by Zach Raffio. @zachraffio.
NEW YORK, NY - Musician and radio host Seth Rudetsky and producer James Wesley, who host the daily, live streamed performance/talk show “Stars in the House”, have announced a companion series titled “Stars in the Cellar with 60 Minutes to Solve My Riddles & Find the Antidote,” which plays out exactly as it sounds, the duo confirmed today.
“It’s all in good fun,” said Rudetsky while watching over his stars via several grainy, black and white video monitors. “It’s a tough time for everyone right now, so if we can all come together, take a little break, and just watch Jayne Houdyshell and Leslie Odom Jr. sweat as they desperately try to solve my nefarious little riddles before succumbing to the poison, I think that’s really special. Plus, it’s for charity!”
The series, which has already featured segments such as Ed Harris attempting to find out which king cobra swallowed the key he needs, and the legendary Susan Stroman forced to translate the message carved in a Finnish bible which she may read only by candlelight, has become a hot ticket amongst stars of the stage and screen.
“Oh, I would love to do the show,” noted Tony winner Audra McDonald. “Seth and James have really concocted something smart, fun and cheerful via ‘Stars in the House’, and I think it’s a blast that people have come together to play along and pretend to be locked in their cellar with only 60 precious minutes to escape the madhouse. Such great character work. What do you mean it’s real?”
The original series, which has raised money for The Actors Fund and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, currently streams twice daily via the show’s official Instagram. The new series, however, is only available via unmarked VHS tapes buried deep beneath the childhood home of Angela Lansbury. Fan reactions have mostly been positive.
“I think it’s such a hoot!” noted daily viewer Craig Liand. “It’s pretty crazy to watch George Takei and Jessie Mueller yell at each other as the small vial of sand marking how much time is left becomes thinner and thinner. They’re so committed, you’d almost think all of this is real and that they’re not just in on a bit, haha. What do you mean it’s real?”
At press time, Rudetsky and Wesley are already planning other spinoffs of the popular show, such as “Stars in the Operating Room Who Must Perform Surgery Even Though They’re Not Qualified” and “Stars in a Hall of Mirrors Who Must Find Their Evil Twin Who Has Escaped There and Kill The Twin Before the Twin Kills Them.”