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Nerd Alert!! VH1 Launches ACCEPTABLE TV, From Jack Black & The Guys Behind MONSTER HOUSE & THE SARAH SILVERMAN PROGRAM!!
I am – Hercules!!
Dan Harmon & Rob Schrab, the writing team behind the movie “Monster House” and “The Sarah Silverman Program” (and the bizarre 1999 Jack Black/Owen Wilson sci-fi comedy pilot “Heat Vision and Jack”) have reteamed with Jack Black for a new VH1 show titled “Acceptable TV.”
In a nutshell, “Acceptable” is six 2.5- to 5-minute “TV shows.” Five are staff-written, one is a viewer submission.
Each week, viewers can hop on the show’s website and vote on which “shows” they’d like to see continue the following week.
Here are two of the “pilots” we’ll be seeing tonight or in the near future:
1) Joke Chasers (2:45)
2) Who Farted? (2:45)
And here’s writer-producer Harmon to personally pitch the project:
Hi. I’m sending this to Hercules in TV, and also Harry, who wrote such glowing things about a film I co-wrote, Monster House, that I’m convinced he was paid off. Thank you for that.
I’m Dan Harmon. Together with Rob Schrab, I wrote Monster House, Heat Vision and Jack and The Sarah Silverman Program. Also, we created Channel 101, a non-profit community of filmmakers that creates tiny TV shows and allows the audience to continue or cancel them.
Channel 101 alumnus Jack Black and I are launching a new sketch comedy show called Acceptable TV (Schrab also executive produces, but is busy with Sarah Silverman at the moment). It operates on the same principle as Channel 101 – each week, the audience will see several 2.5 minute TV shows, and they will vote to continue or cancel them via our website, acceptable.tv.
Why am I writing you? Because although it’s a great show, it’s a great show that is airing on VH1, a network that can sometimes just sort of not do things. The up side to their not-doing is that they’ve not-meddled in our content, which is why the show is, in my opinion, truly great. The down side is that they’re currently not-promoting our show in any effective way. They think they are. They think their release of a commercial to TMZ, combined with Viacom’s suing of Youtube, is groundbreaking cross-platform marketing. They also think Web Junk 20 is a good idea. They think lots of things. In the mean time, nobody really knows our show is going to be on the air …
The right people certainly don’t know. Our people. The nerds. The people that will really like it. The fans of Mr. Show, Kids in the Hall, Stella, Python, SCTV, etc. That’s what we are, and that’s the audience for whom we’re making this show.
We joked around at the office today that I should write to Ain’t it Cool posing as a P.A. leaking information so we could get some effective advertising for our show.
Instead, I’m writing to you as the creator and Executive Producer, because Ain’t it Cool has been a backbone to the marketing of everything Schrab and I have ever done. You guys were the ones effectively promoting Scud: The Disposable Assassin (remember the internet before there were girls on it?). You guys made the underground aware of Heat Vision and Jack. And clearly, we’ve all done some growing since those golden days, because Harry, the day you published your review of Monster House, Zemeckis himself was popping champagne.
We have created our own industry from the ground up- you guys as empowered reviewers, we as self-taught creators. I’m hoping we can help each other out once again. I’m trying to make sure VH1’s press department sends a copy of the first episode of Acceptable TV to AICN. If they don’t, I will. I just want to make sure that when you see it in your mailbox, you know what it is and do check it out, and do give your readers an honest appraisal of it.
It’s made by people that believe what you guys believe- that the customer is always right, even on TV.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. It’s inspiring to see AICN’s success.
In case you want or need to do so, you have my permission to publish any portion of this email. I’m not ashamed of the fact that I want someone to see my show.
Dan Harmon
Did you watch the clips? Does anybody look familiar? Some background on the other creative forces behind the show:
Demorge Brown (cast member) was born in Texas, and raised in New York. Currently, he lives on a hilltop in the shadows of L.A.'s Dodger Stadium. He has written and acted with the Upright Citizens Brigade and The Groundlings. DeMorge can be seen in the Channel 101 show, “Yacht Rock,” as well as “Minor Accomplishments,” “According to Jim” and “Punk'd.” If you listen closely, you'll hear him mumbling in “Family Guy” and “American Dad.” His love of horses and soccer has brought him to the cast of VH1's Acceptable.TV.
