Alec Lautanen
Executive Opinion Editor
The members of Los Angeles-based hip-hop collective Odd Future are already known for their off-beat music and politically-incorrect rhymes, but the recent premier of their television show “Loiter Squad” takes their off-kilter style even further.
In what almost seems like a mash-up of “Jackass,” “Robot Chicken” and “Tim and Eric Awesome Show,” “Loiter Squad” presents a peculiar form of absurdist humor that’s oddly entertaining at times, yet mindlessly annoying at others.
The show, which airs on Adult Swim, has its hits and misses, but for fans of Odd Future’s music, this insane program will not disappoint viewers.
“Loiter Squad,” produced by Dickhouse Productions and “Jackass” creator Jeff Tremaine, is a sketch comedy show featuring members of Odd Future, including Tyler, the Creator, Taco Bennett, Jasper Dolphin and Lionel Boyce.
The 12-minute episodes, which premiered March 25 on Adult Swim, entail the rappers in an odd assortment of comedic skits and street pranks.
“Loiter Squad” has just started its first season, with five episodes so far, and has already gained much attention for Odd Future. Originally, the program was likened to a combination of “Jackass” and “Chapelle’s Show.” The episodes also feature segments of Odd Future’s music in addition to many comedic sketches.
A defining characteristic of “Loiter Squad” is its plain absurdity. This can prove humorous at times, like with the skit “Dr. Mohammed the Armless Dentist,” but simply strange at others, as seen with “I Like Cheese,” which just features the characters rapping about cheeses and then Lionel having hot nacho cheese dumped all over him in slow motion.
The strongest part of “Loiter Squad” is easily the series of street pranks that the cast members pull. Tyler, the Creator, already shows a juvenile, insane sense of humor in interviews about Odd Future, and these pranks let him develop his jokes.
In a recent episode, a skit involved Tyler, Jasper, Taco and Lionel dressing up in black suits and playing “secret agents,” i.e. following closely behind people and whispering into ear pieces.
Although it may make “Loiter Squad” seem like a “Jackass” copy, seeing these kind of sketches, especially with Odd Future members, makes the show enjoyable to watch.
Another positive facet of the show is its intertwining of Odd Future’s music. The fact that “Loiter Squad” is made by members of an already well-known hip-hop group makes it more interesting, especially when segments of their songs are involved.
This is what sets the show apart. After seeing various Odd Future members in their random YouTube video doing weird pranks, like getting kicked out of malls or staging fights in Burger King parking lots, having a regular show to collect these moments of insanity is oddly satisfying.
Some of the sketches can be downright strange at times, but a majority of the content of the show is hilarious.
Fans of Odd Future’s music will most likely find the continuation of their humor into the television medium satisfying, and “Loiter Squad” provides a solid visual outlet for Tyler, the Creator’s far-reaching and crude humor.
“Loiter Squad” airs on Adult Swim every Sunday for approximately 12 minutes at 11:30 p.m.
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