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---------------------'Oddville, MTV' shows off weird things people can do
August 7, 1997
Web posted at: 6:14 p.m. EDT (2214 GMT)NEW YORK (CNN) -- "Oddville, MTV" is a place where it's normal to be strange. Where else can you meet a girl who can showcase blowing her nose, a man who plays the harmonica through his nose and another who can pull a chain out of his nose through his mouth?
The program features ordinary people with unusual talents. It was created 10 years ago by host Rich Brown -- alias Frank Hope -- as a public access show on a Manhattan cable station. Now Hope and his loyal but always silent sidekick David Greene, have made the big time.
They have been together on the show the entire time it's been on the air. In fact, although David has no comment on their longtime partnership, Hope says their camaraderie goes all the way back to their high school days in New York.
Now, they've hit the big time a la "Wayne's World." Their show, which airs on MTV every weekday, has a set, an announcer (Melissa Gabriel) and a featured dancer, Joey the Dancing Monkey.
(No wild animals are taken advantage of during the production of this show; this is a 6-foot "monkey" in overalls and a hip-hop cap. "Dance is Joey and Joey is dance," Oddville's Web site proclaims).
Musicians and celebrities also grace the Oddville set on a regular basis. The degree of the guests' celebrity varies, of course. In one week, they might range from Kenan & Kel of the newly released movie "Good Burger" to Edd Hall, the announcer for Jay Leno's "Tonight Show."
Without exception, however, they must have a hidden talent. Celebrity guest Scott Thompson ("Kids in the Hall") was on recently.
"I got involved in there because I have a third nipple, I have an incredibly long tongue and I can put my hip out of joint," he said.
Performers come from all over to nose their way into the spotlight. From "Human Bagpipe" Lucas Crane to "Human Clothesline" Jeremy Graham, everybody is unique. And, says executive producer Jeremiah Bosgang, their talents are genuine.
"All of the people who come on this show are completely real. None of these people are feigning anything or acting kooky or weird. This is, like, they genuinely have developed these skills," Bosgang said.
"Oddville, MTV" can be experienced Monday through Friday at 11 p.m. EDT.
Correspondent Bill Tush contributed to this report.
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