Mark Day is a San Fransisco-based stand-up comedian who has an exceptionally strong Scottish accent, a bald head, and a penchant for yelling about the many irrational aspects of American popular culture and politics. He was born in 1967, enjoys both jazz and Judas Priest, and has been posting videos on For Parody Purposes Only since August of 2006. Day is all over the internet, including Virgin Record’s online video contest, The Bleepin Awesome Awards. I’m surprised he even has time to do stand-up at actual venues, which he does throughout the Bay Area (see his Myspace page for details). He also has a Myspace vlog in which he details his various gigs and contests and posts some content that differs from his regular site.

Day’s videos are generally 3 or 4 minutes long, and are posted every month, as shown in the archive. Most are shot in his home against an unadorned, bright yellow wall, an amusing contradiction to the cynical and dead-pan rants of a Scotsman. Many pieces, are simply Day’s personal archive of videos he thinks are funny, creating a mix of his stand up routines and other content culled from the web. He touches on a number of subjects – everything from Britney Spears and George Bush to TiVo and TGIFridays. The clips are simply edited with Day’s popping up in different portions of the screen as he continues his rants, and many include a disclaimer near the end that assures the viewer that these videos are indeed for “parody purposes only.” 

While Day tends to stick to well-worn territories like celebrities and current political events, he often makes highly original and surprising observations. For instance, because hip-hop culture has sometimes associated itself with the 6^th century Chinese military general, Sun Tzu’s work, The Art of War, he suggests we send the Wu-Tang Clan into Iraq. He also notes that 50 Cent probably has better protective armor than our troops.

Filed under: Tilzy.TV by Kate Dundon
No Comments »

Any good parody is made not out of hate, but rather out of an extreme love for the original. With this in mind, Scott O. was inspired to create a continuation of Angel – and a kind of homage to director Joss Whedon – when the television series went off the air in 2004. He gathered a group of highly competent fringe actors and crew members and – shooting over just six days on a soundstage in Seattle – created Season One of Cherub. Every episode is written and directed by Scott himself. Debuting on February 2, 2006, the series ended two seasons, 25 episodes, and a handful of featurettes later on September 25, 2006.

Whereas Angel was the “vampire with a soul,” Cherub (Basil Harris) is the “vampire with cursed bunny slippers” that force him to be courteous. Many of the original characters are still in place, but in different forms, and Buffy even makes appearances as Muffy the chiropractor. Each episode features a new dilemma for Cherub, as he attempts to solve mysteries while battling his nemesis, Johnny Mildly-Irritating (Paul Gude). While nothing ever seems to get resolved in the 5-10 minute weekly episodes, the cast has a fantastic time with the witty Angel references and ludicrous situations, creating a substantial following among Angel lovers and haters alike. The site also contains a Flickr gallery, a blog that acts as a Production Diary, and a DVD you can purchase, so you can watch all the action in higher-quality on your screens at home.

For some behind the scenes footage, check out some of the featurettes – there’s a blooper reel, a “how’d they do it” special effects video, and a peek behind the scenes. Or if you’d like to hear Scott O. sound off on his own work, watch some of the episodes with director commentary.

Filed under: Tilzy.TV by Rebecca Halpin
No Comments »

Jennifer Katz, director of Shooting the Moon and 101 Ways (The Things a Girl Will Do to Keep Her Volvo), is a filmmaker who on Flush TV investigates one of the most under appreciated occupations – plumbing. The show explores Detroit’s Levine and Sons Plumbing Company’s passion for pipes.

After visiting her friend Dan Levine and hearing old stories about the nearly eighty-year-old company, Katz picked up a camera and began filming.   She spent a few years developing the project and eventually took it to several cable television networks that ultimately passed on the idea.  Produced by A Lot of People, on April 6, 2006, Flush TV made a splash on the web with its debut six-minute episode, It Ain’t Easy Being a Plumber. 

After reading about Flush TV and “eight inch fecal impactions, raw sewage backed up in the tub, and a 98% customer resentment rate,” I was expecting something along the lines of a campy, slightly twisted, raunchy film similar to the style of George and Mike Kuchar. To my surprise, the show was clean, entertaining, and enlightening. If you like the TV show Dirty Jobs, you’ll love Flush TV.

The episodes generally run five to seven minutes long and document the daily grind of Levine and Sons, giving you a great sense of the challenges faced by the industry pros. In The Highs and Lows (of the Water Jetter), a key tool of the trade gets stuck on the job. Plumber Not Included takes the viewer on the road to Peaks Island, Maine and shows how locals deal with a lack of plumbing professionals in their city.

