Characters
Bob Uvula
Bob was a lead laughman for Seinfeld during the 90s. He was a "Must See-er", a group of pros who worked on the biggest sitcoms from the mid-80s until the end of Seinfeld. Bob, Dinero as his friends call him, is the son of famed laughman Micky Jowles. Bob's real name is Chuck Jowles. He changed it because it sounded like a stage name, and he wanted people to not think he was being too gimmicky. He admires Nick Cage for changing his real name as to not get jobs just because of who he was related to.
Uvula is a true believer in the "art", and takes his work very seriously. They call him Dinero, because of the attention and skill he gives to his craft.
Bob never felt right about his Seinfeld stint. It all boils down to the last year of the show when Jerry was making over 1 million an episode, and the Laugh Track Pro's only got 20 dollar Starbucks cards. He is a bit resentful that the "Show about nothing", was truly worth nothing without the Laugh Track support.
After Seinfeld, he fell on tough times. Sitcoms with laugh tracks were gradually replaced by cinematic like comedy shows such as the Office, Ugly Betty and Scrubs.
As the work started to dry up, he started a laughter stress management company, called the WLT, short for World Laugh Tour. The company's goal was to bring happier, healthier lives to stressed out people wherever they may be. He's given classes to many corporations, but finds that it's depressing to get people to take his laugh therapy seriously.But as of now, Bob is more than happy to be working on the Seinfeld show, and is seriously competing for his "COMEBACK". He doesn't take it this great opportunity for granted.
Uvula is thoughtful, smooth speaking and digs deep into his profession. He is a bit overboard and often times exaggerates the importance of his job. He is seriously dating Thelma. Thelma is "showing" so Bob naturally thinks it's his. Bob doesn't know that she was with Broc 1 month before they got together, and that she is carrying Broc's child (to be revealed)
Broc Winners
His name says it all. He's Broc and he's a Winner....s! as he likes to remind everyone. Broc is Bob's rival. He is the Anti-Bob. He is everything Bob is not. Brash and Loud, Broc seeks to be the center of attention. Broc often times steps on Bob's laugh line and always gets the last laugh.
Broc is no spring chicken in this business. Broc was the lead "titter and yucks" man at "Will and Grace" and before that he was an audience plant for Seinfeld. His job was to get the audience to laugh, but his constant flirting with audience members caused him to miss marks and Uvula was left to salvage his folly. Yet it was Broc who was promoted to the "Loud Uncle" and "Chubby Bellow", a position considered above Bob's "Ambient Laugher" position. Broc lorded it over Bob.
Even though Broc can be annoying he is a very smooth talker and quick on his feet. This enables him to push every situation to the max for his benefit without really pissing people off. In other words he is a master of knowing when to stop before he becomes too annoying. He is smart enought to know Derfer is a legend, and can help him "make" his career so he really doesn't want to piss him off. He just wants to be noticed.
Broc dated Thelma right before Bob. Broc tells us about how was bangin every "chuckle chick" and "giggle bunny" on the regular during the seinfeld era...good times.
Character Flaw: Has to always be in the "front of the class" so to speak
Herb Derfer
Herb Derfer is a laugh track legend, a mystic to the faithful. He is one of the "Originals". The Originals are the few remaining laugh men from the golden era of Laugh Track during the 60 and 70s. He was a partner of Charles Douglass, the inventor of the laugh box, which was used by most studios at the time. His job was to capture and maintain the laugh library for Mr. Douglass. As a result, he is an encyclopedia of the laugh track profession. He has broken down this little known profession into a science.
Drefer is currently the professor of Artificial and Coerced Humor Department at Chatsworth Media College or better known as the " A.C.D.C.M.C., it's a film and television school that catches all the USC and UCLA undertards. He has been brought on to direct the laugh track team for Seinfeld's live show, and is currently in charge of selecting the final team.
He really likes Bob Uvula's style, and think he has got the that special something that will make him great. Broc keeps trying to steal Herb's hear, but Herb doesn't really jive with Broc's attitude.
Herb tells us that he really like that Joey Fatoney kid. Herb remarks "He seems very like able and nonthreateningly normal..... and I like that.."
He knows Thelma Flan because her Dad, Duke Flan, was an "Original" and she grew up knowing Derfer, who was a friend of her father's. "Big Daddy" Duke was a "Supporting Giggle" for many years on "Welcome Back Carter" and a "Chronic Smoker / Weeze Master" on "Whose the Boss" in the 80s. He loves to talk bad about her Dad behind her back (During Interview). We find out that Duke Flan played a practical joke on him This made him look like a Dumbass and lost much respect from everyone in the biz. Herb now has to over compensate for any lack of professionalism by being very blunt and short. This is a pre-emptive strike...
Flaw: He is old school and not politically correct and uses laugh terms that are outdated or ill colored in today's times. When the class seems to question his judgement for his use of the these terms, he throws it right back at them ten fold.
He also like to talk about the "Golden Age of Laughmen"
Themla Flan
Themla is one of the "First Call" women laughers in the biz. She was most known for her "Chubby Lady Whoop" and the "Banshee Cackle".
