In 2001, writer/director David Wain and co-writer Michael Showalter gathered an immensely talented ensemble cast for a funny flick called “Wet Hot American Summer” about counselors trying to get things done on the last day of summer camp.
Now 14 years later, Wain and Showalter are back with the full original ensemble in tow for an eight part Netflix series by the same name. With that said, a lot has changed in the past fifteen years. FilmFad.com would like to take a moment to reflect on the past and present careers of the film’s core players.
Michael Showalter
THEN: Showalter was on the rise coming off his outings with MTV, back in the 90’s when MTV was a vibrant and cutting edge content provider before the plague of reality TV took over. A short five years after his sketch comedy show “The State,” Showalter and David Wain (“Role Models”) team up to pen what would become a cult-comedy, “Wet Hot American Summer.”
NOW: After a series of short lived television shows including “Stella”, “The Michael Showalter Showalter” and “Michael and Michael Have Issues” as well as a few sporadic guest appearances, Showalter has re-teamed with Wain to bring their “Wet Hot American Summer” cast to Netflix in an eight-part series.
Michael Ian Black
THEN: Black is a long-time comedic cohort to Wain & Showalter, hailing from the “The State,” their 90’s sketch comedy group. “Wet Hot American Summer” was Black’s first big time project as the short short wearing and buldge bearing McKinley.
NOW: Since 2001, Black has had consistent guest spots on a wide range of shows, from “Reno 911!” to “Robot Chicken.” In addition to the “Wet Hot American Summer” Netflix series, Black is set to appear in upcoming 2016 comedy, “Folk Hero & Funny Guy.”
A.D. Miles
THEN: When he joined “Wet Hot American Summer,” Miles’ was coming off a small role in “The Believer,” a drama about a young Jewish man who develops a fiercely anti-Semitic philosophy, starring Ryan Gosling and Billy Zane. I guess this is before the world realized Miles’ immense COMEDIC talent.
NOW: Miles has done quite well for himself in the past 15 years. In addition to many TV appearances including “Reno 911!,” a 10-episode stint on “Horrible People,” Miles landed the role of Martin in David Wain’s “Role Models.” The list doesn’t end their as Miles’ longevity is well secured as the Head Writer for what was formerly “The Late Show with Jimmy Fallon” and now “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
Paul Rudd
THEN: Well before his involvement with “Wet Hot American Summer,” Rudd was no stranger to the big screen with speaking roles in “Clueless” along side Alicia Silverstone, “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers,” “Romeo + Juliet” alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, and critically acclaimed “The Cider House Rules”alongside Tobey Maguire and Charlize Theron.
NOW: It goes without saying that Rudd’s career has taken off since 2001. From an 18 episode stint on “Friends” to being part of the 1970’s San Diego news team in “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” to starring in the upcoming “Ant-Man” movie alongside Michael Douglas. If this Marvel film does well, we may even see Rudd cement his longevity in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for films to come.
Christopher Meloni
THEN: Meloni has always been a recognized character actor. Before “Wet Hot American Summer” Meloni was in and out of the tv justice system appearing in “NYPD Blue,” “OZ” and “Law and Order.” Melon even had a small part as the hotel receptionist in, a personal favorite, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.”
NOW: Since then Meloni’s career has flourished. He has had his hand in many pots from being Freakshow in “Harold and Kumar” to “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For,” and the Rebooted superman flick, “Man of Steel.”
Molly Shannon
THEN: Shannon was the princess of SNL well before she picked up a role in wain’s “Wet Hot American Summer.” At the time her career was on the rise as she bared her britches in a number of SNL spin-off films, guest spots on shows like “Seinfeld,” and a part in the Jim Carrey led “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
NOW: Shannon has continued to be a active guest on many TV shows along with bit parts in many movies. Based on her success on SNL, one would have expected her career to take off, but alas Shannon is a supplementary character actor at best these days.