Eric Falconer (co-executive producer, writer & cast member) 30, hails from Watertown, MA and he likes baseball and buffalo wings. His writing credits include “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “The Sarah Silverman Program” and he is currently Co-Executive Producer of VH1's “Acceptable.TV.”
Jennifer Flack (cast member) graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a BA in theatre in 2001. She's spent five years in Los Angeles doing shows at the Improv Olympic West, ComedySportz and making video shorts for Channel 101. She is a fan of music, movies, and life in general. She is now a cast member on Acceptable.TV, and couldn't be happier.
Drew Hancock (director, writer & cast member) 27, was born and raised in Omaha, NE. Contrary to popular belief, he is not very good at basketball. In addition to VH1's "Acceptable.TV," Drew has directed shorts for Tenacious D, the MTV Video Music Awards, Converse Shoes and singer/songwriter Greg Laswell. His favorite movie is Die Hard.
Jen Kirkman (cast member) is originally from Boston, MA. She's been performing stand-up comedy for ten years, and has appeared on Comedy Central's Premium Blend and NBC's Late Friday. Jen's adorable voice can be heard in the Cartoon Network show, "Home Movies." She performs regularly in Los Angeles and has just released her first comedy album entitled, "Self Help."
Ryan Nagata (director) grew up in Santa Monica, CA where he became very interested in making movies. In addition to shooting and editing his own shorts, he also delights in doing special effects makeup, building models and amateur pyrotechnics, constructing sets and props, sewing elaborate costumes, and doing computer effects on his primitive home system. Ryan is a part of the graduate film production program at USC and wants to give them mad props.
Ryan Ridley (writer & cast member) was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. After dropping out of college, he moved to Chicago for four years where he performed standup comedy and made short films. He moved to Los Angeles to become a part of Channel 101 where he continued to make short videos for the monthly competition and eventually worked his way up to a job on “Acceptable.TV.” Besides Jack Black he is the only Jew involved in the production.
Justin Roiland (writer & animation producer/director) Creator of many bizarre animated and live action short films including “House of Cosbys” was born and raised in Clinton, Iowa. His mother and father were divorced when Justin was only 13, and he was forced to move in with his elderly grandmother. His grandmother was very poor and Justin had to work the corn fields in order to support her. Meanwhile, Justins parents had worked hard and became network executives at VH1. Many years later, When Justin's estranged parents learned of his hard work in the corn fields, they rewarded him with a job on VH1's “Acceptable.TV”. Justin is a writer on the show, an actor/ voice actor on the show, and most importantly, the animation producer/ director.
Romanski (writer & cast member) 28, hails from Nashua, New Hampshire and graduated from Emerson College in 2000 with a degree in Muktah. His credits include “South Park,” “It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia,” “The Sarah Silverman Program,” and he is currently a writer/actor on VH1's “Acceptable.TV.” In addition, Chris and his writing partner are writing a movie for Jack Black. In his spare time Chris likes to drink, smoke and cheat on his girlfriend. Just kidding?
JD Ryznar (writer & cast member) was born and raised in Muskegon, MI. He graduated from the University of Michigan, where he won the Prestigious Hopwood Award for excellence in writing. In 2005, he co-created, wrote, directed and starred in the viral internet sensation, "Yacht Rock" for Channel 101. Along with “Acceptable TV,” J.D. is also penning the Jason Lee vehicle "Krater" for Warner Brothers.
10 p.m. Friday. VH1.
Make Way For The Homo Superior!!
