Fred Armisen has landed a super(hero) web project…
The 45-year-old half-Venezuelan actor and former Saturday Night Live cast member is starring in Ambiance Man, a web series that also stars Jack Black and Jibz Cameron.
Debuting on December 20 on MOCAtv, the Museum of Contemporary Art’s YouTube platform, the series was created by artist Alix Lambert, who had an idea for a superhero named Ambiance Man.
He doesn’t save the world or even rescue a cat trapped in a tree — he just fixes bad ambiance.
“Like bad lighting, an ant infestation — anything that could ruin your day-to-day,” Lambert tells The Hollywood Reporter. “He’s a Pre-Raphaelite superhero.”
The series follows the well-mannered hero, played by Armisen, on his quest for good vibes against the supervillain team of Buzzkill (Cameron) and Unidentifiable Odor (Black).
“It’s so silly,” Lambert says, barely containing her laughter as she explains the show’s content.
It’s a goofy concept, no doubt, but Armisen, Black, and Cameron (who creates outrageously comedic performance art under the name Dynasty Handbag) are the masters of the art of goofiness.
Ambiance Man kicks off MOCAtv’s Art + Comedy season, which will feature programming from Alex Bag, David Robbins and Martin Kersels, among other artists.
The idea was born years ago during an evening of drinks at her friend’s house.
“Her roommate kept passing through the room we were in,” Lambert recalls. “Every time he would come through, he would do something like light a candle or open a window. We were just like, ‘It’s Ambiance Man.’ I told that story for years, and liked this idea of a superhero who [comes to the rescue] if you’re on an awkward date, or if you’re sweating too much — more day-to-day stuff. I’m all for Batman stopping the end of the world, but I need today fixed.”
After a chance meeting with MOCAtv’s director, Emma Reeves, that turned into a greenlight, Lambert called on her longtime friend Armisen, whom she says she’s known for dozens of years, and her neighbor Cameron. Cameron brought her friend Black aboard, and the series suddenly had legs. “Fred is super talented, and I just thought of funny things that I wanted him to do, and I let him run with that. And he has his sidekick Feng Shui [played by comedian Atsuko Okatsuka]. She also fixes things, but she’s interested in order.”
Ambiance Man, which was filmed at YouTube Space L.A., will debut with a private screening at MOCA in downtown Los Angeles on December 19, which will be accompanied by a live element involving Armisen and Cameron.
Lambert hopes that the series will find an audience and go on beyond the four episodes she’s already made for MOCAtv. “The idea is that it will continue,” she says. “We’re talking to various people that we could partner with for that. We haven’t made anything concrete, so I don’t want to jinx it.”