| Wonder Showzen | |
 Wonder Showzen opening |
|
| Format | Puppetry Black comedy Animation Satire Post-modern |
|---|---|
| Created by | John Lee and Vernon Chatman |
| Starring | Vernon Chatman John Lee Cast |
| Country of origin | USA |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 16 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 21–23 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | MTV2 |
| Original run | March 11, 2005 – May 19, 2006 |
Wonder Showzen was an American sketch comedy television series that aired between 2005 and 2006 on MTV2. It was created by John Lee and Vernon Chatman of PFFR.
The show's format is that of educational PBS children's television shows such as Sesame Street or The Electric Company (e.g. use of stock footage, puppetry, and clips of children being interviewed). However, Wonder Showzen parodies the format in a very adult-oriented manner. In addition to general controversial comedy, it satirizes politics, religion, war, sex, and culture with black comedy.
Recurring skits include interviews with kids who give irreverent, controversial answers (a parody of similar segments on Sesame Street), kid reporters interviewing adults in a segment titled 'Beat Kids', and man-on-the-street interviews by the puppet Clarence (voiced by co-creator/writer Vernon Chatman). Clarence has a knack for harassing New Yorkers with innocent questions, sometimes leading to violent reactions. Every episode also features short animated cartoon segments, many of which are produced at Augenblick Studios.
Every episode begins with a disclaimer, accompanied by the sound of screaming. However, Wonder Showzen's reads:
WARNING
WONDER SHOWZEN CONTAINS OFFENSIVE, DESPICABLE CONTENT THAT IS TOO CONTROVERSIAL AND TOO AWESOME FOR ACTUAL CHILDREN. THE STARK, UGLY, PROFOUND TRUTHS WONDER SHOWZEN EXPOSES MAY BE SOUL CRUSHING TO THE WEAK OF SPIRIT. IF YOU ALLOW A CHILD TO WATCH THIS SHOW, YOU ARE A BAD PARENT OR GUARDIAN.
The creators described the episode "Patience" as an attempt at creating a "visual palindrome".[citation needed] Midway through the show, the episode stops and runs in reverse. The season one DVD also features commentary by Gordon Lish run in reverse from the moment the episode begins to do so. These sequences could be considered appropriate for the show, as the program itself often exhibits elements of extreme absurdity and surrealism.
Wonder Showzen was originally developed and pitched to the USA Network, but after a few minutes of viewing, executives there quickly concluded it did not fit the network's programming style.[1] However, Viacom was re-branding MTV2 and made Wonder Showzen part of its new programming lineup. It aired as part of Sic 'Em Fridays, along with Dirty Sanchez and Wildboyz. The pilot was named simply "Kids Show". The Wonder Showzen theme song is still 'Kids Show'. Reruns of the show also air on MTV and Comedy Central.
MTV released the first season of Wonder Showzen on DVD March 28, 2006. The second season of Wonder Showzen premiered on March 31, 2006 and had its season-two finale starring Clarence on May 19, 2006 on MTV2. This season was released on DVD October 10, 2006, with an easter egg that featured an animation contest. The grand prize was announced as the winner's animation appearing on "the next DVD", but the creators later said a third season was unlikely,[2] and MTV afterward canceled the show. A return has been made even more unlikely now as the creators of Wonder Showzen are working on a new animated series titled Xavier: Renegade Angel.
It is shown in Canada on MTV2 and in the UK on MTV Two, MTV and TMF.
Contents |
Characters
Cast
Adults
- Vernon Chatman (Chauncey/Clarence/Various Voices)
- John Lee (Wordsworth/Him/Various Voices)
- Alyson Levy (Sthugar/Various Voices)
Kids
- Evan Seligman
- Taylor Bedlivy
- P.J. Connaire
- Jacob Kogan
- Trevor Heins
- Miles Kath
- Jasmina Lee
- Alexandra Rose
- Frankie Scapoli
- Brian Senior
- Ryan Simpkins
- Miles Williams
Cameos
Season One
- Jon Glaser - As Mr. Story in episode 101.
- Flavor Flav - As himself in episode 101, The full "Storytime with Flavor Flav" was cut from the broadcast version of the episode. It still appears however on the Season One DVD.
- Dick Gregory - As Mr. Sun in episode 103.
