Episode 7: Training

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The gang are all set for a friend's party, but the L Train goes out of service; Ryan has to rely on his boy scout training.

Training was produced and directed by Kathleen Grace and written by Thom Woodley and a little bit by Matt Yeager.

MUSIC

The band for this episode was the incredible Gothic Country Punk brouhaha known as O’Death, ( www.myspace.com/odeath ). Masters of Appalachian mountain music, civil war gospel, and whiskey, O’Death gives one of the most energetic but gosh-darn honest performances this side of the Mississip.

CAST

Our regular cast includes: Jeff Skowron (Ryan), Bob McClure (Jed), Kelli Giddish (Courtney), Matt Yeager (Xander), and Lindsey Broad (Spring).

Guest appearances for this episode include Chris O’Connor (as Early’s doppelganger Proximately); John Wu (Eugene the Chinese Deliveryman); Richard Watson (Scoutmaster Longenbach); Sam (young Ryan); and last but not least, the enigmatic mystery of a man that is Terry Withers (The Man with the Van). Check out Terry’s theatre company at www.lucidtheatre.com.

HOOD

Training was shot entirely in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and Long Island City and Astoria, Queens.

Outside locations included: the corner of Bedford and North 7th, McCarren Park, the Pulaski Skyway and surrounding streets, Vernon Boulevard, Review Street, under the BQE, and on some totally forgotten streets in Long Island City. We dare you to find them (don’t go at night)! The bike shop was in Green Point.

The scoutmaster scenes were shot at Havemeyer Street’s Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, who also run the iconic Giglio Festival (www.giglio-usa.org/Brooklyn_Mt_Carmel.htm ). The Queens Bizarro Bar was LIC (Long Island City) Bar on Vernon. In real life, it’s strictly non-Bizarro, with a fantastic backyard and a hot bartender. Awesome Pete’s stoop was Matt Yeager’s stoop in Astoria.

O’Death performed at Spiegeltent at the South Street Seaport. It’s charm is in its transience – it’s already gone. But a great venue for the history books.

CREW

Our Director of Photography was Johnny North. Sound was by Nick and Thom Woodley. Our editor was Chris Chan Roberson. Eric Dow and Thom also shot.

SPECIAL THANKS

To Rachel Hunter, for casting. To the cast, for this very long and dirty day.

(33)

Post a Comment

A M A Z I N G. Everything was perfect.... nicely done.

Comment by m – October 22, 2006 at 2:17pm ET

Bravo! I really liked this episode, every part. The Queens group mirroring the Burg 5 was a funny addition, and the van ride was a riot.

Comment by C – October 22, 2006 at 11:59pm ET

Shit, I was just in Astoria today for the first time. "Greek or Cypriot?" Great.

Comment by Brandon – October 23, 2006 at 12:18am ET

I don't know why, but I especially enjoyed this one.

Comment by Christopher Homeless – October 23, 2006 at 5:41am ET

i dont know..i think you may have jumped the shark by leaving brooklyn.

Comment by blunts – October 23, 2006 at 10:48am ET

hey what's up with the chino-monkey-bionic delivery guy? they really are superhuman! so tip them more than usual!!!

ps - great line.... "greek or cypirot" it made me choke on my hummus!

Comment by nonecknoel – October 23, 2006 at 11:23am ET

some of the b-plots went nowhere, but the bizzarro group was hilarious and the bizarros Early was wicked funny.

Comment by Shyla R – October 23, 2006 at 12:00pm ET

Loved the Twin Peaks reference. Long live David Lynch!

Comment by Francine – October 23, 2006 at 2:15pm ET

Condor Scout ? Now that is just too funny. I wish I could move to the burg. I think it would be fun crapping right on the pavement and then somebody would have to pick it up in a baggie. That would be so cool. Keep the episodes coming; this ole dog needs the laughs. Pretty the Dog

Comment by prettythedog – October 23, 2006 at 3:00pm ET

10.

Well congratulations ladies and gents, you have all just entered the big leagues. You stayed the course, were unwavering in your visionary leadership, and were not deterred by the defeatist rhetoric of the pansy girly-men. All that is left is the clean up. You seemingly have those pesky budget deficits creeping up on you, threatening to derail the prosperous growth and productivity that you have worked so hard to obtain. The entire foundation of your free world is now possibly threatened by the insurgent tactics of 1% minimum payments, $29.00 late fees, 39.95% delinquency rates, legally subversive arbitration clauses, and innovation-stifling bankruptcy laws. Inflation is eating you from the bottom, the job market from the top, and the foreign market from all sides. A prosperous and plentiful future objectively appears to be slipping away from you... But you will not give up! No, you are not a bunch of wimps! You are Men (and Women), and you don't take "no" or "I can't" or "we need more money" for an adequate response! No, you bunker down, shuffle through the garbage, push the pennies, and get your hands dirty because you all know in your hearts and we all know in our heads that you will succeed. After all, you have to. You followed your dreams, took the risks, and by Job, even if it means the end of the Burg as we know it, you will make this thing work.

So may the FSM bless you all with his many appendages and enhance your life in ways that not even enriched white flower can accomplish...

