January 31–February 7, 2002

mix picks

Philly Waaaay After Midnight

Surely you’ve seen Insomniac by now? That’s the show on Comedy Central where awkward wise-ass stand-up Dave Attell (who used to do a little on-air correspondence for The Daily Show) visits a different city each week, wandering the streets all night, drinking, chain-smoking and making fun of the even drunker people he runs into. Not limited to bars, fetish clubs and strip joints, Attell also stumbles across some downright bizarre overnight gigs. (The episode where he joined the New Orleans police in performing drive-by shootings on enormous sewer rats was particularly entertaining.) In every city, it seems, there are idiots wasted enough not only to drop their pants and yell "woo" for the cameras, but also to sign the release forms that let Attell berate them on the air for it. It was only a matter of time until Insomniac got to Philly, what with our all-night cheesesteak dives, pretzel factories, diners and people who yell "woo." Specifically, he hangs at Pat’s, Geno’s, a Tastykake factory, in Love Park with some BMXers and at The Cave with greasy male strippers. Now, technically the Philly episode debuted Wednesday at 10:30 p.m., but for the more authentic Insomniac experience, check out the late-night rebroadcast Friday at 12:30 a.m. You’re home by then. Admit it.

—Patrick Rapa

Fri., Feb. 1, 12:30 a.m.; Sun., Feb. 3, 11:30 a.m., Comedy Central.