Paid Programming (TV pilot)
Paid Programming | |
---|---|
Also known as | Paid Programming: Icelandic Ultrablue Icelandic UltraBlue |
Genre | Comedy Parody |
Created by | H. Jon Benjamin David Cross |
Written by | H. Jon Benjamin David Cross |
Directed by | Jeff Buchanan |
Starring |
|
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producers | H. Jon Benjamin David Cross |
Producer | Jackie Stolfi |
Cinematography | Jonathan Furmanski[1] |
Editor | Toni Cusumano |
Running time | 11 minutes |
Production company | Williams Street |
Original release | |
Network | Adult Swim |
Release | November 3, 2009 |
Related | |
Infomercials |
Paid Programming (also known as Paid Programming: Icelandic Ultrablue or Icelandic UltraBlue) is a television pilot for Cartoon Network's late night programing block (Adult Swim) that premiered, unannounced, in the United States on the night of November 2, 2009, and was then re-aired every Monday through Friday night until December 4, 2009. It did not reair the night of November 23, 2009 due to a Family Guy rerun.
Paid Programming is a parody of infomercials and was created and written by H. Jon Benjamin and David Cross,[2] and features amateur actors from Central Casting.[3] Although the pilot was never picked up for a full series, it received a positive reception in London when screened at monthly comedy event called "Popcorn Comedy night". Adult Swim continues to periodically rebroadcast the pilot episode.
Production
Paid Programming was created and written by
Despite the pilot failing, the network greenlit more fake infomercials in 2012.[6]
Broadcast history
Similar to the broadcast history of The Rising Son, another program on Adult Swim, the pilot episode of Paid Programming was aired in the United States on the night of November 2, 2009 at 4:30 am (ET), unannounced and unadvertised,[2] and was listed as "SPECIAL" on the Adult Swim schedule. After its original debut, Adult Swim then re-aired the pilot every Monday through Friday night until December 4, 2009, with the exception of November 23, 2009 which saw a Family Guy rerun take its time slot. Adult Swim periodically re-airs the pilot episode, and posted it to their official site in 2015.
Plot outline
The pilot starts as a typical advert for the "Icelandic Ultra Blue Health" line of
Characters
- Dr. Torsten Samuelson – A Norwegian self-proclaimed "Doctor" who has spent "thirty-six years hanging out in the medical community". Best known as the founder and lead spokesmen for Icelandic Ultra Blue.[5]
- O'Connel Mcmicmic (Justine D'Amour)[7][unreliable source?] – A singer who worked with Wendy Clitlock to produce "Icelandic Eire Go Chalk", a musical entry for the "new Icelandic Ultra Blue jingle" contest.[5]
- Wendy Clitlock – (Lou Hemsey) An award-winning record producer who serves as the spokesman for the "Icelandic Ultra Blue Air purity system".[5]
- Mr. Kimmel (Ray Higgs)[7] and Mrs. Kimmel – The married owners of "Kimmels Nazi Gold Exchange". After Mrs. Kimmel suffered a splinter-related death, her body was preserved using "Icelandic Ultra Blue Embalm Balm".[5]
- Danny Fattfuck – The pants-less owner of "Fattfuck Splinter-B-Gones".[5]
- Lars (Christopher Cusumano)[7] – Dr. Samuelson's nephew who won the contest for the "new Icelandic Ultra Blue jingle".[5]
Reception
During November 2009, when the pilot was aired every morning, Adult Swim received negative feedback from viewers upset that re-runs of Aqua Teen Hunger Force were replaced with the pilot Paid Programming.[2] During November 2009, the Adult Swim Message boards were filled with posts from users who were confused and unsure of what it was.[3]
Cross showed the pilot episode to a group of about 600–700 people in London, during a monthly comedy event called "Popcorn Comedy night". To Cross's surprise, the majority of the audience laughed so hard they missed some jokes; Cross stated, "Quite often they didn’t even get the references, but they got the context, I guess".[3]
References
- ^ Jonathan Furmanski - partos company
- ^ a b c d e Heisler, Steve (4 February 2011). "Random Roles H. Jon Benjamin". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Modell, Josh (1 October 2010). "Interview – David Cross". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
- ^ Crumpton, Craig (5 September 2009). "Toon Zone goes to Dragon*Con: Day One – Adult Swim Panels". Toon Zone. Retrieved 22 May 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f g "Icelandic Ultra Blue". Paid Programming. Series 1. 4 November 2009. Adult Swim.
- ^ Adult Swim (16 May 2012). "Adult Swim Announces Largest Programming Schedule Ever for 2012–13". MarketWatch (Press release). Business Wire. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012.
- ^ Internet Movie Database
External links
- Infomercials at Adult Swim
- IcelandicUltraBlue.com
- Paid Programming at IMDb
- Review of Paid Programming
- Interview with David Cross