Andy Milonakis Gets His Own TV show

By Flora Pannell


Andy Milonakis started out by making freestyle rap videos on the Internet. He was one of the first underground rappers to achieve fame through going viral. This new-found fame eventually propelled Milonakis to a starring role in his own television series on MTV. This fame has also lead into the momentum he required in order to grow and develop an acting career.

Milonakis suffers from a growth hormone deficiency which gives him the perpetual physical appearance of a chubby teenage boy. This appearance, along with the often vulgar content of his freestyle raps and sketches, is what initially created the buzz surrounding him. The videos appeared to showcase a teenager with a very foul mouth, although Milonakis was actually in his late 20's at the time. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel took notice of Andy's humor and began showcasing his talent in assorted comedy bits on his late night talk show. As Milonakis' popularity continued to grow, Kimmel and Adam Corolla offered to produce a show featuring the internet star. A deal with MTV was made, and The Andy Milonakis Show was born.

The Andy Milonakis Show would become Andy's primary focus for the next few years. The show focused on sketch comedy bits which involved slapstick or nonsensical humor. Celebrity guests were often invited to the show and incorporated into various skits. Milonakis was required to tame his sense of humor somewhat for cable television, although his unique personality was still evident throughout. Lasting only three seasons, the series has garnered a cult following over the years.

Shortly before taking the helm of his own show, Milonakis joined the ensemble cast of Waiting, an independent film released in 2005. This stands as his most successful film to date. The movie received favorable reviews from critics and is notable for featuring Ryan Reynolds in one his first starring roles. The plot focuses on a group of employees working various jobs for a run-of-the-mill restaurant chain. Milonakis portrays Nick, a pot-smoking busboy with aspirations of being a gangster. Nick and fellow busboy T-Dog are best friends whose defiance keeps them at odds with the restaurant manager. Throughout the film, Andy displays the freestyle rhyming skills that launched his career. Milonakis returned to the role of Nick in the 2009 sequel Still Waiting. In this film, Nick tries to persuade a maturing T-Dog to maintain their gangster persona, leading to some humorous situations. Ultimately, Still Waiting did not achieve the critical or financial success of its predecessor.

Andy Milonakis has become an inspiration for many in the internet age. He has proven that there are alternate paths to achieving fame, aside from the conventional means of years past. All it takes is a video camera, a dream and the determination to make that dream a reality. With the popularity of social networking and tube sites, it is easier than ever for a voice to be heard. If enough people identify with that voice, a star is born.




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