With no budget and an all-volunteer staff, the producers of "BSU Late Night" have to make some compromises.
Ball State University junior Jeff Christener said "Late Night" learned to work around many of the funding issues it faced throughout its five-year history. Still, a little help from the university wouldn't hurt.
"We only really need money for digital video tapes," Christener said. "We buy our own props."
Not to be confused with the UPB events program BSU Late Nite, "BSU Late Night" is a student-run variety show that features a mix of sketch comedy, music and interviews.
At a meeting Monday, "Late Night" members gathered to plan what Christner said will be the first episode in four months. In the past, the show appeared each weeknight with new shows airing every two weeks.
Ball State junior Tom Pilotte said the show's host and three of its producers left "Late Night" last semester, which led to the delay. Pilotte said they each of the members left the show to pursue other interests.
Pilotte said though the producers and host are missed, the current cast of "Late Night" is learning to work around the loss.
"We're not dead yet," Pilotte said. "But we could obviously use people to do anything."
The plans for the upcoming show focused on sketches parodying popular culture.
Ball State junior Natalie Combs suggested a spoof on the film "Brokeback Mountain" that would revolve around a love triangle between the main characters and an imagined other man.
"It should be an Indian," Combs said.
After much debate, the group finally decided the ghost of John Wayne would be a better fit.
Pilotte said several "celebrities" have appeared on the show.
"We had an extra from 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,'" Pilotte said. "He was a ninja. He got kicked in the face by Donatello. We showed the clip like over and over again."
Pilotte said Abel Alves appeared on a show in Spring 2004. The Ball State history professor talked about his trial for trespassing at a Muncie farm. Despite the circumstances that led up to Alves' appearance on the show, Pilotte said the interview was light-hearted.
"We gave him a $2 check for coming on and doing the interview," Pilotte said. "I don't think he actually cashed it."
Pilotte said any Ball State students can join "Late Night" regardless of their majors. The new episode is slated to appear weekdays at 10 p.m. on Cardinal Vision 57 and at 11:30 p.m. on Comcast channel 60 starting next week.
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