Wonder Showzen

Wonder Showzen is an American sketch comedy television series that aired between 2005 and 2006 on MTV2. It was created by Vernon Chatman and John Lee of PFFR.

Wonder Showzen
Also known asKids Show
GenreAdult puppeteering
Adult animation
Black comedy
Surreal humor
Satire
Off-color humor
Created by
Starring
  • Vernon Chatman
  • John Lee
  • Alyson Levy
  • Jim Tozzi
Opening theme"Old Theme" by PFFR
Ending theme"Goodbye Song" by PFFR
Composer(s)Chris Anderson
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes16 (and 1 pilot) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Vernon Chatman
  • John Lee
  • Michele Megan Dix
  • Jesse Ignjatovic
  • Tom Calderone
Producer(s)
Production location(s)New York City, New York, U.S.
CinematographyJohn Tanzer
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time21–22 minutes
Production company(s)
DistributorCBS Television Distribution
Release
Original networkMTV2
Picture formatNTSC
Audio formatStereophonic
Original releaseMarch 11, 2005 (2005-03-11) –
May 19, 2006 (2006-05-19)
External links
Wonder Showzen
Production website

Described as a children's show for adults, the show's format is a parody of educational PBS children's television shows such as Sesame Street and The Electric Company (e.g. use of stock footage, puppetry and clips of children being interviewed), parodying the format with adult-oriented content. In addition to general controversial comedy, it satirizes politics, religion, war, sex and culture with black comedy.

Every episode begins with a disclaimer, which reads:

"Wonder Showzen contains offensive, despicable content that is too controversial and too awesome for actual children. The stark, ugly and profound truths Wonder Showzen exposes may be soul-crushing to the weak of spirit. If you allow a child to watch this show, you are a bad parent or guardian."

Development

Wonder Showzen was created by Vernon Chatman and John Lee, who pitched to the USA Network in 2000, but after a few minutes of viewing, executives there quickly concluded it did not fit the network's programming style.[1] 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 Dirty Sanchez and Wildboyz. The pilot was named simply "Kids Show". The Wonder Showzen theme song was also called 'Kids Show'. Reruns of the show also aired on MTV and Comedy Central.

MTV released the first season of Wonder Showzen on DVD 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. This season was released on DVD October 10, 2006, with an easter egg that featured an animation contest. The grand prize was announced as the winner's animation appearing on "the next DVD", but the creators later said a third season was unlikely,[2] and MTV afterward canceled the show. A return is even more unlikely as the creators of Wonder Showzen went on to produce the animated series Xavier: Renegade Angel, which aired on Adult Swim.

It aired in Canada on MTV2, the United Kingdom and Ireland on MTV Two, MTV and TMF, Australia on MTV, Germany and Italy on MTV Entertainment, Latin America on MTV Latin America and in the Baltics on MTV Networks Baltic.

Characters
Main article: List of Wonder Showzen characters

Cast

Adults
  • Vernon Chatman (Chauncey/Clarence/Various Voices)
  • John Lee (Wordsworth/Him/Various Voices)
  • Alyson Levy (Sthugar/Various Voices)
  • Jim Tozzi (Various Voices)

Kids
  • Benjamin Krueger
  • Evan Seligman
  • Taylor Bedlivy
  • P.J. Connaire
  • Jacob Kogan
  • Michael Samms
  • Trevor Heins
  • Miles Kath
  • Jasmina Lee
  • Dominic Payer
  • Mike Gibbons
  • Alexandra Rose
  • Frankie Scapoli
  • Ryan Soos
  • Brianna Simpkins
  • Miles Williams
  • Pierce Gidez
  • Madison Rose
  • Ameerah Moore
  • Ryan Simpkins
  • Juliet DePaula
  • Sam Kaufman

Cameos

Season One
  • Jon Glaser – As Mr. Story in episode 101.
  • Flavor Flav – As himself in episode 101, The full "Storytime with Flavor Flav" was cut from the broadcast version of the episode. It still appears however on the Season One DVD.
  • Dick Gregory – As Mr. Sun in episode 103.
  • Amy Sedaris – As Miss Amy in episode 106.
  • Christopher Meloni – As the Chewties Spokesman in episode 107.
  • Chris Anderson – As Koby Teeth in episode 104
  • Madison Rose - As herself in episodes 106 ("History") and 108 ("Patience")

Season Two
  • David Cross – As T-Totaled Timbo in episode 203, Hostage in episode 206, and Junkyard Jessip in episode 207.
  • Judah Friedlander – As Crickey in episodes 203 and 207.
  • Jon Glaser – As Dr. Rawstein in episodes 203 and 207.
  • Darlene Violette – As Bettsy Beth Bethanie in episodes 203 and 207.
  • Amy Poehler – As Miss Mary in episodes 203 and 206.
  • John Oates – As himself, singing in the song, "War never solves anything" in episode 206.
  • Devendra Banhart – As himself, singing in the song, "War never solves anything" in episode 206.
  • Rick Springfield – As himself, singing in the song, "War never solves anything" in episode 206.
  • Corin Tucker – As herself, singing in the song, "War never solves anything" in episode 206.
  • Todd Barry – As Barold Q. Mosley in episode 207.
  • Zach Galifianakis – As Uncle Daddy in episode 207.
  • Will Oldham – As Pastor Pigmeat in episode 207.
  • Heather Lawless – As Permanently Pregnant Peggy in episode 203 and 207.
  • Barbara Ann Davison – As Cousin Grandma Pervis in episode 203 and 207.
  • Chris Anderson – As Mr. Corn in episode 203

