Infomercials (TV specials)
{{Short description|Quarter-hour television comedy specials airing on Adult Swim}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| genre = {{ubl|Parody/Satire|Comedy|Black comedy|Horror|Comedy horror|Anthology}}
| starring = Various
| country = United States
| language = English
| executive_producer = Keith Crofford{{efn|name=CroffordEP|Keith Crofford serves as Executive Producer for Williams Street on all infomercials.}}
Mike Lazzo{{efn|name=LazNewEP|Mike Lazzo and Walter Newman serve as Executive Producers for Williams Street on select infomercials individually alongside Crofford.}}
Walter Newman{{efn|name=LazNewEP}}
| producer = Melissa Warrenburg{{efn|name=WarrenburgProducer|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.}}
Ollie Green{{efn|name=GreenProducer|Ollie Green serves as Producer for Williams Street on animated infomercials and on M.O.P.Z.}}
Mark Costa{{efn|name=CostaProducer|Mark Costa serves as Producer for Williams Street on live action infomercials after 2016.}}
Paige Boudreaux{{efn|name=BoudreauxProducer|Paige Boudreaux serves as Producer for Williams Street on action infomercials after 2018.}}
| camera = Single camera
| runtime = 5–22 minutes (15-30 min. with commercials)
91 minutes (Adult Swim Yule Log)
87 minutes (Adult Swim Yule Log 2: Branchin' Out)
| company = Williams Street
| channel = Adult Swim
| first_aired = {{Start date|2009|11|3}}
| last_aired = present
}}
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.
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while others parody tropes in niche media such as closed-circuit hotel information channels, industrial films, sitcoms, outdated reality television formats, and public-access television.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 continues to be introduced for 11 minutes straight.{{cite news|last1=Grinberg|first1=Emanuella|title=This weekend's trending video: 'Too Many Cooks'|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/09/living/too-many-cooks-video/index.html|access-date=18 May 2016|agency=CNN|issue=Online|publisher=Turner Media|date=November 10, 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Branch|first1=Chris|title='Too Many Cooks' Creator Dishes on Making the Viral Hit|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/14/too-many-cooks_n_6161460.html|website=Huffington Post|date=14 November 2014|access-date=19 May 2016}}
One infomercial, Joe Pera Talks You to Sleep, later led to the regular Adult Swim show, Joe Pera Talks with You.
Specials
All the titles are or have been aired under the homonym banner, according to the Adult Swim schedule.
class="wikitable sortable" |
style="width:%;"| No.
! style="width:%;"| Title ! style="width:%;"| Created by / Developed by ! style="width:%;"| Written by ! style="width:%;"| Directed by ! style="width:%;"| Co-production(s) ! style="width:%;"| Original air date |
---|
1
| "align="center" colspan="2"|H. Jon Benjamin and David Cross | Jeff Buchanan |— | {{Start date|2009|11|3}} |
2
| Dangerously Delicious: Paid Advertisement | Aziz Ansari (original stand-up comedy film) ({{abbr|d|developer}}): Aziz Ansari, Jason Woliner, and Eric Wareheim | Aziz Ansari, Jason Woliner, and Eric Wareheim | Abso Lutely Productions | {{Start date|2012|7|23}} |
3
| The NTSF:SD:SUV:HISS Infomercial{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2498106/|title=NTSF:SD:SUV" The NTSF: SD: SUV: HISS Infomercial (TV Episode 2012)|date=9 November 2012|publisher=IMDb|access-date=March 31, 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Bean|first1=Alex|url=https://www.toonzone.net/ntsfsdsuv-episode-recap-hiss-infomercial-season-2-episode-13/|title=NTSF:SD:SUV:: Episode Recap - HISS Infomercial - Season 2, Episode 13 – ToonZone News|website=ToonZone|date=November 13, 2012|access-date=March 30, 2018|archive-date=March 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331080450/https://www.toonzone.net/ntsfsdsuv-episode-recap-hiss-infomercial-season-2-episode-13/|url-status=dead}}{{efn|group=nb|name=series3|These three Infomercials are the only ones to be related to TV series.}} | "align="center" rowspan="2"|Paul Scheer | Alex Fernie and Nick Wiger | Alex Fernie | "align="center" rowspan="2"|2nd Man On The Moon | {{Start date|2012|11|9}} |
4
| Swords, Knives, Very Sharp Objects and Cutlery{{efn|group=nb|name=series3}} | {{Start date|2012|11|27}} |
