Drunks and losers, dwarves with limps
Flo's and ho's and one-eyed pimps
Down the alleyway they creep
They're all your friends when you can't sleep!
Come with me and you will see
A late-night freakshow jubilee
Kick the Sandman in his sack
Stay up late, Insomniac!
(Ha ha)
Insomniac with Dave Attell was a Travelogue Show that ran from 2001 to 2004 on Comedy Central. The show followed stand-up comedian Dave Attell as he explored the night life of various cities.
Dave and his cameraman Brian would visit places one would normally expect to be open at night, like bars, and unusual places, like local businesses and weird clubs, in the course of a single night. Along the way Dave would talk to colorful strangers on the street and drink at a lot of bars. Each episode would start at a stand-up club Dave was performing in at the beginning of the evening and end with Dave's "One last thing I gotta do", usually something really silly, right before the sun came up.
Insomniac started in cities in the contiguous United States, but moved to all of North America, and eventually went international. The show had four seasons, ten episodes each, and four specials. The last episode of each season would take place in New York City.
Eventually they had to stop making the show because too many people on the street recognized Dave Attell and figured out what he was doing, ruining the "average guy on the street" feel of the show. That, and they ran out of cities to visit.
Insomniac with Dave Attell provides examples of:
- The Alcoholic: Dave would drink a lot in one night, especially Jagermeister.
- Fanservice: Rarely does an episode go by without Dave interviewing strippers, porn stars, or hookers, all in various states of undress.
- The Insomniac: Dave claimed to be this, which was how he was able to stay up all night. In an episode where they visited Dave's mom had her comment that pretty much their entire family were insomniacs too.
- Once a Season: The season finale would always be in New York City, and end with Dave going back to his apartment and telling Brian to get out.
- Platonic Prostitution: Dave did hire escort girls a couple of times, but only to go bowling or eat ribs with them.
- Signoff Catch Phrase: "I gotta get outta here. Get some sleep!"
- Silent Partner: Brian the cameraman. Dave would talk to him, and sometimes Brian would shake the camera, but since he was the only cameraman following Dave around the audience never saw him, and he never spoke.
