by Marc Hustvedt on February 14th, 2011
Our email inbox is making it impossible to overlook the significance of this particular Monday. It’s Valentine’s Day. In the online video world, it’s fast rising into the elite of holidays earning their own themed videos—though Halloween still rules supreme.
To make this easy on you today, we’ve assembled a roundup of some of the better V-day vids that have come our way. The first one’s technically from back in November, but we couldn’t leave it off. There’s a few crafty music videos, some dark takes on Cupid, and even one from our girl down under, Natalie Tran. Got some others you like? Leave them in the comments below.
by Drew Baldwin on February 14th, 2011
Got plans for Valentine’s Day? No? Does the thought of getting back into dating give you cold feet? Don’t panic—Atom.com has got you covered with its newest original web series My Anime Girlfriend.
The four-episode series, created and directed by Daniel J. Powell, premiered last week on the Comedy Central web portal, and features Saturday Night Live’s and King of the Hill’s Abby Elliott as the voice of the lovely animated japanese cartoon character Yuruki, who helps Sid (played by Patrick Shepard) ease back into the dating game. It’s like Cool World, but even creepier. From the show page:
Sid is getting back in the dating game, and his friend John has the perfect girl for him, Yuruki. She’s cute, fun, and extremely animated. If anything, maybe too animated.
In the first episode we learn that the self effacing Yuruki is actually a bad ass assassin, and a great confidence boost for Sid. The series promises jokes playing up Japanese stereotypes and anime trope
by Marc Hustvedt on February 11th, 2011
It’s Grammy time in Los Angeles, and this city has officially caught the Bieber Fever, further proving that this world is indeed run by 13 year-old girls. Anyone catch Bieber on Jimmy Kimmel last night? The love triangle between the 16 year-old star, Kimmel and P Diddy was anything if not disturbingly telling of how far this outbreak has gone.
If the Justin Bieber movie premiere wasn’t enough, today kicks off the 72-hour live streaming pre-show for the 53 Annual Grammy Awards. The marathon of live coverage and backstage moments begins at 5pm (ET) on the Grammys YouTube channel and on the main Grammy Live site.. To host, the Grammys team have brought back Shira Lazar for the second straight year, this time flanked by former MTV VJ John Norris and comedian Ben Gleib.
Kicking off the coverage is the return of the Social Media Rock Stars Summit, this time featuring Adam Lambert and Chamillionaire sitting down with the brains behind Facebook, Foursquare and Pandora.
by Drew Baldwin on February 11th, 2011
Conan writer and Huffington Post contributor Guy Nicolucci released the first episode of the bizarre Funny Or Die web series The Ghost of Tom Carvel and a Real Topless Woman earlier this week.
The first episode, which features a guest appearance by comedian Andy Richter, introduces a show that is exactly what it sounds like: the ghost of legendary ice cream maker Tom Carvel (voiced by Conan writer Brian Stack) hosts a talk show with a half-naked woman (played by actress Dru Mouser). Don’t get too excited—her chest is blurred out.
Guy told Punchline Magazine, “I bought a friend a Carvel ice cream cake for his birthday and it got me on a two-day jag of talking like Carvel. When I finished annoying my wife and burning my throat out, I found this article that said Carvel might have been murdered. After that the series kind of fell into place. I still don’t know where the Topless Woman came from
by Jenni Powell on February 11th, 2011
Guildies the world over can now breathe a sigh of relief. After months of debate over the cliffhanger-y end of season 4, Microsoft officially announced today that season 5 of The Guild is indeed going to be a reality and that the show will return to Xbox Live, MSN Video and the Zune Marketplace during Summer of 2011, sponsored by Microsoft and Sprint.
“I’ve never been more excited for anything. Take that Christmas 1989,” exclaimed show director Sean Becker (several exclamation points have been removed in editing). “I’m really excited for the renewal of season 5. I think this decision could really turn Microsoft into a household name.”
All joking aside, with season 5, The Guild continues to hold on to it’s rep as the “Gold Standard” of web series, often used by content creators as a guide and inspiration for how to successfully launch, extend, and build a community behind a property on the web. With over 100 million views and truckloads of awards under its belt, The Guild train is running full steam and showing no signs of slowing. “Every season has had a different style and sensibility. That has been on purpose,” explained show creator Felicia Day to us via e-mail. “We’re always exploring different aspects of our characters. This season will be no different!”
by Joshua Cohen on February 11th, 2011
I once saw Kiefer Sutherland at Old Town Bar in New York City. He was wearing purple snakeskin boots. They were dangling from his feet and skimming the floor as he was shouting unintelligibly at two friends who were filling in for his lack of motor skills. Dude was wasted, but even in that state I imagine he could’ve MacGuyvered some kick ass if anyone on the terrorist watch list walked through the door.
Maybe it’s because I can’t disassociate him from Jack Bauer, but when you see Sutherland you notice he’s oozing with a kind of rockstar swagger you don’t want to mess with. That’s why I’m looking forward to The Confession.
In the ten-episode web series, Sutherland plays a God-fearing Roman Catholic hitman with a conscious. He’s accompanied by two-time Academy Award nominee, John Hurt, Michael Badalucco, and Sebastian Becaon. They’re all directed by Brad Mirman.
The trailer, with its requisite Carmina Burana score dropped earlier this week. It looks like fans of 24 won’t be disappointed with Sutherland’s online efforts.
by Marc Hustvedt on February 10th, 2011
Online video and web series news worth clicking today:
Rumors about Google acquiring Next New Networks are surfacing again, this time in the Wall Street Journal who reports that Google is in “final-stage discussions to acquire” the online video studio. Still no official word out of either Google or NNN, as neither would comment on the record. But we’ll be sure to ask NNN’s Ben Relles next week at the Tubefilter Meetup. [Wall Street Journal]
New indie web comedy About Abby premiered yesterday on YouTube from writer-director Sassy Mohen. Keghan Hurst plays a ‘cock-eyed’ young twentysomething optimist looking for love in LA where love and romance aren’t exactly on most guys’ minds. The 10-minute pilot ep is below, and about 7 minutes in, this one gets steamy. Why bother just talking about sex when you can show it? Five episodes are in the first run, though we’ll have to wait 2 weeks for the next one. [About Abby on YouTube]
by Drew Baldwin on February 10th, 2011
It seems like live streaming ridiculously good looking people is finally catching on. Yesterday it was Candice Swanepoel and two Victoria Secret models on Ustream. Today YouTube is streaming the hottest shows from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week live from Lincoln Center.
YouTube’s has teamed up with Maybelline New York to create a new channel LiveRunway, which features live streams from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week along with videos of past shows and runway footage.
From February 10 through 17, YouTube will live stream 3-4 shows per day for each day of New York Fashion Week. From the YouTube blog: “From Carolina Herrera to Herve Leger to Narciso Rodriguez, all the hottest designers’ shows can be watched live.”
A select number of top premium fashion partners like like Fashion TV, Vogue, and Nylon Magazine, as well as basement bred YouTubers like Haul Girls and AllthatGlitters21 will supplement the live stream with highlights from this year’s Fashion Week events—runways, designer interviews, and parties.
YouTube also plans to live stream Fall Fashion Week and Spring Fashion Week in September 2011.