The Batman 3.x
* Batman Beyond 3.x * Bosom Buddies 1.x * The 4400 3.x * Jason of Star Command: The Complete Series * Justice League Unlimited 2.x * Kidnapped: The Complete Series * Kyle XY 1.x * The Larry Sanders Show: Not Just the Best Of * The Lost Room: The Complete Miniseries * Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman Vol. 1 * McLeod's Daughters 2.x * Michael Palin: Around The World In 80 Days * Mission: Impossible 2.x * Moral Orel: Vol. 1 * MXC: Most Extreme Elimination Challenge 2.x * NewsRadio 5.x * The OC 4.x * The Odd Couple 1.x * One Day At A Time 1.x * The Rockford Files 4.x * Roots: 30th Anniversary Edition * Scrubs 5.x * Shadow Warriors 1.x * The Shield 5.x * The Streets of San Francisco 1.x Vol. 1 * Teen Titans 3.x * Twin Peaks 2.x * The Untouchables 1.x Vol. 1 * The Venture Bros. 2.x * Voltron Vol. 3 * Welcome Back Kotter 1.x * The Wild Wild West 2.x * WKRP in Cincinnati 1.x
I’m Dan Harmon. Together with Rob Schrab, I wrote Monster House, Heat Vision and Jack and The Sarah Silverman Program. Also, we created Channel 101, a non-profit community of filmmakers that creates tiny TV shows and allows the audience to continue or cancel them.
Channel 101 alumnus Jack Black and I are launching a new sketch comedy show called Acceptable TV (Schrab also executive produces, but is busy with Sarah Silverman at the moment). It operates on the same principle as Channel 101 – each week, the audience will see several 2.5 minute TV shows, and they will vote to continue or cancel them via our website, acceptable.tv.
Why am I writing you? Because although it’s a great show, it’s a great show that is airing on VH1, a network that can sometimes just sort of not do things. The up side to their not-doing is that they’ve not-meddled in our content, which is why the show is, in my opinion, truly great. The down side is that they’re currently not-promoting our show in any effective way. They think they are. They think their release of a commercial to TMZ, combined with Viacom’s suing of Youtube, is groundbreaking cross-platform marketing. They also think Web Junk 20 is a good idea. They think lots of things. In the mean time, nobody really knows our show is going to be on the air …
The right people certainly don’t know. Our people. The nerds. The people that will really like it. The fans of Mr. Show, Kids in the Hall, Stella, Python, SCTV, etc. That’s what we are, and that’s the audience for whom we’re making this show.
We joked around at the office today that I should write to Ain’t it Cool posing as a P.A. leaking information so we could get some effective advertising for our show.
Instead, I’m writing to you as the creator and Executive Producer, because Ain’t it Cool has been a backbone to the marketing of everything Schrab and I have ever done. You guys were the ones effectively promoting Scud: The Disposable Assassin (remember the internet before there were girls on it?). You guys made the underground aware of Heat Vision and Jack. And clearly, we’ve all done some growing since those golden days, because Harry, the day you published your review of Monster House, Zemeckis himself was popping champagne.
We have created our own industry from the ground up- you guys as empowered reviewers, we as self-taught creators. I’m hoping we can help each other out once again. I’m trying to make sure VH1’s press department sends a copy of the first episode of Acceptable TV to AICN. If they don’t, I will. I just want to make sure that when you see it in your mailbox, you know what it is and do check it out, and do give your readers an honest appraisal of it.
It’s made by people that believe what you guys believe- that the customer is always right, even on TV.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. It’s inspiring to see AICN’s success.
In case you want or need to do so, you have my permission to publish any portion of this email. I’m not ashamed of the fact that I want someone to see my show.
Dan Harmon
Eric Falconer (co-executive producer, writer & cast member) 30, hails from Watertown, MA and he likes baseball and buffalo wings. His writing credits include “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “The Sarah Silverman Program” and he is currently Co-Executive Producer of VH1's “Acceptable.TV.”
Jennifer Flack (cast member) graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a BA in theatre in 2001. She's spent five years in Los Angeles doing shows at the Improv Olympic West, ComedySportz and making video shorts for Channel 101. She is a fan of music, movies, and life in general. She is now a cast member on Acceptable.TV, and couldn't be happier.
Drew Hancock (director, writer & cast member) 27, was born and raised in Omaha, NE. Contrary to popular belief, he is not very good at basketball. In addition to VH1's "Acceptable.TV," Drew has directed shorts for Tenacious D, the MTV Video Music Awards, Converse Shoes and singer/songwriter Greg Laswell. His favorite movie is Die Hard.