At times, there are some rough patches in the sound and video quality of the production, but this is expected for a documentary style series and the unique perspective and vibrant personalities that Katz captures more than make up for it. She brings the viewer into an interesting space that most people would not ordinarily want to step into (literally and figuratively), but once you take a look inside, not only do you not mind, you become intrigued.

My favorite piece…well, it’s a two-way tie between Plumbing Junkie, which chronicles one man’s enthusiasm for what is considered by many to be one of the stinkiest professions, and What Not to Flush (Five Lessons to Live By) where the plumbers vent about two-ply, feminine hygiene, and other plumbing blunders. 

Filed under: Tilzy.TV by Jessica Brink
No Comments »

If you’ve seen The Faily OddParents, Johnny Bravo, or the Powerpuff Girls, then you’re already familiar with Frederator Studios. Comprised of animation veterans Fred Seibert, Eric Homan, and Larry Huber, the famed studio brought the founders’ experience and discerning eyes to the web in November 2005 with the launch of Channel Frederator. Instead of classic half hour episodes, the site consists of a collection of animated shorts submitted by users, vetted by the management, and compiled into weekly episodes for animation enthusiasts to vote on and enjoy.

There’s much to be seen on “the world’s original cartoon podcast.” Each weekly episode features two to four user-submissions screened by the Frederator staff and running the gamut, from pencil drawn stills to not-quite-Pixar level computer animation. In keeping with the freeform nature of the work of the site’s creators, subject matter is often wry, and can be downright dark. From the very first episode, in which a strictly 2-D teddy bear tries to win over his former girlfriend – a much more human looking barista of indeterminate nationality – the tone for the site was set. An added bonus of this site is the indirect anthology of animators’ websites that the creators have gathered. If you’ve tired of official Channel Frederator choices, check out the other work of your favorite artists – just click on the short’s name and then follow the “submitted by” links to more hours of animation.

For the first time viewer, the 20-minute best of 2005 episode might be a good place to start. From the first clip, snow-bo – in which a lonely little boy, shunned by other winter revelers, comes across a dead body, turns it into his only friend, and is rewarded by being kidnapped by that same corpse – you know you’re in for a treat.

Filed under: Tilzy.TV by Nicholas Mosquera
No Comments »

Man and Wife, an online relationship talk show, was launched in late 2006 by legendary hip-hop DJ Fatman Scoop and his wife Shanda Freeman. Scoop, now a celebrity DJ for New York’s Hot 97 radio station, originally wanted to create a sex talk show with a hot, young female co-host. But after sifting through hundreds of headshots, he decided that his wife Shanda would be the best fit. The show features the married couple answering viewer-submitted questions about love, relationships and sex. The site works in tandem with the couple’s live shows at comedy clubs like Comix in NYC. According to this man and wife, the site is “everything you need to know about sex and relationships but were afraid to ask.”

In almost every episode, the heavyset honeymooners slip into their king-sized bed and discuss everything from sexual fantasies and tips for pleasing your mate to the definitions of cheating. The advice is unfiltered and funny, as Fatman Scoop bellows out obscenities in one of the most recognizable voices in radio. Shanda provides the feminine insight, giving callers her take on their relationship woes. The beauty of the show, however, is that Fatman Scoop and Shanda are a real married couple whose interactions are more interesting than their reactions to the callers’ questions. Viewers can watch the two hosts shoveling snow, shopping for Christmas presents and bickering constantly, making Man and Wife more like MTV’s Newlyweds than Loveline In episode 5, Shanda admits to sexual fantasies involving football greats Troy Aikman and Dan Marino. Episode 21 sees Scoop scolding his wife for leaving the lens cap on during an interview with Flavor Flav (the audio for this interview is available on the site as well) In the end, Scoop and Shanda’s love is clear and their advice is well-intentioned and hilarious. The videos are shot on a single standing handycam, episodes range from 5-15 minutes in length, and viewers are invited to submit relationship questions or problems via email or telephone. The site of a half naked Fatman under a white duvet cover answering all of your sexual queries is at least worth a look.

In Episode #20, Scoop and Shanda get a message from a man claiming that he can orally satisfy Shanda better than Fatman Scoop himself. In fact, the arrogant caller challenges Scoop to a Shanda-pleasing showdown. Needless to say, Fatman Scoop is not happy.

