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Last night Stella premiered on Comedy Central. Along with Reno 911, this marks the return to TV of just about everybody from MTV’s The State, arguably the best non-Canadian sketch comedy show of the early 90s.

I didn’t get into The State until college, but I blame that on my parents for not having cable. When I finally did see it on a poor quality super long play video tape, it left me scratching my head a lot, some but the actors commit to them so much, that it comes off as believable. Barry and Levon’s 240 Pounds Worth of Pudding comes to mind.

Stella features two of my favorites from the State, Michael Showalter (aka Doug), and Michael Ian Black, and it has all the randomness and sincerity that the State had. The first episode has them evicted from there apartment and driven into the streets. Highlights include:

• Making the landlord go the cleaners and pick up the welcome so he can get the spare key that’s underneath it only when he places it in front of the door.
• The next morning they’re in full hobo regalia: 5 o’clock shadow, topless top hat, and warming themselves over a trashcan fire. They lick their lips while cutting a single bean into three equal pieces, and then try to which of a variety of dipping sauces to use.
• Open heart surgery with a butter knife in a living room, because there’s no time to call 911.

I can’t tell yet if I like the show out of loyalty, or if it’s really funny. Random comedy like this is very hit or miss. Similar to Adult Swim, it’s either an instant classic or horribly off the mark. We’ll see where they take such an aimless show, and whether it has staying power. I’m guessing no, but it’ll probably become a cult classic for rabid fans and at least become a DVD. (Inexplicably, still no word on a State DVD set, but at least there’s Wet Hot American Summer, also penned by them.)