Watch “A Sterling Effort” from Top Story! Weekly Episode 248: “Clipped!”

I did a take on the Donald Sterling/Clippers matter by using the old “slice of life” approach. The pace is too slow in this scene, but I think you’ll get what I’m going for.

A STERLING EFFORT by Michael Hughes

Starring Mitchell Baldwin (Jerry), Lauren Miller (Gwen), Colin Contreary (Kevin) and Marc Anthony Samuel (Pete)

Directed by Michael Hughes

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Watch “Paula’s New Friend” from Top Story! Weekly Episode 206: “Even Butter Can’t Make This Better”

The Paula Deen scandal was already headed into self-parody, so I thought that having her co-host the show with a black “friend” she barely knows would be a fun way to mine some comedy. Watching this again I was really happy with the result – it’s a little edgy but doesn’t go too far, and definitely makes the point I wanted to make about what Paula must truly think.

PAULA’S NEW FRIEND by Michael Hughes

Starring Kipleigh Brown (Paula Deen) and Grasie Mercedes (Gretchen)

Directed by Michael Hughes

Watch “Helped by “The Help”” from Top Story! Weekly Episode 114: “Anarchy in the UK”

I wrote this one pretty quickly – on a Saturday afternoon, actually, which is usually after our script is out. But the Del Close Awards meant I couldn’t get the script out Friday, and we needed more parts for women, and I had this idea about the controversy around whether “The Help” was another movie about how hard racism is on white people. The audience reaction isn’t as raucous as in other sketches, but I think they were on board, and Artemis Pebdani and Rebecca Stevens were great in this!

HELPED BY “THE HELP” by Michael Hughes

Starring Artemis Pebdani (Robin) and Rebecca Stevens (Amy)

Directed by Michael Hughes