Appreciating the late Harris Wittels

Elki

Yesterday, comedian Harris Wittels was found dead of an apparent drug overdose. He was 30 years old. Many of us loved him, and this is a thread to talk about him and his work.

I first learned of him through Comedy Bang Bang. He was a writer The Sarah Silverman Program and Parks and Rec. Writing this, it feels reductive to reduce him to the jobs he did. I just loved him. I didn't know him, but I loved him and I feel quite sad at his passing.

RIP.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AweVgPJhVFQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnmiykb6NGI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrQj3LOBEcw

y2jake215

Creak. Slam. Sit.

RIP

CaptainNemo

Bummer. I learned about him through Comedy Death Ray/Bang Bang too.

Fuck. I had just listened to him do a phone corner too.

Dark Raven X

I only know him as one of the animal control guys from Parks and Rec.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xkplbd_nQFs

"Bark Obama"

y2jake215

This was a "reply all" including all the nbc big wigs

Elki

http://www.earwolf.com/episode/not-farts-procreation-4/

BEAST!

Woken up at 4 am by the cats, saw the episode was the one expected and decided it wasn't time to start. When I finally did start it i stopped after Hot's sad opener. May take a bit to get to the episode itself......

This is a weird passing. As others have said he seemed like a friend....

Kid Presentable

Oh there's a thread! I'm listening to the new CBB ep right now, I think Scott did a really good job of expressing how and why it's more than okay to put this out and for us to listen to and laugh at it. And it is of course hilarious.

I've been listening to a lot of old Harris stuff this week, and it really is cool that there are these recordings we can go back to whenever we want. I'm sure that is hard in some ways for his actual friends, but it's got to be a bit of a blessing at the same time. I've found myself surprised at how affected I've felt about this - usually a celebrity death elicits a sympathetic "wow that sucks, i feel for their family and friends" but I don't feel much particular grief personally. As others have mentioned, I think the podcast medium just really fosters this weird and unique intimacy. That wasn't Harris Wittels acting and writing and working, that was Harris being himself hanging out with his friends. On a personal level, this past year my real life friends have finally gotten on the podcast bandwagon with me, and Harris was one of our mutual favorites. I had a rare opportunity to spend time with my people a few weeks ago, and we at one point were just gathered around YouTube listening to Foam Corner clips and laughing our asses off. I suspect that part of the reason I was so upset at Harris' passing is because he was part of this bonding experience, and because in a way we would talk about funny things Harris said in the same way we talked about funny things our real friends said.

"Mother fuckers wanna laugh", indeed.

Hakkekage

I started listening. Usually I'll keep it playing while I'm doing other stuff, but I had to turn it off because I want to be able to give this one my full attention.

Harris' Foam Corner had me dying, of course. Especially the anecdote about being in 8th grade (8th grade!!) in the movie theater. It's sad to think this is the last we're having from him.

Kid Presentable

I finished the episode. It was very funny and enjoyable with no feelings of weirdness until they started to wrap up the show, at which point I started feeling really sad that it was about to be over, and with such finality.

Then they played a fantastic montage after the episode with perhaps the best final sendoff you could ever imagine.

Kid Presentable

http://store.earwolf.com/store/apparel/4163/cbb-harris-wittels-in-memoriam

Harris said it best, "I Just Think...Motherfuckers Wanna Laugh". To honor Harris, we are selling limited edition shirts in memory of our dear friend.

Pre-order your shirt today. All proceeds will go towards a scholarship fund in memory of Harris.

I'm probably gonna pick one of these up.

Dark Raven X

OK, started listening to Comedy Bang Bang. Went as far back as iTunes has, and it's a good show in general, but Harris episodes are the best, and foam corner kills me every time. My 2 favourites are

"Instead of trying to desalinate the ocean, they should just add pepper"

"Wheat thins? Call me when they're wheat thicks! GIMME THAT WHEAT!"

And then I listened to his epic saga of being addicted, going to rehab, immediately going on a quest to get heroin, then stopping. It's a great story, but recorded less than a month before his death, there's a kinda grim edge to it knowing this ain't history for him. :<

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx_LrqzC7RA