Viva Variety was a television show on Comedy Central satirizing European variety shows with characters from the Eastern Bloc. The show starred Thomas Lennon as Meredith Laupin, Kerri Kenney as the former Mrs. Laupin, and Michael Ian Black as "your cool-ass pal" Johnny Blue Jeans. In addition to comedy sketches, the show featured musical guests and various performers. Periodically, a troupe of women called “The Swimsuit Squad” would dance much like the “Fly Girls” on In Living Color.
The show featured many people who were a part of the comedy troupe The State. Lennon and Kenney went on to produce another Comedy Central show, Reno 911! Michael Ian Black later appeared on the Comedy Central show Stella.
Pseudo-European variety show with all the trimmings. Mr. and (the former) Mrs. Laupin and their dimwitted more-American-than-American sidekick Johnny Blue-jeans team up to bring their "European" show to an American audience with hilarious results. As they say "Viva Variety is as American as French Fries... with mayonnaise and vinegar." Written by Joseph Pranevich
