Million Dollar Extreme Presents: World Peace

{{Infobox television

| alt_name = World Peace

| image = World Peace Logo.jpg

| image_size = 250

| genre = {{Plainlist|

}}

| creator = Million Dollar Extreme

| starring = {{ubl|Sam Hyde|Nick Rochefort|Charls Carroll|Erick Hayden}}

| director = Andrew Ruse

| writer = {{ubl|Sam Hyde|Nick Rochefort|Charls Carroll|Andrew Ruse}}

| theme_music_composer =

| opentheme =

| endtheme =

| composer = Brian Ellis

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 1

| num_episodes = 6

| list_episodes =

| executive_producer = {{ubl|Andrew Ruse|Sam Hyde|Nick Rochefort|Charls Carroll|Alex Orr{{efn|episodes 4 and 6 only}}|Keith Crofford{{efn|name=EPWS|executive producer for Williams Street}}|Walter Newman{{efn|name=EPWS}}}}

| producer = Cameron Boling

| cinematography =

| location = Atlanta, Georgia

| runtime = 11 minutes

| company = {{ubl|Million Dollar Extreme|{{nowrap|Rent Now Productions}}|Williams Street}}

| channel = Adult Swim

| first_aired = {{Start date|2016|8|5}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2016|9|16}}

}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}World Peace is an American comedy television series starring and created by sketch comedy group Million Dollar Extreme that premiered on Adult Swim on August 5, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/sketch-troup-million-dollar-extreme-adult-swim-series-order-official-title-1201713596/|title=Million Dollar Extreme Gets Comedy Gets Series Order From Adult Swim|last=Lincoln|first=Ross A.|date=March 3, 2016|website=Deadline|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811042928/http://deadline.com/2016/03/sketch-troup-million-dollar-extreme-adult-swim-series-order-official-title-1201713596/|archive-date=August 11, 2016|access-date=August 6, 2016}}

On December 5, 2016, the show was canceled by Adult Swim. The show had garnered controversy largely due to creator Sam Hyde's association with the alt-right.{{Cite magazine |last=Blistein |first=Jon |date=2016-12-06 |title=Adult Swim Cancels Controversial Show 'Million Dollar Extreme' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/adult-swim-cancels-controversial-show-million-dollar-extreme-118787/ |access-date=2023-10-07 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Sims |first=David |date=November 17, 2016 |title=The Battle Over Adult Swim's Alt-Right TV Show |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/11/the-raging-battle-over-adult-swims-alt-right-tv-show/508016/#Correction1 |access-date=May 12, 2017 |publisher=The Atlantic}}{{Cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |date=12 October 2017 |title=John Maus Speaks on Involvement With Canceled Alt-Right Adult Swim Show |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/john-maus-speaks-on-involvement-with-canceled-alt-right-adult-swim-show/ |access-date=20 September 2024 |website=Pitchfork |quote=Its creator, Sam Hyde, is also an outspoken proponent of the alt-right}}{{Cite magazine |last=Peters |first=Mitchell |date=7 October 2023 |title=Doja Cat Gets Backlash After Wearing Shirt With Photo of Alt-Right Comedian Sam Hyde |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/doja-cat-backlash-sam-hyde-shirt-photo-1235436570/ |access-date=20 September 2024 |magazine=Billboard |quote=wearing a shirt with an image of alt-right comic Sam Hyde, who reportedly has ties to the neo-Nazi movement}}

Premise

Each episode of World Peace is the Adult Swim standard eleven minutes in length, starring Million Dollar Extreme troupe leader Sam Hyde and frequent collaborators Nick Rochefort and Charls Carroll. Erick Hayden, another MDE sketch collaborator, also appeared in four episodes in an "also starring" role. Andrew Ruse, who worked with the troupe in the past, directed the series in addition to serving as writer and executive producer alongside Hyde, Rochefort, and Carroll.

