Funny or Die Presents is a half-hour sketch comedy show that spawned from the Will Ferrell

Will Ferrell

John William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...

 & Adam McKay

Adam McKay

Adam McKay is an American screenwriter, director, comedian, and actor. He is most famous for his partnership with comedian Will Ferrell, with whom he co-wrote the films Anchorman, Talladega Nights, and The Other Guys....

 created comedy website Funny or Die

Funny or Die

Funny or Die is a comedy video website founded by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's production company, Gary Sanchez Productions with original and user-generated content. Funny or Die contains exclusive material from a number of famous contributors and also has its own Funny or Die Team, which creates...

. It premiered on HBO on February 19, 2010. It is also currently being shown in the UK on Sky Atlantic

Sky Atlantic

Sky Atlantic is a television channel owned by British Sky Broadcasting, which launched on 1 February 2011 on Sky in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland....

.

Creation

Funny or Die Presents was created in June 2008 when HBO bought a share of Funnyordie.com and commissioned that at least 10 episodes be broadcast on HBO as part of the deal.

Description

Every show consists of several comedy sketches that vary in length and can contain several sketches or even one full length sketch.

Format

The program is viewed as if you are watching a television network

Television network

A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...

 called "The Funny or Die Network" (sometimes referred to as FOD) which is a hybrid network that fuses the internet with television. Each sketch is viewed as a show on this network, some shows are mini-series, some are shown in parts and some are one offs, only appearing once.
In the first episode the network is described as:

What you are about to see is nothing short of a miracle. Television so revolutionary that at this point in time, there is nothing like it anywhere.

Now you may ask yourself: "How is this possible?"
Computers, that's how! Funny or die is at the forefront of computer technology, leading the way in computer comedy programming. Tonight marks a departure from our usual business model as we join the ever declining world of broadcast television. Think of what you're about to see as kind of a network unto itself, a half-hour network complete with its own lineup of wonderful shows. Basically, the same kinda horseshit we throw up on our website.

-Ed Haligan, Head of West Coast sales & marketing

Each episode starts in a white room with Ed Halligan (played by Steve Tom

Steve Tom

Steve Tom is an American actor. He has guest-starred in a number of television series including Drake & Josh, ER, NYPD Blue, Sleeper Cell, Two and a Half Men, Prison Break, The West Wing and among other television series.He also appeared in the feature films First Daughter, Disney's The Kid,...

) who introduces the show and leads into a starting theme and a "network schedule" which describes the sketches being featured in that particular episode.

Notable sketches

• Drunk History
• Derek Waters LOL
• Playground Politics
• Designated Driver
• The Amazing Adventures of David and Jennie
• Sleeping with Celebrities
• Welcome to my Study
• The Slovin & Allen Show
• Holdup
• The Carpet Brothers

Cast

The cast of the sketches often include notable celebrities, including:

• Malin Åkerman
  Malin Akerman
  Malin Maria Åkerman is a Swedish–Canadian actress and model. She was born in Stockholm, Sweden and moved to Canada at the age of two. As a child, she appeared in several television commercials before going on to win a modelling contract at age sixteen...
  
  
• Creed Bratton
  Creed Bratton
  Creed Bratton is an American actor and musician, a former member of The Grass Roots...
  
  
• Rachael Harris
  Rachael Harris
  Rachael Elaine Harris is an American actress and comedian.-Early life:Harris was born in Worthington, Ohio. She graduated from Worthington High School...
  
  
• Ed Helms
  Ed Helms
  Edward Paul "Ed" Helms is an American actor and comedian known for his work as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as Andy Bernard on the US version of the sitcom/mockumentary The Office and for his role as Dr. Stu Price in The Hangover films.- Early life :Helms was born and raised...
  
  
• Rob Huebel
  Rob Huebel
  Rob Huebel is an American actor, comedian and writer best known for his sketch comedy work on the MTV series Human Giant. He currently co-stars on the Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital.-Early life:...
  
  
• Rob Riggle
  Rob Riggle
  Robert Allen "Rob" Riggle, Jr. is an American actor, comedian and United States Marine Corps officer. He is best known for his work as a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show from 2006–2008, as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2004–2005, and for his comedic roles in films such...
  
  
• Paul Scheer
  Paul Scheer
  Paul Christian Scheer is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He co-created and starred in MTV's sketch comedy series Human Giant and currently co-stars as Andre on the FX comedy The League. He also currently stars as Trent Hauser on the Adult Swim show NTSF:SD:SUV:: which he created...
  
