The Chris Gethard Show

Format

The format of the MNN show was extremely loose, but almost every episode features the panel interacting with callers. Episodes are usually based around a call-in topic, a game, or occasionally a plot. On public access, every episode ran one-hour in length and broadcast live on Wednesday nights. On cable, season one episodes were taped Tuesdays with a live-streamed interactive taping, with an edited half-hour version premiering on Thursdays. Season two episodes are taped Thursdays, with a live-streamed interactive taping, with an edited one hour version premiering on Wednesdays.

Chris Gethard

Chris Gethard is the show's host, namesake, and an executive producer. Often openly discussing his neuroses, including anxiety and depression, Gethard has a habit of putting himself in painful and/or degrading situations.

Shannon O'Neill

The artistic director of the Upright Citizens Brigade theatre, Shannon O'Neill is Gethard's sidekick, and often plays the role of straight man, contrasting with Gethard's less-restrained, anxious behavior.

The Human Fish

The Human Fish is a character performed by comedian David Bluvband. The Human Fish is a half man, half fish hybrid who emerged from the sea in order to learn about humans, almost always dressed in goggles, blue swimming trunks and flippers. The Human Fish always has something on his mind, often phrased in an x vs. y format. The character was briefly retired during the final episode of the first season on MNN, with Bluvband later joining the panel out of character. The Human Fish later returned for the final MNN episode, and remained a main cast member during the Fusion series.

Bethany Hall

A performer at the UCB Theatre and the show's stage manager, Bethany Hall is known to all as the nicest, kindest and most rational member of the TCGS cast, often protesting the use of violence against Chris or other members of the show. Starting with "The Mole", Bethany serves as the show's "internet liaison", participating with and speaking for the show's chat room.

Murf Meyer

Murf Meyer is the show's announcer. Otherwise known as The Reservoir Dog, Murf claims to have stolen a handle of whiskey from Gimghoul castle, the headquarters of a secret society based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and is known for his rants about the Order and his attempts to divulge their secrets, which have become the subject of several specials. He proposed to his then-girlfriend Diana Kolsky at the end of the "First Times" episode.

The Random

The Random is a rotating panelist who, prior to joining the show, must have had no previous interactions with the cast or crew, and remains on the panel for 15 weeks. This tradition began in the second MNN episode, "The Episode Where Everything Started", when a woman named Jean called into the show confused as to what the show was even about. She was asked by Chris if she wanted to join the cast, to which she agreed and immediately became a part of the show, until she left for a job in California 15 weeks later, which begun the 15 week cycle tradition.

There have been eight regular Randoms in total. The only one to remain on the show past their 15 weeks is Alex Clute, known as Random Messenger Bag. During his time as Random, Clute was given an offer by the show's director, J.D. Amato, to restart his tenure if he abandoned a handcuffed Gethard, leaving him at the mercy of cast members who would attack him; staying would result in Clute's departure from the show at the end of the episode. Clute took the offer; upon the conclusion of his time as Random, Clute later joined the show's house band, the llc. In season 2, a pug named Random Frodo became the first non-human cast member when Chris Gethard dubbed the show "speciesist". Random Frodo appeared in 5 episodes before his passing at age 17.

Mimi on the Hoops

Mimi Fischer - A hooper who hoop-dances behind the cast throughout the entire show.

Celebrity guests

Throughout the show's run, several guests have appeared on the show and sat on the panel, including Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Zach Galifianakis, Sean Combs, Hannibal Buress, Jack McBrayer, Scott Adsit, Bobby Moynihan, Blanche Baker, Matt Besser, Wyatt Cenac, Tami Sagher, Horatio Sanz, Kurt Braunohler, Aidy Bryant, Colt Cabana, Antonio Campos, Kay Cannon, Pat Cassels, Jimmy McMillan, Adam Pally, Grizz Chapman, R. L. Stine, Myq Kaplan, Jordan Klepper, Danny Tamberelli, Nicole Byer, Brady Corbet, Gabe Delahaye, Sean Durkin, Don Fanelli, Jake Fogelnest, Jon Hamm, Dave Hill, Will Hines, Jesse Lee, Zachary Levi, Joe Machi, Joe Mande, Mike Maronna, Josh Mond, John Mulaney, Griffin Newman, Mike O'Brien, Lennon Parham, DC Pierson, Jeff Rubin, Tom Scharpling, Rich Sommer, Cipha Sounds, Dino Stamatopoulos, Dan St. Germain, John Gemberling, Brian Huskey, James Adomian, Tito Santana, Sal Vulcano, Andrew W.K., Sean Waltman and Rhino.

Crew

The Chris Gethard Show has an ever expanding list of people working behind the scenes to make the show possible. Many have worked several jobs on the show. Much of the crew appears on the show, and can be considered just as much a part of the cast as the panelists.

Regular callers

Fans and other guests

Frequent Characters

Occasional Characters

The LLC

The LLC is the house band of The Chris Gethard Show. The LLC are: Hallie Bulleit (lead vocals, kazoo, percussion), Bill Florio (glockenspiel, vocals), Jon Vafiadis (guitar), Alex Clute/Messenger Bag (guitar) and Mikey Erg on cajon, percussion and vocals. They create original music for every episode of the show and have created themes for many of the recurring sketches. They have also occasionally featured other players, like Mal Blum and Random Melissa.

They write a new song for virtually every episode. Some of their recurring songs are: "The Main Theme", "Persephone Please" (Credits),"The Awkward Song", "Jerkface!", "Why Don’t You Give Us A Call?", "So Glad You Gave Us A Call!", "#HollywoodGethard", "Technical Difficulties" along with themes for: Alyssa, Walter, The Human Fish, Dan Klein, The Wiffle Bat Gang, Bethany, Stellan, Callstead, Don Fanelli, Shannon, The Ratz Carlton, Rob Malone, BananaMan, Mimi, Connor Ratliff, Jersey Dave, Fred From Honolulu and Tracksuit Enforcer.

Transition to cable

On November 20, 2013, it was announced that Comedy Central had ordered a pilot of the show, but on May 13, 2014 Gethard announced through tumblr that Comedy Central had passed on the show. He also added that the show would not end, and that they were already talking to other networks.

On December 17, 2014, Gethard announced the show would be moving to an unspecified cable network in 2015 and would be finishing its run on public access in January. On January 28, during their final broadcast on MNN, Gethard revealed that they will begin airing episodes on Fusion. The Chris Gethard Show was succeeded in its time slot on MNN by The Special Without Brett Davis; during The Special's first episode, which aired on February 22, 2015, Gethard appeared to hand off hosting duties to Davis. The show has briefly returned once each November to continue Sandwich Night.

On January 5, 2016, it was announced that Fusion had renewed the show for a second season. Ten episodes have been ordered, with the major change being the show's length going from a half hour to a one hour program.