The show was billed as being set in a dystopic near-future parody of the present political climate. Each episode is made up of multiple short sketches, broken up by hyperstylized intertitles. The sketches satirize dating, popular culture, and government services, among other things. The production design is often surreal, featuring campy costumes and avant-garde lighting and set design. The intertitles are slightly animated and for the most part contain many short passages of text. The text on the intertitles is often facetious, but sometimes earnest, and includes advice, social commentary, and tirades, some of which have been substantially censored. Each episode ends with a music video that usually plays behind the closing credits.

History

=Production=

On May 7, 2015, Adult Swim announced their order of an untitled pilot by Million Dollar Extreme described as a "sketch show ... set in an almost present-day post-apocalyptic nightmare world".{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/adult-swim-upfronts-slate-2015-793960|title=Adult Swim Upfront Slate Includes 12 Pilots, Two From 'Robot Chicken's' Seth Green|last1=Stanhope|first1=Kate|date=May 7, 2015|website=The Hollywood Reporter|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511203851/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/adult-swim-upfronts-slate-2015-793960|archive-date=May 11, 2015|access-date=December 2, 2016}} Based on that pilot, it was announced on March 3, 2016, that it would go to series with the group presenting it under the additional subtitle World Peace, and the first season consisting of six episodes under the network's traditional eleven-minute episode structure. The show was produced in-house by Rent Now Productions, Inc., and shot in Atlanta, Georgia. The show additionally benefitted from the Georgia production tax credit.{{Cite episode |title= 3 Down 47 to Go Countdown to Mass Funeral|series=Million Dollar Extreme Presents: World Peace|network=Adult Swim|date=August 19, 2016|season=One|number=103|time=11:08}}

=Controversy=

During the show's initial run, BuzzFeed News writer Joseph Bernstein reported on creator Sam Hyde's alt-right social media activity.{{cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/josephbernstein/the-alt-right-has-its-own-comedy-tv-show-on-a-time-warner-ne |title= The Alt-Right Has Its Very Own TV Show On Adult Swim |last=Bernstein|first=Joseph|date=August 25, 2016|work=BuzzFeed News|access-date=March 5, 2025|url-status=live}} Bernstein also reported that a source told him the network's standards departments repeatedly discovered and removed "coded racist messages, including hidden swastikas".{{cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/josephbernstein/adult-swim-talent-trying-to-cancel-million-dollar-extreme|title=Adult Swim Talent Want The Network To Cancel Its Alt-Right Comedy Show|last=Bernstein|first=Joseph|date=November 16, 2016|work=BuzzFeed News|access-date=November 7, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121002339/https://www.buzzfeed.com/josephbernstein/adult-swim-talent-trying-to-cancel-million-dollar-extreme|archive-date=November 21, 2017}} In the same article, fellow Adult Swim series creator Brett Gelman condemned the show as "an instrument of hate". Gelman would later cut ties with the network over Mike Lazzo's comments regarding women in the workplace, while also citing the network's greenlighting of World Peace as playing a significant part in the decision.{{cite web|title=Brett Gelman leaves Adult Swim, citing "the misogyny of their policies"|first=Kayla Kumari|last=Upadhyaya|website=The A.V. Club|date=November 14, 2016|access-date=October 2, 2024|url=https://www.avclub.com/brett-gelman-leaves-adult-swim-citing-the-misogyny-of-1798254264}} Gelman's business collaborator, Tim Heidecker, also voiced his support for Gelman's decision to leave the network on Facebook.{{Cite web |last=Heidecker |first=Tim |title=I love and respect my friend Brett Gelman and support his decision fully. |url=https://www.facebook.com/realtimheidecker/posts/1189823744397792 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170531042040/https://www.facebook.com/realtimheidecker/posts/1189823744397792 |archive-date=31 May 2017 |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=Facebook |language=en |type=post}} Writing for The Atlantic, David Sims also decried the content of the show, assessing that "plenty of sketches in Million Dollar Extreme seem to exist only to shock and offend", such as the sketch in which "Hyde appears in blackface, screaming at a woman in exaggerated vernacular."{{Cite web |last=Sims |first=David |date=2016-11-17 |title=The Battle Over Adult Swim’s Alt-Right TV Show |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/11/the-raging-battle-over-adult-swims-alt-right-tv-show/508016/ |access-date=2022-09-12 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}

=Viewers=

The show premiered to 1,033,000 viewers, and averaged 896,720 viewers over its run. The finale was its highest-rated episode, with 1,053,000 viewers.

