May 29, 2008 (2008-05-29) – August 28, 2019 (2019-08-28)
Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin'? (HAWP) is an independently produced series of sketch comedy videos created by siblings Anthony Burch and Ashly Burch. The series uses surreal humor and comical sibling rivalry to examine the themes, industry trends, and societal impact of video games, with each episode typically focusing on a single game. HAWP was hosted on Destructoid for its first year of production, and syndicated to GameTrailers until 2013, and has since become independently distributed, most notably on YouTube.[2] As of September 2020[update], the series has received over 60 million views.
History
Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin'? was conceived during the summer of 2008, while Ashly and Anthony Burch still lived at home with their parents in Phoenix, Arizona. Anthony Burch was a game reviewer at Destructoid, his Rev Rant video features expressing his opinions of tropes commonly seen in contemporary games. Having established an audience on the website, he posted the first HAWP episode on May 28, 2008. The siblings collaborated over the course of the summer to produce one episode per week, playing mildly exaggerated versions of themselves: Anthony using his deadpan, fast-spoken, strongly opinionated nature, and Ashly antagonizing him both verbally and physically. Over time, as the siblings fine-tuned the comedy and timing of the show, these aspects have come to define their characters.
Discussing the genesis of the series, Anthony states:
Ash and I got the idea for HAWP during the summer; our total lack of shit to do meant we could film an episode every week, and subsequently get the Destructoid community to acknowledge our presence through sheer force of quantity. It would have been easy for Destructoid to forget about us if we'd just filmed an episode every month, or something.[3]
Ashly Burch describes the nature of their collaboration:
It was incredibly fun. Anthony and I had never really collaborated in that way, just the two of us, before, and I really enjoyed it. Looking back on those first episodes, I think they pale in comparison to the quality of the ones in our current season—i.e., there are less dead-baby jokes—but I like reviewing them occasionally to see what worked in them. Primarily, it's the dynamic we managed to establish between me and Anthony that I liked the best.[4]
Since the latter half of the second season, friend and occasional contributor Justin Yngelmo has been credited as co-writer, director, and editor of the series.
Almost every episode begins with Ashly, comfortably seated with a controller, as her brother walks up behind her and title-drops the show. Ashly then answers him with the episode's game in a childlike accent. All audio here is supplemented with a game font, and the camera abruptly clips to the content of the week's episode.
The episodes vary in tone, but usually incorporate a great deal of surreal humor. For instance, in one early episode, Ashly re-enacts aspects of Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, strapping a toy child to her back and crushing cupcakes with her posterior on a countertop. Another early episode involves her re-enacting portions of Professor Layton, involving her poking around for hint coins and solving a bizarre puzzle that involves prostitutes. As the seasons progressed, the comedy was tightened through advances in editing and script-writing, and Justin Yngelmo added production value and a refined approach to the creation of new episodes.
Each episode ends with credits in the same font, sometimes involving a line or two of amusing commentary. After DVD releases or other projects by the siblings, promotional notice is given for a slide or two. As of Season Two, the ending theme song was changed to "The Massacre" by chiptune artist FantomenK, to avoid copyright infringement.[citation needed] Occasionally, a brief stinger will appear, after which the credits will finish.
Manic, wild Ashly Burch, the eponymous "Ash" of the show's title, plays the unhinged Burch sibling. She regularly and unrelentingly antagonizes her brother, characterizing him on-camera as weak and effeminate. She is usually supported in her frequent bashing of his character by inaction from anyone else present, to his vocal chagrin. On some occasions, a character usurps her, or she will accidentally place herself in a position of detriment: examples include The Sims pool scene at the hands of Leigh Davis, Papa Burch's effortless position above her such as in The Lord of the Rings episode, or Ashly accidentally defecating in her own bed while attempting to ruin Anthony's room.
Anthony Burch
Anthony Burch, usually portrayed as the single sane character of the series, acts as a foil to Ashly. He is almost always the recipient of his sister's lunacy and absurdity, and usually ignores or calls sarcastic attention to her wild actions. Other characters often comment that he smells bad. If a character is wounded in any episode, it will typically be Anthony, who will fail to receive any aid from the others.
Papa Burch
Breakout cameo character Papa Burch (David Burch) is the patriarch of the Burch household, and an avid reader of romance novels. In one early episode, he was shown to have an encyclopedic knowledge of the Twilight Saga, and is usually given a brief one-or-two line appearance per episode. His minimal involvement in the show lends greater comedy to his short appearances, and he appears to be the progenitor of both Ashly's loose grip on reality and Anthony's deadpan attitude. He attends panels focused on his children's work and is a consistent fan favorite.
