SXSW: The Cast of "Silicon Valley" Ether the Audience (And Themselves) At Its World Premiere

Mike Judge surely knows how to pick a talented team of comedy nerds.

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Mike Judge does not disappoint. But come on, has he ever? The dude created Beavis and Butthead, Office Space, and King of the Hill. Silicon Valley, his new HBO show about six programmers banding together to create their own start-up, follows the same winning formula that's earned Judge his reputation: witty banter, surprisingly distinct everyman characters, and an eye for extracting humor from the most (seemingly) innocuous situations. 

At SXSW, we got the chance to check out the first couple episodes of the show, and here's what we can tell you: The series kicks off when Thomas (Thomas Middleditch) creates a new program that becomes the hottest property in all of Silicon Valley. And all of his friends Erlich (T.J. Miller), Dinesh (Kumail Nanjiani), Gilfoyle (Martin Starr), and Big Head (John Brener) want in on it. Weighing his options, Thomas, under the guidance of his new business partner Jared (Zach Woods), settles for a deal with big-time investor Peter Gregory (Christopher Evan Welch). The persuasion of Gregory's right-hand woman Monica (Amanda Crew) doesn't hurt either. But in a valley full of competitive and ruthless tech head honchos, turning a single idea into a billion-dollar business is not as easy as it seems. 

The show is bound to be a fan-favorite. It's got the off-kilter vibe you'd only get from mixing Workaholics with Undeclared with The Social Network. And how could it not be a hilarious hodge podge? Every nerd of the cast has a background in improv comedy, one that memorably shined through during some moments of the premiere's Q&A.

Note: If you stepped up to the mic to ask any of these questions, we sincerely hope you get your confidence back.

Written by Tara Aquino (@t_akino)

When a woman asks "Is there any plans to have female audience members down the line who are engineers?":

T.J. Miller: No, absolutely not. Women live in a society with a glass ceiling and so you can what's above you but you'll never be able to get there.

Zach Woods: We have an agreement that if there is a female engineer, we're walking.

Miller: Zach and I, we're the most effeminate. We've had enough of it. Thomas and I brought enough feminine energy for all the ladies...What do you think the ratio of men to women engineers in actual Silicon Valley?

Woman: There's not a lot. I work in it.

Miller: But do you think that's an accurate representation of how many men and how many women are involved in Silicon Valley? It is a bit of a boy's club wouldn't you say or no?...Maybe what you should be asking is 'Silicon Valley, why do you as a source material for this HBO show, not have more women working in your world?'"

Woman: It's because they don't know how to talk to girls.

Miller: Guys don't? Or maybe women don't know how to make nerds feel comfortable!

When a man in a cowboy hat and holding a horn steps up to the mic:

John Brener: Asian Matthew McConaughey?!

Man in cowboy hat: By the way, I'm not Asian. I'm German, Cherokee, and Irish. 

Miller: Are you holding a walking stick? Oh, no.

[Man picks it up and blows his horn.]

Miller: He's available for diggerydoo birthday parties.

When a woman asks about the cast's individual tech experience:

Kumail Nanjiani: Well this kinda sucks and it's just gonna make people more racist, but I'm the one out of these that actually can code.

Miller: One of these?! These whites?!

Now just imagine all that energy the cast brought to the Q&A and picture it on television. That's how fun, dynamic, and clever Silicon Valley actually is. The series will premiere on HBO on April 6.

For more of Complex Pop Culture's SXSW coverage, click here. 


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