Do You Want To See a Dead Body?

Do You Want To See a Dead Body? is a unique comedy series with a significant slice of dark humor that aired on YouTube Red in 2017. The show initially surfaced as a part of Funny or Die and Comedy Central's storytelling sketch short before materializing as a standalone series on YouTube Red. The show carefully merges comedy, absurdity, and a macabre element to deliver a comedic blend that is refreshing and retells a yarn about the human condition.

Helming the show is Rob Huebel, an actor, comedian, and writer you may recognize from productions like "Children's Hospital," "The Descendants," and "Transparent." In Do You Want To See a Dead Body?, Huebel plays a heightened and exaggerated version of himself, adding a level of self-referential humor to the proceedings. His character portrayal transcends the status of the typical sitcom aura to a mysteriously engaging and surprisingly likable level. Rob acts as both the guide and the catalyst, taking one celebrity guest per episode on a journey to show them a dead body that he has found.

Each episode is filled with adventures, starring various guest celebrities. The star-studded guest list includes actors like Terry Crews, Adam Scott, Judy Greer, John Cho, among others. These characters embark on a journey that is as much about their interactions and whimsical conversations with Rob as it is about the dead body. However, unbeknown to the viewers, the adventures sometimes turn erratically humorous, surprising, and satisfying, showcasing fun, offbeat, and surreal comedy conceptions.

Moreover, the show is shot and visualized compellingly, balancing a look that's halfway between conventional television and sketch comedy. It juxtaposes the plain and familiar Californian landscapes with eerie unforeseen moments that create an unspeakable edge-of-the-seat thrill. The intriguing narrative structure, mapped with meandering detours and digressions, testifies to the kooky sense of humor portrayed in the show.

To guide you further into the show's essence, the comedy stems from the genuine confusion between the characters' paths and its consequent outcomes, and the influence of the episodes is triggered not by the remembrance of the dead body but the journey towards it. Imagine the surprise and odd laughter that ensues when your everyday buddy comedy takes an unexpected twist into a journey filled with dead bodies! That's precisely the vibe of this series.

Huebel's performance is standout and one of the biggest draws of the series. The way he brings absurd comedy to life with realism and authenticity forms the comedic crux of the series. And, although the guests often play unsuspecting victims to Huebel's antics, they are never just passive spectators. They have their own little moments to dominate the eccentric narrative.

The humor is not the slapstick kind; the laughs in this series can often come from unexpectedly dark places and bizarre happenings. It makes you wonder how the simplicity of two people merely walking and talking can be so entertaining to watch. All of this is due to the clever writing and well thought out scenarios that craft hilarious moments out of circumstances that would typically be considered morbid.

Do You Want to See a Dead Body? is, without a doubt, a refreshing departure from mundane comedies. It offers a new lens to view dead bodies, not as horrifying remnants of life, but as props that guide comedic narratives. The show is peculiar, endearing, original, and charmingly outlandish. A definite must-watch if you are attracted to unconventional humor and enjoy comedy that sails into innovative waters. But keep in mind; this show is not for faint-hearted souls due to its macabre, absurdist themes. Enter this eccentric world only if you are prepared to laugh at the most unexpected scenarios, and you don't mind a bit of the macabre!