Shasta

Six o'clock is the one time that no phone in our whole town rings. Everyone is watching Shasta. Why not? It is cool, hip and trendy. Fresh, new and innovating. Just about everyone finds something to their liking in this extremely funny series. We in South Africa support it. Do you?

This comedy, about a ne'er-do-well rap group living in Venice Beach may have looked good on paper, but it stank when it hit the air. With the advent of "South Park" and "Family Guy" pushing the boundaries for better or worse, the powers that be are running scared. We must be daring! Don't be afraid of crude humor! The trouble is that they have forgotten that, as an executive said about an unaired pilot starring Kelsey Grammer, "A comedy should be funny".

"Shasta McNasty" is not. It is not, with a vengeance. The first show "Pilot" has Verne Troyer (Mini-Me from "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me") in one of the first scenes walking around in a sombrero with chips on the brim and salsa on the crushed crown. In another scene, he is seen with the same hat, but now it has popcorn on the brim.

No, I didn't laugh, either, but believe me, this is as funny as the show got. The leads are sadly, listless, the writing goes out of it's way to be offensive (which "Seinfeld" did occasionally, but still managed to be funny, more times than no)and it's on UPN, which recently lost a couple of affiliates.

To quote Troyer in one scene, "Lame, lame, lame!"

When I saw the first ad for Shasta McNasty, I thought that it looked stupid. Then, I watched the first episode and I was still laughing after it finished. The acting was fantastic, the sets were very cool, and my favorite character was Vern, played by Verne Troyer a.k.a. Mini Me from the second Austin Powers movie. I really liked this show and I was very disappointed that UPN cancelled it. I hope that they bring it back one day.

I saw the second Vern Troyer guest episode (Oct 99) of Shasta McNasty and my friends and I all loved it. I didn't know this guy can act really well!! -(And, no, I didn't make it a priority to see Austin Powers 2). Troyer's character is just great. (I don't even watch sitcoms! But this was just great, so maybe I ought to be more open-minded.) This is the episode that opens with Troyer as a buddy of the regular cast characters, and they come across him working as a crab-cracker at a crabhouse (he gets on the table, slips a plastic bag over foot, and smashes crab claw for customer). As caring friends, they are aghast, and tell him that they feel he deserves more dignity than that! Then there's some stage talent competition as the informal entertainment at this restaurant, which Troyer and his friend jump in to improvise and win - which starts a fight with someone who's jealous... Troyer's character beams him beautifully well, and they all realize that a new career as boxer is begun... Troyer's character loves the idea... soon they are all taking bets, there's ring-girl humor from both male and female perspectives, etc... they search for contenders, which brings more than they bargain for. Troyer's character learns to work out the wrong way, and the right way (both with a number of twists on traditional methods that are hysterically funny). The whole 1/2 hour was just a scream, and at the same time VERY human, very practical straight-shootin' earthy humor, dealing with little people, man-woman, etc. life issues universal to everyone, while keeping you laughing and riveted on the sitcom level. Included great site-gag spoofs on many well-known films (rocky, pulp fiction, etc.).....--- I sure hope this is rebroadcast! ......(& if anyone knows if/when, please email ).

When I read some of the reviews for this show (man, they were bad) I thought it was going to suck. But when I saw it for myself I couldn't stop laughing. I love that they had a friend who happened to be a little guy. It was fun to watch Verne Troyer play a regular character and not that mini-me crap. I also liked the romance between Scott and Diana, she was pretty sexy. I wish there were more shows that took a chance like this one did.