Watch Hudson Valley Ballers

Hudson Valley Ballers was a mockumentary-style web series created by Above Average Productions that followed the lives of a local amateur basketball team in upstate New York. The show aired from 2013 to 2015 and had a total of 16 episodes. The series was shot in a handheld style which gave it a documentary-like feel. The show revolved around the characters' dreams of making it big in the basketball world, despite the fact that they were all amateurs. The team had a hilarious mix of personalities that made each episode an enjoyable experience.

The characters would bicker with each other and come up with crazy schemes to better their chances of winning their local amateur league. Their personalities were very distinct, from the cocky team captain Keith (played by Tim Martin) to the soft-hearted Kevin (played by Chris Manley), who struggled with his weight and contained a real love for food.

Jared (played by Jason Selvig) was the team's resident conspiracy theorist. He was fixated on illuminati theories, including how Bigfoot was part of a secret organization that aimed to rule the world. Billy (played by Mike Antonucci), the team's hothead, was always down for a fight and carried a heavy dose of machismo.

Kolby (played by Kevin McNutt) was the team's most athletic member. He was a veteran of the Iraq War who had an unwavering sense of confidence, despite rarely scoring any points. Rounding out the ensemble was Rakeem (played by Jaboukie Young-White), a.k.a. "Rak," the team's newest member. He was a talented player who had a problem with authority.

The show was full of hilarious moments that were captured expertly by the show's creator, Tim Bierbaum. The characters' attempts to get a local radio station to play their theme song, their taste tests of various energy drinks, and their ridiculous stunts all added laughs to every episode.

The team's relationship with their coach, the conservative and strict Coach Cleaves (played by Daniel K. Isaac), was a consistent focus of the show. Cleaves was often at odds with the team's freewheeling nature, but he had a soft spot for them nonetheless.

There were some noteworthy episodes that stood out during the series. One episode featuring Jared being convinced that the team's ball was a cursed artifact and attempting to destroy it to break the curse. Another episode had Keith trying to combat his fear of swimming and included the team breaking into an indoor pool. There was also an episode where Kolby was determined to win a Mustang during a halftime raffle, much to the amusement of his teammates.

Hudson Valley Ballers's humor was often character-driven, but it had an essential absurdity that made it feel akin to the work of Tim and Eric or The Lonely Island. The dialogue was quick-witted and rife with improvisation that added to the show's authentic tone. The characters liked to riff off of each other, and the show's frequent blooper reels showed how much fun they had making the show.

One of the things that made Hudson Valley Ballers so enjoyable was its attention to detail. From the team's uniforms to the use of local radio stations, the show looked and felt like it was authentically set in upstate New York.

Another strength of the show was the rapport between all the cast members. Despite each character having their unique quirks, the ensemble felt like a cohesive group that genuinely cared about each other. This made their triumphs and defeats feel more monumental.

Overall, Hudson Valley Ballers was a sharp and hilarious show that featured a talented cast of comedians. While the show finished in 2015, it's still up on YouTube and still worth a watch. The show's mix of character comedy, absurdity, and heart made it a standout web series that was essential viewing for comedy fans.