Amy Sedaris is pretty.  That’s what most people I talk to are shocked by when they look at the actress and writer when she's not wearing her Jerri Blank getup.  She is pretty, but she’s willing to put all of her good looks away for the nasty hilarity that is Jerri Blank--a former drugged up 46-year-old bisexual high school freshman with child-bearing hips and a monkey-like overbite.  You haven’t watched the show?  You better.  Here’s what’s up with it. 

 

-When was it on? The show aired for two seasons on Comedy Central from 1999 to 2000.  The film Strangers with Candy, supposed to be prequel to the television series, was released in 2006.

 

-Stephen Colbert. Before Stephen Colbert was "Stephen Colbert," he wrote and was a lead character on the show.  His character, a high school history teacher named Chuck Noblet, hated gays but was not-so-quietly screwing the male art teacher. 

 

-After school specials.  Strangers with Candy was modeled after the infamous after school specials of the 1970’s and ’80’s.  In particular, the creators (including Sedaris, Colbert, Paul Dinello and Mitch Rouse) were inspired by a 1970 public service film called The Trip Back that features Florrie Fisher, a reformed drug addict. They sought out Sedaris for Jerri because she could imitate Florrie Fisher so well. 

 

-Flatpoint High.  This is Jerri’s new/old school in the town of Flatpoint.  It seems to be vaguely Midwestern (judging from the tassels on Jerri’s pants) or maybe set in New Jersey because of her father's constant, exaggerated hand gestures. 

 

-Jerri’s dad. Former vaudeville star Roberto Gari did a really creepy job of playing Jerri’s dad.  He was only shown in a frozen state--usually with a chicken leg or car repair tool clutched in his hand--mouth agape.  It’s kind of unfortunate Gari played a character who could have been a wax sculpture--he died in 2008. 

 

-Creators.  The four creators met at Chicago’s Second City comedy troupe and went on to create another show for Comedy Central before this one called Exit 57.

 

-Sara Blank and Stew.  Jerri’s stepmother and their meat man start a nasty but hilarious affair. Deborah Rush is in everything but you never know where you saw her last.  Fun fact: she is Walter Cronkite’s daughter-in-law and her kids are named after him.  

 

-Mr. Jellineck.  Paul Dinello’s Geoffrey Jellineck is an art teacher and also the “voice of reason” from after school specials, often leading Jerri on the moral lessons that she learns and forgets each episode.  He is taken with turtlenecks, long flowing hair and sensitive paintings and often uses Flatpoint’s little boys room as a hook-up spot with Mr. Noblet. Fun fact: Paul Dinello and Amy Sedaris dated for eight years after meeting at Second City.  

 

-Derrick Blank.  The third ambiguously gay character on the show, Jerri’s half-brother Derrick is beautiful, loved by Mr. Jellineck and plays on the football team.  He is totally helpless--in one episode his mother is too drunk to wash his clothes so he wears his socks.  Only. 

 

-Onyx Blackman. The hilarious Greg Hollimon plays the narcissistic principal of Jerri’s school. He is obsessed with hanging pictures of himself around the school--his face even appears on Jerri’s orthodontist’s X-ray machine.