Alan Tudyk’s Con Man (short for Convention Man) continues to shine on Vimeo. Some fans have complained that the price of viewing all the hilarious antics of Tudyk’s character is too steep. If one rents the entire “season” it does work out to be a little on the dear side. While the overall tempo of the series is a little uneven, the bits with Leslie Jordon sagged and felt forced. This could, however, be down to the viewers personal taste and not from the material on hand.
Each episode of Con Man is presented in “blocks” of three or more. the initial offerings were presented on October 1, and included three episodes and guest star Felicia Day. The next release date, October 7, made four further episodes available and the last “installment,” October 14, went back to three.
The end result of this shotgun release of episodes is appreciated as having to wait for, say another week, for the next 10 to 17 minute installment would have been frustrating. With a number of segments that can be viewed in one sitting, the action, even the bits with Leslie Jordan, moves smoothly and the comedy has a sort of continuity.
The series, if one can call it that, is improving with each multiple release. The last trio of episodes were beyond hysterical. With Wray Nerely (Tudyk) being fired from a video game voice over session (with veteran voice over artist Nolan North and Milo Ventimiglia staying on) and then getting a call from his old Spectrum buddy, and costar, Jack (Nathan Fillion) about doing a film together and Milo offering up a comic book gig that pays $5K.
At Jack’s house, Wray gets bad news from Faith (Alison Haislip) while playing Marco Polo. Later at the comic book store an inebriated Nerely manages to insult his marine assistant and barely escapes a mob out for his blood. Said mob includes Michael Dorn, Seth Green and Kevin Grevioux.
The last three episodes are beyond hysterical as Wray stumbles from one disaster to another. One scene, with Ventimiglia, where Nerely keeps putting his elbow in what looks to be paint, is spot on. With his booking agent texting him repeatedly throughout the interaction between Wray, the dumpster and Milo.
Each episode feels like a “spot the celeb” or even spot the science fiction icon, or Firefly costar, Gina Torres, Jewel Staite, Sean Maher, Summer Glau and Fillion all are in Con Man, although Fillion is billed as “starring” and the rest are in cameos. Rather interestingly, Maher has an incredibly long cameo, lasting over three episodes.
The entire series, which is getting funnier with each episode, feels like a sort of science fiction convention potpourri. There are performers associated with Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, et al, along with Geek Goddess Felicia Day, the iconic Wil Wheaton and Seth Green as well as a plethora of “names” like Nolan North (who is, perhaps, the man who has voiced more video games than anyone…ever).
Con Man has only three episodes left in its first season. Wray Nerely has gotten the worst possible news and while Jack, his film star buddy from Spectrum is overjoyed at the prospect of doing a film with his old pal, Wray is beyond distraught.
This fan-funded project, via Indiegogo.com is a real treasure. Sure, at $15 for the entire season it is a bit “costly.” But…For fans of science fiction, Joss Whedon (and yes Joss has a cameo), Firefly, The Guild, and all things geek and sundry (see what we did there) and who actually suffer “nerdgasms” at the thought of attending the next Comic Con?
It is so worth it.
Con Man, playing on a Vimeo screen near you…or on your laptop, tablet, smartphone…well you get the idea…
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