The Stuff

This video should explain the previous post:

Be sure to watch That Mitchell and Webb Look on BBC or BBC America, don’t fast forward through the commercials, patronize all their advertisers, and then buy their DVDs. Normally I would offer a link to Amazon to where you can buy their DVDs, but never in the 12 years I’ve posted such links has anyone ever purchased an item.

Venture Bros. fans have been clamoring for merchandise. Their prayers have been answered with the Venture Bros. shirt club!

Peep Show E0504 is up on the YouTube, and it just keeps getting better. This episode revolves around Jeremy’s chance to inherit a small fortune (20 pounds — which he thinks will make him a millionaire), and Mark’s chance to be a war historian.

“Older people are still people, they’re just people who think when they open a new window on the computer, the previous window is disappeared for good.”

The humor is crass and offensive, but the situations are completely believable, and of course, hilarious.

part 1, part 2, part 3.

The Gong Show is coming back to American TV, and it will be hosted by comedian Dave Attell (not original host and CIA agent Chuck Barris). It will air on the Comedy Network, and Dave promises it will be edgier than other talent audition shows like America’s Got Talent.

This could be good news.

Here’s some classics from the old show:

Pee Wee Herman on the Gong Show:

The Unknown Comic on the Gong Show:

David Letterman on the Gong Show:

As I’ve said before, the 3rd season of the Venture Bros. starts on June 1st. The Quick Stop website has a season 3 teaser video which features spoilers, but it will definitely whet your appetite, so it’s worth watching.

Last week I went to an evening with the creators of the Venture Bros. at SVA in NYC, invited by my friend Cliff who belongs to ASIFA East and runs their Blog. The panel featured Venture Bros. creators Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer, as well as Liz Artinian (color supervisor) and Stephen DeStefano (storyboard & design director). The night featured about 2 hours of Q&A, and a full episode from season 3 (featuring Dr. Henry Killinger, and it was mind-blowing).

Some facts:

• The show is written, planned, designed, storyboarded and edited in NY, but animated in Korea. The animation comes back from Korea with about 100 defects per episode (such as eyes pointing the wrong direction). About half the defects are fixed in Korea, and half in NY during editing.
• There’s no cool merch for the show (my words, not theirs) because Adult Swim owns the show and all the characters entirely, and they (Adult Swim) don’t do such a good job with merchandising.
• Season 3 will be in High Definition. I did not know there was an HD version of Adult Swim.
• They’re currently writing season 4 and editing the last episodes of 3. They really don’t get a break, and it seems like they work 12-16 hours a day non-stop.
• Season 4 might be the final season.

More Screenwipe episodes have found their way onto YouTube. Screenwipe is a British TV program that eviscerates and dissects the medium of television. Screenwipe’s no bullshit presenter, Charlie Brooker, is honest, hilarious and informative. I wish there was a U.S.A. version. In spite of the fact that Screenwipe is a British show, I still enjoy it immensely.

Starting with Episode 2:

Charlie Brookers Screenwipe S4E2P1.

Charlie Brookers Screenwipe S4E2P2. This is a must watch for Dr. Who / Billie Piper fans.

Charlie Brookers Screenwipe S4E2P3.

Episode 3 focuses on TV News:

Charlie Brookers Screenwipe S4E3P1.

Charlie Brookers Screenwipe S4E3P2. The rise and fall of the TV journalist.

Charlie Brookers Screenwipe S4E3P3.

Episode 4 focuses on youth culture TV. Funny to watch Charlie dressed as a chav:

Charlie Brookers Screenwipe S4E4P1. Wacky kids toy commercials.

Charlie Brookers Screenwipe S4E4P2.

Charlie Brookers Screenwipe S4E4P3. TV title sequences and theme music.

Episode 5 focuses on reality TV:

Charlie Brookers Screenwipe S4E5P1.

Charlie Brookers Screenwipe S4E5P2. Charlie parodies Apprentice-like reality TV shows. All hail King Charlie!

Charlie Brookers Screenwipe S4E5P3

Charlie Brooker on US TV: I missed the episode of To Catch a Predator with Chewbacca in it.