=Cancellation=

Adult Swim announced on December 5, 2016, that the show would not be renewed for a second season. The network had received internal complaints about dog-whistling in the show and alleged harassment from Hyde and his fans. Negative press focused on Hyde's association with the alt-right.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/adult-swim-cancels-controversial-million-dollar-extreme-w454098|title=Adult Swim Cancels Controversial Show 'Million Dollar Extreme|last=Lange|first=Ariane|date=December 6, 2016|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=August 8, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814215121/http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/adult-swim-cancels-controversial-million-dollar-extreme-w454098|archive-date=August 14, 2017}} According to Hyde, despite Adult Swim executives' apparent interest to pick up the show for a second season, Turner ultimately decided to cancel the show.{{cite web|url=https://observer.com/2016/12/million-dollar-extremes-sam-hyde-speaks-out-on-adult-swim-cancellation/|title=Trump Supporter Sam Hyde on Why Political Correctness Canceled His Adult Swim Show|last=Malice|first=Michael|date=December 12, 2016|website=The New York Observer|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215124958/http://observer.com/2016/12/million-dollar-extremes-sam-hyde-speaks-out-on-adult-swim-cancellation/|archive-date=December 15, 2016|access-date=December 20, 2016}} Hyde also accused Tim Heidecker of being against the series due to his political views, and using his influence with network executives to prevent its renewal for a second season,{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sam-hyde-speaks-meet-man-behind-adult-swims-canceled-alt-right-comedy-show-954487|title=Sam Hyde Speaks: Meet the Man Behind Adult Swim's Canceled "Alt-Right" Comedy Show (Exclusive)|last=Abramovitch|first=Seth|date=December 8, 2016|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608155315/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sam-hyde-speaks-meet-man-behind-adult-swims-canceled-alt-right-comedy-show-954487|archive-date=June 8, 2019|access-date=April 14, 2019}} though Heidecker denied this multiple times.{{Cite web|title=Sam Hyde argues with Tim heidecker over World Peace Cancellation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHKYxRbV1GE|website=YouTube| date=January 21, 2017 }}{{Cite web|title=Tim Heidecker On Sam Hyde and MDE World Peace Cancellation 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys1sFKJPRZY|website=YouTube| date=July 28, 2018 }}

Following the cancellation, musicians whose work was featured on the show, including Molly Nilsson, Chastity Belt, Ovlov, and 3Teeth, disavowed the show.{{cite web|website=Pitchfork|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/70282-bands-featured-on-adult-swims-cancelled-million-dollar-extreme-disavow-show/|date=December 8, 2016|access-date=November 8, 2016|first1=Evan|last1=Minsker|first2=Amy|last2=Phillips|title=Bands Featured on Adult Swim's Cancelled "Million Dollar Extreme" Disavow Show}} All four acts claimed that they were unaware of Million Dollar Extreme's beliefs or political views prior to meeting them or viewing their work. John Maus remained silent until a year later, when he told Noisey, "I never had, from what I know about it, any indication that anything other than certain instances of a sort of trolling was going on. What did they do that made them Nazis? Maybe I haven't looked into it."{{cite web|website=Vice|url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/gy5a59/john-maus-at-the-end-of-the-world|first=Colin|last=Joyce|title=John Maus at the End of the World|date=October 12, 2017|access-date=July 7, 2020}}

