On August 3rd, one of the most insane television shows of all time will be returning to TV -- and this time, it's going to air live.
The Chris Gethard Show will return for a third network season, moving from Fusion to truTV, and yes, the call-in show -- which features themed episodes full of completely insane sketches and stunts -- will be going live, the way it originally was back when it premiered on Manhattan Neighborhood Network public access back in 2011.
Before that, TCGS was a stage show at the Upright Citizens Brigade's flagship NYC theater, moving to public access after several successful years of shows in which host Gethard (who recently released an HBO special, Career Suicide), outside of curating an anything-goes variety show, would occasionally mix things up by, for example, hiring school buses to take the entire audience on a field trip to his New Jersey childhood home.
The taped version of the show manages to preserve its early DIY aesthetic quite well, partly because its kept the same cast members, in-jokes, and die-hard fans for nearly seven years, making it much more than a cult hit -- it's a show that's changed lives, from getting Will Ferrell to officiate actual weddings on air to creating a safe space for viewers to call in and share their most personal stories.
The Chris Gethard Show debuts on truTV August 3rd, but many past episodes are streaming online if you'd like to dive into the show's extensive archives before then.