Exit 57
Title screenshot from Exit 57
Created by	Amy Sedaris Paul Dinello Stephen Colbert Jodi Lennon Mitch Rouse
Directed by	Tim Hill Mick Napier
Starring	Amy Sedaris Paul Dinello Stephen Colbert Jodi Lennon Mitch Rouse
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	12
Production
Running time	30 Minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	Comedy Central
Original run	1995 – 1996
External links
IMDb profile

Exit 57 was a 30-minute sketch comedy series that aired on the American television channel Comedy Central from 1995 to 1996, becoming Comedy Central's first original sketch comedy show. Its cast was composed of comedians Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello, Stephen Colbert, Jodi Lennon, and Mitch Rouse, all of whom had previously studied improv at The Second City in Chicago. Humorist David Sedaris also served as an additional writer for the series, sharing a single onscreen credit with his sister as "The Talent Family". The show's producer, Joe Forristal, had also served as executive producer for The Kids in the Hall.^[1] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Amy Sedaris (born March 29, 1961, in Endicott, New York) is an American actress, author, and comedian. ... Paul Dinello (born November 28, 1962, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actor, writer, director, and an alumnus of Chicago-based The Second City, Improv Institute, and Annoyance Theatre. ... This article is about Stephen Colbert, the actor. ... Mitch Rouse is an American actor and director. ... Tim Hill is one of the most well known infamous cartoon workers of the 90s and 2000s. ... Mick Napier is an actor, director, teacher and author living in Chicago. ... Amy Sedaris (born March 29, 1961, in Endicott, New York) is an American actress, author, and comedian. ... Paul Dinello (born November 28, 1962, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actor, writer, director, and an alumnus of Chicago-based The Second City, Improv Institute, and Annoyance Theatre. ... This article is about Stephen Colbert, the actor. ... Mitch Rouse is an American actor and director. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel in the United States. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel in the United States. ... Amy Sedaris (born March 29, 1961, in Endicott, New York) is an American actress, author, and comedian. ... Paul Dinello (born November 28, 1962, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actor, writer, director, and an alumnus of Chicago-based The Second City, Improv Institute, and Annoyance Theatre. ... This article is about Stephen Colbert, the actor. ... Mitch Rouse is an American actor and director. ... Improvisation is the act of making something up as you go along. ... Second City redirects here. ... Sedaris in 2005. ... KITH redirects here. ...

All of the sketches in the series are implied to take place in the fictional suburban setting of the Quad Cities. There is a real Quad Cities located on the Mississippi River border of Iowa and Illinois, but this show featured a much more bizarre version. During the show's memorably cryptic opening sequence, the cast members are seen standing next to a broken down car on the highway. Soon they are picked up by a passing driver, who changes the radio station at the mention of a serial killer, and takes Polaroid pictures of his increasingly uncomfortable passengers. Growing suspicious, the cast demands to be let out. The car is then seen pulling off the highway at Exit 57. The I-74 Bridge, connecting Bettendorf, Iowa, and Moline, Illinois is located near the geographic center of the Quad Cities. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... Official language(s) English Capital Des Moines Largest city Des Moines Area  Ranked 26th  - Total 56,272 sq mi (145,743 km²)  - Width 310 miles (500 km)  - Length 199 miles (320 km)  - % water 0. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ...

Origin

Sedaris, Dinello, and Rouse were initially approached about developing a sketch comedy show for HBO Downtown Productions after appearing in a comic play entitled Stitches.^[2] , written by Amy Sedaris's brother David Sedaris.^[3] The group had not performed together using the name Exit 57 before the series was proposed, but rather came together to develop the show. The series was filmed in New York; Stephen Colbert relocated from Chicago, leaving Second City, for this reason.

Reception

Despite only lasting for twelve episodes over the course of two seasons, the series met with a fair amount of critical acclaim before its cancellation, garnering CableACE nominations in 1995 for writing, performance, and best comedy series. ^[4] The CableACE Award (earlier known as the ACE awards) was an award that was given from 1978 to 1997 to honor excellence in American cable television programing. ...

References