by Marc Hustvedt on May 31st, 2011
Thank god somebody finally made this. Comedy writers have a love-hate with cats from what I’m told (by comedy writers). They are after all the cheap joke, the Whoopee Cushion of online video—always good for an easy laugh and gaggle of casual views.
Comedians Ariana Seigel and Emma Tattenbaum-Fine decided to speak out about the susceptible masses that devour anything CAT—by making well, a cat video. You know, with The video is one of the flurry of refreshingly unashamed female-driven comedy at new comedy hub Comediva. (We have to admit, at Tubefilter, we kind of have a crush on this site.) There’s also a number of original web series on the site so far, like Guy Time, Assassins and The Divas.
In other words, we seek COMEDIC WORLD DOMINATION. We’re like Dr. Evil with boobs. Except hot. With nice hair. And allergic to cats. Actually, we just want to take over the comedy world. So please give us 1 million dollars.
by Drew Baldwin on May 31st, 2011
Summer is right around the corner—and as DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince explain in their anthem dedicated to summer madness, “the weather is hot and girls are dressing less.” So fellas, it’s time to dust off your game and get to work. But if you’re feeling a bit rusty, don’t worry, Simple Pickup has got your back.
The new series on YouTube, reminiscent of DiGiTs (now trying out a ‘softer side’ since the departure of the series former host Italian male model Fabrizio Brienza) features a charming trio—Jason, Jesse, and Kong—as they shamelessly (and most of the time unsuccessfully) hit on girls and catch the rejections on camera.
Each episode, released every other Wednesday, is based on some particular parameter or premise: “Clowns Pick Up Girls,” which features the boys dressed up in ridiculous outfits, “Guys in Wheelchairs,”which is pretty self-explanatory, and “Asian Penis Pickup,” which you’ll just have to watch. The series features some classic pickup lines, such as “I like your whistle. Is that your rape whistle?”
by Marc Hustvedt on May 30th, 2011
YouTube’s musical darling couple Karmin has been on a bit of a hot streak lately. After a few of their charismatic cover songs, like Chris Brown’s ‘Look at Me Now‘ or Lil Wayne’s “6 foot 7 foot.“, vaulted their growing YouTube channel into the top 60 most subscribed musicians list with over 287,000 of them, the couple was tapped by ABC and the NBA to write and perform an original theme song for the NBA Finals which tip off tomorrow night in Miami.
Oh, and they signed a major record deal. Not a bad week for Amy Hiedemann and Nick Noonan. Now their “Take It Away” theme song video is out as buzz builds for the Mavericks-Heat finals that should draw record numbers as Lebron James chases his first NBA title. The duo will be at the opening game of the Finals tomorrow in Miami live tweeting their night, naturally, on @KarminMusic.
by Drew Baldwin on May 27th, 2011
Indie music hub Pitchfork, who in 2008 launched online channel PitchforkTV filled with mini-documentaries, curated music videos, and the original series Beardo featuring Les Savy Fav’s Tim Harrington, has unleashed another original series Pitchfork 3D, which (as the name suggests), plays off of all the 3D hype led by James Cameron and his fellow Hollywood legionnaires in an attempt to get you and your money back in theaters.
“Order your glasses now!” reads a promotion on the site, which links to a pair of 3D red and blue anaglyph glasses for one cent on Amazon.com. The series features original music videos in old school style 3D: Deerhunter performing “Primitive 3D,” Wavves “Post-Acid,” Delorean “Real Love,” and Neon Indian “Mind Drips.”
The videos are all very psychadelic and trippy and posesses all the gimmicky 3D shtick that you’ve learned to expect, of course here it is presented ironically—though I can’t tell if the hyperspace-esque Intel logo is actually cool on the brand’s part or comes across as co-opting cool (like a grandpa breakdancing). Either way, the videos appropriately capture the mood of the music: weird and
by Marc Hustvedt on May 27th, 2011
Warner Bros. had high hopes for original web series when it launched its own network back in 2008. TheWB.com came out with guns blazing, part of a re-launch of the defunct former TV channel TheWB, signing big productions from the likes of McG (Sorority Forever) and Gary Auerbach (Rich Girl, Poor Girl).
