Infomercials (TV specials)

Infomercials is an umbrella title for independent, quarter-hour television comedy specials airing on Adult Swim. Unlike actual paid programming, all of the programs are fictitious, and for the most part maintain no continuity with each other.

Infomercials
Genre
StarringVarious
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
Production
Executive producer(s)Keith Crofford[lower-alpha 1]
Mike Lazzo[lower-alpha 2]
Walter Newman[lower-alpha 2]
Producer(s)Melissa Warrenburg[lower-alpha 3]
Ollie Green[lower-alpha 4]
Mark Costa[lower-alpha 5]
Paige Boudreaux[lower-alpha 6]
Camera setupSingle camera
Running time5–22 minutes (15-30 min. with commercials)
Production company(s)Williams Street
Release
Original networkAdult Swim
Picture format1080i (16:9 HDTV)
480i (4:3 SDTV; some episodes for artistic/aesthetic purposes)
Audio formatDolby Surround
Original releaseNovember 3, 2009 (2009-11-03) –
present
External links
Website

Most of the specials closely resemble & lampoon the format of infomercials, while others parody tropes in niche media such as closed-circuit hotel information channels, industrial films, sitcoms, outdated reality television formats, and public-access television. A number of the titles have a purposeful standard definition look and framing, to match a dated aesthetic. The specials typically air at 4 a.m. ET/PT.

There is no title card or common identifier for the specials, and on some program guide listings, it can be confused with an actual segment of paid programming; if there is a description, it is sometimes blank, with no season or episode numbers. Every title has a different look, as outside of the Williams Street production logos, there are no common directors, cast or crew between the specials, though some directors have returned.

One in particular, "Too Many Cooks", is notable for gathering media interest in November 2014. It contains a long-form introduction sequence common to 1980s and 1990s TV shows, except with a seemingly endless cast that continued to be introduced for 11 minutes straight.[1][2]

Specials

All the titles are or have been aired under the homonym banner, according to the Adult Swim schedule.

