SLHS Grads Debut New Show on IFC

Eric Bryant and Ethan Berlin got their start in the entertainment industry performing in plays at Reston's in the early 1990s.

After more than 10 years of steadily working in television, the duo get another start on Friday, when their game show, Bunk, premieres on IFC.

Bunk is a game show hosted by the always barefoot Kurt Braunohler. It features a trio of comedians/improv artists who compete in a series of bizarre challenges to win odd prizes.

"We use elaborate springoards to be funny," says Bryant (SLHS Class of 1995). "Then they stick to game show structure."

Berlin, who graduated from South Lakes in 1994 and went on to the University of Virginia, will also appear on the show as a contestant. He has written for comics such as Sacha Baron Cohen, Jimmy Kimmel, Sarah Silverman, Dave Attell, George Lopez, and Will Arnett. His credits include, Da’ Ali G Show, Crank Yankers, Lopez Tonight, and Talk Show With Spike Feresten. He also sold pilots to MTV, and Cartoon Network.

 Bryant, who went to James Madison University, has worked as an art director and producer whose credits include CBS’s The Good Wife, ABC’s Ugly Betty, NBC’s Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, and the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

In 2005, the pair wrote, produced, and directed All-Star American Destiny Trek, an animated pilot for MTV. The following year, their animated pilot Strange Transmissions was an official selection of the 2006 New York Television Festival, which lead to a development deal with Cartoon Network.

In 2010, their self-produced anti-game show pilot Pointless brought the duo back to the New York Television Festival. Pointless, which has since been re-titled to Bunk, caught the attention of IFC.

Bryant says he and Berlin are both "proud South Lakes graduates."

And while as 18-year-old students they didn't have clearly defined goals of working in TV, Bryant says some of his fondest Reston memories are of SLHS' theater program.

"I did every play every semester I was there," said Bryant. "The main thing we were allowed to do was the Friday Night Live show. That was the highlight of every year for me - writing sketches for that show."

Bunk premieres Friday, June 8 at 10:30 p.m. on IFC. Check your local cable guide for channel listings.