Leigh Davis
Leigh Davis is the creator and producer of Once Upon a Pixel, a spin-off web series dedicated to re-envisioning video game characters and plots in a fairy tale-esque approach. She was the real-life wife of Anthony Burch making the transition from girlfriend to fiance on-camera during the surprise intro to The Sims episode of HAWP. Her character shows an adoring and wide-eyed attitude towards the antics of the siblings, but on two occasions, she has shown a darker side by fatally threatening Ashly Burch. While she was initially an extra in the early episodes, her presence has gradually increased, and now she is usually seen in each episode until the season 5 finale following her real life divorce from Anthony Burch.
Reception
Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin'? has received positive reviews since its inception. The cast regularly appears at the Penny Arcade Expo conventions to meet with fans and discuss the evolution of video game culture. Video game voice actor David Hayter, the voice actor of Solid Snake in the Metal Gear Solid series, contributed his voice to the Season One finale.[6]
The three HAWP-characters Papa, Anthony and Ashly Burch were all featured as Downloadable Content for the 2013 video game Saints Row IV. They were all voiced by the original cast and could be called by phone to help the player out in battle or to just hang out with. They can be called separately, however when called together they converse with each other in similar ways as in Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin'?.[12]
Leigh Davis currently[when?] produces a Web Comic named JailBird as well as running her own website oddlookingbird.com.
HAWPcast & HeyAshTwitch
The show is also the subject of the podcast "HAWPcast", originally involving only Anthony and Ashly Burch, but expanded to include Leigh Davis and Justin Yngelmo, among others. It was updated infrequently and typically surrounded video game philosophy as well as various insights into their lives and backstories, usually around an hour long apiece. The standard HAWPcasts at one point were almost completely replaced by a format called "Keepin' It Real" where the HAWP crew interviewed notable members of the game industry. Regular HAWPcasts returned in 2015 but ceased in 2016.[13] The HAWPcast was often streamed on their Twitch channel.
Episodes
Upload dates refer to the date the episode was uploaded to GameTrailers.com.
Season 1 (2008–2009)
No.
Title
Upload date
Description
1
Ikaruga
May 29, 2008
Ash plays through Treasure’s greatest shooter, as Anthony begins to loathe it.
2
Zelda
June 4, 2008
Based on a true story, and thus significantly less zany than the other episodes.
3
Bioshock
June 10, 2008
A teenage girl reenacts the climactic scene from BioShock, to her brother’s chagrin.
4
Father’s Day
June 17, 2008
A (at the time, and possibly now) late Father’s Day message from Anthony and Ashly.
5
Prof. Layton
June 24, 2008
Ashly and her brother embark on a Professor Layton and the Curious Village-themed adventure.
6
Smash Bros.
July 1, 2008
Ashly Burch is the worst Super Smash Bros Brawl teammate in history.
7
Final Fight
July 8, 2008
The horror…
8
E3 2008
July 22, 2008
Anthony is at E3, and Ashly is bored.
9
Dark Knight
July 28, 2008
Ashly is frustrated that a Dark Knight tie-in game has not yet been released.
10
Braid
September 3, 2008
Ashly uses tactics learned from Jon Blow’s Braid to correct a horrible mistake.
11
Team Fortress 2
September 10, 2008
There’s a spy sappin’ Ash’s sentry.
12
???
September 17, 2008
For neither the first nor last time, Anthony has no idea what the hell Ash is doing.
13
Guitar Hero
October 1, 2008
Ashly activates star power.
14
Text Adventures
October 15, 2008
Ash is in a maze of twisting passages, all alike.
15
A Brother in Need
October 29, 2008
For once, Ash decides to be helpful.
16
Left 4 Dead
November 12, 2008
Ash and Anthony are going to have to cooperate.
17
I Love Videogames
November 26, 2008
Ash lists the things she’s thankful for.
18
Fan Service, of a Sort
December 10, 2008
What hath Ash wrought?
19
The HAWP Before Christmas
December 24, 2008
Why aren’t there any games about the holidays?
20
2008 in Review
January 7, 2009
Ash and Anthony discuss how last year measured up to the year before it.
21
Persona 3
January 21, 2009
A nation mourns.
22
Animal Crossing
February 4, 2009
No resetting.
23
Left 4 Dead Part 2
February 18, 2009
Ash shows off her strategic mind.
24
Geometry Wars 2
March 4, 2009
Ash brings two young lovers together.
25
Of Sexism
March 18, 2009
A flashback reveals Ash’s machinations.
