TVSquad

I don't know about you guys, but I've been super-excited about the premiere of Mitch Hurwitz's new animated show, Sit Down, Shut Up. It seems like I've been hearing about it forever, but it finally premieres this Sunday night on Fox. Recently, the screener came up for grabs, so naturally I jumped at it. What I didn't realize is that I would be getting the whole press kit with it.

All press kits are not created equal: I'd definitely enjoy a talking Barney bobblehead from How I Met Your Mother, but a busted picture of Eliza Dushku's face from Dollhouse really wouldn't do a whole lot for me. The press kit for Sit Down, Shut Up is kind of low-rent, but it is for a Mitch Hurwitz show on FOX. The low-rated Arrested Development didn't exactly make FOX a boatload of cash while it aired, so they're probably waiting to see how the ratings go for this one before they shell out any more dough on fancy tschotkes for the press.

The press kit is set up like a new faculty packet for Knob Haven High, where the series takes place.



Inside, there is, of course, the screener, which includes the first two episodes and a "staff directory," which is basically a rundown of all of the main characters. The other items are pretty standard press kit fare, including the actors' bios (talent includes AD alums Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, as well as Pushing Daisies' Kristen Chenoweth) and the fact sheet about the show.



The one thing in the folder that is actually kind of funny is the "Knob Haven High School Rules & Regulations," some of which include:

• All faculty/staff must have a catchphrase.
• Please be aware that the Jell-O in the cafeteria is for decorative purposes only and NOT meant for consumption.
• Food and drinks are forbidden in classrooms unless purchased from "Acting" principal Sue Sezno.
• Cell phone use is okay outside of the classroom, but Twittering is considered an act of witchcraft.
• Teachers are required to attend class every day.
• The school board must formally approve all field trips. I think we all learned our lesson after Mr. Hofftard's "Hamlet at Hooters" trip.

The bonus items included in the kit that are meant as a way to butter up those who may be writing about the show are kind of cute: a Knob Haven High Staff t-shirt and a KHH whistle.



The t-shirt is actually pretty nice: it's American Apparel, so it's decent quality, as opposed to your standard promotional tee made out of sandpaper. It's also a large, so it's not ginormous like many shirts like this tend to be.

The whistle is a cute idea, but I don't really see much point to it -- I don't really have much need for a gym teacher's whistle in my daily life. Although, come to think of it, there are a lot of kids who wait outside of my house for their bus in the mornings, so maybe I can use it to make them run drills or something.



In all, it's a plain, but decent press kit. I'm sure I'll wear the t-shirt to the gym or to bed or whatever, and at the very least, I'll probably be able to freak out my dog with the whistle. I'm still ridiculously excited about this show, and expect it to completely outdo the press kit. I'll be sure to report back once I've watched the first two episodes.