Human Giant is a sketch comedy show starring writer/performers Aziz Ansari, Rob Huebel,^[1] and Paul Scheer, and directed primarily by Jason Woliner. The show ran for two seasons on MTV. In 2008, the group was offered a third season and was reportedly developing a feature film with Red Hour Productions, but these projects did not transpire due to Ansari's commitments to starring in the NBC show Parks and Recreation. In 2010, Ansari, Huebel and Scheer reunited to do a skit for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards.

The show, which premiered on April 5, 2007, consists of short humorous videos.^[2] Some of the clips were first seen online such as "Shutterbugs", as part of Channel 101 NY, "Clell Tickle: Indie Marketing Guru", "The Illusionators" and an unaired skit called "Other Music".^[3][4][5]

Ansari, Huebel, Scheer, and Woliner began working together as the comedy group Human Giant in 2005.^[6][7] They gained a large following in the New York City comedy scene through live shows at the Upright Citizens Brigade and their weekly comedy show, Crash Test, and later expanded their sketches into short films.^[8][9] Their early digital videos "Shutterbugs" and "The Illusionators" became popular on MySpace and YouTube and led MTV to offer the group a sketch comedy series.^[10][11][3]

On MTV, the show closed out a Thursday night "10 Spot" line-up for MTV, which also included Pimp My Ride, Short Circuitz (before being put on hiatus), and Adventures in Hollyhood, ending with Human Giant.^[12] The line-up started at 9 PM and ended at 11 PM.

In interviews, the group has mentioned they were offered a third season by MTV, and were also considering developing a feature film.^[13][14] However, the group was unable to make a third season or movie due to personal projects, particularly with Ansari's commitments to the hit NBC show Parks and Recreation.^[13] Without Ansari's participation, the group agreed not to make future content together and decided on ending the series on a positive note instead of burning out over several seasons.^[15]

The show received positive reviews from critics. Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Gillian Flynn described Human Giant as "everything sketch comedy should be: smart, odd, and surprising."^[16] The Village Voice called it "something like a Mountain Dewed-up version of MTV’s mid-'90s sketch offering The State."^[17] Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club said, "It's a testament to the show's addictiveness that the [sketches] leave audiences hungry for more.^[18] He added: "Human Giant serves as a vital link between Mr. Show and the current generation of web-weaned funnymen who made their names posting homemade videos online instead of working their way through Second City, The Groundlings, or Saturday Night Live. The show's central dynamic echoes Mr. Show as well. Like Bob Odenkirk, Rob Huebel boasts the bland good looks of a local TV news anchor, yet there's a spark of madness and rage at his core. Castmates Paul Scheer and Aziz Ansari, meanwhile, take turns inhabiting the David Cross role."^[18]

In its list of the 40 Greatest Sketch-Comedy TV Shows, Rolling Stone ranked Human Giant at number 38.^[19]

The cast of Human Giant were on-air on MTV and MTV2 for a twenty-four-hour period between noon on Friday, May 18, 2007 to noon on Saturday, May 19, 2007, broadcasting from MTV's Times Square studio, during which time they were given free rein to perform skits, bring in guests, and air clips from classic MTV series like Remote Control and The State.^[15][20][17] The ostensible premise of the "marathon" was that their show would be given a second season if they could get a million hits on their website (which it did) during that time. Notable guests stopping by included Albert Hammond Jr., Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, and Jorma Taccone from Saturday Night Live, Will Arnett and Michael Cera from Arrested Development, John Krasinski, Bob Odenkirk, Michael Showalter, Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman, Ted Leo, Corn Mo, Todd Barry, Matt Higgins, Zach Galifianakis, Morningwood, Mastodon, Tapes 'n Tapes, The National, Tim and Eric, Tegan and Sara, and others.^[15]

In late May 2010, troupe member Aziz Ansari announced on his website that he and fellow members Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer and Jason Woliner had filmed a brand new sketch for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, which Ansari was scheduled to host. Ansari mentioned that it would be a Human Giant reunion of sorts, the first time they filmed a new sketch together as a sketch group since the series ended.^[21]

The sketch was called "Stunt Kidz",^[21] which consisted of Huebel and Ansari's Shutterbugs characters, now owners of a child stunt agency where little children act as stunt men for dangerous scenes and end up injured in several occasions. Scheer acts as a director who employs Huebel and Ansari.

The first season of Human Giant was released on March 4, 2008, one week ahead of the season two premiere on March 11.^[22] It was released in a two-disc set. Disc one features all eight episodes and commentary tracks on all episodes with special guests calling-in or with the cast in the commentary room.^[23] Disc two features highlights from the 24-hour marathon, deleted and alternate scenes, unaired sketches, sneak previews for season two, early footage with Aziz, Rob and Paul, and a compilation clip.^[24]

The core writing team consists of Aziz Ansari, Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer, Jason Woliner and executive producer Tom Gianas. The following people have, at one point, also worked as consultants on the show:

• List of programs broadcast by MTV