Filed under: Tilzy.TV by Timothy Stanley
No Comments »

Flow TV is the third video on-demand network  from digital entertainment company Ripe Digital Entertainment. This time, the media moguls at Ripe are focusing on content appealing to hip-hop fans and the urban consumer. Launched in May 2007, Flow TV joins fellow Ripe Digital Entertainment networks, Ripe TV (Tilzy.TV page) and Octane TV (Tilzy.TV page). Like its sister networks, Flow TV is broadcast on cable VOD, the internet, and mobile phones, but Flow TV is the first on-demand network to focus on the hip-hop lifestyle. Targeting men and women 18-34, Flow TV grants viewers instant access to footage from the legendary Def Jam and showcases rhymes from over 200 other record labels.

Much like Ripe TV and Octane TV, the Flow TV network is organized into several channels, streaming the site’s latest 5-15 minute shows. The sophisticated Apple Dock-inspired web design on the site makes flipping through channels a breeze. The shows range from exclusive live performances to candid interviews and rarely seen behind-the-scenes footage of the industry’s hottest hip-hop stars.

At any given time, shows on Flow TV feature new material from big name artists like Snoop Dogg, The Game, or Three Six Mafia.  Recognizable faces like D. Woods of Danity Kane and Spinderella of Salt-N-Pepa also appear as hosts of the different channels (D. Woods is host of “New on Flow” while Spinderella introduces celebrity interviews in the “VIP Lounge”).

The main thing that sets Flow TV apart from other hip-hop sites on the web is the unlimited access it provides fans to all elements of the hip-hop lifestyle.  Whether it’s going behind the scenes at famed radio station Hot 97 or catching exclusive Jay-Z concert footage that you are interested in, Flow TV takes the term “all-access” to a whole new level.  And thanks to the continuous updating of material on the site, there’s always new entertainment to keep hip-hop heads happy.

Much like Ripe TV and Octane TV, the Flow TV network is organized into several channels, streaming the site’s latest 5-15 minute shows. The sophisticated Apple Dock-inspired web design on the site makes flipping through channels a breeze. The shows range from exclusive live performances to candid interviews and rarely seen behind-the-scenes footage of the industry’s hottest hip-hop stars.

At any given time, shows on Flow TV feature new material from big name artists like Snoop Dogg, The Game, or Three Six Mafia.  Recognizable faces like D. Woods of Danity Kane and Spinderella of Salt-N-Pepa also appear as hosts of the different channels (D. Woods is host of “New on Flow” while Spinderella introduces celebrity interviews in the “VIP Lounge”).

The main thing that sets Flow TV apart from other hip-hop sites on the web is the unlimited access it provides fans to all elements of the hip-hop lifestyle.  Whether it’s going behind the scenes at famed radio station Hot 97 or catching exclusive Jay-Z concert footage that you are interested in, Flow TV takes the term “all-access” to a whole new level.  And thanks to the continuous updating of material on the site, there’s always new entertainment to keep hip-hop heads happy.

Filed under: Tilzy.TV by Meredith Parker
No Comments »

Born in 2005, Channel 102 is the New York equivalent of the Los Angeles short comedy festival and television site, Channel 101. Its creator, Tony Carnevale – who has written for VH1 and National Lampoon – started the site with the approval of the creators of the original, Don Harmon and Rob Schrab. Like its well-established predecessor, the series running on 102 are voted on by live audiences at monthly screenings, and have started to earn their own recognition – occasionally featuring some big names, such as Rob Corddry of Daily Show fame. This drawing power is due directly to the nature of the festival, which invites amateur creators to submit their own five-minute pilots, in the hopes of having them voted onto the site, and exposed to a wide audience that has come to expect a certain level of originality and humor.

Like Channel 101, Channel 102 a constantly shifting list five shows are voted onto the sought-after list of Prime Time. As the shows age, they are either killed by their creators or voted out, ending up on the Cancelled list. While in broadcast television, such a list would be a dubious honor at best, here you can view the series that were good enough to make it to the big time, before they suffered their inevitable decline – like the extremely well-produced, well-acted The Bicycle Thief. Shows that were never quite outlandish enough to make it, end up in the Failed pile. Don’t discount them out of hand, however, as they represent some of the most creative, perhaps to a fault, of the bunch. While the latter two lists aren’t as extensive as their West Coast counterparts, they are growing monthly, so be sure to check back regularly.

One show to watch is Shutterbugs – a four episode self-cancelled series (their last installment ran over five minutes, leading to an automatic disqulaification) about two child actor agents that fight losing battles against disgruntled clients and rival agencies. You might recognize co-creator Rob Huebel from those pre-movie reminders featuring Inconsiderate Cellphone Man. The show also Also know that the And although the show was cancelled, anything involving diva child actors and martial arts battles is good enough for this writer.

Filed under: Tilzy.TV by Nicholas Mosquera
No Comments »

Amy Winfrey, a west-coast Flash artist and animator, began developing the darkly comical Making Fiends in 2003, along with other popular web cartoons Big Bunny and Muffin Films.  Having attracted interest from Nickelodeon, Making Fiends is a relatively simple but slightly subversive Flash cartoon that has found immense popularity.  The voices in the show are provided by Peter Merryman, Aglaia Mortcheva and Winfrey herself, who worked on her animation skills at UCLA and as a staff animator on South Park.

Clever and irreverent, Making Fiends is a fairly classic series of short episodes which follows the devious doings of Vendetta, an evil little girl genius who creates a host of various monsters and beasts to keep her grade school in the merciless grip of her control.  Enter Charlotte, an impossibly cheery, sprightly young girl who somehow manages to foil all of Vendetta’s dastardly plans.  Potentially violent situations in a seemingly child-friendly environment lead to moments of irresistible dark humor that will make even the most stoic grin wickedly. 
 

Filed under: Tilzy.TV by Dan Heching
No Comments »

Started in 2003, Channel 101 is the work of two apparently disgruntled television screen writers, Don Harmon and Rob Schrab. The duo created the 1999 FOX pilot “Heat Vision and Jack,” starring Jack Black and Owen Wilson. Though it never aired on television, the show attracted the same sort of viral popularity that makes unlikely stars out of even the most reticent online personalities, and they went on to start a monthly Los Angeles online short film festival with an interesting twist.

Local artists submit five-minute pilot episodes, and the audience and creators of the current top shows choose which will be added to the lineup, with a limit of five series per month. As shows falter, they are removed from the Prime Time list, and replaced by an up-and-coming series.

Thus the site is constantly infused with the most outlandish, offensive plot lines this side of Hollywood. Several amateurs – including Andy Samberg – have gone on to Saturday Night Live, while established stars – including Sarah Silverman – make occasional appearances.

One paragraph certainly can’t do this site justice. First, viewers will want to check out some current and former Prime Time series. The Cancelled section houses a host of shows that were once Prime Time worthy, like Chad Vader or Phone Sexxers, which is set in the male phone sex industry. Even more extensive is the list of Failed Pilots – the shows that aired only once during the festivals, and never made it to the list of current series.   The site professes that some of the best videos can be found there, despite the word “failed,” and in a forum dedicated to finding the least accessible, most offensive comedy imaginable, the prospect of a series that proved too much of a good thing is tantalizing.

If you’re still looking for more quality television at this point, a series of specials should finally leave you satisfied, but if you don’t trust your own judgment, view the most popular videos. Not surprisingly, a series by the clever name of “Kicked in the Nuts” can usually be found at the top of the list, despite the fact that it lasted for only two episodes in 2003. An extensive tutorial also abounds, with helpful instruction for the aspiring filmmaker.

Of the crop of Cancelled series, Fire Guys is perhaps one of the most outlandish. Picture a group of actresses playing misogynistic, sexually active firemen while dressed in intentionally awful drag. The pilot’s plot features a dangerous arsonist who is intent on killing members of the fire department, and it includes a few hilarious special effects and some sexual situations that are not likely to air on broadcast television anytime in this century.

Filed under: Tilzy.TV by Nicholas Mosquera
No Comments »

Magnum Photos was founded in 1947 by a small group of socially-conscious photographers who were relieved that the world had survived the Second World War and curious to see what was left. Led by Robert Capa, prominent professionals Henri Cartier-Bresson, George Rodger and David “Chim” Seymour set out to change photojournalism by allowing their photographers to retain copyrights for the images they produced. This unprecedented practice enables Magnum to sell a single picture to a myriad of different publications, essentially paying for their photographers’ freedom (Magnum phototogs are also never sent on assignment, but are at liberty to cover the subjects they find most inspiring). Today, the agency maintains offices in Paris, New York, London and Tokyo and boasts a library of approximately one million photographs, 350,000 of which are available online. On April 12, 2006 Magnum took its website to the next level by launching a video podcast, presenting the work of the photographers in a whole new light.

Magnum Photos offers up its InMotion videos in both essay and podcast form. Each 2 to 10-minute photographic study tells a beautiful story with carefully compiled images accompanied by music, sound bytes, and text to give the viewer an experience that goes beyond the pictures themselves. The Oscars essay somehow manages to both glorify and condemn Hollywood in the same breath, while the AIDS Day podcast is Magnum’s powerful, blood-red take on the epidemic. Some are authored by a single photographer, while others are a compilation of many different contributors, including Ian Berry, Peter Marlow and Susan Meiselas, to name a few, each with his/her own unique style. Some photogs also offer a written explanation to run alongside their work, adding to the story and revealing some of their photographic methods. If you’re a fan of the photos, stay up to date with new releases and general company happenings in Magnum’s blog or peruse an extensive portion of the site’s collection in the gift shop. 

At once hilarious and disturbing, Martin Parr’s Agenda is unpretentiously cool. It’s the ugly side of consumerism in an ironic, sleekly arranged video montage. Don’t miss the Autoportraits towards the end of the video. Parr’s expression is priceless. Even cooler? The podcast entitled No Whisper No Sigh. Based on the concept of silence, haunting photographs coupled with a sparse soundtrack gave me chills I hadn’t felt since I found out Bruce Willis was dead.

Filed under: Tilzy.TV by Kate Dundon
No Comments »

Cerealized comes from the same creative team – Toronto-based Rocket Ace Moving Pictures – that brought to the web the 2003-2004 zombie web serial, Dead End Days. That series dealt with the adventures of a hard luck male protagonist living in a world where humans cohabitate with brain-eating zombies. Cerealized follows a significantly more prosaic storyline, involving three caustic roommates. Brad Fox, the executive producer, is also the co-founder of Rocket Ace, which brings together a full production crew comprised mostly of Canadian theater veterans.

Cerealized may seem recognizable to television audiences familiar with such sitcoms as Friends. A series of young adult professionals – mainly roommates Cory, Lincoln, and Charlotte, played by series director Matthew Hoos, John Schuett, and Erin Whitehead, respectively – congregate in their home before venturing out to the less comfortable, predictable outside world. Each of the weekly 3-5 minutes shorts takes place almost entirely in the breakfast nook of their apartment. Whereas some episodes are gag-based, and less dependent on overarching plot threads, a few major storylines have developed over the course of the first 24, which is being packaged as season one. For example, Cory – a struggling actor – is unhealthily obsessed with Charlotte, who doesn’t reciprocate. Misanthropic Lincoln, meanwhile, works as a dentist when not hunting vulnerable women. Rarely do viewers witness these excursions, however, as episodes are dedicated to the morning discussions over coffee and orange juice.

As Cerealized is conceived for the episodic format, it is of little benefit to watch only specific episodes. For example, though number 20, “Free Pass,” features a memorably off-color vocal solo from Cory, as he rehearses a role as Hitler for an upcoming musical, it would hardly be a draw for the casual viewer. Whatever feeling the series provides, comes from a long term relationship with the characters. If you’ve got the time, sit down and watch them in order.

Filed under: Tilzy.TV by Nicholas Mosquera
No Comments »

Formerly CODE.TV, LX.TV was launched June of 2006 by former MTV execs Joseph Varet and Morgan Hertzan who dared to dream big. They wanted to make “the first television network for affluent urbanites.” Featuring good-looking hosts diving into all the major bicoastal hot spots, the site is a guide to the trendy, the chic, and the exclusive in New York and Los Angeles. Garnering significant press just months after its launch, LX.TV began plans to expand its brand to San Francisco and Miami.

LX.TV gives city-dwellers with disposable income a look into nearby destinations and provides those without the cash an idea of what those high-priced establishments look like from the inside. The two-minute, fresh-daily clips are divided into standard tags like food, nightlife, shopping, and style, and follow a familiar format. A reporter goes out to meet the founders of the bar, restaurant, or boutique, finds out why they started the company, discovers what makes them unique, tests out some of the merchandise, and gives the audience a review of the hotspot. There’s denim bars in LA, actual nightlife on New York’s Upper East, more in-depth interviews on “Drinks with LX,” looks around town on “Real/Life,” and how-to guides on “LX/101.” From the well-spoken hosts (Suchin Pak, Jonathan Redford, and Shira Lazar, among others) to the high-quality footage and music, Varet and Hertzan’s MTV experience is evident throughout the videos. You can also find all the essential info for each establishment (name, address, phone number, hours, and even a map) underneath the video, making the site as practical as it is stylish.

Not sure what part of the animal you’re eating when you order that premium Japanese Wagyu? Take the BOA Steak 101 Class and get some hands-on education.

Filed under: Tilzy.TV by Jessica Brink
No Comments »