Ken Marino
THEN: Marino has become more of a recognizable name over the past few years, but he is yet another “The State” alum alongside Wain, Showalter and Ian Black. Before WHAS Marino had guest roles from “Spin City” to “Will and Grace,” a few made for TV movies, and a bit part in the Ethan Hawke led sci-fi classic “Gattica,
NOW: Since then Marino has had constant work with re-occuring roles in “Dawson’s Creek,” “Veronica Mars,” “Eastbound and Down,” and “Children’s Hospital” just to name a few. He is also known for Role Models (2008), Wanderlust (2012) and We’re the Millers (2013). Currently Marino is killing, I mean continuing, his career with “Marry Me,” an exploration of the tough road between asking the big question and the alter.
David Hyde Pierce
THEN: Most notably recognized as the British nanny ogling Niles Crane from the record breaking show “Frasier,” Pierce was also minority involved in many box-office hits including “Terminator,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” and “A Bug’s Life” in addition to a stint on the popular “Hercules” animated tv series.
NOW: Post “Frasier” era, Pierce was in a few major motion pictures with “Full Frontal” and “Hellboy” in addition to numerous, yet small, guest spots. With such a huge shadow cast by the epic ensemble that was “Frasier,” I am sure Pierce will likely never again be a major player.
Joe Lo Truglio
THEN: Lo Truglio is yet another “The State” alum, going to prove that this particular group of comedians sure do stick together. Aside from his work on “The State,” Lo Truglio had few other gigs with the exception of one episode of “Upright Citizens Brigade.”
NOW: Since “Wet Hot American Summer,” he has grown into a go-to character player for multiple mediums including “Superbad,” “Paul,” “Role Models,” “Wanderlust” and for his role as Vincenzo Cilli in Grand Theft Auto Liberty City Stories. LoTrug, that’s what I call him (just made that up), currently co-stars as Charles Boyle on the FOX sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine along with SNL alum Andy Samberg.
Amy Poehler
THEN: “Upright Citizens Brigade.” Need I say more? If you don’t know about this show then I want you to stop what you are doing and go watch all 30 episodes right now. Don’t worry, I’ll wait right here for you.
NOW: Where do I begin? Will this list ever end? I could go through the unending chain of successes Poehler has seen in her career, or I can just say “SNL,” “Parks and Recreation,” and co-host of the Golden Globe awards for the past three years alongside fellow SNL alumna chum, Tina Fey.
Elizabeth Banks
THEN: Before “WHAS” Banks, who then went by Elizabeth Maresal Mitchell, only had a few solo credits for “Sex in the City” and “All My Children” as well as a bit part in the Samuel L. Jackson led “Shaft”.
NOW: Banks has become a often used funny women and in some cases dramatic player. She has rubber elbows with tons of A-List celebs and it seems it rubbed off. She has been in hit movies and shows such as “Scrubs,” “Catch Me If You Can,” Sam Ramie’s “Spider Man,” “40-Year-Old Virgin,” and more recently the “Hunger Games” series.
Bradley Cooper
THEN: Prior to “WHAS” Cooper was only known for a short lived tv series where he and Tom Everett Scott were wall street types entitled “The $treet.” No, that $ in street is not a typo.
NOW: Do I really even need to say anything? After his stint on “Alias” Cooper went on to star in the re-make of “The A-Team,” the “Hangover” trilogy, “Yes Man,” “Limitless,” “Silver Lining Playbook,” “American Hustle” and voiced Rocket Raccoon in “Guardians of the Galaxy.” If that isn’t enough for you he just got an Oscar nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of real-life Navy Seal sniper, Chris Kyle, in “American Sniper.” If you have not seen that movie yet, GO SEE IT NOW!
Janeane Garofalo
THEN: I hate to say it, but “WHAS” has been what seems to be the peak of Garofalo’s career. Prior to 2001, she collected an impressive slew of credits starting with “The Ben Stiller Show,” to “Reality Bites,” then to “SNL,” only to go on to star in “The Cable Guy,” “Cop Land,” “Dogma,” and the list goes on.
NOW: With the exception of a long stint on “24,” Garofalo has pretty much done a few random guest appearances and short lived tv shows. Hopefully the new “WHAS” series will rekindle her once blazing career.
Well, that wraps it up for FilmFad’s Wet Hot American Summer: Then and Now. Make sure to check out the upcoming “Wet Hot American Summer” Netflix series. Not only will the entire original cast be in tow, but rumor has is that many new A-Listers have jumped aboard including Kristen Wiig and Chris Pine. I am excited for the first day of the last day of summer camp, how about you?