Mad TV
| Mad TV | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Sketch comedy Variety show Shock humour Black comedy Surreal humour Parody Satire |
| Created by |
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| Based on | MAD by EC Comics |
| Directed by | |
| Starring | see List of Mad TV cast members |
| Theme music composer | |
| Opening theme | "Mad TV Theme" performed by Heavy D |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 15 |
| No. of episodes | 329 (plus 7 specials) (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Production locations |
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| Running time | 40–48 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | |
| Release | October 14, 1995 – September 27, 2016 |
Mad TV (stylized as MADtv) is an American sketch comedy television series originally inspired by Mad magazine. In its initial run, it aired on Fox from 1995 to 2009. After a one-off reunion show in 2015 to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the series, one more eight-episode season was produced and broadcast on The CW in 2016.
Antecedents
The series was based on MAD, a property owned by Time Warner Entertainment (parent of WB Television Distribution) through its DC Comics subsidiary. From the magazine, the show featured animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin shorts, as well as recurring images of longtime MAD mascot Alfred E. Neuman in earlier seasons, though the live-action sketches had no relation to the magazine's content.
Launch
The first broadcast was October 14, 1995. The one-hour show first-ran on Saturday nights on Fox.
MADtv was created by Fax Bahr and Adam Small. The series was originally produced by Bahr/Small Productions and Quincy Jones/David Salzman Entertainment (QDE). After Bahr and Small left the series at the end of the third season (they were later credited as "executive consultants"), the series was handled by QDE and distributed by WB Television Distribution. The series was directed by Bruce Leddy (196 episodes),[1] as well as David Grossman, and former Married...With Children cast member Amanda Bearse.
Finale and revivals
On November 12, 2008, Fox announced that the 14th season of MADtv would be its last on Fox. David Salzman said that he would be exploring the continuation of the show on another channel, possibly cable.[2] In early 2009, the show was moved to air after Talkshow with Spike Feresten, the show that normally followed MADtv, as a test, before being moved back. The series finale aired on May 16, 2009.[3] The show was nominated for 35 Emmy Awards, winning seven.
On December 11, 2015, it was reported that MADtv would be returning for a one-hour special on The CW to celebrate the series' 20th anniversary; the special aired on January 12, 2016. A large portion of the original cast returned.[4]
On April 11, 2016, The CW announced that it was reviving the show for an eight-episode season to air in primetime. The season premiered on July 26 and concluded on September 27, 2016. No further seasons were produced.
Format
MADtv was taped in front of a live audience and consisted of sketches, cartoon shorts, and musical performances. Much of its comedy parodied popular television shows, movies and music, as well as topical, political, and pop culture humor.
Cast members
Notes:
- ^ Appears only in the first six episodes of season three.
- ^ Appears only in the first ten episodes of season two.
- ^ a b c d e Originally appeared a featured cast member before being promoted to repertory status during their first season.
- ^ Appears sporadically in season eleven.
- ^ Appears only in the first twenty episodes of season eight.
Episodes
Home media
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment released The Complete First Season of Mad TV in 2004. However, due to poor sales, the release of the second season was cancelled (despite a preview for it in the first season DVD). Mad TV: The Best of Seasons 8, 9, and 10 was released in 2005, featuring the most popular sketches from those seasons.
On November 5, 2012, it was announced that Shout! Factory had acquired the rights to the series.[5] They subsequently announced that they would release the second season on DVD on March 22, 2013.[6] The third season was released on June 25, 2013 and the fourth season was released on November 12, 2013.[7] As of 2020, the first four seasons of MADtv are the only seasons released on DVD, along with MADtv: The Best of Seasons 8, 9, and 10.
In 2020, the FOX episodes of MADtv (from seasons 1 to 14) were available on HBO Max. Due to copyright and licensing issues involving some celebrity cameos and musical guest performances, some episodes were skipped over, with seasons 5 through 10 having nearly all of their episodes missing while season 12 only had one episode missing (episode 4) and seasons 11, 13, and 14 being the only seasons with every episode included. Season 15 (the short-lived revival season on The CW) was also missing from the HBO Max release, though Hulu once had season 15 available in 2016. As of 2022, MADtv is no longer available for streaming on HBO Max.
Syndication
Originally, reruns of Mad TV aired as 30-minute reruns on local TV stations, often under the banner "The Best of Mad TV". The cable channel TNN (later Spike TV, now Paramount Network) aired the first six seasons of Mad TV from 2000 to 2003. Comedy Central soon picked up the show after its syndication package of Saturday Night Live reruns was acquired by the E! Entertainment Network, and aired 30-minute and full-hour reruns of episodes from seasons 1 through 11 until 2010. After Mad TV’s run on Comedy Central, the show has not been on the air or had reruns in syndication since 2011, but Canada's CTV Comedy Channel also airs Mad TV reruns of seasons 8 through 13. In 2005, Canadian channel BiteTV began airing re-runs every weekday at 4pm.
