In the world of comedy and entertainment, there are people who have the ability to make you laugh while also making you think. Then, there are others who are so goofy that they almost have a secondary effect on your brain – they make you feel better about life. That second type is great because it makes you forget about all of the other bad things in the world for a few minutes, but also because it is usually a sign that person is comfortable with themselves and their place in the world. That brings us to Trevor Moore, co-founder of The Whitest Kids U Know who tragically died this week at the age of 35 from complications stemming from his battle with leukemia. He was known for his appearances on Adult Swim’s Cartoon Network shows such as “Home Movies” and “Unsupervised,” as well as movies like “The CollegeHumor Video Dictionary” and “CollegeHumor Originals: Football TownENDERS SUPERBABES.??” Additionally, he has more than 270K followers on Instagram where he would post photos documenting his travels around the globe or intimate moments alongside his wife Rachel Barr. There is no doubt that Moore will be missed by friends, family members and especially fans who appreciated his brand of comedy. But in light of this tragic news, let’s take a moment to remember some of our favorite moments with one of comedy’s most underappreciated comedic talents. read more trevor moore death
The Whitest Kids U’Know: “CollegeHumor Originals”
When Trevor Moore and some of his fellow sketch comedy friends at their alma mater of Colgate University decided to create their own show, they knew it had to be really out there. They needed to get creative and go beyond the confines of the world around them. And so, The Whitest Kids U’ Know was born. For the uninitiated, the show was an absurd and satirical sketch comedy show that followed “the adventures of the whitest kids from the whitest town in America.” The group included Trevor Moore (who played the group’s leader Cody), Zach Cregger (who played Cody’s best friend Sam), Sam’s brother Justin (who played the group’s DJ Dom), and Darren Criss (who played the group’s “token” Hispanic Julio). Together the group created a plethora of humorous skits including an episode all about the “Evolution of Dance” (which featured a very impressive dance sequence at the end) and another episode in which the “Kids” break into a house to find out what a “third leg” is.
“The Whitest Show Ever”
Even though the show The Whitest Kids U’ Know is the first thing that comes to mind when we think of Trevor Moore and his comedy, he actually headlined a show of his own in 2011. The Whitest Show Ever was a live show performed at UCB Theatre in Los Angeles that brought together some of his funniest friends to join him for two hours of laughs. The show featured a mix of stand-up, sketches, as well as a musical performance from Moore himself. It was during this show that he made headlines (and caught the attention of network executives) after he called out NBC for its lack of racial diversity. While conducting his Q&A session with the audience, he asked the crowd what network they thought was his “home.” After the crowd answered NBC, he responded, “And that’s great. But what I mean is, is this the network that I work for?” The crowd again answered “NBC,” and he once more replied, “And that’s great. But what I mean is, is this the network that I work for?” The crowd once more answered NBC, and this time he said, “Thank you, I’ll be here all week.” That one moment from his live show helped to propel him to the next level of his comedy career.
Live From Austin, TX
In 2010, Trevor Moore and his comedy group The Whitest Kids U’ Know were on a roll. Their show had been picked up for a second season by the Fusion Network, they had just wrapped up a month-long tour with their sketch show and they had even nabbed a few appearances on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien. That’s when they decided to head to Austin, TX for the annual SXSW Festival. They brought with them their “Whitest” show and performed it live before an audience. The performance was recorded and later put out as an hour-long special on the Fusion Network. For the uninitiated, Fusion is a television channel that is jointly owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group and Univision Communications. It is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural channel that features programming that is meant to appeal to a younger demographic.
Good Morning with Co-Host Brett Gelman
When Trevor Moore was asked to appear on the now-defunct G4 network’s morning show “Attack of the Show,” he knew it was an opportunity to make people laugh. But it was also an opportunity for him to get his message out there as well. Clearly, he thought it was worth the risk. His message? The fact that he was the only non-white host on a show that was predominantly watched by white men was not right – at all. On top of that, he was paired with another white man who had suggested they do a sketch involving the two of them disguised as Asians. He declined because he knew that it would be offensive to the Asian community.
Other appearances including “The Hotwives of Orlando” and more.
In addition to his work on The Whitest Kids U’ Know and his stand-up comedy, Trevor Moore also made some appearances on some big television networks. He appeared on the CBS hit show “How I Met Your Mother” and NBC’s “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” While The Whitest Kids U’ Know was still going, he also appeared on Comedy Central’s “The Hotwives of Orlando” which is a parody of the hit Bravo show “Real Housewives.”
Final Thoughts: A Tribute To Trevor Moore
Trevor Moore was a comedic genius who was able to make people laugh with his silly skits, but also get a message across to the audience. He was one of the few comedians (or perhaps the only comedian) who could make you laugh and think at the same time. It is this ability that sets him apart from so many other comedians. He was able to make you feel more connected to yourself while also making you feel better about the world over all. Sadly, Trevor Moore died of leukemia on August 10, 2019 at the age of 35. Before his death, however, he helped to put Colgate University on the map. He was a graduate of the University and his show The Whitest Kids U Know helped to put it on the map.