Quirky sketch show laugh riot
By Jessica Luthi
The Guardsman
“Where pixels commit suicide and cool comes to die,” that’s “communitychannel,” or at least that’s how Natalie Tran, the comedic mastermind behind the YouTube channel, describes it.
Unlike most Youtube stars, the Australian doesn’t talk about the latest celebrity buzz or popular culture, but the quirks or habits of everyday people and topics that make you think.
She always starts with a simple “Hi,” before jumping into her chosen topics, which can range from packing for a trip overseas to awkward social situations. Tran plays multiple characters throughout each video, which makes it entertaining to watch.
Each clip ends with “porno music/comment time,” during which she reads comments left by users and provides remarks to comments left on previous videos while cheesy 70s music plays in the background.
What makes Tran so special is the natural comedic execution in each of her videos, making the Sydney-based YouTube star the fourth most subscribed-to director of all time, right up there with Universal Studios, which is ranked number one.
One of my favorites is the measuring tape video. Tran acts out different attempts to measure a dresser, a wall space to fit an armoire, as well as using her arms to measure the length of her desk. It’s quite entertaining to watch. I laughed so hard because I’m guilty of using my arms or hands to measure spaces instead of pulling out a measuring tape.
To add a personal touch, Tran includes photos sent in by people who have bumped into her on the street and insists that she reads all of the comments left on her videos.
Tran has come a long way since her YouTube debut in 2006. She now has over 200 videos with more than 550,000 subscribers and roughly 27 million channel views.
Many of her earlier videos were mediocre, but she has improved over the years. Each video is funnier than the last, making it hard to wait for the next one to be posted.
Be sure to check out some of my faves: “F#ck Measuring Tape,” “Oh…with a name like that,” and “You Didn’t Say Goodbye.”
“Communitychannel” may be “where pixels commit suicide and cool comes to die” but Tran’s videos are funny and worth every second spent watching them.