No. Title Created by / Developed by Written by Directed by Co-production(s) Original air date
1 Icelandic UltraBlue H. Jon Benjamin and David Cross Jeff Buchanan November 3, 2009 (2009-11-03)
2 Dangerously Delicious: Paid Advertisement Aziz Ansari (original stand-up comedy film)
(d): Aziz Ansari, Jason Woliner, and Eric Wareheim		 Aziz Ansari, Jason Woliner, and Eric Wareheim Eric Wareheim Abso Lutely Productions
Grandpa Pictures		 July 23, 2012 (2012-07-23)
3 The NTSF:SD:SUV:HISS Infomercial[3][4][lower-alpha 7] Paul Scheer Alex Fernie and Nick Wiger Alex Fernie 2nd Man On The Moon
Abominable Pictures		 November 9, 2012 (2012-11-09)
4 Swords, Knives, Very Sharp Objects and Cutlery[lower-alpha 7] Rob Huebel Eric Appel November 27, 2012 (2012-11-27)
5 Broomshakalaka! Justin Becker, Steve Clemmons, and Becca Kinskey Justin Becker and Steve Clemmons Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert Abominable Pictures December 10, 2013
6 For-Profit Online University Wild, Aggressive Dog (s): Geoff Haggerty, Dan E. Klein, Matthew Klinman, Micheal Pielocik, Chris Sartinsky, and Sam West
(t): Sam West		 Sam West Abominable Pictures
Wild, Aggressive Dog (uncredited)		 December 17, 2013 (2013-12-17)
7 Live Forever as You Are Now with Alan Resnick Ben O'Brien and Alan Resnick Alan Resnick and Dina Kelberman Ben O'Brien and Alan Resnick AB Video Solutions, LLC December 24, 2013 (2013-12-24)
8 Fartcopter[lower-alpha 8] Rob Huebel Alex Fernie Abominable Pictures October 6, 2014 (2014-10-06)
9 The Salad Mixxxer Chris Amick, Ben Mekler, and David Soldinger Ken Marino and David Soldinger October 13, 2014 (2014-10-13)
10 Alpha Chow[lower-alpha 9] Justin Becker, Steve Clemmons, and Becca Kinskey Justin Becker and Steve Clemmons Dave Green October 20, 2014 (2014-10-20)
11 Goth Fitness[lower-alpha 9] Chris Amick, Ben Mekler, and David Soldinger Danny Jelinek
12 Too Many Cooks Casper Kelly October 28, 2014 (2014-10-28)
13 The Newbridge Tourism Board Presents: "We're Newbridge, We're Comin' to Get Ya!" Tom Scharpling and Jon Wurster Tom Scharpling Production Company Productions November 3, 2014 (2014-11-03)
14 In Search of Miracle Man Matt Besser and Rich Fulcher Neil Mahoney Abominable Pictures November 10, 2014 (2014-11-10)
15 Smart Pipe Wild, Aggressive Dog (s): Geoff Haggerty, Dan E. Klein, Matthew Klinman, Micheal Pielocik, Chris Sartinsky, and Sam West
(t): Micheal Pielocik (in Smart Pipe); Chris Sartinsky (in Book of Christ)		 Zachary Johnson and Jeffrey Max Abominable Pictures
Wild, Aggressive Dog		 November 17, 2014 (2014-11-17)
16 Book of Christ November 24, 2014 (2014-11-24)
17 Frank Pierre Presents: "The Frank Pierre Resort & Casino" Paul Scheer Matthew Freund Abominable Pictures
2nd Man On The Moon		 December 2, 2014 (2014-12-02)
18 Unedited Footage of a Bear Ben O'Brien (concept) Alan Resnick, Robby Rackleff, and Dina Kelberman Alan Resnick and Ben O'Brien AB Video Solutions, LLC December 16, 2014 (2014-12-16)
19 This House Has People in It Alan Resnick (concept) Alan Resnick AB Surveillance Solutions March 14, 2016 (2016-03-14)
20 Joe Pera Talks You to Sleep[lower-alpha 10][lower-alpha 11] Joe Pera; (d): Kieran O'Hare Joe Pera Kieran O'Hare Chestnut Walnut Unlimited March 21, 2016 (2016-03-21)
21 Big Grams: "Born to Shine" / "Run for Your Life"[lower-alpha 10][lower-alpha 12] Antwan Patton, Sarah Barthel, and Josh Carter (original EP)
(d): Erik Minkin		 Sarah Barthel, Antwan Patton, and Jim Petosa Awesome Inc. March 28, 2016 (2016-03-28)
22 M.O.P.Z. Todd Rohal and Benjamin Kasulke Todd Rohal Mechanical Dreams
PFFFR		 April 4, 2016 (2016-04-04)
23 Giles Vanderhoot Michael Showalter Michael Showalter and Jonathan Stern Michael Showalter Abominable Pictures April 25, 2016 (2016-04-25)
24 Live at the Necropolis: The Lords of Synth Nick Corirossi, Scott Gairdner, Charles Ingram, Danny Jelinek, and Ryan Perez Scott Gairdner and Ryan Perez Nick Corirossi and Charles Ingram May 2, 2016 (2016-05-02)
25 NewsHits Rob Huebel Sergio Cilli May 31, 2016 (2016-05-31)
26 Mulchtown Chris Sartinsky and Becca Kinskey Chris Sartinsky Danny Jelinek Ideal Milk Co.
Abominable Pictures[7] (uncredited)		 June 7, 2016 (2016-06-07)
27 Check It Out! with Scott Clam[lower-alpha 7] John C. Reilly, Tim Heidecker, and Eric Wareheim Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim Abso Lutely Productions October 23, 2017 (2017-10-23)
28 The Suplex Duplex Complex Zack Carlson, Bryan Connolly, and Todd Rohal Todd Rohal PFFFR
Ten Acre Films		 October 30, 2017 (2017-10-30)
29 Wet Shapes Kati Skelton Little Bear Bear Productions
It's Grim		 November 6, 2017 (2017-11-06)
30 Innovation Makers: The Coyote Suit Dan Guterman and John Harris Danny Jelinek Abso Lutely Productions December 12, 2017 (2017-12-12)
31 A Message from the Future[lower-alpha 13] Paul Scheer Paul Scheer and Jonathan Stern Ryan Perez Abominable Pictures
2nd Man On The Moon		 June 4, 2018 (2018-06-04)
32 Cool Dad - Official Trailer Alex Kavutskiy and Ariel Gardner Abominable Pictures June 11, 2018 (2018-06-11)
33 Dayworld[lower-alpha 10][lower-alpha 8] Cole Kush and Jay Weingarten Abso Lutely Productions
Daytime Studio		 June 18, 2018 (2018-06-18)
34 Final Deployment 4: Queen Battle Walkthrough[lower-alpha 14] Casper Kelly and Nick Gibbons June 25, 2018 (2018-06-25)
35 Food: The Source of Life[lower-alpha 13] Greg Hess Ryan Perez Abominable Pictures July 2, 2018 (2018-07-02)
36 Pervert Everything Lorelei Ramirez PFFFR
AB Video Solutions, LLC		 December 10, 2018 (2018-12-10)
37 Flayaway Sarah Sherman Kati Skelton Abso Lutely Productions
Helltrap Nightmare		 December 17, 2018 (2018-12-17)
38 When Panties Fly Chiyoung Lee December 16, 2019 (2019-12-16)
39 Piggy Steve Smith Steve Smith & Clay Tatum Steve Smith Abso Lutely Productions April 27, 2020 (2020-04-27)
40 Skeleton Landlord[lower-alpha 8][lower-alpha 15] Doug Bleichner & Sam Wagstaff May 4, 2020 (2020-05-04)

