by Tubefilter News on November 6th, 2009
Comedy Central’s Atom.com isn’t the cable network’s only source for web series to snatch up, as this week it announced it was calling up one of The Onion’s hit online shows, Onion Sports Network for a test run. And east coast hipster favorite The Burg returned to the internet this week with its first full-length episode since 2007(!). Indie web shop Dinosaur Diorama is also busy cranking out more All’s Faire, which prances out 15 new episodes later this month.
Bro-tastic Break.com had its own sports web series debut this week with Social Sportz Net, with lead sponsor Southern Comfort on board. And speaking of guys, the issue of male circumcision is apparently a landmine for new parents, and DECA’s new Parents Ask series entered the game this week adding fuel to the fire.
Yesterday came another update on the Fred web-series-turned-movie, with more casting notices coming out. Speculation over which “cameo name” actor will play the high-pitched star’s fictional dad is brewing. (Our bet is now on Jon Cryer after hearing Jim Carrey is previously booked.)
by Joshua Cohen on November 5th, 2009
Irreverent, sports-related comedy programs don’t exist, at least not on television. While series like Fox’s Best Damn Sports Show Period or ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption can definitely be comical, they make quips about and poke fun at the wide world of sports with a measured amount of deference. The shows operate under the assumption that the subject is significant, that sports – and the people that play, coach, and watch them – are important.
Yes, you could try point to something like the Sklar Brothers’ defunct Cheap Seats as an exception, but nothing shows professional athletics less respect than the Onion Sports Network. It’s just the kind of program that television could use to bring some balance to the medium’s for-the-love-of-the-game love fest. That’s why I’m all jazz hands over the recent announcement from Comedy Central. The cable network has ordered a pilot from popular satirical newspaper The Onion for a 30-minute, scripted comedy series based on its sports section.
The press release promises the series, “will take on the whole universe of modern sports – teams, players, leagues, sycophantic fans, ridiculous products and over-hyped sports coverage – with an eye towards appealing to sports fanatics and more casual fans, as well as long-time followers of The Onion and The Onion News Network.” And Onion Sports Network director Will Graham warns you to, “Get ready for the most intense sports coverage humanity has yet witnessed.” I’d like to say the show’s going to be awesome, but Casey Stengel once told me “never make predictions, especially about the future,” and Chris reminds me about the profoundly not good The Onion movie.