26
30 Seconds of Screaming
April 1, 2009
Never accuse Ash of false advertising.
27
Yoshi’s Cookie
April 15, 2009
Ash stuffs her face in a spoof on this classic video game.
28
The New Gamer Dictionary
April 30, 2009
Like Webster’s, but with more references to Metal Gear.
29
Street Fighter IV
May 13, 2009
Ash and Anthony pay homage to the king of all fighting games.
30
Lips
May 27, 2009
Some songs we need not sing.
31
Katamari Damacy
June 3, 2009
Sometimes life isn’t funny.
32
Trauma Center
June 25, 2009
Video gamer, heal thyself.
33
Once Upon a Pixel
July 8, 2009
Who says fairy tales can’t include walking nuclear tanks?
34
Like Big Boss
July 22, 2009
Dear God, we hope this still feels relevant.
35
Metal Gear Solid 4
August 5, 2009
The end begins.
36
The Sons of Big Boss
August 19, 2009
Can epic music make up for spectacularly bad martial artistry? Your call.
Season 2 (2009–2010)
No.
Title
Upload Date
Description
1
Viva Pinata
Sep 6, 2009
Fathers can game too!
2
Little King’s Story
Oct 9, 2009
Anthony and Ashly Burch enjoy video games, surreal humor, cupcakes, and video games. In that order.
3
Scene It?
Oct 23, 2009
The Burches enter the sordid world of DVD board games.
4
Penny Arcade Expo 2009
Nov 6, 2009
Ash pitches her movie idea.
5
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Nov 20, 2009
Enough mind-bending similarities to Firefly to detonate your dome?
6
Left 4 Dead 2
Dec 4, 2009
The ballad of the Boomer.
7
Preggers
Dec 18, 2009
Casual gaming has grave consequences.
8
Overlooked Games of 2009
Jan 4, 2010
Spend your time in 2010 living in the past with the best overlooked games from 2009!
9
The Most Dangerous Game
Jan 15, 2010
Pokémon is a very dangerous game.
10
Shadow Complex
Feb 1, 2010
Ash struggles with an artist's homophobia while considering the purchase of Shadow Complex.
11
Rock Band
Feb 12, 2010
These days, anyone can start a band.
12
Psychonauts
Feb 26, 2010
Ash dives into your brain!
13
Heavy Rain
Mar 12, 2010
Papa Burch plays the future of interactive storytelling.
A helpless Anthony suffers through character selection in The Lord of the Rings.
21
Fallout: New Vegas
October 7, 2011
Should permanent death be included in all games? Ashe [sic] puts this idea to the test.
22
Left 4 Dead: The Sacrifice
October 21, 2011
The Halloween season begins as Ash pulls the fam together for some Left 4 Dead style sacrificing.
23
F.E.A.R. 3
November 4, 2011
The horror... the horror.
24
Davis Helps Out
November 18, 2011
Davis steps in to help as the siblings experience writer's block.
25
Mischief Makers
December 2, 2011
Ash gains a little more than she bargained for from this plat-uzzler plazz-former.
26
Deathspank
December 23, 2011
Ash schools us on the real art of comedy in video games.
27
Scott Pilgrim
January 6, 2012
Ash and Davis sit down for a nice heart-to-heart about wife-beating.
28
A Death in the Family, Part I
January 27, 2012
Anthony and Ash are attacked by the Foot Clan as the season's villain is revealed!
29
A Death in the Family, Part II
February 17, 2012
Can Ash save her brother and herself from the ultimate betrayal of Papa Burch? Find out in the Season 3 finale!
Season 4 (2012–2013)
No.
Title
Upload date
Description
Notes
1
Rayman Origins
March 16, 2012
Can the happiest and most fun-filled Rayman game possibly have healing powers?
Originally premiered on Spike TV.
2
Best Game of 2011
March 30, 2012
Anthony attempts to compete with an unexpected amount of flawless logic from Ash as the duo nominate the best games of 2011!
3
Skyrim
April 13, 2012
Ash displays some mad skills that would make the Nine Divines proud.
Originally premiered on Spike TV.
4
Dinner Metaphors
May 4, 2012
Ash cooks up a handful of delicious metaphors for today’s modern sandbox games with a little help from Davis!
5
Hot Slutz
May 18, 2012
Now with more cleavage than ever before…
6
E3 2012: Live from 3COM
June 6, 2012
Papa Burch hits the floor armed with some hard-hitting questions.
7
E3 2012: Jesus Christ 64
June 7, 2012
Have you found Jesus? Have you at least played his video game?
