Last week, Emerson alumnus and Parks and Recreation producer Harris Wittels passed away of a suspected heroin overdose at the age of thirty, sending waves of shock and grief through the comedy community. Wittels was a promising talent who had written for Parks and Rec, Eastbound and Down and The Sarah Silverman Program, performed brutally honest, aggressively silly standup for years and invented the now-iconic term “humblebrag.”
Of all his accomplishments, fans were best able to get to know Wittels through his podcast appearances on the Earwolf network, particularly over the years on Scott Aukerman’s Comedy Bang! Bang!, which was ultimately adapted for TV on IFC with co-host Reggie Watts. Wittels has appeared on the show countless times, particularly on episodes with his Parks and Rec co-workers. After some debate over whether to release his final appearance on the show, CBB‘s host released “NOT Farts and Procreation 4” this morning.
“I don’t think I am the perfect person to eulogize Harris,” Aukerman admitted in the opening of the podcast. “There were plenty of people who knew him better – his old friends from Emerson, his co-workers on Parks and Recreation, his bandmates in Don’t Stop or We’ll Die, his friends in his sketch and improv teams at UCB.”
New podcast, "NOT Farts & Procreation 4." http://t.co/AApdkEHx3j pic.twitter.com/ygj1uxyMjp
— Scott Aukerman (@ScottAukerman) February 23, 2015
Before playing the podcast, recorded on February 11th, Aukerman spoke of a party he and his wife (fellow comedian Kulap Vilaysack) gathered friends of the late comedian to share their favorite, often weird memories of Wittels and brought attention to the fact that some of his most memorable moments took place in his podcast appearances on Aukerman’s Comedy Bang! Bang!, U Talkin’ U2 To Me?, Who Charted? and Wittels’ own podcast with Aukerman, Analyze Phish.
The new episode of CBB includes some signature dark bits as were famous in earlier installments of “Farts and Procreation” with Aukerman, Wittels, Parks actor Adam Scott and former Parks writer and Brooklyn Nine Nine actress Chelsea Peretti. Included in the episode is the final segment of popular recurring bit “Harris’ Foam Corner,” where Wittels would read jokes he had texted himself that were, at best, half-baked and not ready for Twitter.
Prepare yourself for the last five minutes – they’re hilarious and sad and there’s a Phish song playing underneath the whole thing.
Listen to the full CBB podcast here:
In the days since his passing, Wittels’ comedian friends have been dealing with the loss as comedians are wont to do – they made it a joke.
Goddammit Harris the Westboro Baptist Church just called you a "fag enabler” and you’re not here to see it
— joe mande (@JoeMande) February 20, 2015
Turns out theres a lot of funny responses u can do to condolences msgs
— Chelsea Peretti (@ChelseaVPeretti) February 22, 2015
one is you thank someone but call them the wrong name
— Chelsea Peretti (@ChelseaVPeretti) February 22, 2015
another is tell the condoler that u actually don't really care that much!
— Chelsea Peretti (@ChelseaVPeretti) February 22, 2015
From Chelsea Peretti’s Instagram.
And what many friends are saying would have been Wittels’ favorite tribute: the famously bigoted Westboro Baptist Church protesting him:
In LA today warning of your fate if you won't repent of sins #HarrisWittels is perfect example @funnyordie pic.twitter.com/TRpOkAnBgr
— Westboro Baptist (@WBCSaysRepent) February 22, 2015
Finally, a bit Wittels recorded called “Harris in Heaven” surfaced this week, providing fans one more thing to laugh-cry over.
“A lot of people want to do serious stuff with their comedy…” Aukerman recalled Wittels telling him the last time they spoke. “I just think motherf***ers wanna laugh.”
Though it’s hard to believe it’s his last appearance on CBB, you’d better believe Wittels had motherf***ers laughing.