- Amy Sedaris - As Miss Amy in episode 106.
- Christopher Meloni - As the Cooties Spokesman in episode 107.
Season Two
- Will Ryan - As the voice of "Letter P" in episode 201.
- David Cross - As T-Totaled Timbo in episode 203, Hostage in episode 206, and Junkyard Jessip in episode 207.
- Judah Friedlander - As Crickey in episodes 203 and 207.
- Jon Glaser - As Dr. Rawstein in episodes 203 and 207.
- Darlene Violette - As Bettsy Beth Bethanie in episodes 203 and 207.
- Amy Poehler - As Miss Mary in episodes 203 and 206.
- John Oates - As himself, singing in the song, "War doesn't solve anything" in episode 206.
- Devendra Banhart - As himself, singing in the song, "War doesn't solve anything" in episode 206.
- Rick Springfield - As himself, singing in the song, "War doesn't solve anything" in episode 206.
- Corin Tucker - As herself, singing in the song, "War doesn't solve anything" in episode 206.
- Todd Barry - As Barold Q. Mosley in episode 207.
- Zach Galifianakis - As Uncle Daddy in episode 207.
- Will Oldham - As Pastor Pigmeat in episode 207.
- Heather Lawless - As Permanently Pregnant Peggy in episode 207.
- Barbara Ann Davison - As a Horse Apples cast member in episode 207.
Recurring Segments
- Beat Kids - One of the children, most often Trevor, leads a journalistic segment with mostly offensive, humorous questions, ridiculing interviewees at a given venue. The segment appears in almost every episode.
- What's Jim Drawing? - Appeared in episode 202 and 206.
- Horse Apples - A segment in episode 203, which later expanded into an entire episode in 207, that parodies Hee Haw and redneck comedy. The latter episode featured several guest actors.
- Funny/Not Funny - A series of clips, often depicting violent or macabre images, airs with a chorus of children yelling either "funny" or "not funny".
- So Now You Know - A parody of "The More You Know", Where kids say questions and a computer shows their answers. It appeared twice on season one and once on season two in episode 205.
- Q&A - A series of children each answer a single question.
- Breaking News - Features the news reporter.
- We Went To... - Children narrate an ostensibly educational trip while old stock film airs
- Clarence's Movies - Clarence the puppet interviews people on the street on a common theme, usually antagonistically or obnoxiously, which is often reciprocated by violence or threats
- Story Time - A special guest reads a story to the children. Guests have included Flavor Flav (as himself although it was unaired), Jon Glaser (as Mr. Story), David Cross (as a hostage), and Amy Sedaris (as Ms. Amy)
- Dear Jesus or Dear Grandma - A short recurring segment where a letter written by a child is read. It appeared once in season two in episode 202.
- Mr. Body - a cartoon segment that parodies the Slim Goodbody character from the Captain Kangaroo television series.
- D.O.G O.B.G.Y.N - A cartoon chronicling a dog with the ability to aid in child birth; part of the title comes from a short form for "obstetrics and gynaecology".
Episode Guide
DVD Releases
| DVD Name | Region 1 release date | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| Season One | March 28, 2006 | Auditions and Outtakes, Storytime with Flava Flav and Flavor Flav, Special Guest Commentaries by… Gordon Lish, Dick Gregory, and others!, Sneek Peek Cartoon, Locker Poster, PFFR Music Video. |
| Season Two | October 10, 2006 | Clarence, Kids and Puppets Outtakes, Guest Commentaries on select episodes, Unaired Cartoon, Easter Egg, 1st wonder showzen storybook. |
A giftset containing Seasons 1 and 2 was scheduled for release on December 12, 2006, but it was canceled.[3]
See also
Footnotes
- ^ New York Daily News: "'Wonder' shock-ful of adult humor". Retrieved December 13, 2006.
- ^ TVSquad.com
- ^ TVShowsOnDVD.com
References
- Wonder Showzen's page on MTV2.com
- Interview with the Onion AV CLub
- Wonder Showzen's Animators
- Rotten Library
External links
- Wonder Showzen at the Internet Movie Database
- Wonder Showzen Full Episodes on MTV2.com
- Wonder Showzen animated shorts from Augenblick studios (requires flash).
- New York Times review
- Wonder Showzen fan site
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