Verified source report

‘Our characters like to be naughty’: the makers of the Nirvanna mockumentary on illegal skydiving, taboo-breaking and time travel

Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol’s (non-Cobain affiliated) movie feels like Jackass via Back to the Future. They talk about how the supreme silliness was stressful to film, and how times have changed since their ‘tasteless’ 2007 web series If there is ever a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for fictional bands, the likes of Spın̈al Tap and the Rutles will be guaranteed a place. Less certain is the fate of the duo created by Toronto college friends Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol in Nirvana the Band the Show, a 2007-08 mockumentary web series that was later picked up for two seasons by Vice TV. Johnson and McCarrol play incorrigible no-hopers Nirvana the Band, nothing whatsoever to do with Kurt Cobain’s grunge pioneers, who pin everything on securing a gig at Toronto’s Rivoli club. Undaunted by a total lack of songs, they pull off one cockamamie stunt after another, many filmed among unwitting mem

Source-feed image associated with ‘Our characters like to be naughty’: the makers of the Nirvanna mockumentary on illegal skydiving, taboo-breaking and time travel
Source-feed image associated with the linked report: ‘Our characters like to be naughty’: the makers of the Nirvanna mockumentary on illegal skydiving, taboo-breaking and time travel.Credit: The Guardian Source-feed thumbnail displayed with attribution and outbound source link; VINI does not claim ownership or republish the third-party article body. Image source Cached source-feed image shown for continuity with attribution and an outbound source link; VINI does not claim third-party image authorship or republish the third-party article body.
Reading time2 min

coverage / Source report

Reader command centerStay with the file after the headline.

Follow updates, inspect source trails, send records, share the canonical story, or support the reporting work without leaving the reading flow.

FollowGet story updatesBriefs and topic returnsVerifyOpen source file1 public sourceContributeSend recordsDocuments, dates, photosSupportFund reportingReader-backed workCanonicalCopy story URLvininews.com
Why it mattersCulture

Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol’s (non-Cobain affiliated) movie feels like Jackass via Back to the Future. They talk about how the supreme silliness was stressful to film, and how times have changed since their ‘tasteless’ 2007 web series If there is ever a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for fictional bands, the likes of Spın̈al Tap and the Rutles will be guaranteed a place. Less certain is the fate of the duo created by Toronto college friends Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol in Nirvana the Band the Show, a 2007-08 mockumentary web series that was later picked up for two seasons by Vice TV. Johnson and McCarrol play incorrigible no-hopers Nirvana the Band, nothing whatsoever to do with Kurt Cobain’s grunge pioneers, who pin everything on securing a gig at Toronto’s Rivoli club. Undaunted by a total lack of songs, they pull off one cockamamie stunt after another, many filmed among unwitting mem

What to verify1 source

Use the source file, response routes, and updates before treating any contested detail as complete.

Follow the threadfilm

Open topic path or search related wording such as records, sources, agencies, dates, and locations.

What happened

According to The Guardian’s source item, ‘Our characters like to be naughty’: the makers of the Nirvanna mockumentary on illegal skydiving, taboo-breaking and time travel, Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol’s (non-Cobain affiliated) movie feels like Jackass via Back to the Future. They talk about how the supreme silliness was stressful to film, and how times have changed since their ‘tasteless’ 2007 web series If there is ever a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for fictional bands, the likes of Spın̈al Tap and the Rutles will be guaranteed a place. Less certain is the fate of the duo created by Toronto college friends Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol in Nirvana the Band the Show, a 2007-08 mockumentary web series that was later picked up for two seasons by Vice TV. Johnson and McCarrol play incorrigible no-hopers Nirvana the Band, nothing whatsoever to do with Kurt Cobain’s grunge pioneers, who pin everything on securing a gig at Toronto’s Rivoli club. Undaunted by a total lack of songs, they pull off one cockamamie stunt after another, many filmed among unwitting mem

Context

The development sits in VINI’s Culture file for readers following arts, entertainment, fashion, film, music, celebrity, and the business of culture. The original report is linked so readers can check the source account, follow later updates, and compare new coverage against the first published record. The source item is dated 2026-06-25T14:00:52+00:00.

What to watch

Open questions include whether primary sources issue follow-up statements, whether local or market impacts become clearer, and whether additional reporting changes the timeline or adds material context.

Source

Primary source: ‘Our characters like to be naughty’: the makers of the Nirvanna mockumentary on illegal skydiving, taboo-breaking and time travel via The Guardian. VINI cites and links the source; it does not reproduce the publisher’s full article text without rights clearance.

Keep following

This file can keep developing

vininews.com uses reader tips, public records, right-of-reply requests, corrections, and follow-up reporting to keep important stories current.

SubscribeGet the next updateSend recordsShare documents or leadsRespondRequest comment or replyDonateSupport reporting costs

Support and subscriptions never buy coverage, placement, suppression, or corrections.

This source-cited VINI report links to the original publisher record. VINI does not republish third-party article bodies without rights clearance. 1 source listed.

Source links

Reader comments

Moderated discussion

Account access

Comments are open to authenticated approved accounts, screened for spam and abuse, and published only after newsroom moderation unless editors change the story control.

Loading comments.

No approved comments yet.

Substantive, civil comments can be submitted by approved account holders.