Yeah, my friend had to get me drunk to watch it. The thing about it was that he didn't tell me about Oliver dying -- the pig truck was a surprise. It is what got me hooked on the show, though. That and the skull thing. I have known people who couldn't watch the show for being too close to their theatre experiences.
(Unrelated, my favorite reviewer at the AV club is going through it now, so I have been hoping to use that as a hook on other VanDerWherff fans.)

Also, your fic is amazing. :)