Hosted by Lou Scheele and guest starring his starving friends (Mike Pecci, Aaron Tyburski, and Benjamin Oliver), his self-proclaimed “tasteless cooking show for anyone who has had to make $5 last two weeks” has been mentioned in publications like Wired and Boston Phoenix as a must-watch podcast. Lou and company have been irregularly churning out episodes of their cooking comedy series for their loyal fanbase since spring of 2005. Co-creator Mike Pecci directs each episode under his Boston production company Stereoscopic Pictures, bringing some professional, visual style to a show with the lowest of low budgets, which has unfortunately been on hiatus since April 2006.
What makes the site so popular is that each webisode could legitimately appear as a late-night program on the Food Network, if the channel would allow digital recording, vulgarity, and a fervent distaste for specialty markets and food that costs more than $2. Episodes can last anywhere from 15 minutes to a half hour. Considering that all the recipes are along the lines of Ramen Oriental with Two Eggs, most of that time is spent joking around, laughing at themselves play videogames, and generally not cooking. The most complicated meal seems to be Hawaiian Luau Extravaganza Burritos. With fabulously odd guest stars, roadtrips, and ridiculous excursions to the supermarket, Starvin’ is a surprise success with Boston natives and the world at large. Naturally, production quality is low, but that’s part of the theme. In between Starvin’s infrequent episodes, its blog and forums see a fair amount of activity and also contain precise recipes for the low-budget meals.
The first episode is something of an internet cult staple. In it, Lou introduces himself and his impoverished situation and creates his first of many meals with ramen noodles.
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