by Pat Miller on July 8th, 2009
Dungeons and Dragons-esque fantasy generally doesn’t get a whole lot of respect, especially considering the rather large population of nerds around the Internet. Either we get shows like GOLD, which, while amazing, aren’t really about fantasy so much as about tabletop gaming, or we get linked to the same “Lightning Bolt!” “Lightning Bolt!” video again and again.
Here’s to hoping that Spellfury, a new fantasy web series created by Ottawa, Canada-based Travis Gordon, turns out to be the Xena: Warrior Princess of the Internet – that is, a fantasy show that manages to do what it sets out to do with class, camp, and just a little bit of snark.
by Alex Crowley on July 8th, 2009
In these ever more rational, mechanized, scientific times many people feel spiritually lost and unfulfilled by the promises of postindustrial finance capital. With fear they face the burning darkness but, like true children of Aquarius, must search for metaphysical answers to nagging questions like, “Why does my soul ache when I spend more than a [...]
by Marc Hustvedt on July 7th, 2009
Microsoft Zune’s first original web series, Cinemash, debuted today with a star-studded mash up of the upcoming film 500 Days of Summer. The stars of the film, Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, mix it up for the premiere episode retooling a scene from their flick, this time in character as punk rock legend Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen. The film’s director Marc Webb also helmed the first episode.
The series, announced back in February, is a collaboration with the staff of MEAN Magazine and Zune’s original content division. The series was one of the new slate of online originals out of Microsoft that was shown off in New York back in April including the Foley Guys and the unnamed Dave Foley series.
by Lindsay Stidham on July 7th, 2009
Any web series that begins with a Lebowski-esque voice over definitely grabs my attention. Guy Friends is just one of those web series. In a clear nod to Sam Elliot (in fact, I had to listen twice, these dudes are darn good impersonators) the show is always opened by a not-yet-introduced narrator who provides a simple setting and conjures up images of a man in a cowboy hat.
The homage is not surprising for a show driven by testosterone. It’s hard not to note this trio of New York comedians (Damien Luvara, Mike Thurstlic, and Dave Droxler) might be aiming to cash in on the cash cow bromances of late ala I Love You, Man, and The Hangover. But these guys also clearly understand web comedy. Each episode is leading to solve the mystery of a cheating girlfriend, specifically Bronski’s (played by a Paul Ruddian-everyman Droxler). Every show offers a few clues, and leaves the audience wondering if this still faceless girlfriend will be the Yoko to this tight band of brothers
by Lindsay Stidham on July 7th, 2009
Just when you thought you couldn’t handle another vlog-based web series, along comes Project Rant and blows past all vloggie expectations.
The concept for the series is simple–write to Project Rant about something you want to, well, rant about and the group might make a video of it, sparing you from making your own vlog post about what really gets your goat.
Kudos to creator Luis Esteban Caffesse for making even the most mundane of rants interesting. Additionally, his blog is about as addicting as StuffWhitePeopleLike, as I found myself sitting and agreeing out loud with the things that can be annoying ala a missused apostrophe and teenagers who love 70s rock.
by Michael Neal on July 7th, 2009
The new web comedy MERRIme begins with an ending. In its first scene, the eponymous main character Merri mourns the end of a relationship by tearing into Krispy Kreme and replaying the last voice mail her ex-boyfriend left her over and over again. Twisting the knife that much further, you can hear another woman’s voice [...]
by Marc Hustvedt on July 7th, 2009
More news on the casting front for Hayden Black’s sci-fi musical romp The Cabonauts. Longtime Star Trek star Nichelle Nichols will be joining the cast as a series regular. Known largely for her role as Lt./Cmdr. Uhura in both the original TV series and follow-up film versions, Nichols is also quite the singer.
This should come in handy in the series, which is set in an intergalactic space taxi in what Black and crew are promising to be a full-on “singing and dancing” musical. Nichols is slated to be in every episode joining fellow singing cast members Black, Norm Thoeming and Monica Young. The first of three behind-the-scenes interviews with Nichols is posted on The Cabonauts site:
by Marc Hustvedt on July 6th, 2009
Confirming the news we broke last month that YouTube star mememolly will be the new host of long-running web series Rocketboom, today marked the release of the first episode with the jet setting host. Also coming on board as a NYC correspondent is Australian tech host Ella Morton.
Originally from Ottawa, Ontario before moving to London, mememolly developed quite a following on YouTube, particularly in the UK where her channel is #10 on the all-time most-subscribed list and boasts over 21 Million total views. The show’s producers, led by creator Andrew Baron, offered up a healthy $80,000 base salary plus $10,000 signing bonus in what we said could be the highest paid gig in web television. There still is no selection made for the LA-based host position.
