"Wonder Showzen" (2005) TV series 2005-

Creators:

Vernon Chatman
John Lee
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | unknown

Release Date:

11 March 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Comedy

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:

Children | Puppet | Parody | Variety | Stereotype

Cast

Vernon Chatman	...	Chauncey / ... (13 episodes, 2005-2006)
John Lee	...	Wordsworth / ... (13 episodes, 2005-2006)
Alyson Levy	...	Sthugar (12 episodes, 2005-2006)
Evan Seligman	...	Wonder Showzen Kid (11 episodes, 2005-2006)
Scarlett Sperduto	...	Wonder Showzen Kid (10 episodes, 2005-2006)
Ryan Simpkins	...	Wonder Showzin Kid (9 episodes, 2005-2006)
Trevor Heins	...	Wonder Showzen Kid (8 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Directed by
Vernon Chatman		(17 episodes, 2005-2006)
John Lee		(17 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Writing credits
Vernon Chatman		(17 episodes, 2005-2006)
John Lee		(17 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Produced by
Vernon Chatman	....	executive producer (17 episodes, 2005-2006)
John Lee	....	executive producer (17 episodes, 2005-2006)
Rob York	....	line producer (8 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
Chris Anderson		(9 episodes, 2005)

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		(15 episodes, 2005-2006)

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

Series Set Decoration by
Angelique Clark		(17 episodes, 2005-2006)
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
Michael M. Wartella	....	graphic artist (11 episodes, 2005-2006)
Todd Rutt	....	graphic artist (8 episodes, 2005)
Jason Singleton	....	carpenter (8 episodes, 2006)
Keri Lee Doris	....	assistant art director / costume design (5 episodes, 2006)
Sarah Bricker	....	props (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)

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
Michael Coelho	....	assistant editor (9 episodes, 2005)
Meaghan Wilbur	....	assistant editor (9 episodes, 2005)
Bobby Sanchez	....	post production supervisor (8 episodes, 2006)
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 Collins	....	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:

Runtime:

USA:30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

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)

Subversive Fun.

Ah, having a boy dressed as Hitler ask people about the Youth today (get it? The Hitler Youth??) seems like the demented dream of Trey Parker or Matt Stone, who, incidentally probably wouldn't have the stones to try it with a real kid in a real place. This is a delicious, delirious take on the kids shows we grew up watching that is so smartly put together that it elicits wonder at every creepy turn. The first half of the show about "Patience" which tried the audience's patience with its slow, boring repetitive nature is actually rewound and played in its entirety backwards once the show's runner realizes that they're losing the audience and then a new episode on "SPEED" (edited for TV) is played in its place. It's just one example out of a hundred real risks the show takes in order to bring the shine out of that old Tom Green commercial surreal. What makes things work so well is how the show plays it straight. It's not a winking, nudging thing. It's a devastating scathing commentary on the life cycle, our world, and our social constructs and the balckhole they all inhabit. It's just so damn funny about the tragedy of it all. Kids will say the darndest things.