Infomercials (TV specials)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2015) |
| Infomercials | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Created by | Mike Lazzo (concept) |
| Starring | Various live actors |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producers | Melissa Warrenburg Ollie Green |
| Camera setup | Single camera |
| Running time | 5–11 minutes (15 min. with commercials) |
| Production company | Williams Street |
| Original release | |
| Network | Adult Swim |
| Release | November 3, 2009 – present |
Infomercials is the name of a project of quarter-hour American television comedy specials that have little to do with each other except that they are all fictitious.
Most of the episodes lampoon the infomercial format, while others parody tropes and cliches in media such as closed-circuit info channels in hotels, sitcoms, and public-access television. The specials typically air during 4am. There is no title card or common identifier to any of the episodes, and On-Screen Programming guide info on each episode is left generic. Every episode has a different look and feel as there are no common directors, production companies or crew between all of the episodes, although some production companies have returned to make additional (and unrelated) episodes.
One particular episode, "Too Many Cooks", is notable for gathering media interest in November 2014. It contains a long-form introduction sequence common to 1980s and 1990s TV shows, except with a seemingly endless cast that continued to be introduced for 11 minutes straight.[1][2]
Specials
| No. | Title | Created by | Written by | Directed by | Co-production(s) | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Icelandic UltraBlue | H. Jon Benjamin and David Cross |
H. Jon Benjamin and David Cross | Jeff Buchanan | November 3, 2009 | |
| 2 | Dangerously Delicious: Paid Advertisement |
Aziz Ansari (original film) | Aziz Ansari, Jason Woliner, and Eric Wareheim |
Eric Wareheim | Abso Lutely Productions Grandpa Pictures |
July 23, 2012 |
| 3 | Swords, Knives, Very Sharp Objects, and Cutlery |
Paul Scheer | Rob Huebel | Eric Appel | 2nd Man On The Moon Abominable Pictures |
November 27, 2012 |
| 4 | For-Profit Online University | Wild, Aggressive Dog | Story by : Geoff Haggerty, Dan E. Klein, Matthew Klinman, Micheal Pielocik, Chris Sartinsky, and Sam West Teleplay by : Sam West |
Sam West | Abominable Pictures Wild, Aggressive Dog (uncredited) |
December 17, 2013 |
| 5 | Live Forever as You Are Now with Alan Resnick |
Ben O'Brien and Alan Resnick |
Alan Resnick and Dina Kelberman | Ben O'Brien and Alan Resnick |
AB Video Solutions, LLC | December 24, 2013 |
| 6 | Broomshakalaka! | Justin Becker and Steve Clemmons | Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert |
Abominable Pictures | January 6, 2014 | |
| 7 | Fartcopter | Rob Huebel | Alex Fernie | October 6, 2014 | ||
| 8 | The Salad Mixxxer | Chris Amick, Ben Mekler, and David Soldinger |
Ken Marino and David Soldinger |
October 13, 2014 | ||
| 9 | Alpha Chow | Justin Becker and Steve Clemmons | Dave Green | October 20, 2014 | ||
| 10 | Goth Fitness | Chris Amick, Ben Mekler, and David Soldinger |
Danny Jelinek | |||
| 11 | Too Many Cooks | Casper Kelly | Casper Kelly | Casper Kelly | October 27, 2014 | |
| 12 | The Newbridge Tourism Board Presents: "We're Newbridge, We're Comin' to Get Ya!" |
Tom Scharpling and Jon Wurster | Tom Scharpling | Production Company Productions |
November 3, 2014 | |
| 13 | In Search of Miracle Man | Matt Besser and Rich Fulcher | Neil Mahoney | Abominable Pictures | November 10, 2014 | |
| 14 | Smart Pipe | Wild, Aggressive Dog | Story by : Geoff Haggerty, Dan E. Klein, Matthew Klinman, Micheal Pielocik, Chris Sartinsky, and Sam West Teleplay by : Micheal Pielocik (in Smart Pipe), and Chris Sartinsky (in Book of Christ) |
Zachary Johnson and Jeffrey Max |
Abominable Pictures Wild, Aggressive Dog |
November 17, 2014 |
| 15 | Book of Christ | November 24, 2014 | ||||
| 16 | Frank Pierre Presents: "The Frank Pierre Resort & Casino" |
Paul Scheer | Matthew Freund | Abominable Pictures 2nd Man On The Moon |
December 2, 2014 | |
| 17 | Unedited Footage of a Bear | Ben O'Brien | Alan Resnick, Robby Rackleff, and Dina Kelberman |
Alan Resnick and Ben O'Brien |
AB Video Solutions, LLC | December 16, 2014 |
| 18 | This House Has People in It | Alan Resnick | AB Surveillance Solutions | March 14, 2016 | ||
| 19 | Joe Pera Talks You to Sleep | Joe Pera | Joe Pera | Chestnut Walnut Unlimited | March 21, 2016 | |
| 20 | M.O.P.Z. | Todd Rohal and Benjamin Kasulke | Todd Rohal | Mechanical Dreams PFFR |
April 4, 2016 | |
| 21 | Giles Vanderhoot | Michael Showalter and Jonathan Stern | Michael Showalter | Abominable Pictures | April 25, 2016 | |
| 22 | Live at the Necropolis: The Lords of Synth |
Scott Gairdner and Ryan Perez | Nick Corirossi and Charles Ingram |
May 2, 2016 | ||
| 23 | NewsHits | Rob Huebel | Sergio Cilli | May 31, 2016 | ||
| 24 | Mulchtown | Chris Sartinsky | Danny Jelinek | Ideal Milk Co. | June 7, 2016 | |
| 25 | Check It Out! with Scott Clam | John C. Reilly, Tim Heidecker, and Eric Wareheim |
Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, and John C. Reilly |
Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim |
Abso Lutely Productions | October 23, 2017 |
| 26 | The Suplex Duplex Complex | Todd Rohal | Zack Carlson, Bryan Connolly, and Todd Rohal |
Todd Rohal | PFFR Ten Acre Films |
October 30, 2017 |
| 27 | Wet Shapes | Kati Skelton | Kati Skelton | Kati Skelton | Little Bear Bear Productions It's Grim |
November 6, 2017 |
References
- ^ Grinberg, Emanuella (November 10, 2014). "This weekend's trending video: 'Too Many Cooks'". No. Online. Turner Media. CNN. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ Branch, Chris. "'Too Many Cooks' Creator Dishes On Making The Viral Hit". Huffington Post. AOL. Retrieved 19 May 2016.