Series synopsis
Documentary Now! is an American comedy television series that premiered on IFC on August 20, 2015. It ended on November 16, 2022. It was created by Seth Meyers, Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, Rhys Thomas. It stars Fred Armisen, Bill Hader and Helen Mirren.
Loving parodies of some of the world's best-known documentaries. Each episode is shot in a different style of documentary filmmaking, and honors some of the most important stories that didn't actually happen.
Premise
Loving parodies of some of the world's best-known documentaries. Each episode is shot in a different style of documentary filmmaking, and honors some of the most important stories that didn't actually happen.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Fred Armisen as Various Characters
- Bill Hader as Various Characters
- Helen Mirren as Helen Mirren - Host
Guest cast
- Jack Black as Jamison Friend
- Aidy Bryant as Anne Severino
- Kenny Loggins
- Irving Azoff
- Darryl Hall
- Cedric Yarbrough as Pawn Shop Owner
- John Slattery as William H. Sebastian
- Michael Patrick O'Brien as Young Alexander Krauss
- Heather Hopkins as Hot Teenage Daughter
- Owen Wilson as Father Ra-Shawbard
- Michael Keaton as Bill Doss
- Necar Zadegan as Ra-Sharir
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 27 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 7 | August 20, 2015 | September 24, 2015 |
| Season 2 | 7 | September 14, 2016 | October 26, 2016 |
| Season 3 | 7 | February 20, 2019 | March 27, 2019 |
| Season 4 | 6 | October 19, 2022 | November 16, 2022 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Sandy Passage An in depth look at the daily lives of two aging socialites and their crumbling estate. This mother and daughter live in extreme squalor, but the documentarians find more than just dirt and clutter on the property. |
August 20, 2015 |
| 2 |
Kunuk Uncovered An investigation into the seminal documentary “Kunuk The Hunter” that attempts to separate what is real from what is fabrication. |
August 27, 2015 |
| 3 |
DRONEZ: The Hunt for El Chingon The hipster media empire DRONEZ sends two of its notoriously fearless journalists to track down Mexico’s most wanted drug lord. |
September 3, 2015 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Bunker A different and interesting look at the 1992 Ohio Gubernatorial campaign. |
September 14, 2016 |
| 2 |
Juan Likes Rice & Chicken Young Colombian chefs learn the tricks of the restaurant trade from their strict father Juan, whose celebrated restaurant only serves one dish: chicken and rice. |
September 21, 2016 |
| 3 |
Parker Gail's Location Is Everything Monologist Parker Gail and director Harrison Renzi team up to present Gail's theater piece, "Location Is Everything". |
September 28, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Batsh*t Valley (1) In 1980, enigmatic cult leader Father Ra-Shawbard and his followers descended on the small town of Chinook, Oregon, sparking a feud with the local residents that catapulted to national attention. |
February 20, 2019 |
| 2 |
Batsh*t Valley (2) Self-appointed spiritual guru Father Ra-Shawbard starts a commune in rural Oregon with the help of overly devoted assistant Ra-Sharir. Exasperated FBI agent Bill Doss dedicates himself to exposing the man behind the mantras. |
February 20, 2019 |
| 3 |
Original Cast Album: Co-Op A fly-on-the-wall look at the marathon cast album recording of the ill-fated 1970 Broadway musical comedy centered around a cast of characters who work, live, or want to live in the same co-op. |
February 27, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Soldier of Illusion (1983) (1) In the early 1980s, a visionary German filmmaker tries to will his magnum opus into existence while working in the remote, punishing conditions of the Russian Ular mountains. Inspired by the Werner Herzog-focused documentary Burden of Dreams. |
October 19, 2022 |
| 2 |
Soldier of Illusion (1983) (2) In the early 1980s, a visionary German filmmaker tries to will his magnum opus into existence while working in the remote, punishing conditions of the Russian Ular mountains. Inspired by the Werner Herzog-focused documentary Burden of Dreams. |
October 19, 2022 |
| 3 |
Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport (1994) A fly-on-the-wall portrait of a hair salon in the small coastal town of Bagglyport as they prepare their annual stylebook in an homage to documentaries 3 Salons at the Seaside and The September Issue. |
October 26, 2022 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | IFC |
|---|---|
| First aired | August 20, 2015 |
| Last aired | November 16, 2022 |
| Runtime | 23 minutes |
| Status | Ended |
| Schedule | Wednesday at 23:00:00 |