Important Things with Demetri Martin: Season One

Fans of Steven Wright and Mitch Hedberg will find a kindred spirit in Demetri Martin, whose Comedy Central series—while hit and miss—offers a good showcase for his off-center observations (Martin's reaction to a sign that reads, “This door must remain closed at all times” is “Dude, you must be thinking of a wall.”). In each of the seven episodes from the 2009 first season, Martin takes on a single topic: timing, power, brains, chairs, safety, coolness, and games. His brand of humor is an interactive mash-up of standup humor, flowcharts and statistics, commercial parodies, animated bits, and guitar-accompanied musings—but for Martin, most important are the strange musings (“Why are lions so afraid of chairs?”). Some unbleeped profanities are sprinkled here and there, but for the most part Important Things is a refreshingly good-natured show that coasts along on the youthful charm and likeability of the comic. Among the most inspired bits is one involving a college applicant whose dinner with three great minds—Shakespeare, Galileo, and Benjamin Franklin—is broken up when the illustrious trio harasses their TGIF waitress like obnoxious frat boys. DVD extras include audio commentaries and deleted sketches. An entertaining example of contemporary alternative comedy, this is recommended. Aud: P. (D. Liebenson)