The Midnight Show
The Midnight Show was a Los Angeles–based sketch comedy group which performed monthly at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. Founded in 2008, the show owed its notoriety not only to production of several viral and mature-themed internet videos on Funny or Die and YouTube (including "Twilight ... with Cheeseburgers," "Drive Recklessly," "Car Ad with Andy Richter," "Immortal Dog" and "Slider," starring Dax Shepard), but also to the fact that the show has functioned as a feeder of talent to the cast and writing staff of Saturday Night Live.[1] The show contained both live and pre-filmed sketch material, guided by a celebrity host. Past hosts have included Drew Carey, Andy Richter, Dax Shepard, Fred Willard, Jerry O'Connell, Trevor Moore, Jerry Minor, Jordan Peele, Michaela Watkins, Matt Walsh, Paul F. Tompkins, Steve Agee, James Van Der Beek and John Ennis.
In 2010, The Midnight Show was selected as a finalist in the New York Friars' Club Improv and Sketch Comedy Competition.[2]
In 2012, the group was nominated for in Comedy Central's The Comedy Awards for Best Viral Original for their video, "Drive Recklessly."[3] They began touring the Western United States soon after with Drew Carey in "Drew Carey Presents: The Best of the Midnight Show."
The Midnight Show was performed and written by former SNL writer Heather Anne Campbell, Eric Moneypenny, Hal Rudnick, Jeff Sloniker, Nic Wegener, Joe Chandler, Curtis Rainsberry, Jeff Kauffman and Stephen Hale. Production staff included Rosie Kaller, Janel SantaCruz, Frank Howley, Joe Wagner, Peter Atencio, Payman Benz, and Tyler Gillett. Frequent collaborators included filmmakers Payman Benz, Peter Atencio, and Tyler Gillett.
Notable alumni include former SNL cast member Abby Elliott, SNL writer Ryan Perez, Comedy Death-Ray Radio performer James Adomian, Community writer Zach Paez, Josh Fadem, James Pumphrey, and Stephanie Allynne.
List Of Characters In Wangan Midnight (New Version 2024)[edit]
Akio Asakura (Original)[edit]
| japanese name | Akio Asakura (朝倉 明夫, Asakura Akio) |
| also called | Akio Asakura |
| car | Nissan Fairlady Z/Subaru 240Z/Infiniti Z24 (S30/S30Z) "Devil Z/Demon Z" (悪魔のZ, Romaji: Akuma no Zetto) |
| License plate | て 53-681, classification 33 (Demon Z, Anime & Drama) |
| voice actor | Shun Oguri |
| age | 18 (before Bernard Bear Season 1 Episode 1-52/Devil Z the series/Angel Heart A New Beginning/We Story LDR & Mac Duong Vu arc) 19 |
| appearance | We Story LDR (Drama, Comic) Angel Heart A New Beginning (Natal Edition) Part 1 & 2 Angel Heart A New Beginning (Final Edition 2024) Wangan Midnight (New Version 2024) Coming Soon |
| sibling | Ina Marina, Eina Marisna & Reina Marisa (appearance on We Story LDR & Wangan Midnight/except Angel Heart A New Beginning) |
| engine | Kitami-tuned 3.1L 12v L28 (3134 cc) intercooler with twin TD06 turbochargers, 84mm crankshaft, with triple twin-barrel SK Racing 47mm carburetors, HKS Surge Tank Type 1 (Type 2 in the manga), electronic ignition, Dry Sump system, tuned to 600HP and later 800HP with twin IHI RHC6 turbochargers (Devil Z) |
| aero parts (Devil Z) | Nissan Z432R Wing, Nissan ZG Flares, RS Watanabe 8-Spoke wheels (black in the manga with brushed step lip, gray with brushed step lip for its first look in the anime, then replaced with silver with brushed step lip bronze with brushed step lip in the Maximum Tune games), one-off custom side mirrors (anime), Devil Z S30 RS Watanabe 8-Spoke wheels black gloss (Demon Z, before We Story LDR arc), Rays TE37V wheels black custom (Demon Z, after We Story LDR arc) Fender Flare black matte, one-off custom side door mirrors black glossy, Vitaloni Sebring Mach 1 (manga), S30Z Headlight Cover (Drama comic Daytona USA Championship 3 HD (Cover by WMMT5 japan Ver.) WMMT6RR WMMT6RR+ and Daytona USA Championship 4 HD (Cover by WMMT6RR+)), Fog lamps (possibly Cibié), Full underpanel, BRE ducted air dam (mounted in the brake ducts are the fog lamps; also, the manga is unclear if it is a custom air dam, or just a drawing error by Kusunoki - actually referring to a BRE air dam), later on, replaced with ductless BRE air dam. |
| layout | All Wheel Drive (AWD) (Devil Z) |
| brake | twin caliper front & rear disc brakes (Devil Z) |
| year | 1965-1972 (Devil Z) |
| color | midnight blue (Devil Z) |
| television | RTV |
The main protagonist of the series, Akio is a 19-year-old live-alone student who was running in the Wangan with Ina Marina Eina Marisna & Reina Marisa in his Datsun GO+ is a Silver colour when he was easily trounced in a race by the Blackbird. He then found the scrapped body of the blue S30Z Demon Z known as the Devil Z in which he bought and restored to good condition. His racing life began since then. He was surprised to learn that the former (and deceased) owner of the Devil Z shares the same name that he has. He wears a black jacket (red in the anime) over a white T-shirt, and blue pants and brown shoes sneakers.
