Campaign '08

NEW YORK (CBS) ― Ever wanted to give a high-five to former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich? How about to Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean or Senator Mike Gravel?

While most people in Washington D.C. on Jan. 20, 2009, reveled in bearing witness to the inauguration of President Barack Obama, two cousins from Milwaukee and Los Angeles were working overtime to give as many high-fives as possible.

The fruits of their labor can be seen in an online video featured on Will Ferrell's Funnyordie.com, the comedy video site that combines user generated content with original, exclusive content.

The "High-Five" clip shows the cousins in Washington, D.C., amid the inauguration celebration for the 44th president of the United States. Between scenes of landmarks around the nation's capital, high fives were shared with a variety of famous faces.

Jake Szymanski and Jack Packard call their production company Almost Twins, and have posted several videos. But it is their recent effort, "High Five Inauguration," that is enjoying a viral explosion.

"I don't know how anyone said yes," Szymanski said in a phone interview. "Everything had to be explained to them on the spot. We got everyone to trust us."

The comedy duo's MySpace page claims their name from being "cousins born 10...no 11...wait more like 14 days apart. We've literally been making each other laugh since we were born."

Szymanski claims credit as director, writer and stand-up comedian. Packard holds down technical jobs while "currently drinking in Milwaukee."

The pair worked from a wishlist of 50 people they wanted to get in on the joke.

From the political arena, quick takes were seen with House majority leader Steny Hoyer, incoming White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, former New Hampshire and DNC chair Howard Dean, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former presidential candidate Gen. Wesley Clarke, author Peggy Noonan, Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, D-Ma.

From the media set, cameos made in passing include Fox News' Joe Scarborough, CNN's Larry King and Soledad O'Brien, CBS Early Show Saturday co-anchor Erica Hill, MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski, Courtney Hazlett and Tucker Carlson, Huffington Post matron Arianna Huffington and commentators Pat Buchanan and Paul Begala. Celebrities John Legend, Sarah Silverman, Raven-Simone, a ticklish Jack Black and and the Web famous Obama Girl (aka Amber Lee Ettinger) also make quick appearances.

Not everyone said yes. Presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, was among those on the cousins' list who turned them down.

Some celebrities made the cut simply through serendipity. The pair ran into rapper Common at the airport and found out he was a fan of their site, and he agreed to join in right away.

"We got there Friday night, started filming all weekend through to Monday night," said Szymanski. "It was pretty awesome being in Washington for the inauguration"

Both men made the trip on behalf of FunnyOrDie.com. Szymanski's previous credits on the site include Paris Hilton's response to a John McCain campaign ad and Ron Howard's pro-Obama "call to action" video, which reunited the Oscar-winning director with Andy Griffith. The gag was a nod to Howard's days as Opie on the 1960s TV sitcom "The Andy Griffith Show." In the same video, Howard also becomes Richie Cunningham from the 1970s show "Happy Days," appearing with costar Henry Winkler aka "The Fonz."

Szymanski said more than a year had passed since their last high-five video, and he made no predictions on when the next one might go into production.

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