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Actor/writer/director and now stand up comedian Michael Showalter has a new CD out, entitled Sandwiches and Cats. For those of you unfamiliar with his work, Showalter is a former cast member of legendary sketch comedy troupe “The State”, which also included such well-known comics as Thomas Lennon and Kerri Kennney (Reno 911), Michael Ian Black and David Wain. He co-wrote and starred in cult classic Wet Hot American Summer and wrote, directed and starred in The Baxter as well as episodes of Stella on Comedy Central.


Showalter enjoying a delicious sandwich.

Still not ringing a bell? Shame on you then. Michael Showalter really nails the awkward, off the radar comedy that most top tier comedians consistently try and fail to capture. On “Sandwiches and Cats”, Showalter discusses such widely varied topics as washing your hands after pissing, erotica fiction, high school news journals, sandwiches and cats (duh) and restless leg syndrome. And not in that lame “what’s the deal with that” Jerry Seinfeld way either, but in a way that constantly surprises the listener with the sheer absurdity of it all.


Showalter with fellow "State" alumni Michael Ian Black and David Wain in "Stella".

This is not to say that Michael Showalter’s particularly strange brand of comedy will work for everyone. Sadly, dick and fart jokes generally beat out sophisticated humor with the general population 9 times out of 10. This is also not to say that there are no dick and fart jokes on this album. What I’m trying to get at is that if Dane Cook is your idea of a funny comedian, then Michael Showalter might not be for you. But if you’re any kind of fan of irreverent, offbeat comedy that focuses on the illogical, then you will definitely enjoy “Sandwiches and Cats”.