5
|Broomshakalaka |Justin Becker, Steve Clemmons, and Becca Kinskey |Justin Becker and Steve Clemmons |Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert |December 10, 2013 |
6
| For-Profit Online University | Wild, Aggressive Dog | ({{abbr|s|story}}): Geoff Haggerty, Dan E. Klein, Matthew Klinman, Michael Pielocik, Chris Sartinsky, and Sam West | Sam West | Abominable Pictures | {{Start date|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 | {{Start date|2013|12|24}} |
8
| Fartcopter{{efn|group=nb|name=pilot2|These Infomercials also serve as pilot episodes for Adult Swim.{{cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/84808396|title=Adult Swim Pilot or Real Florida|website=Vimeo|access-date=23 December 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ckush.com/DAYWORLD|title=DAYWORLD - Cole Kush / Hello!|website=www.ckush.com|access-date=23 December 2018}}}} | "align="center" colspan="2"|Rob Huebel | Alex Fernie | rowspan="4" |Abominable Pictures | {{Start date|2014|10|6}} |
9
| The Salad Mixxxer | "align="center" colspan="2"|Chris Amick, Ben Mekler, and David Soldinger | Ken Marino and David Soldinger | {{Start date|2014|10|13}} |
10
| Alpha Chow{{efn|group=nb|name=eighth|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.}} | Justin Becker, Steve Clemmons, and Becca Kinskey | Justin Becker and Steve Clemmons | Dave Green | "align="center" rowspan="2"|{{Start date|2014|10|20}} |
11
| Goth Fitness{{efn|group=nb|name=eighth}} | "align="center" colspan="2"|Chris Amick, Ben Mekler, and David Soldinger | Danny Jelinek |
12
| "align="center" colspan="3"|Casper Kelly | {{Start date|2014|10|28}} |
13
| The Newbridge Tourism Board Presents: "We're Newbridge, We're Comin' to Get Ya!" | "align="center" colspan="2"|Tom Scharpling and Jon Wurster | Tom Scharpling | Production Company Productions | {{Start date|2014|11|3}} |
14
| In Search of Miracle Man | "align="center" colspan="2"|Matt Besser and Rich Fulcher | Neil Mahoney | {{Start date|2014|11|10}} |
15
| Smart Pipe | "align="center" rowspan="2"|Wild, Aggressive Dog | "align="center" rowspan="2"|({{abbr|s|story}}): Geoff Haggerty, Dan E. Klein, Matthew Klinman, Micheal Pielocik, Chris Sartinsky, and Sam West | "align="center" rowspan="2"|Zachary Johnson and Jeffrey Max | "align="center" rowspan="2"|Abominable Pictures | {{Start date|2014|11|17}} |
16
| Book of Christ | {{Start date|2014|11|24}} |
17
| Frank Pierre Presents: "The Frank Pierre Resort & Casino" | "align="center" colspan="2"|Paul Scheer | Matthew Freund | Abominable Pictures | {{Start date|2014|12|2}} |
id="Unedited Footage of a Bear"
| 18 | Unedited Footage of a Bear | Ben O'Brien (concept) | "align="center" rowspan="2"|Alan Resnick, Robby Rackleff, and Dina Kelberman | Alan Resnick and Ben O'Brien |Wham City | {{Start date|2014|12|16}} |
id="This House Has People in It"
| 19 | Alan Resnick (concept) | Alan Resnick | Wham City | {{Start date|2016|3|15}} |
20
| Joe Pera Talks You to Sleep{{efn|group=nb|name=animation3|These three Infomercials are the only animated ones of the project.}}{{efn|group=nb|name=extension|In 2019, the Adult Swim's official YouTube channel posted a version of this special repeated for 10 hours.}} | Joe Pera; ({{abbr|d|developer}}): Kieran O'Hare | Joe Pera | Kieran O'Hare | {{Start date|2016|3|21}} |
21
| Big Grams: "Born to Shine" / "Run for Your Life"{{efn|group=nb|name=animation3}}{{efn|group=nb|name=music|Only music video Infomercial of the entire project.}} | Antwan Patton, Sarah Barthel, and Josh Carter (original EP) ({{abbr|d|developer}}): Erik Minkin | Sarah Barthel, Antwan Patton, and Jim Petosa | {{Start date|2016|3|28}} |
22
| M.O.P.Z. | "align="center" colspan="2"|Todd Rohal and Benjamin Kasulke | Todd Rohal | Mechanical Dreams | {{Start date|2016|4|4}} |
23
| Gigglefudge, USA | "align="center" colspan="2"|Nicholas Maier and Dimitri Simakis | John Lee | PFFR | {{Start date|2016|4|11}} |
24
| Giles Vanderhoot | Michael Showalter and Jonathan Stern | Michael Showalter | "align="center" rowspan="3"|Abominable Pictures | {{Start date|2016|4|25}} |
25
| 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 | {{Start date|2016|5|2}} |
26
| NewsHits | "align="center" colspan="2"|Rob Huebel | Sergio Cilli | {{Start date|2016|5|31}} |
27
| Mulchtown | Chris Sartinsky and Becca Kinskey | Chris Sartinsky | Danny Jelinek | Ideal Milk Co. | {{Start date|2016|6|7}} |
