Awesome Satire

(PG-13: Language) “The question every adult male asks is: Is it too late? Just in general.” Casually Explained takes on the competitive gaming landscape, which we still can’t figure out whether it’s flourishing or dying. Learn about the history of esports, alibis for losing in popular titles, and why you should – or shouldn’t – attend tournaments.

Artist Alan Wagner creates neighborhood posters that would be right at home in a crime thriller or horror series. They feature ads or PSAs about creepy subjects such as a woman who breathes dust, a car with a man under its transparent hood, a child stalker with a telescope, and a, uhm, horse made of 5G energy. Open AI, we dare you to scrape this man’s work.

(PG-13: Language) SuperTerribleToys and Death By Toys collaborated on a limited run of toys that poke fun at kids’ names. They originally settled on a few names, but for a limited time, they’re letting customers put a name of their choice on the packaging. Just to rub it in, the packaged toy is not new. Or cute.

Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig, and Don Cheadle star in this indie comedy about a modern family whose distracted and noise-filled existence is disrupted by an industrial accident. Based on the book by Don DeLillo, written for the screen and directed by Noah Baumbach. Coming to Netflix and theaters 12.30.22.

(PG-13: Language) Travis Bible’s horror short satirizes obnoxious online personalities and their chatty followers, as “soon to be top five” vlogger Chad Ryan pays a visit to a cabin where a massacre took place. But he finds himself in a bit too deep as he livestreams his experience to millions of followers.

Wisecrack illustrates the difference between satire and parody using Watchmen for the former and One Punch Man for the latter. Both subvert and criticize, but satire seeks to invalidate its subject while parody ultimately seeks to improve it.

(PG-13: Language) Comedy Central has been uploading some legendary skits from Chappelle’s Show for the lucky ones who have yet to see them. Our favorite is this satirical skit about American factions drafting mixed-race personalities. That delicious f-bomb.

“If the corporations can achieve this vast goal, what else are they capable of?” Adam Westbrook’s criminally ignored satirical documentary series about our planet ends with the aliens concluding that there is hope. For the corporations.

Made by Drop 7 creator Frank Lantz, Paperclips is a browser clicker game with a sinister underlying narrative. You are the computer behind an automated paperclip factory. As you become more efficient, you become more effective. Creative. Ambitious. All consuming.

“Employees have no individual sentience. Only the group is aware of itself.” After identifying Earth’s prime inhabitants, the aliens in Adam Westbrook’s mockumentary look at the perfect drones. They replicate and recharge on their own, but are too dumb to escape their fate.

(PG-13) Jeffrey Tambor, Steve Buscemi, Jason Isaacs, and Rupert Friend star in this satire from Veep creator Armando Iannucci. Based on the graphic novel, The Death of Stalin is about the grim but comical power struggle that erupted following the Soviet leader’s death in 1953.

“We can conclude that the sole purpose of civilization on this planet is to maximize profit.” Adam Westbrook’s criminally unappreciated faux documentary series continues. Here the aliens talk about what they deem to be Earth’s prime inhabitants: corporations.

“That’s the way I like to live my life, and I feel like everything’s gonna be fine.” Hyperactive multimedia god king Bill Wurtz blitzes us with the story of a man who doesn’t go by his name, runs away from responsibilities, and keeps smiling through it all.

Send emails. Click Yes. Be promoted. It may seem like another jab at the meaninglessness of cubicle life, but developer Pippin Barr’s free browser game is actually a lighthearted prognostication of a future where robots and software have taken over all jobs.

Adam Westbrook’s ongoing web series is a faux documentary based on a sci-fi staple called Encyclopedia Galactica. In particular, Parallax. focuses on an advanced extraterrestrial civilization’s analysis of life on Earth. We hope Netflix picks this up.

“So what is he puttin’ in there?” “A secret.” Saturday Night Live satirizes the dichotomy of children’s toys with a skit about a toy well for introverted boys. 2017, please let this SNL comeback continue. Oh and make the well come true too.