Comment by that guy over there – October 23, 2006 at 5:09pm ET

11.

I will keep my comment short and to the point.

This show is fantastic, fresh and funny as hell. I will be a fan as long as you all keep making me laugh out loud. :-D

Comment by Piper – October 24, 2006 at 12:29am ET

12.

Question: this is the first 16:9 episode - was it shot in HD? I'm obsessive-compulsive and can't rest until I have the answer to this minor technical question. Thanks.

Comment by Techie Nerd – October 24, 2006 at 1:34pm ET

13.

Yes. 16:9. Not HD. We're not that fancy yet. Our DP Johnny is just that good.

Comment by Kathleen – October 24, 2006 at 1:39pm ET

14.

I agree with 100% with Post #11. You continue to amaze with your talented cast and crew. I only hope a substantial number of people are watching your show... if not, I hope an audience jumps on the bandwagon and (insert amusing catch-phase of your choosing here).

One little tech comment: the end credits were very blurry and hard to read. And I'm sure you want to give everyone full credit for their part in this achievement...

...and one last thing: who was behind the great sunset closing shot? Did your cinematographer Johnny North spot the locale?

Comment by The Voktardt – October 24, 2006 at 5:02pm ET

15.

You white kids really enjoy playing poor -- don't you?

Comment by BB – October 25, 2006 at 4:31pm ET

16.

Fantastic episode yet again!

Comment by Tara – October 25, 2006 at 5:57pm ET

17.

Ryan's flashbacks had me rolling. Scoutmaster was a little hot, too!

Comment by Tracey – October 26, 2006 at 12:55pm ET

18.

your first asian guest star and he's some crazy monkey like man... nice.

Comment by d man – October 28, 2006 at 5:32pm ET

19.

Not the first, DMan. Becky Yamamoto played the stockbroker in Fair Trade.

Comment by gl – October 28, 2006 at 6:25pm ET

20.

Answer: Cypriot.

Also: G to E or G to 7 to N/W next solstice. The L will always break your heart.

Awesome episode. Awesome O'Death. You guys get better with every episode.

Comment by NutmegNine – October 30, 2006 at 11:43pm ET

21.

I am loving this show. I just watched all of them today. Keep them coming, I am anxious to see more.

Comment by Serena – November 1, 2006 at 6:34pm ET

22.

Oh barf. I heard so much about this show, and I finally get to watching it.

1) The G takes you to just about every Queens train in existence after about 3 stops.. it's a Queens-Brooklyn train. Are these characters supposed to be right off the bus from Nebraska?

2) I unno, it's not contemporary. Williamsburg is more ... 9-5 "creative department" office workers or grad students than trustfunders or whoever the hell.. it's not 2001 anymore. The characters you're showing have been priced out because they're too dumb or lazy to know how to survive in this area (being a waiter can pay the rent in Williamsburg for god's sake). Which is to say, you're writing is stuck in whatever small clique the writers inhabit.

Strokes as broad as this would get your own eyes rolling if you saw it on TV. There's a lot to make fun of in the NYC "trendy neighborhood" world, but you're being way too obvious. Also, the actors also aren't pasty, scrawny, or spaced out enough - now that would details.

Comment by urhlughg – November 3, 2006 at 4:08pm ET

23.

Oh yeah, good call on Queens - I've said the same damn things when I lived there before Brooklyn ... things should be longer ... to flesh out ideas and make things more subtle? Think about it!!!! ?>

Comment by urhlughg – November 3, 2006 at 4:25pm ET

24.

urhlughg is 44 years old and still hangs out with 22 year olds.

Comment by pam – November 5, 2006 at 5:43pm ET

25.

this episonede and the chemistry one were SOOOO funny. plus, thes is a nice MLS marker tag in the opening scene of this episode.

Comment by jon – November 9, 2006 at 7:19am ET

26.

I like what you guys do. This episode shows momentum. My fave bit was Jed's tiny bike. Spring rox.

Comment by Sam – November 13, 2006 at 3:10am ET

27.

i dont get the inside joke.. who is the man in the van? i dont recall seeing him in a preivious episode....

this episode is hillarious btw!!

Comment by idk – November 16, 2006 at 7:11pm ET

28.

Is that the real Man With a Van?! I am starting to see signs for him in the east village now. Awesome episode. The L sucks, it has been getting better though.

Comment by DevoInRegress – January 22, 2007 at 5:04pm ET

29.

This has been my favourite episode yet! I too loved the Twin Peaks reference. Overall though, the characterisations were riotous, the acting was campy and "carny" and yet still believable. In short- you have cred.

I wish there was a show like this for my own town, SF. I'm still looking for my own cool bar to go to- the bathroom bar was my favourite.

Keep up the awesome work.

Comment by Cameo Wod – March 24, 2007 at 9:02pm ET

30.

"eat my dust, bitches" = comic gold.

Comment by word. – April 28, 2007 at 2:24am ET

31.

Love this episode! "Your just jealous, eat my dust bitches." does in fact = comic gold, along with the extra level of boy scouts that's "top secret" "Condor Scouts" haha purely genius and totally classic! I have to see more episodes very, very, very. soon. P.S. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE XANDER!!!!