LuminoMagazine.com - Bam Margera's comedic abuse

Bam Margera's comedic abuse

Written by NICK POWILLS

Tuesday, 15 February 2005

Many things make us laugh, but few things can make us wet our pants in laughter. The "Jackass" crew didn't want to just make us laugh, but they wanted to make us fall off our chairs in hysterics.

And for that, they are geniuses. Well, in at least the eyes of those who can laugh at physical harm.

When MTV pulled the hit show, a cast of pranksters were left wondering what the next step was. Some went on the college tour scene (If you have never seen Wee Man kick himself in the head, go check it out); some went straight to Hollywood; and some were left with little to do.

Bam Margera wasn't going to let the dismantling of "jackass" hold him down. Oh no. He went straight back to MTV and decided to do a show in which he basically kicks the shit out of his parents and uncle with the help of a few friends. And when Margera made the pitch, even he wasn't sure what the end result would be.

Four seasons later, "Viva la Bam" is one of MTV's most popular shows.

"When I signed the deal MTV was like, 'Maybe we can get a second season out of you guys,'" Bam explains. "And I'm like, 'Dude, I don't think I will even have enough ideas for the first season, filming these eight shows. I don't even want to think about doing a second season.' But once we got the formula going, ideas were not a problem."

The formula for the show is simple – abuse, mostly physical, of April and Phil (Bam's parents) and Don Vito (his uncle). The mischievous stunts Bam has pulled have included blowing up Phil's van; crushing Ape's (nickname for April) china cabinet with a bulldozer; launching a "Don't Feed Phil Day" campaign; and setting up the great Don Vito many times. Even with all the abuse, Bam finds it comforting that he hasn't been kicked out of the family.

"My parents are great. It's just that they're living in a house that I paid for, so it's going to be my way," he says. "They are going to have to deal with it. If I want the kitchen blue, then the kitchen is going to be blue."

Bam isn't even worried about a little revenge.

"Um, I don't think they are creative enough to get me back," he says. "If they did, it probably wouldn't work because I would be ready for it."

Throughout the show, Margera, along with his friends Raab, Rake, Ryan, and Brandon, has gone on various journeys throughout the world. But they've always returned to Westerfield, Pa., Bam's hometown – however, if you asked the townies how they felt about the Bam crew, they would probably cringe in frustration, as the town clearly isn't happy with all the crazy stunts pulled off by the mad man.

Another person who cringes in frustration at his obnoxious nephew is his uncle, Don Vito.

"He's just an easy target," Bam says.

And the abuse doesn't just stop with family members, it easily carries into local bars – so men, beware, if you're girlfriend is hot, make sure Bam's not around.

"You know, I would rather be famous than not, but there are always the good and the bad," he says. "I can walk into this jock bar and I will have all these buff dudes mad at me because all the hot chicks want to talk to me. And then they say some rude comment where I have to dump a beer over their head. It gets ugly. I'm not going to put up with that shit. I really like Colin Farrell 'cause he will just punch you in the face. That's the way it should be. I'm not going to take shit from anyone."

Bam's attitude, creativity, and pure out-of-control insanity are characteristics that will help his show boost a long shelf life on MTV. "Viva la Bam" has a formula guaranteed to provide thrilling entertainment not suitable for experimentation at home, which is why, the show will, and must, go on!

"The show could go on for awhile because I am always doing new stuff and they are pretty much just taping my life," he said. "As long as it's entertaining I don't see any reason to stop."