Ethan Carter
The recent film gained significant popularity, yet the original series remained inaccessible for viewing.
Comedy enthusiasts should reserve their time this weekend. The beloved cult classic Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie will be available for streaming on Hulu starting July 24. Previously, viewers could only rent or purchase it, which can be a stretch for many in today’s economy.
There’s more exciting news. Hulu is also becoming the exclusive streaming platform for the show that inspired the film, Nirvanna the Band the Show. Both seasons of this 2017 series will launch on the same date, marking a significant return since it hasn’t been available for streaming in recent years. This gap was particularly frustrating for new fans like myself, who discovered the film and struggled to locate the original series.
For those unfamiliar, Nirvanna the Band the Show follows two well-meaning but misguided musicians from Toronto as they concoct outrageous plans to secure a performance at a local venue, The Rivoli. The movie mirrors this plot but expands on it in uniquely high-concept ways that I won’t reveal here.
In essence, it doesn’t matter which you watch first—much like the order of classic Looney Tunes cartoons. I began with the movie due to necessity and was completely at ease with the storyline. The premise revolves around two friends trying to book a show at The Rivoli, drawing inspiration from comedic influences such as Flight of the Conchords, Nathan for You, and The Ali G Show. The series began as a web series back in 2008.
Both the show and film feature performances by Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol. If Johnson seems recognizable, it’s because he wrote, directed, and starred in the critically acclaimed film BlackBerry, which we named one of the “best movies about tech” in our review. He is currently completing an Anthony Bourdain biopic featuring Dominic Sessa and Antonio Banderas.
Daniel Mercer
