Whitney Pastorek

For this complete-ish oral history in celebration of Wet Hot’s 10th anniversary, we asked director and writer David Wain, his cowriter and creative partner, Michael Showalter, and stars including Janeane Garofalo, Paul Rudd, David Hyde Pierce, Elizabeth Banks, and Amy Poehler to reminisce about the shoot, the living conditions, the kids, the notoriously horrendous weather, and the hilarity (and debauchery) that took place off-camera. Throw another log on the soaking-wet campfire—theirs is an epic tale of camaraderie and survival in the heart of Pennsylvania darkness.

“Let’s put it this way: We were asked by the network, and not in an offensive way, to explore premium content, and part of that was some nudity if it was possible. It made us all flinch a little bit. Porn awards [‘Sin Say Shun Awards Afterparty’] was born from trying to take that request and figure out a way to do it that will enhance the show. Failed orgy [‘Nick DiCintio’s Orgy Night’], similar thing.”