  
• Brett Gelman
  Brett Gelman
  Brett Gelman is an American actor and comedian known for his appearances in the HBO comedy programs Funny or Die Presents and The Life & Times of Tim. He currently co-stars alongside Chris Elliott in the Adult Swim series Eagleheart.-Life and career:Gelman was born and raised in Highland Park,...
  
  
• David Koechner
  David Koechner
  David Michael Koechner is an American comedian, musician, and character actor. Koechner began studying improvisational comedy in Chicago at the ImprovOlympic, under the teachings of Del Close, before joining the Second City Northwest...
  
  
• Jerry Minor
  Jerry Minor
  Jerry C. Minor is an American actor, comedian and writer known for his comedic roles in numerous television programs such as Mr. Show, Saturday Night Live, Delocated, Crossballs, Carpoolers and Lucky Louie....
  
  
• Will Ferrell
  Will Ferrell
  John William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
  
  
• Chris Parnell
  Chris Parnell
  Thomas Christopher "Chris" Parnell is an American comic actor best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1998–2006 and currently for his recurring role as Dr. Leo Spaceman on NBC's Emmy Award-winning comedy series 30 Rock. Parnell also voices Cyril Figgis on the FX animated comedy...
  
  
• Thomas Lennon
• Ian Roberts
  Ian Roberts (actor)
  Ian Michael Roberts is an American actor, comedian and writer best known as a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade sketch comedy troupe.-Life and career:...
  
  
• Zach Galifianakis
  Zach Galifianakis
  Zachary Knight "Zach" Galifianakis is an American stand-up comedian and actor known for his numerous film and television appearances including his own Comedy Central Presents special...
  
  
• John C. Reilly
  John C. Reilly
  John Christopher Reilly, Jr. is an American film and theater actor, singer, and comedian. Debuting in Casualties of War in 1989, he is one of several actors whose careers were launched by Brian De Palma. To date, he has appeared in more than fifty films, including three separate films in 2002...
  
  
• Tim Heidecker
  Tim Heidecker
  Tim Heidecker is an American actor, comedian, musician, writer and director. He is one half of the comedy team of Tim and Eric...
  
  
• Eric Wareheim
  Eric Wareheim
  Eric Wareheim is an American actor, comedian, writer and director. He is one half of the comedy team of Tim and Eric. Wareheim, along with Tim Heidecker, created the television shows Tom Goes to the Mayor, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! and Check It Out! with Dr...
  
  
• David Spade
  David Spade
  David Wayne Spade is an American actor, comedian and television personality who first became famous in the 1990s as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and from 1997 until 2003 when he starred as Dennis Finch on Just Shoot Me!. He also starred as C.J...
  
  
• Zooey Deschanel
  Zooey Deschanel
  Zooey Claire Deschanel is an American actress, musician, and singer-songwriter. In 1999, Deschanel made her film debut in Mumford, followed by her breakout role as young protagonist William Miller's troubled older sister Anita in Cameron Crowe's 2000 semi-autobiographical film Almost Famous...
  
  
• Rich Fulcher
  Rich Fulcher
  Rich Fulcher is an American comedian and author based in the United Kingdom. He is best known for co-starring in the British comedy series The Mighty Boosh, alongside comedy duo Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding.-Early life:...
  
  
• June Diane Raphael
  June Diane Raphael
  June Diane Raphael is an American actress, comedienne and screenwriter known for appearing in films such as Year One and Going the Distance...
  
  
• Kate Walsh
• Busy Phillips
• Don Cheadle
  Don Cheadle
  Donald Frank "Don" Cheadle, Jr. is an American film actor and producer. Cheadle rose to prominence in the late 1990s and the early 2000s for his supporting roles in the Steven Soderbergh-directed films Out of Sight, Traffic, and Ocean's Eleven...
  
  
• Tim Meadows
• Crispin Glover
  Crispin Glover
  Crispin Hellion Glover is an American film actor, director and screenwriter, recording artist, publisher, and author. Glover is known for portraying eccentric people on screen such as George McFly in Back to the Future, Layne in River's Edge, unfriendly recluse Rubin Farr in Rubin and Ed, the...
  
  
• Kristen Wiig
  Kristen Wiig
  Kristen Carroll Wiig is an American film and television actress who currently appears as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. Wiig was a member of improvisational comedy troupe The Groundlings, and has appeared in several films and television series, including Bridesmaids, MacGruber, Flight of...
  
