St. Cloud twenty-somethings release bizarre sketch comedy show online

St. Cloud State University student Jason Schueppert gathered up a handful of buddies, a few aborted short stories, and a cat-in-a-box last spring and shot the debut episode of "Sparkle Picnic" in one day. The response was better than expected and led to an ongoing series now available online at http://www.sparklepicnic.com.

The "Sparkle Picnic" crew sought out the most despicable humor they could find. Mocking the disabled, abusing cats, rural bigotry, drug-dealing racism, and many more are spun into irreverent comedy that’s either too smart to be offensive, or too dumb to be taken seriously. With two seven-minute episodes up and two more on the way in December and January, director Chayden Bates and writer Jason Schueppert hope to bring some attention to their brand of comedy. For fans of the sketch comedy teams 'Whitest Kids You Know" and "Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job," here’s something new to help waste time.

Filming of additional episodes will take place this January in the cold, white tundra of St. Cloud, and the Bates/Schueppert duo are working on a short film tentatively titled "Holiday," with an entirely different tone, to be shot sometime over the next two months.

"Sparkle Picnic" is inappropriate sketch comedy that seeks to make people laugh (or angry). The participants aren’t after the middle ground. They seek to entertain and make viewers look at the world a little differently.

If you’d like more information about "Sparkle Picnic," the crew behind the jokes, or to schedule an interview with Jason Schueppert, please call Mr. Schueppert at 920-517-0876 or e-mail Jason at jjschueppert@yahoo.com.