Out There (2013 TV series)

{{About|the American animated series|the 2013 British documentary series|Stephen Fry: Out There}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox television

| image = Out There (2013) Titlecard.png

| alt = Out There Titlecard

| genre = Comedy drama

| creator = Ryan Quincy

| voices = {{plainlist |

| composer = {{plainlist |

  • Jason Kanakis
  • Brad Gordon}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 1

| num_episodes = 10

| executive_producer = {{plainlist |

  • Ryan Quincy
  • Tony Gama-Lobo
  • Rebecca May}}

| runtime = 22 minutes

| company = {{Plainlist|

}}

| channel = IFC

| first_aired = {{start date|2013|2|22}}

| last_aired = {{end date|2013|4|19}}

}}

Out There is an American adult animated television series created by Ryan Quincy. It aired on IFC for one season from February 22 to April 19, 2013, and was not renewed for a second. Out There was IFC's second animated project following 2005's Hopeless Pictures, which also lasted one season.

Plot

Set in a world populated by anthropomorphic bears, the show chronicles the coming-of-age misadventures of socially awkward Chad, his little brother Jay, and his best friend Chris. Living in the small town of Holford (based on the real-life city of Holdrege, Nebraska), the boys wander its surreal, bleak landscape waiting out their last few years of adolescence. Other characters include Chad's parents, Wayne and Rose, as well as Chris's single mother, Joanie, and her disastrous boyfriend, Terry, and Sharla, the object of Chad's affection.

Cast and characters

=Guest stars=

Guest voices for Out There include:{{cite web|url=http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/02/05/ellen-page-jason-schwartzman-sarah-silverman-and-more-guest-star-in-ifcs-new-animated-series-out-there-premieres-february-22-185401/20130205ifc01/ |title=Breaking News - Ellen Page, Jason Schwartzman, Sarah Silverman & More Guest Star in IFC's New Animated Series "Out There" - Premieres February 22 |publisher=TheFutonCritic.com |date=2013-02-05 |accessdate=2022-05-06}}

Episodes

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%;"
style="background:#9cf;"| No.

! style="background:#9cf;"| Title

! style="background:#9cf;"| Directed by

! style="background:#9cf;"| Written by

! style="background:#9cf;"| Original air date

! style="background:#9cf;"| Production
code

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = The Great Escape

|DirectedBy = Ryan Quincy

|WrittenBy = Ryan Quincy

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|2|22}}

|ProdCode = 1AVV01

|ShortSummary = Meet Chad Stevens -- a 15-year-old boy existing in the small town of Holford. He’s a loner, a soloist -- until he meets fellow outcast Chris. Chris hates Holford and is planning his escape, and he enlists kindred spirit Chad to help.

|LineColor=99CCFF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = Quest for Fantasy

|DirectedBy = Ryan Quincy

|WrittenBy = Ryan Quincy

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|2|22}}

|ProdCode = 1AVV03

|ShortSummary = When Chad faints in class after seeing a diagram of the female reproductive system, Chris makes it his mission to get Chad more comfortable with the old, bold, female form. The boys hear a rumor about an adult photo shoot outside of town and embark on a quest to find it.

|LineColor=99CCFF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = A Chris by Any Other Name

|DirectedBy = Ryan Quincy

|WrittenBy = Carson Mell

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|3|1}}

|ProdCode = 1AVV02

|ShortSummary = When Chris gets knocked down the bleachers during an assembly by one of the school bullies, he cries out in pain for his mom -- earning him the humiliating nickname “Mommy.” Chad helps Chris plot to get a better nickname, until one of Chris‘ ideas threatens Chad’s relationship with school crush Sharla.

|LineColor=99CCFF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = Springoween

|DirectedBy = Ryan Quincy

|WrittenBy = Carson Mell

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|3|8}}

|ProdCode = 1AVV07

|ShortSummary = Because the previous Halloween was canceled due to extreme weather, Holford rescheduled the holiday for spring instead. Chad still wants to trick-or-treat, but Chris convinces him to go to a boy-girl party that goes horribly wrong. Meanwhile, Jay is on the run from Holford’s legendary maniacal bad boy, Johnny Slade.

