Mr. Show (also known as Mr. Show with Bob and David) was a sketch comedy series featuring former Saturday Night Live writer/comedy actor Bob Odenkirk and stand up comedian/actor David Cross. It aired on HBO from November 3, 1995, to December 28, 1998.

Description

Each episode of Mr. Show essentially consists of a series of sketches, each one transitioning to the next by way of a tangential—or sometimes direct—segue, called a link. For example, a minor character in one sketch might return as the major character in the next. Often, common themes or storylines are returned to at different times throughout an episode. It is regarded by sketch comedy aficionados as perhaps the best of its era , though as a premium cable show its audience was necessarily limited. DVD editions, however, have sold briskly, opening the show to a broad new audience..

While the show was never viewed by a mass audience, due to its premium cable broadcast, it remains a highly influential piece of American sketch comedy. The actors and creators of the show have gone on to become staples of the American comedy landscape. The Sarah Silverman Program features Silverman in the lead role and also features Jay Johnston and Brian Posehn who were regulars on Mr. Show. Arrested Development, created by Mitchell Hurwitz, featured David Cross as Tobias Funke, but also had guest spots filled by Mr. Show alumni, such as Bob Odenkirk as a marriage counselor and Jerry Minor and Jay Johnston as gay cops. Jack Black had supporting roles in Mr. Show, Cross and Odenkirk would go on to work with Black and Kyle Gass on producing a show for HBO for the comedy band Tenacious D which would also feature Mr. Show alumnus Paul F. Tompkins.