Tosh.0 still going strong

 If browsing through video search engines has become too great a hassle for entertainment-starved students, Comedy Central’s “Tosh.0” was the answer to their procrastination prayers this year.

After one full year of Daniel Tosh’s televised antics, it’s difficult to imagine what life was like before the edgy comedian began dishing out outrageously funny YouTube commentary and turning previously nameless faces on a computer screen into national celebrities.

While some viewers argue that Tosh’s program mimics that of “Web Soup,” a viral video-based spin-off of E!’s “The Soup,”  “Tosh.0” has become its own well-established, widely viewed phenomenon. The second season is averaging 1.8 million total viewers. After picking up with new episodes June 2, the show has already been promised a third season to premiere in January 2011, according to Tvbynumbers.com.

While conversing with any given group of students on a college campus, the following “Tosh.0” clips are pretty much guaranteed to get strangers laughing and reminiscing (unless they live under a rock or don’t get Comedy Central, in which case you should direct them to the nearest computer ASAP).

• Daniel Destroys an iPad: In a recent episode, Tosh discovers that Apple sent him an iPad.  Feigning excitement at the company’s generosity, he jumps up and down, climbs on top of his conference room table and proceeds to smash the machine with a golf club.
This is why we love Tosh – yes, he is controversial and sometimes offensive.  However, the iPad has stirred up controversy, and there is an overwhelming percentage of the consumer population who believes iPads are merely useless pieces of junk. Tosh simply channeled that opinion into an act of comedic expression. 

• “David After Dentist” Web Redemption: A father’s YouTube footage of his drug-induced son after a dental procedure invaded office computers everywhere, reaching more than 59 million views. In this weekly segment, Tosh helps David to execute revenge on his father by pretending to drug the man, draw on his face and send him away via hot air balloon. When Tosh asks David why he thinks so many people viewed his drug-induced stupor online, the child replies with a smile, “Because I’m handsome!” Awww.

•  “Extreme Salvia Challenge”: After playing Web clips of kids attempting the infamous cinnamon challenge (ever tried to swallow a spoonful of cinnamon?), Tosh decides to film a collaborative attempt of several failed stunt videos featured onthe show. His attempt to smoke salvia, swallow a spoonful of cinnamon, eat several saltine crackers and crack 100 coconuts by hand fails miserably, but his dedication to making such an entertaining, vomit-filled video is successful.

After writing this article, it’s slightly disappointing to realize that one of my favorite new television shows is composed mainly of toilet humor and clips of irresponsible people making fools of themselves for my entertainment.

However, Daniel Tosh has succeeded in creating a provocative program that provides social commentary young people can relate to, laugh about and discuss with their friends weeks after the fact … and for that, we thank you.