When you have talent like Adam Scott (John Wilkes Booth), Bob Odenkirk (Nixon) and Jack Black (Elvis) on hand, why not let them improv their own material? They're wasted as puppets trapped in this sad, thin vaudeville.
There's a chuckle here and a chuckle there, but it's impossible to escape the feeling that you've just been forwarded a stale Internet meme from your dad.
The whole exercise has a distinct homemovie feel to it - a small-ball mentality suited to short bursts on the Web, perhaps, but an utter waste of empty, dimwitted calories blown up and out for television.
It's epic, hilarious and totally tasteless. But "Drunk History" is not for the reverent-or teetotalers for that matter. (If you don't find overserved individuals slightly amusing, look away!)
The show gleefully subverts the whole historical documentary format, as it mocks the kind of re-creations we see on the History Channel, complete with cheesy wigs and costumes and an over-dramatic soundtrack.