|LineColor=99CCFF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = Frosty King

|DirectedBy = Ryan Quincy

|WrittenBy = Matthew Lawton

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|3|15}}

|ProdCode = 1AVV05

|ShortSummary = Chad wrecks the family car and gets a job at Frosty King to pay for the damage. Chad immediately clashes with manager Benjamin Brent, the only other male employee who sees Chad as an obstacle in his otherwise sweet life of being the only rooster in the hen house. Chad must endure Benjamin’s torture while Chris tries to raise enough money to set Chad free from the shackles of the corporate world.

|LineColor=99CCFF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|Title = Enter Destiny

|DirectedBy = Ryan Quincy

|WrittenBy = Matthew Lawton

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|3|22}}

|ProdCode = 1AVV04

|ShortSummary = Chad is smitten with new girl Destiny, but he blows his chance after saving Jay from a bully who turns out to be her brother. Chad enlists Chris’ help to win her back with an elaborate plan involving walkie-talkies and a mysterious aphrodisiac.

|LineColor=99CCFF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 7

|Title = Joanie Loves Terry

|DirectedBy = Jack Shih

|WrittenBy = Ryan Quincy

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|3|29}}

|ProdCode = 1AVV06

|ShortSummary = Chris is upset by how close his mom and her boyfriend Terry have become. When he sees Terry buying a ring at the flea market, Chris is terrified he’s going to propose. Chris and Chad concoct a plan to get Terry out of Chris’ life for good.

|LineColor=99CCFF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 8

|Title = Salem, My Salem

|DirectedBy = Ryan Quincy

|WrittenBy = Grant Falardeau

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|4|5}}

|ProdCode = 1AVV08

|ShortSummary = After botching his oral presentation for history class, Chad decides to make a movie instead. With Chris’ help/interference, the project becomes increasingly off-topic and out of control, leading to a disaster of near-biblical proportions.

|LineColor=99CCFF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 9

|Title = Viking Days

|DirectedBy = Ryan Quincy

|WrittenBy = Rebecca May

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|4|12}}

|ProdCode = 1AVV10

|ShortSummary = When Wayne declines Chad’s request to compete in Holford’s annual father-and-son Hexathalon, Chad asks Sharla’s dad to compete with him instead. Meanwhile, Joanie asks Chris and Terry to do the race together to strengthen their bond, and the contest brings out everyone’s true colors.

|LineColor=99CCFF

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 10

|Title = Ace's Wild

|DirectedBy = Ryan Quincy

|WrittenBy = Tony Gama-Lobo

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|4|19}}

|ProdCode = 1AVV09

|ShortSummary = Chad’s classroom doodles draw the attention of the “cool kid” yearbook staff, who invite him to join their inner circle. Chad and Chris enjoy their popular status until Chad discovers their new friends have ulterior motives.

|LineColor=99CCFF

}}

Reception

The show received mixed reviews. Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times gave it a positive review. He compared the animation favorably to Bob's Burgers and said that the series has "a gentler, more delicate, behind-the-beat groove".{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-0222-out-there-20130222,0,3897495.story|title='Out There' review: Ryan Quincy's coming-of-age cartoon charms|last=Lloyd|first=Robert|date=22 February 2013|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=24 February 2013}} New York Times calls it "dreamy, charming, deeply personal." Mixed reviews included Boston Globe's, Matthew Gilbert's, who called it "just fine", continuing, "the sincerity is refreshing in an animated context, but the characters and the stories are old hat."{{cite web|first=Matthew |last=Gilbert|date=February 21, 2013|title='Out There': Coming of age, 'toon-style|work=Boston Globe|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/2013/02/21/out-there-coming-age-toon-style/OoRO6zpPz7ruu6cX5m3TxL/story.html}} A review by PopMatters stated "It is often funny, but it could be funnier if it were wed to more coherent storytelling."{{cite web|first=J.C. |last=Macek III |date=22 February 2013|title='Out There': More Kids in Search of Something|work=PopMatters|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/168621-out-there-more-kids-in-search-of-something/}} A review from Slant Magazine declared "Out There presents an array of by-the-numbers boyhood scenarios that frequently feel stale, having an indistinct, been-there-done-that vibe."{{cite web|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/review/out-there-season-one/394|title=Out There: Season One|work=Slant Magazine|date=19 February 2013|access-date=19 February 2013}}

References

{{reflist}}