Ann Arbor-produced web series ‘Grumpy Phil’ returns this month with new episodes

“Grumpy Phil,” an Ann Arbor-produced web series about a grumpy, middle-aged fellow with an axe to grind and the things that annoy him, returns this month with new, free-to-watch episodes.

Series co-founder and Theatre NOVA Artistic Director Carla Milarch says inspiration for the series struck during a brainstorming session “about life’s daily annoyances” with executive producers Stan Mendenhall and Robin Wilt Mendenhall from RobStan Visuals.

“Stan had a whole list of annoying things he wanted to rant about…and it just turned into ‘the Grumpy Phil thing,’” Milarch says.

The things Phil gets grumpy about tend to have some element of truth to them alongside the “humorous vein,” says Milarch.

“For example, one of the topics coming up in Season 2 is lawn maintenance and how we have been conditioned to appreciate a finely trimmed lawn that’s been edged…when in fact it is better for the environment and for pollinators to grow an entirely different way. You’re cutting down all the stuff they like when you mow your lawn.” 

In that segment, Ann Arbor-based actor Phil Powers, who plays Grumpy Phil, also gets the chance to play a bee.

“It’s an excuse for Carla to put me in all kinds of silly costumes,” says Powers.

The series is shot in the lobby and on the stage of Theatre NOVA, which also lends the show use of its green screen.

“That’s where you get a lot of the silliness,” Powers says. 

The production is staffed by local camera, lighting, electrical, and sound techs, along with makeup artists, with video editing and sound design by Annie Gallup, an award-winning singer-songwriter originally from Ann Arbor, now based on the coast of Maine.  

“We have a lot of fun on set with basically the same crew with us the whole time,” says Milarch. “We’ve really gotten to know and love them quite a bit.” 

All told, about 15 people work on the production. Milarch brought her expertise in writing, producing, and directing to the series, along with costume design. Powers does nearly all of the acting. Not only does he rant about six annoying topics, but he also plays Phil’s mom, dad, and a diverse cast of characters, including well-known figures like Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Thomas Jefferson, and Marie Antoinette.

Season 1 features three one-off episodes, with Grumpy Phil focused on three separate topics. As the season progresses, characters begin to reappear and a narrative emerges. 

In Season 2, the storyline expands, giving actor Phil the chance to show off his range. 

Whether the series will return for a third season has yet to be determined and will depend on the public response to the series as well as the creators’ busy schedules, Milarch says.

To watch the new season of “Grumpy Phil” and to catch up on old episodes, visit www.thegrumpyphil.com or find the series on YouTube. New episodes for Season 2 are being released weekly Oct. 18 through Nov. 22.