Revival
On December 11, 2015, it was reported that the series would be returning for a one-hour special on The CW to celebrate the series' 20th anniversary; the special aired on January 12, 2016. A large portion of the original cast returned.[4]
The CW announced that it was reviving the show for an eight-episode season to air in primetime on April 11, 2016, featuring a new cast. Some original cast members including Nicole Sullivan, Will Sasso, Bobby Lee, Aries Spears, Debra Wilson, Ike Barinholtz, Stephnie Weir and Anjelah Johnson returned as hosts, some of whom appeared as their signature characters or most memorable celebrity impressions.[8]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Award Category | Recipients | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Costume Design for a Variety or Music Program | Wendy Benbrook for episode "402" | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Hairstyling for a Series | Matthew Kasten for episode "402" | Nominated | |
| 2000 | Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylist Guild Awards | Outstanding Make-up for a series – Television (for a Single Episode of a Regular Series – Sitcom, Drama, or Daytime) | Jennifer Aspinall, Felicia Linsky, and Ed French | Nominated |
| Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylist Guild Awards | Best Innovative Hair Styling – Television (for a Single Episode of a Regular Series – Sitcom, Drama, or Daytime) | Dugg Kirkpatrick | Nominated | |
| Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylist Guild Awards | Best Character Hair Styling – Television (for a Single Episode of a Regular Series – Sitcom, Drama, or Daytime) | Judith Tiedemann, Dugg Kirkpatrick, and Chriss Curry | Nominated | |
| Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylist Guild Awards | Best Character Hair Styling – Television (for a Single Episode of a Regular Series – Sitcom, Drama, or Daytime) | Judith Tiedemann, Dugg Kirkpatrick, and Chriss Curry | Nominated | |
| Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylist Guild Awards | Best Character Makeup – Television (for a Single Episode of a Regular Series – Sitcom, Drama, or Daytime) | Jennifer Aspinall, Felicia Linsky, and Ed French | Won | |
| 2001 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Costumes for a Variety or Music Program | Wendy Benbrook and Wanda Leavey for episode "615" | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Hairstyling for a Variety or Music Program | Matthew Kasten, Mishell Chandler, Desmond Miller, Rod Ortega, Mimi Jafari, and Fabrizio Sanges for episode "601" | Won | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program | John Sabato, D. Martyn Bookwalter, Cece Destefano, and Daryn-Reid Goodall for episode "610" | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Main Title Design | Steve Kirklys (title designer) and Adam Byrd (title designer) | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Makeup for a Series | Jennifer Aspinall, Felicia Linsky, Stephanie L. Massie, Darrell McIntyre, Randy Westgate, Julie Purcell, Ed French, Susan A. Cabral, and Myke Michaels for episode "Mad TV's 2nd Annual Salute to the Movies" | Nominated | |
| Canadian Comedy Awards | Television – Pretty Funny Male Performance | Will Sasso | Nominated | |
| Art Directors Guild Awards | Excellence in Production Design Award | John Sabato (production designer), D. Martyn Bookwalter (art director), and Cece Destefano (art director) | Nominated | |
| Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylist Guild Awards | Best Special Makeup Effects – Television (For a Single Episode of a Regular Series – Sitcom, Drama, or Daytime) | Jennifer Aspinall and Randy Westgate (Episode: "Mad TV Goes to the Movies") | Won | |
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Variety Series/Speciality jumpsuit | Nominated | ||
| Canadian Comedy Awards | Television – Pretty Funny Male Performance | Ron Pederson | Nominated | |
| 2002 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program | John Sabat, D. Martyn Bookwalter, and Daryn-Reid Goodall for episode "Mad TV's 3rd Annual Salute to the Movies" | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Monie Adamson for episode "701" | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Costumes for a Variety or Music Program | Wendy Benbrook and Wanda Leavey for episode "Mad TV's Holiday Spectacular" | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Makeup for a Series (Non-Prosthetic) | Jennifer Aspinall, Randy Westgate, Julie Purcell, Scott Wheeler, Stephanie L. Massie, Felicia Linsky, and Darrell McIntyre for episode "701" | Nominated | |
| Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series – Guest Starring Young Actress | Michelle Trachtenberg | Nominated | |
| Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylist Guild Awards | Best Special Makeup Effects – Television (For a Single Episode of a Regular Series – Sitcom, Drama, or Daytime) | Won | ||
| 2003 | Art Directors Guild Awards | Television – Variety or Awards Show, Music Special, or Documentary | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Makeup for a Series (Prosthetic) | Jennifer Aspinall, Scott Wheeler, Randy Westgate, Nathalie Fratti, David Williams for episode "806" | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Makeup for a Series (Non-Prosthetic) | Jennifer Aspinall, Scott Wheeler, Randy Westgate, James Rohland, and Julie Purcell for episode "801" | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Hairstyling for a Series | Matthew Kaste, Mishell Chandler, K. Troy Zestos, and Stacey Bergman for episode "806" | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Costumes for a Variety or Music Program | Wendy Benbrook and Wanda Leavey for episode "809" | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program | John Sabato, D. Martyn Bookwalter, and Daryn-Reid Goodall for episode "806" | Nominated | |
| Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylist Guild Awards | Best Character Makeup – Television Series | Nominated | ||
| Make-Up Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards | Best Character Hair Styling – Television Series | Nominated | ||