An expert at the Chortle and a natural cachinnator, Ms. Flan comes from a family of laughman. Her dad, Duke Flan was an "Original" and she grew up knowing Derfer, who was a friend of her father's. "Big Daddy" Duke was a "Supporting Giggle" for many years on "Welcome Back Carter" and a "Chronic Smoker / Weeze Master" on "Whose the Boss" in the 80s. It was his experience that got Thelma supporting gasper on "Will and Grace", where she met Broc. Her and Broc had a thing much to Bob's dismay.
Her career was up and up, that was until the tragic laugh accident. Now she struggles to regain her timing and skill. She is good friends with Bob who got her on the Seinfeld Reunion Show.
Eventually, the preasures of "faking funny" broke her. Now in a support group for "People Who've Died Laughing", Thelma is trying to recover from witnessing someone pass due to laughing.
As her her road to recovery has her behind the mic again a love triangle reveals it ubly head between her Broc and Bob. Plus, finds out she's pregnant. The only problem is that she doesn't know who the father is. Thelma says "you see it all the time on daytime TV, but you never think it could happen to you!"
Her only girlfriend is Rene Gord that she trusts with all her secrets.
Flaw: She really thinks Seinfeld was a funny show.
Supporting:
Rob Manly: Rob is a man of few words. He is intimidating in his silent world, but Rob is the best at what he does. He specialized in women's laughter. He is the Mike Tyson of pro laughers, and this is why no one dares joke about his girly laugh.
Manly is best known for his "Sorority Girl" and the "Slutty Tempter". His timing and skill often lands him jobs women try out for. This is why Themla Flan is not fond of him. They are rivals.
Flaw: He as no tolerance for degrading talk about womenand when someone uses the "cruch" gag for a sympathy vote.
"Mellow" Zubeck: Mellow is the young tech head in the group. He is like many IT types... mellow, hence the name. He works at the recording studio where the group is rehearsing and recording. He is a tech evangelist and tends to point out computerized ways to solve everything. He is blind to the destructive nature technology is reaping on the laugh industry. This is why the group tends to treat him like a second class intern.
To prove his point about digital voice editing, he hires illegal immigrants to record a competing laugh track for Seinfeld at half the price. His bold move irks the team, but does he find favor with Derfer and the producers? Stay tuned. Secretly he wants to be a Laughman. He eventually will show a "laugh demo" that he made to Mr. Derfer and become a laughman himself.
Flaw: He offers unwanted technological advice and solutions. Likes tell people about his antigue mother board collection.
Rene Gord: Gord Is a star student of Herb Derfer. She's very happy to be there. Eager to get better, but so much to learn. She tends to get all questions right, but never really quite stands out as a lead-laugher. Bob is annoyed by her constant comments, but likes the attention.
Rene Gord is the gossip queen. She knows all about Thelma's pregnacy and the Dog Fighting scandal that is brewing. She has a very good take on it. She will tell us about "gassing" that she heard of that is going on. She cries out "How dare they use banned substances to get an unfair advantage! This is outrageous... If this were Major League Basball...this would never happen!"
Flaw: Eager to a fault. She needs everything explained in detail. If she were to get a letter grade she would always get an A-.
Annie Bellows: Annie is a total pro and she plays it straight. She "packs her own lunch" and does her job efficiently. She is not one to get caught up in the studio politics. In fact, not much gets her excited... she is the audience's reaction to the groups weirdness.
Character Flaw: She's never listening as she's into her own business and is always late to the conversation.
Ruben Jerst: Ruben is a specialist of British style laughter, specifically upper class Brits. He is American, but talks with a British accent to help his stay in character. Jerst can reproduce a "Snobby Noble", the "Mocking Benefactor" or the "Jovial Friar" with ease. He brings an international touch to the team. His current laugh's that are in delevopment are the"More Cheese Please" and the "Whiskey Tango".
He spreads his ideas to Rene Gord and Joey Fatoney. In the bathroom, he shows the two of them the finer points of "ethnic laughing"
Character Flaw: He is jolly to a fault and is most agreeable with everything he hears.
Joey Fatoney: Fatoney is a master of mimicking famous laughs. Known for his Ed McMahon, Santa Claus, Scooby Doo, Eddie Murphy, Bevis and Buthead, Side Show Bob from the Simpsons, Dave Letterman and others. He's always ready to impress someone. Unlike Bob, Broc and Thelma, Fatoney wasn't a "Must See-er", his best acheivment to date is a "stand-by Loud Uncle " on Who's the Boss. He never did stand-in.
On the surface, he is constanly taking notes and friendly with all. He appears to be a very proficient student of the "Laugh arts".
He is a average guy and keeps to himself, but when interviewed we learn very dark things about him. He only takes notes and tries to be good because he eventually wants Derfer's job. He knows this would be the best way to make himself look like a like able "normal" non threatening person. Joey states "I act like that so I appear a like able and nonthreatening"
He has Secret plans to take over the world.
Flaw: He can only laugh monotone and has a inferiority complex. He is attracted to Annie Bellows, but never can get up the courage to talk to her.
Roxi Blue : Roxi Blue is women who knows what she wants and how to get it...well most of the time. Roxi is a beautiful girl and she knows it. Roxi says "This is a very competitive business run by men! Need I say more (smile)"
Character Flaw: She's takes 4 hours to get ready to go out and water the plants.