On December 8, 2016 Hyde phoned in to confront Tim Heidecker on his podcast. Heidecker dismissed Hyde's accusation of interfering, and complained about receiving threats and harassment from Hyde's fans, which Hyde countered was instead response to a political song Heidecker had recently released. The Washington Post reached out to Hyde about the cancellation, Hyde replied most of his YouTube ad revenue was from the KKK.{{cite news |last1=Weigel |first1=David |title=The story behind the sudden cancellation of Adult Swim's Trump-loving comedy show |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/the-story-behind-the-sudden-cancellation-of-adult-swims-trump-loving-comedy-show/2016/12/23/ed9e2e3a-c3c8-11e6-8422-eac61c0ef74d_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=5 February 2024}}

Episodes

{{Episode table |background=#AE1C26 |overall=5 |title=30 |airdate=20 |prodcode=10 |country=US |viewers=12 |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 1

|Title= Your Vibe Attracts Your Tribe

|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2016|8|5}}

|Viewers= 1.033{{cite web |last=Welch |first=Alex |url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/friday-cable-ratings-august-5-2016/ |title=Friday cable ratings: 'Bring It!' and 'Rap Game' hold steady |website=TV By The Numbers |date=August 8, 2016 |access-date=August 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809134358/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/08/08/friday-cable-ratings-august-5-2016/ |archive-date=August 9, 2016 |url-status=dead }}

|ShortSummary=

|ProdCode= 105

|LineColor= AE1C26

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 2

|Title= Illegal Broadcast: John Hell Emergency

|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2016|8|12}}

|Viewers= 0.843{{cite web |last=Welch |first=Alex |url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/friday-cable-ratings-august-12-2016/ |title=Friday cable ratings: 'Bring It!' ticks up |website=TV By The Numbers |date=August 15, 2016 |access-date=August 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816122356/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/08/15/friday-cable-ratings-august-12-2016/ |archive-date=August 16, 2016 |url-status=dead }}

|ShortSummary=

|ProdCode= 102

|LineColor= AE1C26

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 3

|Title= 3 Down 47 to Go Countdown to Mass Funeral

|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2016|8|19}}

|Viewers= 0.874{{cite web |last=Welch |first=Alex |url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/friday-cable-ratings-august-19-2016/ |title=Friday cable ratings: 'The Eric Andre Show' holds steady |website=TV By The Numbers |date=August 22, 2016 |access-date=August 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823161959/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/08/22/friday-cable-ratings-august-19-2016/ |archive-date=August 23, 2016 |url-status=dead }}

|ShortSummary=

|ProdCode= 103

|LineColor= AE1C26

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 4

|Title= Mad at Dad? GOMAD for Chad MGTOW

|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2016|8|26}}

|Viewers= 0.814{{cite web |last=Welch |first=Alex |url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/friday-cable-ratings-august-28-2016/ |title=Friday cable ratings: 'Bring It!' ticks up, while 'The Eric Andre Show' stays steady |website=TV By The Numbers |date=August 29, 2016 |access-date=August 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830144106/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/08/29/friday-cable-ratings-august-28-2016/ |archive-date=August 30, 2016 |url-status=dead }}

|ShortSummary=

|ProdCode= 104

|LineColor= AE1C26

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 5

|Title= Not Everyone Thinks You're a Hero

|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2016|9|9}}

|Viewers= 0.763{{cite web |last=Welch |first=Alex |url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/friday-cable-ratings-september-9-2016/ |title=Friday cable ratings: College football wins the night |website=TV By The Numbers |date=September 12, 2016 |access-date=September 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913115642/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/09/12/friday-cable-ratings-september-9-2016/ |archive-date=September 13, 2016 |url-status=dead }}

|ShortSummary=

|ProdCode= 101

|LineColor= AE1C26

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber= 6

|Title= You Hate This Show Because You Hate Yourself

|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2016|9|16}}

|Viewers= 1.053{{cite web |last=Welch |first=Alex |url=https://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/friday-cable-ratings-september-16-2016/ |title=Friday cable ratings: 'The Eric Andre Show' ticks back up |website=TV By The Numbers |date=September 19, 2016 |access-date=September 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920124701/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/09/19/friday-cable-ratings-september-16-2016/ |archive-date=September 20, 2016 |url-status=dead }}

|ShortSummary=

|ProdCode= 106

|LineColor= AE1C26

}}