Wonder Showzen
| Wonder Showzen | |
|---|---|
| File:Wonder showzen.gif Wonder Showzen opening | |
| Created by | John Lee and Vernon Chatman |
| Starring | Vernon Chatman John Lee Cast |
| Country of origin | USA |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 16 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 21–23 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | MTV2 |
| Release | March 11, 2005 – present |
| Release | website http//wonder.mtv2.com |
| Release | website http//wonder.mtv2.com |
| Release | website http//wonder.mtv2.com |
| Release | website http//wonder.mtv2.com |
| Release | website http//wonder.mtv2.com |
| Release | website http//wonder.mtv2.com |
| Release | website http//wonder.mtv2.com |
Wonder Showzen is an American sketch comedy television series that began airing in 2005 on MTV2. It was created by John Lee and Vernon Chatman of PFFR.
The show's format is that of educational PBS children's television shows such as Sesame Street or The Electric Company (e.g. use of stock footage, puppetry, and clips of children being interviewed). However, Wonder Showzen parodies the format in a very adult-oriented manner. In addition to general controversial comedy, it satirizes politics, religion, war, and culture with black comedy.
Recurring skits include interviews with kids who give irreverent, controversial answers (a parody of similar segments on Sesame Street), kid reporters interviewing adults in a segment titled 'Beat Kids', and man-on-the-street interviews by the puppet Clarence (voiced by co-creator/writer Vernon Chatman). Clarence has a knack for harassing New Yorkers with innocent questions. Every episode also features short animated cartoon segments, many of which are produced at Augenblick Studios.
One episode, titled "Patience," has been described by its creators as an attempt at creating a "visual palindrome." Midway through the show, the episode stops and runs in reverse.
Wonder Showzen was originally developed and pitched to the USA Network. After about five minutes of viewing, executives at the USA Network said that there was no way they could air the program.[citation needed] However, Viacom was re-branding MTV2 and made Wonder Showzen part of its new programming lineup. It aired as part of Sic 'Em Fridays, along with Team Sanchez and Jackass spinoff Wildboyz. The pilot was named simply Kids Show. The Wonder Showzen theme song is still 'Kids Show'.
MTV released the first season of Wonder Showzen on DVD on March 28, 2006. The second season of Wonder Showzen premiered on March 31, 2006 and had its season two finale starring Clarence on May 19, 2006 on MTV2. The second season of Wonder Showzen was released on DVD on October 10, 2006. Reruns of the show also air on MTV and Comedy Central. It is shown in the UK on MTV2, MTV and TMF. The program currently airs every Friday at 9:30PM EST after The Andy Milonakis Show. Information pertaining to whether or not and when a third season will air has not been confirmed, but the creators recently said it's highly unlikely, with MTV2 at the very least [1].
Characters
Cast
Adults
- Vernon Chatman (Chauncey/Clarence/A.P. Gibralter)
- John Lee (Wordsworth/Him)
- Alyson Levy (Sthugar)
Kids
- Taylor Bedlivy
- P.J. Connaire
- Trevor Heins
- Miles Kath
- Jasmina Lee
- Alexandra Rose
- Frankie Scapoli
- Brian Senior
- Ryan Simpkins
- Miles Williams
Cameos
Season One
- Flavor Flav - As himself in episode 101, The full "Storytime with Flavor Flav" was cut from the episode and it's on the Season One DVD.
- Jon Glaser - As Mr. Story in episode 101.
- Amy Sedaris - As Miss Amy in episode 106.
- Christopher Meloni - As the Cooties Spokesman in episode 107.
Season Two
- Will Ryan - As the voice of "Letter P" in episode 201.
- David Cross - As T-Totaled Timbo in episode 203, Hostage in episode 206, and Junkyard Jessip in episode 207.
- Jon Glaser - As Dr. Rawstein in episode 203 and as a Horse Apples cast member in episode 207.
- Amy Poehler - As Miss Mary in episode 206 and Don't Talk with Your Mouth Full Spokeswoman in episode 203.
- John Oates - As himself, singing in the song, "War doesn't solve anything" in episode 206.
- Devendra Banhart - As himself, singing in the song, "War doesn't solve anything" in episode 206.
- Rick Springfield - As himself, singing in the song, "War doesn't solve anything" in episode 206.
- Corin Tucker - As herself, singing in the song, "War doesn't solve anything" in episode 206.
- Todd Barry - As a Horse Apples cast member in episode 207.
- Zach Galifianakis - As Uncle Daddy in episode 207.
- Will Oldham - As a Horse Apples cast member in episode 207.
Recurring Segments
- Beat Kids - One of the children, most often Trevor, leads a journalistic segment with mostly offensive, humorous questions, ridiculing interviewees at a given venue. The segment appears in almost every episode.
- What's Jim Drawing?