8
E3 2012: Butt Awards
June 8, 2012
Ash and Anthony break down what was butt and what was not butt at E3 2012 in this episode of Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin’?
9
Driver: San Francisco
June 28, 2012
The power to Shift could not have landed in more dangerous hands
10
Quantum Conundrum
July 13, 2012
Not even your happy place is safe when Ash gets control of dimensions.
11
Game of Thrones: The Game
August 3, 2012
Ash and Anthony explore the challenge of staying faithful to a franchise while still making a game fun to play.
12
Dance Central 2
August 24, 2012
Something's different about Ash's favorite Dance Central character.
13
Saints Row the Third
September 1, 2012
Sandbox fun for the whole family that may just be too much for Ash to handle in this special episode debuted at the GT Film Festival Panel at PAX Prime 2012!
Originally premiered at PAX 2012.
14
Diablo III
September 21, 2012
The fam confronts Anthony about his addiction to Diablo III.
15
Batman
October 5, 2012
Arkham's criminals don't stand a chance against the world's greatest detective, Ashly Burch.
16
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
October 19, 2012
Activision CEO, Ashly Kotick, isn't satisfied unless Black Ops II drops some Shock and Awe on the industry.
17
Indiana Jones
November 16, 2012
Anthony educates Ashly on the inspiration for the Tomb Raider and Uncharted series, but the lesson plan takes a horrible turn.
18
Tomb Raider
December 7, 2012
Ash busts the myth that personality is what makes a well-rounded female character.
19
Civilization V
January 11, 2013
Ash makes a penetrating power play for World Leader in Civ 5.
*Mature Content*
20
Doctor Who
January 18, 2013
Ash reveals Anthony's Timelord nature after discovering that microtransactions are bigger on the inside.
21
Earthbound
February 22, 2013
Anthony battles writer's block (and Ashly's Earthbound shenanigans), forcing him to look to his progenitor for help.
22
Girl Games
March 22, 2013
Defeated by the burden of being a girl, Ash tries her hand at some authentic girl games.
23
Borderlands 2
April 5, 2013
Get your totems ready as Anthony recalls his trials and tribulations from writing Borderlands 2.
24
Escape Goat
May 3, 2013
Oh the drama! Goats, wizard-rats and a scheming Ashly. What have we wrought!?
25
Dear Esther
June 25, 2013
The family embarks on a picnic to bond in a way that only a masterful narrative can describe.
Originally premiered at Pacific NerdWest.
26
Sexy Booth Babes
July 12, 2013
Ash and Davis show off some epic sweet-talk skills on the floor of E3 2013. Face it, you'll never be this good at talking to hot girls.
27
Spy Party
July 26, 2013
What makes Ashly shaken, not stirred? I spy a killer at this party. Burch beware!
28
Noir
August 13, 2013
A mystery is afoot and P.I. Ash Burch is on the case. Will she uncover the truth or end bottles up in failure.
29
Unfinished Business (Finale Part 1)
October 23, 2013
Ash receives a lucrative proposition.
30
Taken to School (Finale Part 2)
October 23, 2013
Oh it's on.
Season 5 (2015–2016)
No.
Title
Upload date
Description
Notes
1
Gone Home
July 8, 2015
The Burchs discuss the merits of length vs quality vs lesbians.
2
Dance Central 3
July 22, 2015
DCI agents Ashly & Anthony Burch walk the beat.
3
Pokemon Unchained
August 5, 2015
Serve no Master Ball.
4
Kerbal Space Program
August 19, 2015
Ash teaches Anthony how to land some moon.
5
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
September 6, 2015
Requiem for a B.R.E.A.M.
6
Cookie Clicker
September 16, 2015
Capitalism you can taste!
7
NFL Blitz
October 1, 2015
The family takes some late hits.
8
Ecco The Dolphin
October 23, 2015
Ash gets lost jogging down memory lane.
9
Banjo-Kazooie
November 5, 2015
A rare role-reversal puzzles Anthony.
10
Peachy
November 25, 2015
Ash goes on a soap box bender.
11
Kirby Super Star
December 15, 2015
There are no winners in Megaton Punch.
12
Christmas with the Burches
December 25, 2015
Ash helps Davis and Anthony spice up their holiday.
13
Scale
January 20, 2016
A game about making things bigger or smaller.
14
Mass Effect 3
February 5, 2016
A playthrough of the space opera's epic conclusion causes the family to reflect.
15
Game of Thrones (Telltale)
June 14, 2016
Anthony once again gives into fan requests.
16
Gravity Ghost
August 23, 2016
Erin regrets hiring Ash to voice the main character of her game.
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