| Make-up Artists and Hair Stylist Guild Awards | Best Special Makeup Effects – Television Series | Nominated | ||
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Show – Late Night | Nominated | ||
| Writers Guild of America Awards | Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) – Series | Nominated | ||
| 2004 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Show – Late Night | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program | John Sabato, D. Martyn Bookwalter, and Daryn-Reid Goodall for episode "200th Episode" | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Monie Adamson For episode "925" | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Hairstyling for a Series | Matthew Kasten, Mishell Chandler, Desmond Miller, and Anthea Grutsis for episode "200th Episode" | Nominated | |
| BET Comedy Award | Outstanding Comedy Variety Series | Nominated | ||
| 2005 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Costumes for a Variety or Music Program | Wendy Benbrook and Wanda Leavey for episode "1017" | Won |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety, Music Program, or Special | John Sabato, D. Martyn Bookwalter, and Daryn-Reid Goodall for episode "1006" | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Monie Adamson for episode "1023" | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Hairstyling for a Series | Matthew Kasten, Anthea Grutsis, Desmond Miller, and Raissa Patton for episode "1017" | Won | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Makeup for a Series (Non-Prosthetic) | Jennifer Aspinall, Scott Wheeler, Randy Westgate, and Nathalie Fratti for episode "1004" | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie, or Special | Jennifer Aspinall, Scott Wheeler, Randy Westgate, and James Rohland for episode "1013" | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Excellence in Production Design Award | Won | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Makeup for a Series (Non-Prosthetic) | Jennifer Aspinall, Nathalie Fratti, Heather Mages, and David Williams for episode "1109" | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety, Music Program, or Special | John Sabato, D. Martyn Bookwalter, and Daryn-Reid Goodall for episode "1115" | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics | Greg O'Connor and Jim Wise for the song "A Wonderfully Normal Day" for episode "1111" | Won | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Costumes for a Variety or Music Program | Wendy Benbrook and Wanda Leavey for episode "1109" | Won | |
| 2007 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie, or Special | Jennifer Aspinall, Heather Mages, Wade Daily, Douglas Noe, James Rohland, and David Williams for episode "1117" | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics | Greg O'Connor, Bruce McCoy, and Jim Wise for the song "Merry Ex-Mas". for episode "1209" | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Makeup for a Series (Non-Prosthetic) | Jennifer Aspinall, Heather Mages, James Rohland, David Williams for episode "1210" | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety, Music, or Nonfiction Programming | John Sabato, D. Martyn Bookwalter, and Daryn-Reid Goodall for episode "1209" | Nominated | |
| Art Directors Guild Awards | Excellence in Production Design Award | John Sabato, D. Martyn Bookwalter, and Nicole Elespuru | Won | |
| 2008 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Art Direction for Variety, Music, or Nonfiction Programming | Nicole Elespuru, James Yarnell, and Daryn-Reid Goodall for episode "1315" | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic) | Jennifer Aspinall, Heather Mages, Chris Burgoyne, and Ned Neidhardt for episode "1308" | Nominated | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics | Greg O'Connor, Jordan Peele, and Jim Wise for the song "Sad Fitty Cent" for episode "1305" | Nominated | |
| Art Directors Guild Awards | Excellence in Production Design Award | John Sabato (production designer), D. Martyn Bookwalter (art director), and Nicole Elespuru (assistant art director) | Won | |
| ALMA Awards | Outstanding Female Performance in a Comedy Television Series | Anjelah Johnson | Nominated | |
| ALMA Awards | Outstanding Male Performance in a Comedy Television Series | Johnny A. Sanchez | Nominated | |
| 2009 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or Special (Non-Prosthetic) | Jennifer Aspinall, Alexei O'Brien, David Williams, and Heather Mages for episode "1405" | Won |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Hairstyling for a Multi-Camera Series or Special | Matthew Kasten, Wendy Southard, Desiree Dizard, and Desmond Miller for episode "1412" | Nominated |
See also
References
- ^ "Full Cast & Crew". imdb. Archived from the original on June 7, 2015.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (November 12, 2008). "Fox cancels 'Mad TV'". Variety. Archived from the original on January 22, 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
- ^ Kinon, Cristina (May 6, 2009). "'MADtv' hopes finale isn't last laugh". NY Daily News. Archived from the original on December 10, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
- ^ a b Plaugic, Lizzie (December 11, 2015). "Mad TV is coming back for a one-hour 20th anniversary special". The Verge. Archived from the original on December 12, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
- ^ "MADtv DVD news: DVD Plans for MADtv Season 2 through Season 5". TVShowsOnDVD.com. May 25, 2007. Archived from the original on July 28, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
- ^ "MADtv DVD news: Press Release for MADtv – The Complete 2nd Season". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on July 28, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
- ^ "MADtv DVD news: Announcement for MADtv – The Complete 3rd Season". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on August 2, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 11, 2016). "CW Revives 'MadTV' As Primetime Series". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 7, 2016.
External links
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