- Horse Apples - A segment in episode 203, which later expanded into an entire episode in 207, that parodies Hee Haw and redneck comedy. The latter episode featured several guest actors.
- Funny/Not Funny - A series of clips airs with a chorus of children yelling either "funny" or "not funny".
- So Now You Know
- Q&A - A series of children each answer a single question
- Breaking News -
- We Went To... - Children narrate an ostensibly educational trip while old stock film airs
- Clarence's Movies - Clarence the puppet interviews people on the street on a common theme, usually antagonistically or obnoxiously, which is often reciprocated by violence or threats
- Story Time - A special guest reads a story to the children. Guests have included Flavor Flav (as himself although it was unaired), Jon Glaser (as Mr. Story), and David Cross (as a hostage)
- Dear Jesus or Dear Grandma - A short recurring segment where a letter written by a child is read
- Mr. Body
- D.O.G O.B.G.Y.N - A cartoon chronicling a dog with the ability to aid in child birth
Episode Guide
Season 1: March 2005-April 2005
| Episode | Title | Screenshot | Overview | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot | Kids Show | File:Wondershowzen00.jpg | Unaired pilot episode produced in 2000. The Letter N becomes depressed and self-loathing and goes on a quest to find herself. | Never Aired |
| 101 | Birth | File:Wondershowzen01.JPG | Extended version of the pilot episode. The gang tries to help out the depressed Letter N. | March 11, 2005 |
| 102 | Space | File:Wondershowzen02.JPG | Chauncey and his friend Kaitlin go into outer space. They confront God after the Earth is destroyed during their trip. | March 18, 2005 |
| 103 | Ocean | File:Wondershowzen03.JPG | The gang go on a quest to find a bottle of pure liquid Imagination. | March 25, 2005 |
| 104 | Diversity | File:Wondershowzen04.JPG | Letters and Numbers have a war over who is better, while two members of the schism fall in love. | April 1, 2005 |
| 105 | Nature | File:Wondershowzen05.jpg | Chauncey must save the day when Mother Nature gets a sex change operation. | April 8, 2005 |
| 106 | History | File:Wondershowzen06.JPG | Number 2 comes to visit the gang in Number 1's place and becomes suicidal when no one likes her. | April 15, 2005 |
| 107 | Health | File:Wondershowzen07.jpg | When Wordsworth comes down with a case of the cooties, Him uses it to his advantage and sells Wordsworth's encrusted sores as snack treats. | April 22, 2005 |
| 108 | Patience | File:Wondershowzen08.jpg | An episode which tries the viewer's patience. The first act occurs at a slow pace, the second act is the first act in reverse, and the third act is extremely fast. | April 29, 2005 |
Season 2: March 2006-May 2006
| Episode | Title | Screenshot | Overview | Air Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | Body | File:Wondershowzen09.jpg | The gang convinces the overweight Letter P to get liposuction. | March 31, 2006 |
| 202 | Time | File:Wondershowzen10.jpg | Chauncey's future self from two minutes into the future causes havoc for Chauncey in the present time. | April 7, 2006 |
| 203 | Knowledge | File:Wondershowzen14.JPG | Middle America visits the show and the gang falls in love with his Stupid. They let him take over Wonder Showzen, turning it into "Horse Apples." (First episode that has two "Beat Kids" segments). | April 14, 2006 |
| 204 | Justice | File:Wondershowzen11.JPG | The gang revisits the old days of America with slavery. | April 21, 2006 |
| 205 | Science | File:Wondershowzen12.JPG | Chauncey and Him climb into Wordsworth's brain to help him face his fears and become a man. | April 28, 2006 |
| 206 | Cooperation | File:Wondershowzen13.JPG | The gang goes to war with a bootleg version of Wonder Showzen. | May 5, 2006 |
| 207 | Horse Apples | File:Wondershowzenhick.JPG | An entire episode of "Horse Apples" instead of the "Mathematics" episode originally shown in previews for this week. | May 12, 2006 |
| 208 | Clarence Special Report | File:Clarencespecialreport.PNG | Season 2 Finale. Clarence challenges New Yorkers to produce compelling television. | May 19, 2006 |
DVD Releases
| DVD Name | Cover Art | Ep # | Region 1 release date | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | File:Wonder showzen season 1 DVD cover.jpg | 8 | March 28 2006 | Audtions and Outtakes, Storytime with Flava Flav, Special Guest Commentaries by… Gordon Lish, Dick Gregory, and others!, Sneek Peek Cartoon, Locker Poster, PFFR Music Video. |
| Season 2 | File:Ws s2 dvd.jpg | 8 | October 10 2006 | Clarence, Kids and Puppets Outtakes, Audio Commentary on select episodes, Unaired Cartoon, Easter Egg, 1st wonder showzen storybook. |
