"Wonder Showzen" (2005) TV series

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | unknown

Release Date:

11 March 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Animation

Plot:

An all-cynical, all-evil absurdist variety show that parodies the classic educational PBS shows of the 1970s, made up of old cartoons and educational films, children, and puppets from one's worst nightmares.

Plot Keywords:

Puppet | Children | Surrealism | Satire | Shock Humor

Cast

Vernon Chatman	...	Chauncey / ... (13 episodes, 2005-2006)
John Lee	...	Wordsworth / ... (13 episodes, 2005-2006)
Alyson Levy	...	Sthugar (12 episodes, 2005-2006)
Jim Tozzi	...	Him (12 episodes, 2005-2006)
Evan Seligman	...	Wonder Showzen Kid (11 episodes, 2005-2006)
Ryan Simpkins	...	Wonder Showzin Kid (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Trevor Heins	...	Wonder Showzen Kid (8 episodes, 2005-2006)
Scarlett Sperduto	...	Wonder Showzen Kid (7 episodes, 2005-2006)

(more)

Series Directed by
Vernon Chatman		(3 episodes, 2006)
John Lee		(3 episodes, 2006)

Series Writing credits
Vernon Chatman		(3 episodes, 2006)
John Lee		(3 episodes, 2006)

Series Produced by
Rob York	....	line producer (8 episodes, 2006)
Vernon Chatman	....	executive producer (3 episodes, 2006)
John Lee	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 2006)
Ria Finazzo	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes)
Kim FitzSimons	....	field producer (unknown episodes)
Jesse Ignjatovic	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Dave Rath	....	executive producer / producer (unknown episodes)
Campbell Smith	....	field producer (unknown episodes)
Amy Teuteberg	....	line producer (unknown episodes)
Lisa Thomas	....	associate producer / media producer (unknown episodes)
Lindsay Washick	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Kara Welker	....	executive producer / producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Nico Muhly		(1 episode, 2006)
Chris Anderson		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
John Tanzer		(14 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Film Editing by
Tom Behrens		(unknown episodes)
Chris Milone		(unknown episodes)
Jon Philpot		(unknown episodes)
Tom Riley		(unknown episodes)
Sergio Villa		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Julie Smith		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Julie Gollins		(17 episodes, 2005-2006)
Angelique Clark		(unknown episodes)
Alyson Levy		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Angelique Clark		(unknown episodes)
Heather Grace		(unknown episodes)
Jocelyn Shipley		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Bobby Sanchez	....	post-production supervisor (1 episode, 2006)
Leslie Jacobowitz	....	post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Todd Rutt	....	graphic artist (8 episodes, 2005)
Jason Singleton	....	carpenter (8 episodes, 2006)
Keri Lee Doris	....	assistant art director (5 episodes, 2006)
Sarah Bricker	....	props (unknown episodes)
Angelique Clark	....	property master (unknown episodes)
Devin Flynn	....	animated illustrations (unknown episodes)
Julie Gollins	....	props / scenic artist (unknown episodes)
Halsey Rodman	....	carpenter (unknown episodes)
Teresa Seemann	....	puppet set designer (unknown episodes)
Jim Tozzi	....	animation art director (unknown episodes)
Michael M. Wartella	....	graphic artist (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Dan Izen	....	sound mixer (7 episodes, 2006)

Series Visual Effects by
Pedram Goshtasbpour	....	visual effects supervisor: Ministry of Motion (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Tartaro	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
Edmond Hawkins	....	assistant animator (16 episodes, 2005-2006)
Aaron Augenblick	....	animation director (unknown episodes)
Nick Cogan	....	animation director (unknown episodes)
Lou Solis	....	animator (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Myron Tookes	....	assistant editor (8 episodes, 2006)

Series Other crew
John Paretti	....	intern / production assistant (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Massoumeh Emami	....	script supervisor (9 episodes, 2005)
Danny Rennhoff	....	intern (8 episodes, 2005)
Meghan Murray	....	logger (3 episodes, 2005)
Steven Belser	....	finance coordinator (unknown episodes)
Rebecca Breckel	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Michael J. Cargill	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Stan Charnin	....	assistant production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Adam Donnelly	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Eric Hansen	....	intern (unknown episodes)
Jessie Henderson	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jef Spenser Hira	....	finance manager (unknown episodes)
Liz Huizinga	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Brent Korson	....	production associate (unknown episodes)
David Laster	....	production associate (unknown episodes)
Lucas Mumford	....	production associate / research coordinator (unknown episodes)
Mark Therrien	....	production associate (unknown episodes)
Lindsay Washick	....	assistant to producers (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Augenblick Studios
• MTV Networks
• Music Television 2 (MTV2)
• P.F.F.R.

Distributors

• Music Television (MTV) (2005) (USA) (TV)
• Music Television 2 (MTV2) (2005) (USA) (TV)

Special Effects

• Ministry of Motion (MOM) (visual effects design and animation)
• Ministry of Motion (MOM) (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes

Also Known As:

"Kids' Show" (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

USA:30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:TV-MA

Filming Locations:

Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Augenblick Studios

Trivia:

The original unaired pilot was named "Kids' Show" and was produced for the USA Network.

Quotes:

Crazy Old Guy: Make some TV... oh... I think they should be more detailed information about what's going on, there doesn't seem to be that and what is given doesn't allow much of choice. Same with our elections... our taxation. They cut away... the, uh, municipalities are all cutting budgets...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kingdom of the Vampire (2007) (V)

Thanks for the best show on TV.

I never heard of Wonder Showzen until the other night, when I randomly found it on the shelf at the local rental place. A quick glance at its description on the back of the cover sold me instantly. What I didn't expect was how funny it was. Sickly funny. I've never seen a show so blatantly and brilliantly awful. It's anarchy at its finest, packaged neatly in a vintage Sesame Street vibe that only kids born between 1969-1979 can really understand. Watching this brought back memories of watching The Electric Company and Sesame Street through the mind of someone mentally ill tripping on acid. LOVE IT. I don't think anyone could top the genius of Wonder Showzen. In a way I'm glad there were only 2 seasons of it, because it would have been a shame to see it go downhill and lose its sense of vitriol and vim. Highlights include "Beat Kids!" and educational films with kid commentary (saying gems like "DADDY!" when a slaughtered pig appears on screen) and Muppet-ish puppets in pornographic situations - it's everything a cynical adult secretly thinks about kids' TV, but manifested with unabashed glee. GET IT.