The State logo — MTV sketch comedy series, 1993 to 1995

Long Live The State

MTV · 1993 – 1995 · Never Forgotten · Deeply Missed

Another poopy day. Maybe you should try pants. I'd like to dip my balls in it. I'm Doug and I'm out of here. Don't worry your pretty little head about it, baby. I wouldn't wipe my ass with Billy's The Four Food Groups. Another poopy day. Maybe you should try pants. I'd like to dip my balls in it. I'm Doug and I'm out of here. Don't worry your pretty little head about it, baby. I wouldn't wipe my ass with Billy's The Four Food Groups.
We had to have the pudding.

"We had the $240. We had to have the pudding.."

Eleven Maniacs.
One Show.
Zero Regrets.

In 1988, a group of deeply unhinged NYU students formed a sketch comedy troupe. They called themselves The State. From 1993 to 1995, they terrorized MTV audiences with surreal, irreverent, and genuinely brilliant comedy that changed the medium forever.

They gave us Viva Variety. Reno 911. Wet Hot American Summer. Stella. Michael & Michael Have Issues. Decades of the best comedy made by anyone, anywhere, ever.

You owe them everything. The least they deserve is a documentary release.

To borrow a quote from an old-fashioned guy, "Call me old fashioned ... but I think we should worship The State as powerful gods, and fear them.""

Kevin Allison · Michael Ian Black · Robert Ben Garant · Todd Holoubek · Michael Patrick Jann · Kerri Kenney-Silver · Thomas Lennon · Joe Lo Truglio · Ken Marino · Michael Showalter · David Wain

The State comedy troupe — all eleven members of the MTV sketch comedy show

The Long Live The State Documentary Exists.
It Is Not Released.
This Is Unacceptable.

Long Live The State is a feature documentary about The State — the 11-member sketch comedy troupe that ran on MTV from 1993 to 1995. The Long Live The State documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2025. It exists. It is finished. And as of today, no general public release has been announced.

These people gave us pudding. They gave us Doug. They gave us the concept of pants as something optional. We owe it to them — and to ourselves — to demand better.

Release the documentary.
Do it now.
Do it for Louie.
Do it for Barry and LeVon.
Do it for Doug.
Do it for the fans.

Tell us you're with us: [email protected]

The State character

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