"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)

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.