Scrapped
  • The Six Pack Comedy Minute[10]
  • Ultimate Beetles Collection[11][12]

Notes
  1. Keith Crofford serves as Executive Producer for Williams Street on all infomercials.
  2. Mike Lazzo and Walter Newman serve as Executive Producers for Williams Street on select infomercials individually alongside Crofford.
  3. Melissa Warrenburg serves as Producer for Williams Street on live action infomercials from 2016 and prior, as well as Final Deployment 4: Queen Battle Walkthrough in 2018 and When Panties Fly in 2019.
  4. Ollie Green serves as Producer for Williams Street on animated infomercials and on M.O.P.Z.
  5. Mark Costa serves as Producer for Williams Street on live action infomercials after 2016.
  6. Paige Boudreaux serves as Producer for Williams Street on action infomercials after 2018.
  7. These three Infomercials are the only ones to be related to TV series.
  8. These Infomercials also serve as pilot episodes for Adult Swim.[5][6]
  9. These two Infomercials are the only eighth-hour ones of the project, and are always scheduled as one program listed in TV guides as "Alpha Chow & Goth Fitness". No commercial break is aired between it.
  10. These three Infomercials are the only animated ones of the project.
  11. In 2019, the Adult Swim's official YouTube channel has a version of this special repeated for 10 hours.
  12. Only music video Infomercial of the entire project.
  13. These two Infomercials were originally called: Nuclear Political Ad (for the first), and Farm to Table (for the second).[8]
  14. Only half-hour Infomercial of the entire project.
  15. This infomercial was greenlit after being pitched on Adult Swim's weekly Development Meeting livestream.[9]
gollark: I mean, I can do that, but it probably won't say *why* people believe in it as much as just "they believe X, Y, Z".
gollark: well, that is unhelp™.
gollark: ...
gollark: I'm not sure about that, though, <@!236628809158230018>. I mean, if there was one in the distant parse which then ceased interaction, it would easily have been long enough for it to have been garbled by now.
gollark: ... "faith" or something?

References
  1. Grinberg, Emanuella (November 10, 2014). "This weekend's trending video: 'Too Many Cooks'" (Online). Turner Media. CNN. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  2. Branch, Chris. "'Too Many Cooks' Creator Dishes on Making the Viral Hit". Huffington Post. AOL. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  3. "NTSF:SD:SUV" The NTSF: SD: SUV: HISS Infomercial (TV Episode 2012)". IMDb. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  4. Bean, Alex (November 13, 2012). "NTSF:SD:SUV:: Episode Recap - HISS Infomercial - Season 2, Episode 13 – ToonZone News". ToonZone. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  5. "Adult Swim Pilot or Real Florida". Vimeo. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  6. "DAYWORLD - Cole Kush / Hello!". www.ckush.com. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  7. Adult Swim Infomercials — Abominable Pictures
  8. CREDITS — Abominable Pictures
  10. Bnjrivera (March 11, 2016). "NEWS: The Return of the 4am Infomercials Premiering on 03.14.16 - [swim squad]". Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  11. LySK1hZ.png (1301×642)
  12. Bnjrivera (March 11, 2016). "NEWS: The Return of the 4am Infomercials Premiering on 03.14.16 - [swim squad]". Retrieved May 26, 2018.
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