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Downtown (1999 TV series)

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Downtown
Created byChris Prynoski
Written byAnne D. Bernstein
George Krstic
David Regal
Rachelle Romberg
Erica Rothschild
Japhet Asher
Peter Elwell
Eric Friedman
Peter Gaffney
Directed byIlya Skorupsk
Eugene Salandra
Tony Kluck
Patrick Smith
Kevin Lofton
Chris Prynoski
Jody Schaeffer
StarringGregory Gilmore
Leyora Zuberman
Marco H. Rodriguez
Scot Rienecker
Tammy Lang
Hector Fontanez
Aurora Lucia-Levey
Phoebe Summersquash
ComposerKimson Albert
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producerAbby Terkuhle
ProducerDavid McGrath
EditorMatt Miller
Running time22 minutes
Production companyMTV Animation
Original release
NetworkMTV
ReleaseAugust 3 (1999-08-03) –
November 8, 1999 (1999-11-08)

Downtown is an American animated series and sitcom on MTV on urban life, based on interviews with real people. The show, created by Chris Prynoski, follows a diverse and multiracial cast who live in New York City, and presents their everyday lives.[1] In 2000, Downtown was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for the episode "Before and After".[2]

Downtown aired 13 episodes from August to November 1999.[3]

Cast

  • Gregory Gilmore as Alex Henson, a nerdy 24-year-old virgin and Chaka's older brother. He harbors a crush on goth girl, Serena.
  • Leyora Zuberman as Chaka Henson, Alex's rebellious 17-year-old younger sister
  • Marco H. Rodriguez as Fruity, an Afro-Latino ladies' man who has a crush on Chaka.
  • Scot Rienecker as Scott ("Goat"), Alex and Jen's stoner friend.
  • Tammy Lang as Jen, Alex's chubby, sarcastic Asian-American best friend.
  • Hector Fontanez as Matt, Fruity's artsy best friend.
  • Aurora Lucia-Levey as Mecca, an African-American hopeless romantic and Chaka's best friend.
  • Phoebe Summersquash as Serena, a resident goth girl, and Alex's love interest.
  • Rosanna Plasencia as Leah, Jen's promiscuous roommate.

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Sin Bin"Tony KluckAnne D. BernsteinAugust 3, 1999 (1999-08-03)

Alex moves into his own apartment, with the help of his friends Jen, Goat, Chaka and Mecca. Selling some of his old action figures, Alex meets his newest infatuation, goth girl Serena, at a comic book store called Starbase 12. Chaka and Mecca, tasked with watching the van, are distracted by boys and the moving van is stolen.

2"Train Pain"Ilya SkorupskyDavid RegalAugust 10, 1999 (1999-08-10)

Chaka and Mecca challenge Fruity and Matt to a battle-of-the-sexes subway race to Coney Island, to determine which subway line goes there the fastest. Meanwhile, Alex and Jen play board games, leading to a big blowup.

3"Hot Spot"Kevin LoftonRachelle RombergAugust 17, 1999 (1999-08-17)

The dive bar on the ground floor of Alex's building is replaced by "Flame", a trendy new club. Chaka and her friends, all underage, sneak into the club to party. The party continues in Alex's apartment, and Alex and Jen try to retaliate against the club.

4"Insomnia"Eugene SalandraJaphet Asher and Peter GaffneyAugust 24, 1999 (1999-08-24)

Alex is set up on a date with Serena, and suffers insomnia from his pre-date anxiety. Wandering around the city streets late at night, he starts hallucinating from lack of sleep, leading to an unexpected encounter with Serena.

5"The Con"Tony KluckErica RothschildAugust 31, 1999 (1999-08-31)

Alex is concerned that his nerdy obsessions with toy collecting and comic book hoarding will drive his dream girl away. At a Horror Convention with his friends, Alex is torn between trying to impress Serena and acquiring a rare action figure to complete his "White Trash" fantasy collection. World Wrestling Federation (WWF) pro-wrestler, The Undertaker, makes a special guest appearance.

6"Graffiti"Kevin LoftonErica RothschildSeptember 7, 1999 (1999-09-07)

Matt goes out for a night of painting graffiti in the subway tunnels with Fruity and Chaka, and finds the city's underground Hall of Fame for graffiti artists. Meanwhile, Alex has a sexually-charged night with Leah, Jen's promiscuous roommate.

7"Hotel Bar"Eugene SalandraEric FriedmanSeptember 14, 1999 (1999-09-14)

Goat takes Alex out for a night of picking up girls, and encourages him to lower his standards, leading to a rough night for both of them. Meanwhile, Jen and Leah have an unfortunate night out as well, as Leah tries to pick up a rich guy. Rev Jen Miller provides the voice of Teeny.

8"Limo"Tony KluckAnne D. BernsteinSeptember 28, 1999 (1999-09-28)

Worried that she hasn't had a date in a long time, Jen impulsively rents a stretch limo for the night, and takes Alex along for the ride. Fruity, Matt, Chaka and Mecca are accosted by a group of tough Catholic school girls in Chinatown.

9"Testing"Pat SmithPeter ElwellOctober 5, 1999 (1999-10-05)

Alex, Chaka, Fruity and Goat take part in a research study about how much they remember their education. Alex tests well, and wonders if he should be more ambitious. Meanwhile, Goat is becoming increasingly unstable and paranoid, but is calmed down by a meeting with an old high school classmate.

10"Night Shift"Eugene SalandraGeorge KrsticOctober 18, 1999 (1999-10-18)

Jen is upset by Serena's effect on Alex and their other nerdy friends, and starts investigating her. Meanwhile, Alex has a hard time working at the copy shop.

11"Before and After"Tony KluckEric FriedmanOctober 25, 1999 (1999-10-25)

Chaka accuses Mecca of copying her style. Jen forces Alex to clean his house, and throw out his toy collection.

12"Cropsey Clanners"Pat SmithDavid RegalNovember 1, 1999 (1999-11-01)

Jen and Alex go collectible-hunting in the New Jersey suburbs, with Chaka and Mecca along for the ride. When the car breaks down, the four share urban legends about rural New Jersey, leading to a freak out.

13"Trip Or Treat"Eugene SalandraRachelle RombergNovember 8, 1999 (1999-11-08)
Alex finally gets the nerve to ask Serena out to a Halloween party.

Reception

Sarah Nechamkin of Interview, called Downtown “the best piece of discarded treasure to come out of the glorious trove of ’90s MTV”.[4] In a retrospective review for Vulture, Greta Rainbow called it a “feat of naturalistic dialogue”, describing the series as a “hyperspecific time capsule”.[5]

References

  1. ^ Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 162–163. ISBN 978-1538103739.
  2. ^ "Outstanding Short Format Animated Program Nominees / Winners 2000".
  3. ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 567–568. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  4. ^ ""Downtown" Is For Stoop Kids Everywhere". Interview Magazine. August 4, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  5. ^ Rainbow, Greta (May 7, 2021). "MTV's Downtown Is a Hyperspecific Time Capsule". Vulture. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
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