Don't you wish you could helpfully offer sex tips to a new hook-up? Ever encounter an ex who has more in common with a rotting zombie than an actual human? Matt Wilkas and Daniel Vincent Gordh, the out creators, writers, and stars of "gay aburdist sketch comedy series" Matt & Dan, roast the peccadillos of queer life, allowing LGBTQ viewers to laugh at their own complicated lives.
Matt & Dan just released the first episode from its second season, showcasing how rife this indie sketch series is for a mainstream crossover. Wilkas (Gayby, Bonding, the upcoming RuPaul-fronted series AJ & The Queen, and known to many as Gus Kenworthy's ex-BF) and Gordh (The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, Cracked.com, Conan) had been working actors for years when they met in 2014 at famed improv troupe The Groundlings. They became friends and roommates, and eventually decided to launch very own, gay-centric sketch comedy series.
The duo's silly sensablities were a perfect fit for an original comedy show that was as informed and influenced by their queerness as gay men as it was by their deep passion for sketch. As Gordh recently told The Advocate, "we decided we didn't want to wait for permission, we did it on our own and it's been so empowering."
Deciding to name the series after themselves (and thumbing their noses up at the rules of alphabetical order) the first season of Matt & Dan debuted in early 2018 and quickly drew a rabid fanbase. The first season was created "gorilla style" says Wilkas, as the men worked on all aspects of their series together. From financing, to creating the concept of the show, to producing it, to writing every sketch -- they both laughed when asked if they had a writing team, set designers, or even craft services.
To direct every episode (save one) of both seasons, Gordh wisely brought on his elder brother Will. "Each sketch is treated like a short film," Wilkas tells The Advocate, and it shows as the elder Gordh brings a cinematic-level of polish to the self-produced series. Thankfully the writing, comedic timing, and up-for-anything acting by Wilkas and Gordh more than match the skillful directing.
Stand out sketches from the first season include "Sex Notes," where Wilkas provides Gordh a detailed and outlandish list of notes on his sexual prowness after a hook-up, "Deathbed," where Wilkas and Gordh battle over saying goodbye to a dying friend by one-upping each other's tearful declarations, and "It Hurts," where Gordh calls upon his real-life college diving skills as he performs bendy gay Karma Sutra-style sex positions.
The brand new season, which was funded by fans to the tune of $45K, allowed the series to grow. It has "more sketches, is more elaborate, [has] bigger casts" says Gordh. Some of the guests include Rightor Doyle (Barry, Bonding), Kaliko Kauahi (Super Store), Brian Jordan Alvarez (Will and Grace), Laura Spencer (Big Bang Theory), Johnny Sibilly (Pose), Julia Cho (This is Us), and many more.
Wilkas says the successful funding "showed us that we have a market" for their queer, quirky brand of comedy. The fan support inspired the duo to up their game with season two and allowed them "to deliver something that's of higher-quality," continues Wilkas, while giving the guys "confidence that what we did with the first season resonated with people," says Gordh.
The main mission for season two, according to Wilkas, is "to not only make it a bigger show and have more people, including more comedic voices," but to also ensure that their show world be more diverse. "Diversity was at the forefront of our minds," confirms Wilkas.
Eight new episodes of season two are ready to debut each Thursday, with the first new episode of season two, entitled "Zombie Ex," having debuted last week. If "Zombie Ex" is indeed an example of Matt & Dan's bigger scope and feel than the previous season, it's easy to see that the duo has succeeded in their goal.
As for the future, Wilkas and Gordh "would love for someone to see Matt & Dan and say 'let us now help you make this'" says Milkas, hopefully. Check out all the episodes here.