  

Writing credits

• Andrew Steele (9 episodes)
• Jason Woliner
  Jason Woliner
  Jason Woliner is an American comedy director, writer, editor and also a former child actor. He is the non-performing member of the comedy group "Human Giant" and has directed the bulk of their output. The group, which also consists of comedians Aziz Ansari, Rob Huebel, and Paul Scheer, produced an...
  
    (5 episodes)
• Owen Burke (4 episodes)
• Paul Scheer
  Paul Scheer
  Paul Christian Scheer is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He co-created and starred in MTV's sketch comedy series Human Giant and currently co-stars as Andre on the FX comedy The League. He also currently stars as Trent Hauser on the Adult Swim show NTSF:SD:SUV:: which he created...
  
  (4 episodes)
• Rob Riggle
  Rob Riggle
  Robert Allen "Rob" Riggle, Jr. is an American actor, comedian and United States Marine Corps officer. He is best known for his work as a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show from 2006–2008, as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2004–2005, and for his comedic roles in films such...
  
  (4 episodes)
• Rob Huebel
  Rob Huebel
  Rob Huebel is an American actor, comedian and writer best known for his sketch comedy work on the MTV series Human Giant. He currently co-stars on the Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital.-Early life:...
  
  (4 episodes)
• Mike O'Connell
  Mike O'Connell
  Michael Thomas O'Connell is the Director of Pro Development for the Los Angeles Kings. O'Connell was also a former professional ice hockey player and general manager. He played 860 NHL regular season games between 1977 and 1990 and later served as the general manager of the Boston Bruins from 2000...
  
  (4 episodes)
• Neal Brennan
  Neal Brennan
  Neal Brennan is an American writer, stand-up comedian, director, and producer. He is best known for co-creating the Comedy Central series Chappelle's Show.Brennan and Dave Chappelle met when both were aspiring stand-ups...
  
  (4 episodes)
• Tim Heidecker
  Tim Heidecker
  Tim Heidecker is an American actor, comedian, musician, writer and director. He is one half of the comedy team of Tim and Eric...
  
    (3 episodes)
• Eric Wareheim
  Eric Wareheim
  Eric Wareheim is an American actor, comedian, writer and director. He is one half of the comedy team of Tim and Eric. Wareheim, along with Tim Heidecker, created the television shows Tom Goes to the Mayor, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! and Check It Out! with Dr...
  
    (3 episodes)
• Andrea Savage
  Andrea Savage
  Andrea Kristen Savage is an American actress best known for her comedic roles in Step Brothers, Comedy Central's mockumentry series Dog Bites Man and in the HBO sketch comedy program Funny or Die Presents.-Personal life:...
  
    (3 episodes)
• Leo Allen
  Leo Allen
  Leopold Rufus "Leo" Allen is an American stand-up comedian and writer from Detroit, Michigan, known as one half of the comedy team Slovin and Allen.- Career :Allen has been performing stand-up comedy since the late '90s...
  
  (2 episodes)
• Tom Gianas
  Tom Gianas
  Tom Gianas is an American comedy writer, director and producer. Gianas is best known for producing Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic and writing/directing on the MTV sketch comedy series Human Giant...
  
  (2 episodes)
• David Neher (2 episodes)
• David Koechner
  David Koechner
  David Michael Koechner is an American comedian, musician, and character actor. Koechner began studying improvisational comedy in Chicago at the ImprovOlympic, under the teachings of Del Close, before joining the Second City Northwest...
  
    (2 episodes)
• Jennie Pierson (2 episodes)
• T. Sean Shannon
  T. Sean Shannon
  T. Sean Shannon is a comedy writer originally from Houston, Texas.As a writer for Saturday Night Live he won an Emmy Award in 2002 and a WGA Award in 2001 . He is the writer and creator of the sketch Bear City, which deals with a city completely inhabited by anthropomorphic bears due to a meteor...
  
  (2 episodes)
• Eric Slovin (2 episodes)
• Derek Waters (2 episodes)
• Will Ferrell
  Will Ferrell
  John William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
  
  (1 episode)
• Chris Henchy
  Chris Henchy
  Christopher Thomas "Chris" Henchy is an American, who graduated from Friendswood High school in 1982. He attended University of New Mexico. He is the co-executive producer of Entourage and one of the creators of the website Funny or Die...
  
  (1 episode)
• Adam McKay
  Adam McKay
  Adam McKay is an American screenwriter, director, comedian, and actor. He is most famous for his partnership with comedian Will Ferrell, with whom he co-wrote the films Anchorman, Talladega Nights, and The Other Guys....
  
  (1 episode)
• Zach Galifanakis (1 episode)