28
| Check It Out! with Scott Clam{{efn|group=nb|name=series3}} | "align="center" colspan="2"|John C. Reilly, Tim Heidecker, and Eric Wareheim | Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim | {{Start date|2017|10|23}} |
29
| The Suplex Duplex Complex | "align="center" colspan="2"|Zack Carlson, Bryan Connolly, and Todd Rohal | Todd Rohal | PFFR | {{Start date|2017|10|30}} |
30
| Wet Shapes | "align="center" colspan="3"|Kati Skelton | Little Bear Bear Productions | {{Start date|2017|11|6}} |
31
| Innovation Makers: The Coyote Suit | "align="center" colspan="2"|Dan Guterman and John Harris | Danny Jelinek | {{Start date|2017|12|12}} |
32
| A Message from the Future{{efn|group=nb|name=development2|These two Infomercials were originally called: Nuclear Political Ad (for the first), and Farm to Table (for the second).[https://www.abominablepictures.com/credits CREDITS — Abominable Pictures]}} | Paul Scheer and Jonathan Stern | Ryan Perez | Abominable Pictures | {{Start date|2018|6|4}} |
33
| Cool Dad - Official Trailer | "align="center" colspan="3"|Alex Kavutskiy and Ariel Gardner | {{Start date|2018|6|11}} |
34
| Dayworld{{efn|group=nb|name=animation3}}{{efn|group=nb|name=pilot2}} | "align="center" colspan="3"|Cole Kush and Jay Weingarten | Abso Lutely Productions | {{Start date|2018|6|18}} |
35
| Final Deployment 4: Queen Battle Walkthrough{{efn|group=nb|name=half|Only half-hour Infomercial of the entire project.}} | "align="center" colspan="3"|Casper Kelly and Nick Gibbons | {{Start date|2018|6|25}} |
36
| Food: The Source of Life{{efn|group=nb|name=development2}} | "align="center" colspan="2"|Greg Hess | Ryan Perez | {{Start date|2018|7|2}} |
37
| Pervert Everything | "align="center" colspan="3"|Lorelei Ramirez | PFFR | {{Start date|2018|12|10}} |
38
| Flayaway | "align="center" colspan="2"|Sarah Sherman | Kati Skelton | Abso Lutely Productions | {{Start date|2018|12|17}} |
39
|When Panties Fly | "align="center" colspan="3"|Chiyoung Lee |— |{{Start date|2019|12|16}} |
40
|Piggy | Steve Smith | Steve Smith & Clay Tatum | Steve Smith |{{Start date|2020|4|27}} |
41
|Skeleton Landlord{{efn|group=nb|name=pilot2}}{{efn|group=nb|name=devmeet|This infomercial was greenlit after being pitched on Adult Swim's weekly Development Meeting livestream.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_kUN0yQcj0 | title=Pitch Adult Swim | Development Meeting 7/11 | Adult Swim - YouTube | website=YouTube | date=11 July 2019 }}}} | "align="center" colspan="3"| Doug Bleichner & Sam Wagstaff | — |{{Start date|2020|5|4}} |
42
|Wormholes | Benjamin Berman | Clark Baker, Benjamin Berman & Kirk C. Johnson | Benjamin Berman |The Ranch Productions |{{Start date|2020|9|8}} |
43
|11 Minute Whambam 90's Ride! | "align="center" colspan="3"|Anders Holm |{{Start date|2020|11|30}} |
44
|A Life In Questions: Wisdom School with Aaron Chen | "align="center" colspan="2"|Aaron Chen & Henry Stone | Henry Stone |West Street Sports, Pty Ltd. |{{Start date|2020|12|08}} |
45
|Rate The Cookie (with Jo Firestone) | "align="center" colspan="2"|Jo Firestone | Julie Miller |PFFR |{{Start date|2020|12|14}} |
46
|Danny Ketchup | "align="center" colspan="3" rowspan="3"|Casper Kelly |Fried Society |{{Start date|2020|12|21}} |
47
|rowspan="2"|Fried Society |{{Start date|2022|12|11}} |
48
|Adult Swim Yule Log 2: Branchin' Out |{{Start date|2024|12|06}} |
=Scrapped=
- The Six Pack Comedy Minute{{cite web|url=https://theadultswimsquad.wordpress.com/2016/03/11/news-the-return-of-the-4am-infomercials-premiering-on-03-14-16/|title=NEWS: The Return of the 4am Infomercials Premiering on 03.14.16 - [swim squad]|author=Bnjrivera|date=March 11, 2016|access-date=May 26, 2018}}
- Ultimate Beetles Collection[http://i.imgur.com/LySK1hZ.png LySK1hZ.png (1301×642)]{{cite web|url=https://theadultswimsquad.wordpress.com/2016/03/11/news-the-return-of-the-4am-infomercials-premiering-on-03-14-16/|title=NEWS: The Return of the 4am Infomercials Premiering on 03.14.16 - [swim squad]|author=Bnjrivera|date=March 11, 2016|access-date=May 26, 2018}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.adultswim.com/videos/infomercials/}}
{{Adult Swim pilots and specials}}
Category:2000s American anthology television series
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Category:2000s American parody television series
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