Strangers with Candy

Strangers with Candy

Doing things right....the second time around.

Created by Stephen Colbert, Mitch Rouse, Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello

On Comedy Central

1999–20003 seasons30 episodes23 min7.5 / 10

A campy, absurdist dark comedy that mines comedy from a deeply damaged protagonist's inability to learn, built on satire of redemption narratives and high school conventions.

Jerri Blank is a former prostitute and junkie whore who returns to high school as a 46-year-old freshman at Flatpoint High. Jerri ran away from home and became 'a boozer, a user, and a loser' after dropping out as a teenager, supporting her drug habits through prostitution, stripping, and larceny. She has been to prison several times, the last time because she 'stole the TV'. At home, Jerri's father Guy is comatose, although he seems perfectly capable of amazing feats. Her stepmother Sara is vain and bitter, and stepbrother Derrick is a bullying jock. Jerri tries to do things the right way but always ends up learning the wrong lesson. Her hijinks often involve, either directly or indirectly, neurotic history teacher Chuck Noblet and his secret lover, sensitive art teacher Geoffrey Jellineck.

Essence

Ensemble

Like Strangers with Candy

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as Strangers with Candy

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like Strangers with Candy, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Strangers with Candy, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Strangers with Candy, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.