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? – Appeared in episode 202 and 206.
  • 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, often depicting violent or macabre images, airs with a chorus of children saying either "funny" or "not funny".
  • So Now You Know – A parody of "The More You Know", Where kids say questions and a computer shows their answers. It appeared twice on season one and once on season two in episode 205.
  • Q&A – A series of children each answer a single question.
  • Breaking News – Features the news reporter.
  • 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), David Cross (as a hostage), and Amy Sedaris (as Ms. Amy).
  • Mr. Body – A cartoon segment that parodies the Slim Goodbody character from the Captain Kangaroo television series.
  • D.O.G.O.B.G.Y.N – A cartoon chronicling a dog with the ability to aid in child birth; part of the title derives from a short form for "obstetrics and gynaecology", and part of it comes from the common domesticated dog.
  • Tyler, America's Most Perfect Child – A young child with a disturbingly well-mannered demeanor, who often forms statements about how perfect, wonderful and special they are.

Series overview
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
ConceptUnaired
PilotUnaired
18March 11, 2005 (2005-03-11)April 29, 2005 (2005-04-29)
28March 31, 2006 (2006-03-31)May 19, 2006 (2006-05-19)

Episodes

Early Concept
Title Air date
"Early Concept"Unaired for US
The 8-minute tape was made for fun in 1999 by PFFR, and they shopped it around different stores. The USA Network eventually saw their tape, and gave them money and six months to make a pilot episode.

Pilot episode
Title Air date
"Kids Show"Unaired for US
Unaired pilot episode produced in 2000 for the USA Network. The Letter N becomes depressed and self-loathing and goes on a quest to find herself.

Season 1: 2005
Nº Title Air date
101"Birth"March 11, 2005 (2005-03-11)
The gang tries to help out the depressed Letter N.
102"Space"March 18, 2005 (2005-03-18)
Chauncey and his friend Kaitlin go into outer space. They confront God after the Earth is destroyed during their trip.
103"Ocean"March 25, 2005 (2005-03-25)
The gang go on a quest to find a bottle of pure liquid Imagination.
104"Diversity"April 1, 2005 (2005-04-01)
Letters and Numbers have a war over who is better, while Letter J & Number 8 fall in love.
105"Nature"April 8, 2005 (2005-04-08)
Chauncey must save the day when Mother Nature gets a sex change operation.
106"History"April 15, 2005 (2005-04-15)
Number 2 comes to visit the gang in Number 1's place and becomes suicidal when no one likes her.
107"Health"April 22, 2005 (2005-04-22)
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.
108"Patience"April 29, 2005 (2005-04-29)
An episode which tries the viewer's patience consisting the first act, and then after realizing how little sense the first act made, the second act in reverse to "literally undo any damage this episode may have caused", and then a third act, occurring quickly, about speed.

Season 2: 2006
Nº Title Air date
201"Body"March 31, 2006 (2006-03-31)
The gang convinces the overweight Letter P to get liposuction.
202"Time"April 7, 2006 (2006-04-07)
Chauncey's future self from two years into the future causes havoc for Chauncey in the present time.
203"Knowledge"April 14, 2006 (2006-04-14)
Middle America visits the show and the gang falls in love with his stupidity. They let him take over Wonder Showzen, turning it into "Horse Apples".
204"Justice"April 21, 2006 (2006-04-21)
The gang revisits the old days of America with slavery.
205"Science"April 28, 2006 (2006-04-28)
Chauncey and Him climb into Wordsworth's brain to help him face his fears and become a man.
206"Cooperation"May 5, 2006 (2006-05-05)
The gang goes to war with a bootleg version of Wonder Showzen. The "peace settlement" is that the show divided into 60-40, thus the final act has several separate segments with full sound going on at the same time, which caps with an apocalyptic explosion. This is the last we see of all the main cast, except A.P. Gibralter and Clarence.
207"Mathematics"May 12, 2006 (2006-05-12)
An entire episode of "Horse Apples" instead of the episode originally shown in previews for this week.
208"Compelling Television"May 19, 2006 (2006-05-19)
Series Finale. Clarence challenges people to produce compelling television. At the end, he finds out there's no such thing, skydives off a helicopter, and drowns himself into the depths of the ocean. Background music composed by Nico Muhly.

Reception

Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons and Futurama said "Wonder Showzen is so weirdly funny the top of your head will burst and your skull will fly out."[3]

Cartoon Network's Adult Swim said "It's a show about kids, for freaks, and we love it."[4]

Home releases
DVD set Region 1
release date		 Additional information
Wonder Showzen: Season One March 28, 2006 Auditions and Outtakes, Storytime with Flavor Flav, Special Guest Commentaries, 2nd Season Sneek Peek, Locker Poster, Coloring Page, "Japoney Appoe" Music Video.
Wonder Showzen: Season Two October 10, 2006 More Auditions and Outtakes, Guest Commentaries on select episodes, Unaired Cartoon, Easter Egg, Storybook.

A gift set containing both seasons was scheduled for release on December 12, 2006, but it was cancelled.[5]

See also

Footnotes
  1. New York Daily News: "'Wonder' shock-ful of adult humor". Retrieved December 13, 2006.
  2. TVSquad.com
  3. The Futon Critic: MTV2 Announces the Triumphant Return of 'Wonder Showzen' and 'The Andy Milonakis Show' to Sic 'Em Fridays with Fresh New Episodes Starting on March 31st at 9pm ET/PT. Retrieved February 27, 2006.
  4. "Adult Swim: Wonder Showzen promo - YouTube". youtube.com. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  5. TVShowsOnDVD.com

Notes
  1. supervising producer, season 1
  2. supervising producer, season 2
  3. media producer, seasons 1 & 2

References
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