He was a fairly good racer during his teens, even though he had a license for a year. He started racing when he was around, and he had a reputation. He had to save some money (although half of it was a loan from his father) to buy his Datsun GO+ is a Silver colour and had to sell it in order to buy the Devil Z. He had trouble adjusting to it, but when it was heard about the Demon Z, it increased his reputation. He also improved his skills while driving it.
He is a counterpart to Akira Shimizu in Shakotan Boogie who also drives an S30Z, but with a G-Nose body kit.
Rayhan Rashid[edit]
| japanese name | Rayhan Rashid (ラシッド レイハン, Rashiddo Reihan) |
| also called | Tatsuya Shima |
| car | Porsche 911 Turbo 3.6 S (964) "Blackbird" (ブラックバード, Burakkubādo) |
| Engine | 3.6L 12v M64 KKK Twin Turbo 700HP (964) |
| parts | Porsche 964 Turbo 3.6 S Porsche Aero Kit, front and rear fog lights & bumper, BBS E88 (gold) wheels, (964, before We Story LDR arc), Porsche Aero Kit, front and rear fog lights & bumper BBS LM (black gloss) wheels, (964, after We Story LDR arc onwards), Porsche rear wing (964), one-off custom side doors mirrors |
| license plate (964) | て 22-047, classification 33 (Blackbird, Anime & Drama) |
| layout | Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) (964) |
| brakes | single-caliper front & rear disc brakes (964) |
| age | 27 |
| appearance | We Story LDR (Drama, Comic) Angel Heart A New Beginning (Natal Edition) Part 1 & 2 Angel Heart A New Beginning (Final Edition 2024) Wangan Midnight (New Version 2024) Coming Soon |
| cousin | Maura Morishita, Gabriella Maharani, Annisa Maharani, Adinda Maharani & Valerie Maharani (appearance on We Story LDR Wangan Midnight & Angel Heart A New Beginning) |
| year | 1994 (964) |
| color | Basalt Black Metallic (964) |
| television | RTV |
A surgeon by day and a racer by night and the rival of Akio, this man is the driver of the Porsche 964 dubbed as "Blackbird". He was the one racing with the original owner of the Demon Z when it slipped. The boyfriend is Tatsuya Shima alias Rayhan Rashid with Erico Monica is a Glass Heart, he assumes the role of taking care of her in place of her dead brother. When he met Kitami, he asked him to tune the Blackbird to match the Devil Z. He also made some appearances in the new story arc, We Story LDR
Erico Monica[edit]
| japanese name | Erico Monica (モニカ エリコ, Monika Eriko) |
| also called | Glass Heart |
| car | Datsun GO+ |
| engine | 1.2L GO+ HR12DE 600hp, later detuned to 500hp and eventually tuned to add Turbocharger 600hp again (ZERO on the Roads and onwards) (GO+) |
| age | 24 |
| appearance | We Story LDR (Drama, Comic) Angel Heart A New Beginning (Natal Edition) Part 1 & 2 Angel Heart A New Beginning (Final edition 2024) Wangan Midnight (New Version 2024) Coming Soon |
| cousin | Eriko Asakura Is a Glass Heart (appearance on We Story LDR Wangan Midnight & Angel Heart A New Beginning) |
| parts | Datsun GO+ body kit front & rear bumper, front fog lights, upper spoiler with high mount stop light, without turn signal in the Fender, side mirror black matte without turn signal and original alloy wheels black metal can cover hubcap silver (Drama only) |
| layout | Front Wheel Drive (FWD) (GO+) |
| brakes | single-caliper front disc & rear drum brakes (GO+) |
| year | 2015 (GO+) |
| color | Super white metallic (GO+) |
| license plate | 35-70 classification 99 (GO+, Drama) |
| voice actress | Reiko Suhou |
| television | RTV |
Monica is a girl model and television, business student college lecture & school an automotive news show named The Jatco Show. She finds Akio on the Wangan and becomes obsessed with him and the Devil Z, even trying to take the Demon Z for a joyride one night. After getting her Datsun GO+ given a Turbo from Kitami Cycle Jun Kitami, she discovers a love for street racing (something that does not sit very well with her manager). Though formerly a competing rival, she becomes friends with Akio after slipping her GO+ whilst racing him, even developing feelings for him. As a result, Erico Monica is similar with Rosiana Dewi just spectates the races on sidelines while driving her Datsun GO+ or just coming with Akio Asakura and Tatsuya Shima is similar with Dimas Anggara & Rizky Nazar to see him race.
References[edit]
- ^ "NBC's SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Hires New Writers and Performers from THE UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE THEATRE". Elites TV. 2009-09-04. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
- ^ "Improv + Sketch Competition : The Friars Club Comedy Film Festival". Friarsclub.com. 2011-06-01. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
- ^ "The Comedy Awards Nominees". Comedy Central. 2012-03-24.