Jen Kirkman (cast member) is originally from Boston, MA. She's been performing stand-up comedy for ten years, and has appeared on Comedy Central's Premium Blend and NBC's Late Friday. Jen's adorable voice can be heard in the Cartoon Network show, "Home Movies." She performs regularly in Los Angeles and has just released her first comedy album entitled, "Self Help."
Ryan Nagata (director) grew up in Santa Monica, CA where he became very interested in making movies. In addition to shooting and editing his own shorts, he also delights in doing special effects makeup, building models and amateur pyrotechnics, constructing sets and props, sewing elaborate costumes, and doing computer effects on his primitive home system. Ryan is a part of the graduate film production program at USC and wants to give them mad props.
Ryan Ridley (writer & cast member) was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. After dropping out of college, he moved to Chicago for four years where he performed standup comedy and made short films. He moved to Los Angeles to become a part of Channel 101 where he continued to make short videos for the monthly competition and eventually worked his way up to a job on “Acceptable.TV.” Besides Jack Black he is the only Jew involved in the production.
Justin Roiland (writer & animation producer/director) Creator of many bizarre animated and live action short films including “House of Cosbys” was born and raised in Clinton, Iowa. His mother and father were divorced when Justin was only 13, and he was forced to move in with his elderly grandmother. His grandmother was very poor and Justin had to work the corn fields in order to support her. Meanwhile, Justins parents had worked hard and became network executives at VH1. Many years later, When Justin's estranged parents learned of his hard work in the corn fields, they rewarded him with a job on VH1's “Acceptable.TV”. Justin is a writer on the show, an actor/ voice actor on the show, and most importantly, the animation producer/ director.
Romanski (writer & cast member) 28, hails from Nashua, New Hampshire and graduated from Emerson College in 2000 with a degree in Muktah. His credits include “South Park,” “It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia,” “The Sarah Silverman Program,” and he is currently a writer/actor on VH1's “Acceptable.TV.” In addition, Chris and his writing partner are writing a movie for Jack Black. In his spare time Chris likes to drink, smoke and cheat on his girlfriend. Just kidding?
JD Ryznar (writer & cast member) was born and raised in Muskegon, MI. He graduated from the University of Michigan, where he won the Prestigious Hopwood Award for excellence in writing. In 2005, he co-created, wrote, directed and starred in the viral internet sensation, "Yacht Rock" for Channel 101. Along with “Acceptable TV,” J.D. is also penning the Jason Lee vehicle "Krater" for Warner Brothers.
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Am I right?
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equal garabge.
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I've been a long-time watcher of Channel 101 (it doesn't get much better than Yacht Rock) and have even watched its New York spin-off Channel 102 a few times. It's a great concept that I think could definitely catch on. I'll be pulling for the show to succeed.
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I just went to VH1.com and looked at the other "shows" that they have in their lineup (besides Acceptable TV). My God! Dice, Hogan, Gene Simmons, I Love New York, something about white rappers...how in the hell is this channel thriving? They have Bonaduce too right? What a steaming pile of crappy TV. Dan & Rob, let's only hope that the droves of people who must be tuning in to the Surrreal Life and Flavor Flav spin-offs watch you guys as well. That's a tall order, I know. Even better, let's hope you have a great first season with enough acclaim that you can move to a different channel! Bump Mencia off of Comedy Central...or jump into Adult Swim. Good luck.
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and scene
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Sorry, that was a load of horse shit. I loved Heat Vision and Jack, but this was just fucking awful. Those guys have no idea how to fucking act or write. Also that Ampd Mobile shit was lame as hell, how could they not even crack one joke about it? Are they that held by the balls by that sponsor?
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I'm excited about this show. There are some incredibly funny and talented people working at channel 101.
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and hey, don't forget 'The State'! I wanna dip my balls in it! Man, I loved that show soooo much, I wanted to take it behind the school and get it pregnant.
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like it says
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is thta movie coming out with Jack Black where they have to replace all classic videos wit htheir own reenactments?? That shit just may be funnier than Borat?
