Stella

Starring David Wain, Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter What It's About The guys from The State bring their own brand of humor — absurd, sarcastic, extremely random — to this tale of three bizarre roommates. What to Expect In the pilot, the trio performs open-heart surgery with a butter knife in their living room. After that, it's anybody's guess. ''Every episode is totally different,'' explains Showalter. ''It's a single-camera show in the vein of the Marx Brothers and the Stooges. Sort of 'The Stella guys take on blank.''' With original lead-in Chappelle's Show MIA (Stella will now air after Reno 911!), look for the guys to pull shameless ratings stunts. ''I'll give you some things you'll be seeing,'' says Black. ''Rap battles, BMX bike tricks, exploitation of migrant workers, a potato sack race, and cannibalism.'' Why We're Optimistic These dudes are funny, as exemplified by their Wet Hot American Summer collaboration. And anything that gives Michael Ian Black some non-VH1-related work is fine by us.