face off
Two Zachs enter, only one will win: The Drafthouse presents The Zach Attack withZach Anner, Zach Weiner and Alexis Ohanian
You may know Zach Anner from his work with Austin-based creative group Lark the Beard, or their web series, The Wingmen. More likely, you know him as the host of Rollin’ With Zach, a travel show that premiered last year as a result of Anner’s win on Oprah’s Your OWN Show.
And you’ve probably seen Zach Weiner’s smart, funny webcomic “Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal” (if you haven’t, check it out now. Go ahead. We’ll wait.)
What do these two guys have in common, aside from first names? They’re both appearing tonight at the Drafthouse in ZACH ATTACK, a comedy show with proceeds benefiting donorschoose.org.
“We’re showing a bunch of stuff that people haven’t seen before, a lot of exclusive, funny stuff,” explains Anner, who recently wrapped filming on Rollin’ With Zach. “We’re also competing for the title of the sole Zach, for supreme Zach-dom.”
The Zachs are both, as Anner explains, “big Redditors,” with similar tastes in comedy and culture.
“We haven’t met in person, but on Skype he’s a very handsome gentleman. I know there’s supposed to be this rivalry, but I might fall in love with him. I’m not sure.”
The idea for ZACH ATTACK came about when Alexis Ohanian, founder of Reddit, hipmunk, Breadpig and more and friend of both Zachs, suggested the two put together an event. Anner, who works with comedy team Lark the Beard here in Austin, and Weiner, who creates original videos to accompany his comic, seem to complement each other perfectly.
So naturally, we’re predicting plenty of offbeat, absurd comedy. Anner gave us a few hints on what to expect.
“We’re going to show things that are more risqué,” he says. “From when I did stand up in New York for my show, we’re going to show some of the jokes that couldn’t make it in. That sort of thing. I have a couple things I shot specifically for this. Also, I’m going to be reading a passage from a romance novel I started; it’s completely ridiculous.”
While Anner’s spent the better part of the past year traveling, he’s happy to be back in Texas, and especially excited about ZACH ATTACK.
“I love the Alamo crowds; it’s the best environment to show anything,” he says. “It’s really exciting to be able to do anything there, because when I came to Austin for the first time, in 2002 before I even lived here, that was the first place I went to. And to be able to do an event there is such an honor for me.”
We’re excited to see what Anner comes up with next. While he’s only been back in Austin for a few weeks, he’s already at work on new sketches.
“I’ve been getting acquainted with the city again, going out and filming. That’s been exciting, being able to go out and shoot stuff and show it two days later. It’s nice to work with your friends who are just as silly as you are.
Check out the first episode of The Wingmen:
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Tickets are still available for ZACH ATTACK, tonight at the Alamo South Lamar.