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There's not enough love for Monster House on this site. That movie was hilarious in a Goonie type of way. Fucking loved it. Had heart too. I haven't seen Sars or Atheist Feet yet but the ycan't be as good.
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haha very good stuff. Will it be on vh1 UK?
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just saying it was a fantastic sketch comedy show...why are you trying to make me cry?
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Nothing beats "shitbusters". Falconer is great. A real, grass roots sketch comedy show that we have some degree of control over. I'll be watching.
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Quit horsing around and get back to doing SCUD: THE DISPOSABLE ASSASSIN!
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Just wanted to say to, there is a definitive difference between a pedestrian low brow "fart joke" (ie:Shrek) and a well written intelligent twist on a fart joke (ie: Who Farted, from ATV). Dismissing something because you're not adept enough to recognize the difference makes me sad for you.
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Goddamn, I can't wait for Sunday night's BSG finale. Just hand over the Emmy store to this show, and Michael Hogan's Col. Tigh.
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just wait til MTV comes to its senses and pays the music rights to release the whole series on dvd. yeah, that'll never happen, but it'd be nice
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check out Awesometown. The Lonely Island's (Andy Samberg from SNL) pilot for fox. http://www.thelonelyisland.com/awesometown/
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Someone make that a series. And Anna Mensia was funny too. "Next week: an energy monster attacks! Go get him Anna!"
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Is it me or do both of those seem like SNL sketches that are humorous the first time, but never again?
Was a big fan of channel 101 until the guys behind it showed themselves to be completely arrogant jackasses. Try to spend 5 minutes on the self-congratulatory message board without vomiting. Try to give honest feedback that is slightly critical. NOt allowed. The only message board I have seen in 13 years online where the mods feel free to alter people's posts at will.
That being said, Yacht Rock was a classic. -
a DV camera who think they're funny. But Acceptable TV was above average as far as lame youtube humor goes.
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...I will be forced to give up on the human race.
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Rob Schrab is currently working on a new issue of SCUD. He's been spending the last few weeks on it and is on page 42. He's got some vlogs about it on robschrab.com
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all this is is a lame www.channell01.com ripoff
at least channel101 was user created
i will say i laughed at the homeless james bond skit but was totally turned off by the fact it was a ripoff -
I wouldn't say it's a ripoff of Channel 101, more like a rebranding. Many of the most popular creators of Channel 101 are working on this, and they still have a "user created" slot, which this week was the bit called "Anna Manesia". I liked half the skits, and have hopes this show will really improve given time and tlc.
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The rest were boring and just plain unfunny. I tried to register for the site to vote but I kept getting error messages. What a huge letdown all the way around...it better get funny real damn quick or it will canned quicked than you can say "Jack Black Is Over-exposed".
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I've followed Channel 101 for a while, and somehow this doesn't feel right. I don't know if it's the more polished production value, or if network censorship has neutered the rawness of 101, but I just don't find myself laughing all that much. Nothing on the first episode even approaches 101 shows Laser Fart or House of Cosbys. Hell, I didn't even see anything better than Ultra Force. I don't think this show is going to attract much of an audience beyond the hard core 101'ers.
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I thought the shows were cute, not great. I actually like the ones they shot that are up on their Yu Tube page better. Prison Prison Break is genius. The host segments suffer from the "We think we're funny, so us just saying stuff on the coach is funny" problem. I think once they hit their stride this could be better than SNL. Just prepare a little better for the glue segments and you'll have a great show instead of an ameturish feeling show.
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I thought the shows were good, not great. I actually like the ones they shot that are up on their You Tube page better. Prison Prison Break is genius. The host segments suffer from the "We think we're funny, so us just saying stuff on the coach is funny" problem. I think once they hit their stride this could be better than SNL. Just prepare a little better for the glue segments and you'll have a great show instead of an amateurish feeling show. Keep Rockin' it Out!
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...and while this feels somewhat similar, it also feels more wanky. Yacht Rock was *pure,* man -- pure, inspired, cheesy insanity. Unfortunately I couldn't get past the teeny people vid, and the only reason I watched that is because Reznar, YR's "Michael McDonald," was in it. I guess I've been spoiled by 101's greatest creation. This just doesn't do it for me.
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