This highly amusing series of "webisodes" was written and co-produced by Jason and Randy Sklar, twin comedians who may be best known for their ESPN series "Cheap Seats." The lead character is Ray Pfeiffer, a depressed bank teller & unsuccessful stand-up comic (Jon Dore, a Canadian comedian who had his own show there). Jan, his self-esteem-impaired manager, is Suzy Nakamura (who has had recurring roles on "West Wing" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and most recently as the Principal on "10 Things I Hate About You"). Ray is desperate for something, ANYTHING, to happen at his bank.
Dore's derisive comments in front of customers would get him fired in about two minutes in a real bank, but as a sort of audible inner monologue they are quite funny, especially for anyone who has worked in a customer service environment. Nakamura is effective as partly a straight-woman and partly as the deliverer of dry, very dark humor driven by her self-delusion concerning the devotion of her boyfriend, Phil.
The Sklars are (as always) a lot of fun with their shticky, neurotic banter. Their contributions to a list of demands are especially amusing. An obvious comparison would be to a pair of less whiny and far less intellectually ambitious/pretentious very early Woody Allens.
There are also several running gags about Twitter, local TV news, and the financial woes of government in California.
Cyrus Farmer is solid as the most serious of the bank robbers but doesn't have much comedic material to work with. Among a number of funny minor characters, Steve Agee and Tig Notaro (both from "The Sarah Silverman Program") give scene-stealing turns in small roles.
The real gem here is a sharp, biting performance by Kaitlin Olson, who puts the perfect comic timing and delivery she developed as Becky (Cheryl's sister) on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and refined as Dee on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" to outstanding use here.
There is a significant amount of crude language and there are several crude sexual references.
Dore's derisive comments in front of customers would get him fired in about two minutes in a real bank, but as a sort of audible inner monologue they are quite funny, especially for anyone who has worked in a customer service environment. Nakamura is effective as partly a straight-woman and partly as the deliverer of dry, very dark humor driven by her self-delusion concerning the devotion of her boyfriend, Phil.
The Sklars are (as always) a lot of fun with their shticky, neurotic banter. Their contributions to a list of demands are especially amusing. An obvious comparison would be to a pair of less whiny and far less intellectually ambitious/pretentious very early Woody Allens.
There are also several running gags about Twitter, local TV news, and the financial woes of government in California.
Cyrus Farmer is solid as the most serious of the bank robbers but doesn't have much comedic material to work with. Among a number of funny minor characters, Steve Agee and Tig Notaro (both from "The Sarah Silverman Program") give scene-stealing turns in small roles.
The real gem here is a sharp, biting performance by Kaitlin Olson, who puts the perfect comic timing and delivery she developed as Becky (Cheryl's sister) on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and refined as Dee on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" to outstanding use here.
There is a significant amount of crude language and there are several crude sexual references.