True crime that's ripe for parody
the true crime that's worth your time
In Tuesday’s issue, we looked at “Inventing Chloe,” a Saturday Night Live take on Netflix’s Anna Sorokin series, Inventing Anna. SNL isn’t the only comedy series that’s tackled true crime as a genre — Portlandia’s “NPR Podcast” (above) is also one of my all-time faves. Seriously, I stopped what I was doing to watch it again, just now. As Sarah reminded me right before I hit publish, Documentary Now has also covered some of that ground, and don’t forget American Vandal, which took a sketchy premise and blew it up with great results.
As true crime content starts to lean into the whole “wacky and bonkers” thing (see: Tiger King and its related properties, The Dropout, The Thing About Pam, The Shrink Next Door, etc etc etc) the closer it gets to parody on its own. But as someone who can’t remember a world without SNL (I was four when it launched! Does that make me old or it?), I am a firm believe that even the goofiest show can still be grounds for even more goofiness.
What true crime properties offer solid grounds for parody, and what comedy/variety outfit would you like to see take it on? Feel free to propose shows that are off the air, like Key and Peele or Kids in the Hall. Dammit, why did I bring those possibilities up? Now all I want is a Kids in the Hall take on The Staircase! — EB