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 Marc Hustvedt on November 3rd, 2009
Break Media rolled out its latest branded original web series today, Social Sportz Net, with Southern Comfort signing on for the party. The whiskey maker—technically its a whiskey flavored liqueur—has been one of the most bullish in the digital space lately since announcing this summer it was moving its entire $10 million advertising budget online.
While the show’s branded page is pretty sparse and could use some design help, the show itself is a passable sendup of EPSN’s Sportscenter, with a running ticker of frat scores of beer pong and kick ball rolling by. It’s not quite the pitch-perfect lampoon of 24-hour cable news that is the Onion News Network, but SSN has some laughable moments.
It follows two twentysomething males—smack dab in the middle of Break’s heavily male 18-34 demo—competing in an eight episode arc to throw the most “killer house party.” Southern Comfort gets worked in of course, with different drink mixes written into each party episode—Halloween, Mardi Gras, Superbowl, etc. Though sadly the timid laws regulating spirits (booze) advertising means they couldn’t squeeze real comedy juice of house parties—no drunks, drink pounding or even a comedic puke here and there.
At its core the series is branded entertainment, the latest in a string of originals out of Break, who’s six-person Creative Lab has turned out over 80 brand-backed videos this year for over 25 clients. We talked to Jonathan Small, Head of Break’s Creative Lab and Editorial, who oversees the company’s original content properties.
