Barstool Sports is making waves in the scripted series landscape with their new comedy, ‘Les Mascots’, featuring a unique storyline and beloved personalities.
Barstool Sports Enters the Sitcom Arena with ‘Les Mascots’
After successfully producing numerous unscripted series and the sketch comedy show Out of Order, Barstool Sports is venturing into scripted content with their new comedy series, Les Mascots. Premiering this Tuesday on the Out of Order YouTube channel, this seven-episode series marks Barstool’s first official scripted endeavor, featuring stars John Feitelberg, Harry Settel, and Tommy Smokes, co-created by Owen Roeder, who also contributes to Out of Order.
Plot Overview
The series follows a hapless film major, Dustin (played by Settel), who is sent from LA to NYC to stay with his uncle, Henry (Feitelberg), a supposedly successful Broadway actor. Upon arrival, Dustin uncovers a surprising reality: Henry shares a cramped apartment with an eccentric roommate (Smokes) and they barely make ends meet by performing as Elmo and Cookie Monster in Times Square.
Creative Process
The concept seemed so obvious that Feitelberg was initially tricked into believing it was not original. “I just did a podcast where they pranked me and told me that three other comedians had done this show,” he said. “It took me two days to confirm with Tommy that it was not true.”
Smokes explains that the idea for a scripted series emerged when Roeder approached him about creating a show centered around the characters frequently seen in Times Square. “Owen suggested a scripted series focusing on these delusional actor types who work as the Times Square Cookie Monster and Elmo,” Smokes stated. They initially considered a feature film but decided a TV series was more feasible.
Production Style
Once the scripts were finalized and the cast assembled, mainly from the Out of Order team, production commenced swiftly. Co-creator and director Mikey Pavinelli described the shooting style as “100 percent guerilla,” utilizing handheld cameras and only obtaining permits when necessary.
“It was a run-and-gun style shoot throughout New York City,” he explained. “In Times Square, we would just shoot until we got yelled at.”
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Release and Reception
The final product boasts a seamless quality akin to network shows, with a laugh-out-loud script and high-quality cinematography. Each episode airs every Tuesday at 8 PM Eastern on the Out of Order YouTube channel, following the same release strategy as previous episodes.
Feitelberg mentioned that while a Hollywood buddy praised the pilot script, they ultimately decided to release it independently due to slow progress in negotiations. Smokes remains hopeful for a Netflix acquisition, but for now, the YouTube channel is thriving, with Out of Order episodes achieving around 150 million impressions and 1.5 million views.
Future Prospects
Looking ahead, Feitelberg, Pavinelli, and Smokes are eager to produce more seasons of Les Mascots and explore additional scripted projects. “I remember my first year-end meeting with Dave, expressing my desire to create a Barstool sitcom. Seven years later, we made it happen,” Smokes reflected. “This has been the most enjoyable experience with the company and something I’m immensely proud of.”
