‘Documentary Now!’ Parodies ‘Salesman’, ‘Stop Making Sense’ & More in Season 2, Watch a Sneak Peek
In less than a month, Seth Meyers, Bill Hader, Fred Armisen and Rhys Thomas’ IFC series Documentary Now! returns with all-new episodes. From the looks of the teaser trailer and clips leaked so far, Season 2 is shaping up to be as hilarious as its predecessor. The show, which is nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series, parodies famous documentary films. Last year they targeted Nanook of the North, Grey Gardens, and Errol Morris’ Thin Blue Line, among others. In the upcoming season they take aim at The War Room, Salesmen, Stop Making Sense, and more.
The new season, which finds Dame Helen Mirren back as host, kicks off on September 14 with a send-up of D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus’ political documentary The War Room. The episode, entitled “The Bunker”, features Hader as Teddy Redbones and Armisen as Alvin Panagoulious, a couple of political strategists working on a gubernatorial campaign. Below you’ll find a clip from the episode.
IFC has also shared a clip, which you can find below, from the episode that pays tribute to the 1968 Maysles documentary Salesman. The Maysles film centered around a door-to-door bible salesmen. The Documentary Now! version is called “Globesman”, and profiles four businessmen trying to sell globes.
Other episodes in Season 2 include “Juan Likes Rice & Chicken”, a parody of Jiro Dreams of Sushi; “Parker Gail’s Location is Everything”, which pokes fun at Jonathan Demme’s 1987 documentary Swimming to Cambodia; “Final Transmission”, a takeoff on Taking Heads concert doc Stop Making Sense; and “Mr. Runner Up: My Life as an Oscar Bridesmaid, Part 1 and Part 2”, which is inspired by The Kid Stays in the Picture.
Season 2 also promises an array of guest stars. Expect to see Anne Hathaway, Mia Farrow, Peter Bogdanovich, Peter Fonda and Maya Rudolph in upcoming episodes.
To find out if Ben Herndon defeats Governor Lester and the answer to other burning questions, tune in to the premiere of Documentary Now! Season 2 on Wednesday, September 14 at 10pm ET. In the meantime, for additional information about the show visit www.ifc.com/shows/documentary-now/.