The 5: Dave Peters’ Five Greatest Comedian Appearances in Video Games

Published by Interrobang Staff at March 15, 2022

Contributing Writer, Dave Peters

In between true crime, celebrity stories and three hour interviews fits a new podcast from Dave Peters.”I’m Always Right with Dave Peters” has Dave bringing humorous insight into news of the moment with original monologues, guests, skits, plus other engaging and hilarious content. The critical, self-aggrandizing, intellectual and immature podcast is like The Tonight Show from your closet. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Stitcher now!

It’s no secret that comedians can make great actors. It seems the stage experience can often lead to an on-screen charisma, making a natural fit for television and movie roles. While those instances can be listed at length, one medium which isn’t associated with comedians-quite yet anyway: video games. It’s hard to pinpoint when exactly comedians started lending their talents to video games but, there are plenty of instances where their talents have been utilized. I think fans of comedy can argue there is a lot of untapped potential in the comedy world. Let’s take a look at some features though.

DISCWORLD: ERIC IDLE

Monty Python fans, both casual and avid, are quite aware of the troupe’s impact on comedy. Fans may not be aware of one of the stars of the group partaking a role in the game “Discworld”. “Discworld” is based on the fantasy books of the same name. Eric Idle was cast as the wizard Rincewind in the first and second game “Discworld II: Missing Presumed…!?”, while also lending his voice for the song That’s Death in the latter. It features a singing skeleton, playing off the standard “That’s Life” popularized by Frank Sinatra, and/or your drunk uncle singing it whenever and wherever possible. Fans of Monty Python should appreciate it.

Released on MS-DOS, Macintosh, Playstation and Sega Saturn, developed by Perfect 10 Productions, published by Psygnosis. The game was not as popular here in the U.S. as it was in Europe but has seemed to develop a cult-fanbase since.

GRAND THEFT AUTO: RICKY GERVAIS

Another funny Brit, well recognized for his contribution to comedy, had a role in a more recognizable name: “Grand Theft Auto”. The comedian actually plays himself in the fourth installment of the game as a stand-up comedian at the club Split Sides. Topics in the act include war, obesity, cancer, and AIDS.

Comedians David Cross and JB Smoove have also been utilized by Rockstar Games develoers in the GTA series. Cross voiced a store clerk named Zero in “GTA: San Andreas” while Smoove played talk radio host Dr. Ray D’Angelo Harris. His Chakra Attack show can be heard on 95.6 WCTR when driving a car, motorcycle, or whatever other vehicle with a radio in it, while in between jobs or getting away from the cops I the game. It’s actually pretty entertaining and makes me wonder why he hasn’t been tapped for a radio show yet.

BLASTO: PHIL HARTMAN

In 1997, Sony Interactive Studios America released the third-person platformer “Blasto”. This fame starred Saturday Night Live alumni, Phil Hartman as Captain Blasto. I remember owning this game as a kid. It was fun and entertaining however the reviews were not all that great. The work Hartman put into the game can be seen in this video.

Tragically, about a year after the game was released, the world would lose Hartman to a murder which shook the entertainment history. Hartmann leaving behind a career of esteemed roles.

HALO 4: CONAN O’BRIEN & ANDY RICHTER

Conan O’ Brien included video games in the TBS version of his talk show in the reoccurring segment Clueless Gamer. O’Brien and co-host Andy Richter actually have a brief cameo in the popular Microsoft XBOX game “Halo 4”. O’Brien and Richter recognizable as the voices of two soldiers in the game. Although brief, the interaction can provide some comic relief during gameplay.

On a side note: Talk show host Aisha Taylor, known for hosting E! Television Network’s Talk Soup and the improv show Whose Line Is It Anyway. She’s apparently a huge fan of video games and has voiced characters in “Halo: Reach”, “Watch Dogs” and “Gears of War”.

SAINTS ROW: GET OUT OF HELL: JAY MOHR

We have another SNL alum on the list here. The comedian Jay Mohr. Mohr plays the hellish character Dane Vogel in “Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell”.

Mohr’s role doesn’t seem to take a humorous disposition but his experience in comedy and podcasting, not to mention acting, seem to make a perfect combination for video game roles.

Some honorable mentions here to comedians who have non-speaking roles in games.; Drew Carey and Robin Williams. Carey can be unlocked in the game “The Sims”. Interestingly, The Drew Carey Show parodied the game hilariously in an episode. Williams’ was honored with a character in his likeness, in the game “The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild”. Nintendo paying posthumous tribute to the legend with the character Dayto. Williams meanwhile paying tribute to the game, naming his daughter Zelda after it.

Also, fans of The Office might want to know that actor Steve Carrell did voice work for “Outlaw Golf” and “Outlaw Volleyball”. The raunchy announcing makes great entertainment and may be enough to get any non-gamer playing.

So comedy fans, next time you play a game, keep an eye, and ear out for recognizable voices. Andy Samberg and Wanda Sykes have also been tapped to play characters in the Borderlands spin-off Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. We’ll see what else the industry has in store. I predict stand-up comedy will have a strong future in the meta verse and maybe NFT’s. Who wants a Neon Monkey when you could have…Neon Rodney Dangerfield? Ehhh…maybe we should leave that alone. That being said, the metaverse will most likely turn virtual, which seems to be the end goal for developers. Anyone with a VR headset could one day be sitting in a virtual comedy world, heckling, and laughing from their couch. These games here and others are probably just the beginning.

You can hear more from Dave Peters on his podcast I’m Always Right with Dave Peters. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Stitcher. You can also watch, subscribe and like his original cartoon The Horrendous League on You Tube.

Reference Links:

Discworld II: Rincewind say “F**k” – YouTube

Discworld 2 – That’s Death – Eric Idle – YouTube

ricky gervais grand theft auto – YouTube

David Cross | GTA Wiki | Fandom

Zero | GTA Wiki | Fandom

GTA V – WCTR – Chakra Attack – YouTube

The Making of BLASTO! – 1997 – YouTube

Halo 4 – Conan O’Brien and Andy Richter Easter Egg | Rooster Teeth – YouTube

Watch Dogs – Aisha Tyler’s in-game character – YouTube

‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’: Aisha Tyler Once Voiced a Character in a Popular Video Game Franchise – queenbrooklynvirginhair

Saints Row: Gat out of Hell – Meeting Dane Vogel – YouTube