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Viral Videos come off of the internet and into your home

Comedian Daniel Tosh is back with his second season of "Tosh.0"

Published: Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Updated: Tuesday, August 3, 2010 12:08

danieltosh.com

danieltosh.com

Comedian Daniel Tosh of "Tosh.0".


"Famous? Strong word. Hasn't happened." Those were the humble words of comedian Daniel Tosh, who is now hosting a second season of his very own show Tosh.0.

Bringing viral videos off of the internet and into your dorm room, Tosh, with his blunt and sometimes biting comedy, makes fun of these videos and just about anything on the internet for that matter.

"The show is just a group of buddies trying to come up with ... horrible things about people," Tosh said. "It's not too serious."

Starting in stand-up before his television career, Tosh explained that his first time seeing stand-up comedy was the infamous Carrot Top while he was in college. Tosh was a sophomore in college in Orlando, Fl. when he first toyed with the idea of stand-up. "I just wanted to see if I enjoyed it," Tosh said.

It was from here that he slowly gained popularity and eventually did numerous performances like "COMEDY CENTRAL presents..." to his very own hour long special called "Completely Serious."

"I always tried to sell show ideas and Comedy Central just liked [Tosh.0]," Tosh said about how the show came about. Completing 16 episodes as the first season, Tosh is back and ready for more.

With two researchers and four writers, including himself, Tosh and the writers of the show sift through hundreds and hundreds of videos to decide what to air and whether or not it can air. Tosh explained that it is mostly matters of legality that ultimately help decide what can or cannot be used.

"Either people won't let us or legally we're not allowed to," Tosh said. The smallest things can make of break a decision on whether it is used or not. From consumer logos in the background that may have to be blurred or music they have to edit out, the show is more than just talking and laughing about random internet videos.

Premiering with "Web Redemption" videos, Tosh invites stars of internet famous videos, like David, the boy from "David After Dentist," (which features the boy talking to his father high off of nitrous oxide from a trip to the dentist and saying some pretty ridiculous things) to "redeem" themselves on the show somehow.

"In the beginning it was 90 percent 'no way,' but now it's probably closer to 60 percent of people saying yes." Although redeeming themselves may not always be the best thing. "Tons of classics [like Star Wars Kid] want nothing to do with redemption," Tosh said.

On working with researchers and writers, Tosh explains, "I get in at 10a.m. and we're all linked to each other's laptops," where everyone sends videos to one another to review for upcoming shows. "I don't have to search at all on my own. It's a great thing."

"To be honest, it spoiled me," Tosh said about his team and how they go about finding videos.

Sometimes using a handheld Flip camera to film show footage, "it seems so silly," Tosh said. "Compared to James Cameron and what he's doing, that seems a lot harder than what we're trying."

Always speaking his mind, it is inevitable that there are things censored on the show. "Every week a lot of stuff doesn't work. You never know what they're going to censor. It's always weird the words they choose to beep." An example Tosh decided to throw out was if he said "John Travolta likes the company of men." "Holy cow would that get cut!"

"I get emails every week of a list of words I can't say. It's literally a debate to keep from being sued." Explaining the reasoning behind certain words, Tosh can sometimes win the battle of censorship on some words, but not all of them.

When asked if he ever receives negative feedback, Tosh replied, "Are you kidding me? Half of my Twitter is people screaming at me." According to Tosh, he receives "nothing but hate mail." He has even received a few threats. Not really travelling with security or bodyguards, it's easy to see why Tosh sometimes decides to watch what he says.

Like his personality, Tosh's style for the show is more laid back. "I don't like making decisions a lot," Tosh said on his wardrobe. "I just wanted to wear hoodies." Deciding to be daring, Tosh switched to cardigans. "It's more of a running joke," Tosh said. This new season he's trying to change things up. "Deep V's, costumes, tuxedos," are some of the choices Tosh is toying with.

Tosh probably never thought wardrobe would ever really be an issue because "Any episode past the second one passed my expectations," Tosh said.

Tosh was not always into stand-up comedy. "I only saw two live shows before I attempted it," Tosh admitted. "I started off at local comedy clubs doing five minute sets."

When lending advice to aspiring comedians, Tosh suggests to "Just try it. Just go onstage. There's nothing to fret over... Write two to three minutes of material and see if you like it. You'll figure it out quickly if you have a desire for it."

"I didn't want to work [and thought] now's the best time to try one of these ridiculous type of professions," Tosh said.

"I miss the fact [of] whenever I'd perform it would be random old people and they would be appalled," Tosh said, reminiscing on his old stand up days.

"I'm still working on getting recognized," Tosh said. Despite Tosh owning a Twitter account, he shared that some celebrities are not as genuine. With some celebrities getting paid to "Tweet" certain things,

"It enrages me," Tosh said. "Subtly writing about things... I'm calling bullshit."

With Tosh's straightforward personality and humor, "My parents turn a blind eye to my behavior," Tosh said.

"They don't like that I swear or anything pornographic. I get a phone call every week from my mom," Tosh said about his parents watching the show.

Tosh admits that although he censors himself for the sake of his parents, he will "immediately release a great comedy album the day after [they pass away.] They're okay with it," he reassured.

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