how excited people are to see him - when he walks out, it's like you're watching a rock star. Louie's entrances, in both specials, aren't like that: they're a very introspective man climbing out of an ordinary car, sitting in a green room and walking on stage. I felt like that tone continued throughout the entirety of the specials: very rarely do you see a typical head on close up of Louis performing; you're as likely to see a cross stage shot, and you never (to my memory) see someone laughing. When I saw it, I remember thinking that this was the first time I'd ever seen a stand up film so clued into capturing an act for posterity.

By: w0mbat

w0mbat — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:56:16 -0800

Thanks for pointing this out! Just like the Louis CK video, it was a cinch to buy and to copy to my iPad for in-flight viewing at a later date.

By: AzzaMcKazza

AzzaMcKazza — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:16:53 -0800

How could you not like Tommy Haverford? Look at his little smile in the opening credits! It makes me laugh everytime. Can't wait to get home and download this.

By: Gary

Gary — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:53:12 -0800

Meanwhile, Lewis Black's special was released and, as a Canadian, I don't think they've made it available to me. Is EpixHD a thing up here? Count me in as someone who really hopes the Louis CK distribution model becomes the new standard.

By: jeffburdges

jeffburdges — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:54:57 -0800

I'm curious if less well known comics can get together to release package deals that still bypass the industry, maybe $5 for short 20 sets by six different guys, who's combined fan bases represent the critical mass necessary to promote such a deal.

By: jeffburdges

jeffburdges — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:56:11 -0800

umm short 20 min sets

By: cavalier

cavalier — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:17:28 -0800

Somehow I think this percentage of the audience is really, really, really small. Probably, but I honestly have to say -- I pulled up the Louis CK bit first thinking "Oh yeah, I was supposed to check that out.." and viewing the sample had me going "AGGH! Why aren't these cameras color corrected, if not at least white balanced?!" Still -- $5. But he could at least post it after the fact. Yay for new models!

By: device55

device55 — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:03:54 -0800

Purchased on principle.

By: device55

device55 — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:05:14 -0800

After purchasing I realize that he's got basically the same purchase/login/redownload workflow and terms and whatnot. I wonder if there's not a canny developer who is selling the Indie Download Solution to Louis and company.

By: scottjacksonx

scottjacksonx — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:14:52 -0800

This might be my dumb head, but when I see Aziz Ansari do stand-up, somewhere in the back of my mind I'm reminded of a faster-talking Mitch Hedberg. Obviously not in terms of content or joke-format, but... delivery, maybe? I feel like there's something about the way Ansari says words that makes me think of Mitch Hedberg, but I can't quite place it. Little help?

By: mr_roboto

mr_roboto — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:49:23 -0800

Ansari's gotten a lot of Hedberg comparisons. He talks about it in his WTF interview; basically he went through a period where he was listening to a lot of Hedberg and he started to mimic his delivery a bit.

By: dobie

dobie — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:13:20 -0800

I watched it. It was pretty good. Def worth $5.

By: dhartung

dhartung — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 23:49:24 -0800

Not a "Trent"? Not an "Aimee"?

By: alvarete

alvarete — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 05:03:46 -0800

I think of these more as brand loyalty experiments than anything else. I love Louis CK, so I bought his $5 special pretty much on the spot. I don't love Aziz that much, but still, $5 is a pretty good price for this sort of thing... The one thing the Louis CK special proved is that people are willing to pay for something if they think the price is right. $5 pretty much registers as a non-expense for most, and I'm happy to support this model.

By: alvarete

alvarete — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 05:04:31 -0800

(This post brought to you by the word "pretty" and the letter "h")

By: Katjusa Roquette

Katjusa Roquette — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 08:03:31 -0800

Aziz Ansari is so adorable!

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:24:43 -0800

$5 pretty much registers as a non-expense for most, and I'm happy to support this model. On top of this, it really was just buying a video for $5. He wasn't trying sell you a premium upgrade, be your facebook friend, or even try to show you an ad. Even the opt-in for the newsletter defaulted to no. To paraphrase Marco Arment (the Instapaper guy), only on the internet is selling a product for money considered revolutionary.

By: dragonplayer

dragonplayer — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:21:09 -0800

Paid the $5 and I'm downloading the bonus material as well. Seems like a good deal.

By: Erroneous

Erroneous — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 07:35:37 -0800

Totally in favor of this model, and will purchase. But... I've had this problem before: what is it about standup as a form, that turns me off so much? I love skit comedy, and have learned to appreciate improv. But standup just irritates me and registers as almost completely non-humorous. When people are in character I'm totally captivated... when they're just telling jokes I just want to leave the room. This is especially clear to me here. Tom Haverford can make me laugh just by being onscreen. And the promo itself here is hilarious. The onstage routine... boring. I must be genetically deficient because it happens even with verifiably great humorists. If they're not in character I'm just not amused somehow.

By: Gary

Gary — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:07:09 -0800

Jim Gaffigan's special has just been released for $5 as well.

By: holdkris99

holdkris99 — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:45:32 -0800

If they're not in character I'm just not amused somehow. I realize its late in the game here erroneous, but stand-up comedians are always - always - in character. try to think of it that way