Now there are just 10 web original series still available on TheWB.com, and all of them are mid-2010 releases or earlier. The summer 2010 release of a flurry of series like Downer’s Grove and Exposed was thought to be the return to original web series on the network, but turned out to be its final bow.
This week’s email newsletter (below) from the network plugged full episodes of aging (and off-air) TV series like The O.C., One Tree Hill and Friends and movie trailers for the The Hangover Part II:
by Marc Hustvedt on May 27th, 2011
Zombies have been done. A lot. So have online musicals. But to our knowledge, no one has combined the two until now. Yesterday Rigamortis launched on YouTube with a three-parter almost tailor made for Dr. Horrible Sing-Along Blog fans. (Which, incidentally is still holding strong on iTunes.)
It’s a pure indie project, without of course Dr. H’s star power or Whedonverse, but there are some seriously ample musical chops here. Maxwell Glick stars opposite Lisa Musser as two of the last remaining zombies after a failed zombiepocalypse. Their nemesis is a spot-on Nathan Fillion type, Boston Stergis, who is essentially humanity’s hotdogging hero zombie killer, belting his greatness in a walk-and-sing that would make Captain Hammer proud.
Creators Jenny Stolte and Dave Dewes, both from the Chicago area, are taking their first stab at an original web series with Rigamortis, which they shot up in Wisconsin last November. The story itself is a rather simple love triangle, but the highlight are the original songs, with sharply written lyrics that had me watching twice just to take them all in.
by Marc Hustvedt on May 26th, 2011
Zach Galifianakis has tangoed with a dozen A-listers over the past few years—Sean Penn, Bruce Willis, Jennifer Aniston, Jimmy Kimmel, Michael Cera, Jon Hamm, Natalie Portman, Charlize Theron, Bradley Cooper and of course Steve Carrell. But one name was oddly missing: Will Ferrell. The series after all is Funny or Die’s most popular web series to date, getting generous front page placement and multiple sponsorship deals at this point. So it seemed strange that Ferrell wouldn’t grace his comedic ‘nephew’ with a pop in.
Finally the Ferrell-snubbing is over as today he goes tete-a-tete with the Streamy-winning comedian in the 13th installment of Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis (below). Ferrell classes it up, donning some homer love for the Lakers in a throwback Adidas shirt with a sunshield fishing cap. While mostly civil, the interview inevitably implodes when comments of Galifianakis’ sensitive weight issues creep back in. Oh, and Jon Hamm stops by (again).
by Joshua Cohen on May 26th, 2011
YouTube announced the winners of its NextUp Creators Contest early last month. A cross-section of 25 Youtubers – ranging in age from 18 to what 18-year-olds consider old (I think that means 40-something), areas of expertise from sewing gurus to Final Cut pros, and subscriber counts from 300 to just shy of 300,000 – won $35,000 each and an-all-expenses paid, week-long, online video bootcamp at the YouTube HQ in New York City.
The NextUp Class of 2011 started its education on Sunday and will graduate on Friday after attending and participating in lectures, seminars, and study groups from some of the biggest names in the online video and YouTube business (including Gary Vaynerchuk, The Fine Bros., Tony Valenzuela, and more). Class starts at 8AM sharp every day and lasts until 2PM, at which time the students break to collaboratively work on creating new videos.
Last night, the NextUp Creators took time off from their regularly scheduled studies to meet and greet with friends and fans on the Hudson River in New York City. A small crowd of enthusiasm, peer pressure, and someone who just so happened to bring an acoustic guitar forced Jimmy Wong (who is one of the NextUp winners) to perform an impromptu concert. I was there to get the action on camera:
