BLOGS
While some mostly original content has been on IFC for the past few years, over the past few months the channel has worked hard to place more of these shows front and center on its schedule. They've changed their logo, given us Portlandia, and today they threw down the gauntlet by having their very first honest-to-goodness upfront. While most channels work to produce huge spectacles to wow reporters and advertisers, today IFC gave us a chill laid back presentation fitting for a post-SXSW week. The whole event was so subdued that even Suzanne Sena opening the presentation in her Onion News Network persona, Brooke Alvarez, wasn't even annoying. We were then told just how cool IFC is and how it is working to "curate alternative comedy," so that we would know that even though they were holding an upfront they still were proud to be serving their own spot in television the "media of the niches." Even if they were almost too chill, I have to give them credit for not overusing buzz words like "authentic." After a pithy rundown of the new shows, Fred Armisen was brought out as if a bird to be put on a tote bag to announce that they will beginning writing the next season of Portlandia in April.
All told IFC did renew Onion News Network and David Cross's The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, everyone loves to put birds on things now, and most of the shows they have lined up are going to be basic comedy nerd viewing material. So here's our rundown of the channel's new programs:
Commercial Kings
Taking the idea behind a website and turning it into a TV show is usually a bad idea. However, IFC has somehow made the idea for ilovecommercials.com seem like it should have been on TV to begin with. Starring the site's comedy team, Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal, the show will follow them as they find small, kind-of out there local businesses and help their owners produce kitschy budget commercials to run during the local news. From the footage they showed, it seems like the business people are mostly in on the joke, and McLaughlin and Neal rarely seem mean-spirited on their site so this might actually be fun to watch when it premiers on June 24th.
Whisker Wars
Actually produced by the same guy who came up with Deadliest Catch and its ilk, Whisker Wars is an intense look at the men in the world of competitive facial hair. How this joke is going to play past the first episode is beyond us, but IFC has ordered seven episodes.
Greg & Danny
The winners of the New York TV Festival's Out of the Box award, this web series is about two yokels who examine the Internet and the world at large from their small Pennsylvania town. It will be interesting to see if there is actually plot or narrative development in the TV series consider each webisode is mostly just a one-off sketch.
Young, Broke & Beautiful
IFC didn't have any footage to show us, but this show is based on Broke-Ass Stuart's travel books for traveling cheaply. As funny, vulgar, and interesting as his books are, we are optimistic about the show, but will reserve judgment until we see anything from it. Broke-Ass Stuart was going to be at the upfront himself, but got delayed trying to shoot the show which premieres June 24th.
Scott Aukerman...something something...Comedy Death-Ray
While the show doesn't have a title (or footage) yet, it looks like the Comedy Death-Ray people are making a TV with IFC. If this means nothing to you go download the podcast.
Pointless
Without much more than blind optimism (and no video yet) IFC is really excited about this improv comedy game show for comedians, but we can only get so excited by the idea of Kurt Braunohler on IFC again.
Bullet in the Face
About a psychotic criminal who must work for the police after getting shot in the face, this show sounds more [adult swim] than IFC, but maybe it will surprise us. Once again they didn't show us any footage of this show, but they don't expect it to air until 2012.
What are people saying about your favorite shows and stars right now? Find out with Talk Without Pity, the social media site for real TV fans. See Tweets and Facebook comments in real time and add your own -- all without leaving TWoP. Join the conversation now!
MOST RECENT POSTS
Today's TWoP News: Wednesday, February 20, 2013
New Girl: Roomate Do's and Don'ts of the Week
Wednesday, February 20, 2013: American Idol
Today's TWoP News: Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Saturday Night Live: The Best Sketches of the Night
TV on DVD: Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013: Cult
I Want My DVD: Tuesday, February 19, 2013
BLOG ARCHIVES
The Telefile
February 2013
21 Entries
January 2013
62 Entries
December 2012
44 Entries
November 2012
59 Entries
October 2012
69 Entries
September 2012
66 Entries
August 2012
65 Entries
July 2012
51 Entries
June 2012
58 Entries
May 2012
68 Entries
April 2012
71 Entries
March 2012
68 Entries
February 2012
64 Entries
January 2012
78 Entries
December 2011
49 Entries
November 2011
56 Entries
October 2011
74 Entries
September 2011
77 Entries
August 2011
61 Entries
July 2011
56 Entries
June 2011
57 Entries
May 2011
57 Entries
April 2011
78 Entries
March 2011
73 Entries
February 2011
57 Entries
January 2011
65 Entries
December 2010
39 Entries
November 2010
45 Entries
October 2010
46 Entries
September 2010
62 Entries
August 2010
55 Entries
July 2010
53 Entries
June 2010
65 Entries
May 2010
59 Entries
April 2010
57 Entries
March 2010
67 Entries
February 2010
53 Entries
January 2010
59 Entries
December 2009
32 Entries
November 2009
47 Entries
October 2009
65 Entries
September 2009
66 Entries
August 2009
58 Entries
July 2009
72 Entries
June 2009
71 Entries
May 2009
50 Entries
April 2009
57 Entries
March 2009
66 Entries
February 2009
52 Entries
January 2009
56 Entries
December 2008
51 Entries
November 2008
71 Entries
October 2008
88 Entries
September 2008
86 Entries
August 2008
120 Entries
July 2008
115 Entries
June 2008
90 Entries
May 2008
44 Entries
April 2008
30 Entries
March 2008
26 Entries
February 2008
30 Entries
January 2008
44 Entries
December 2007
31 Entries
November 2007
66 Entries
Comments