Stella (American TV series)

Characters

Main

The "Guys"

• Michael Ian Black as Michael Ian Black
• Michael Showalter as Michael Showalter
• David Wain as David Wain

  The Girls Downstairs

• Andrea Rosen as Jennifer. In real life, Rosen is Showalter's former roommate.
• Samantha Buck as Amy
• Heidi Neurauter as Stacy

Recurring

• Justin Lord as Various

  Plot

Episodes

Allusions

• The appearance of Janeane Garofalo, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Zak Orth, A.D. Miles, Joe Lo Truglio and Ken Marino.
• The song "Higher and Higher" by Theodore Shapiro and Craig Wedren in the episode "Office Party."
• The sign behind Michael Black's coffee stand in "Coffee Shop" reads "Gene's Two Way Radio", a reference to the character Gene in Wet Hot American Summer.
• In the episode "Novel", there is a direct recreation of dialogue between the camp director Beth and Professor Newman from Wet Hot American Summer.
• In the episode "Meeting Girls" Black says to a man in the bar, "Hi, I'm Michael Ian Black. I love the '80s!" in reference to his appearances on the VH1 television program.

  Recurring elements

• The trio shouting "yay!" in unison any time something good happens.
• Group discussions about God
• The trio singing "who is it?" in unison whenever somebody rings the doorbell.
• Using fake moustaches, usually as a means of disguise.
• Mention of "Marcus", a person whom none of them actually know.
• David Wain being the "odd man out" of the trio, as the two Michaels exclude him.. This happens in all of their live performances.
• Michael Showalter being the "emotional" one of the group, often overreacting to situations.
• Michael Showalter saying "We don't have... this money." or "What I did was wrong and I'll be the first to admit it."
• Absurd time frames. The group often changes in extreme manners over a short period of time, such as full grown beards or strong relationship bonds. Very often this is hidden until someone brings up the point that something happened "just two days ago!"
• David Wain being the Casanova of the three, attracting and making out with different women at a moment's notice. The one exception is the "Meeting Girls" episode, where only David has no girlfriend. Although, at the end David admits to sleeping with Black's girlfriend
• Michael Ian Black being the evil conniving one of the group, the first to resort to murder and the first to betray one of the friends. He even once coerced David and the other Michael to resort to cannibalism.
• The title screen and theme music appearing abruptly, often contrasting with and interrupting whatever is going on in the scene.
• "The Important Guy" in many episodes, actor Justin Lord appears in a position of power
• The three learning a lesson about the importance of friendship.
• Winning awards or prizes at the end of an episode, even if their actions have not been in any way worthy of praise.
• Wearing suits at all times, even in inappropriate situations such as bathing and working out.
• The trio vocally harmonizing.
• Breaking of the fourth wall, usually by looking directly into the camera.
• Simple camera tricks
• The three mention Simon & Garfunkel throughout the series,
• The guys saying, in unison, "We did it! We did it TOGETHER!"
• The guys suddenly breaking into choreographed song or dance numbers.

  Home media

Easter Eggs

• An unreleased Stella short titled "Bar," featuring H. Jon Benjamin.
• A montage of outtakes from the opening of the "Meeting Girls" episode.
• A reel of Comedy Central's advertisements for the Stella TV show.