Wonder Showzen

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Wonder Showzen
Wonder Showzen opening
Genre	Puppetry/Black comedy/Animation
Running time	21–23 minutes
Creator(s)	John Lee and Vernon Chatman
Starring	Vernon Chatman John Lee Cast
Country of origin	USA
Original channel	MTV2
Original run	March 11, 2005–present
No. of episodes	16

Wonder Showzen is an American sketch comedy television series that began airing in 2005 on MTV2. It was created by John Lee and Vernon Chatman of PFFR.

The show's format is that of educational PBS children's television shows such as Sesame Street or The Electric Company (e.g. use of stock footage, puppetry, and clips of children being interviewed). However, Wonder Showzen parodies the format in a very adult-oriented manner. In addition to general controversial comedy, it satirizes politics, religion, war, and culture with black comedy.

Recurring skits include interviews with kids who give irreverent, controversial answers (a parody of similar segments on Sesame Street), kid reporters interviewing adults in a segment titled 'Beat Kids', and man-on-the-street interviews by the puppet Clarence (voiced by co-creator/writer Vernon Chatman). Clarence has a knack for harassing New Yorkers with innocent questions. Every episode also features short animated cartoon segments, many of which are produced at Augenblick Studios.

One episode, titled "Patience," has been described by its creators as an attempt at creating a "visual palindrome." Midway through the show, the episode stops and runs in reverse.

Wonder Showzen was originally developed and pitched to the USA Network. After about five minutes of viewing, executives at the USA Network said that there was no way they could air the program.^[1] However, Viacom was re-branding MTV2 and made Wonder Showzen part of its new programming lineup. It aired as part of Sic 'Em Fridays, along with Team Sanchez and Jackass spinoff Wildboyz. The pilot was named simply Kids Show. The Wonder Showzen theme song is still 'Kids Show'.

MTV released the first season of Wonder Showzen on DVD on March 28, 2006. The second season of Wonder Showzen premiered on March 31, 2006 and had its season two finale starring Clarence on May 19, 2006 on MTV2. The second season of Wonder Showzen was released on DVD on October 10, 2006. Reruns of the show also air on MTV and Comedy Central. It is shown in the UK on MTV2, MTV and TMF. The program currently airs every Friday at 9:30PM EST after The Andy Milonakis Show. Information pertaining to whether or not and when a third season will air has not been confirmed. An easter egg on the Season 2 DVD features an animation contest, the grand prize of which is the winner's animation appearing on "the next DVD" (implying a third season), but the creators recently said a third season is highly unlikely, with MTV2 at the very least.[1]

1 Characters
2 Cast
3 Recurring Segments
4 Episode Guide
5 DVD Releases
6 See also
7 Footnotes
8 External links

[edit] Characters

Main article: List of Wonder Showzen characters

[edit] Cast

[edit] Adults

Vernon Chatman (Chauncey/Clarence/A.P. Gibralter)
John Lee (Wordsworth/Him)
Alyson Levy (Sthugar)

[edit] Kids

Taylor Bedlivy
P.J. Connaire
Trevor Heins
Miles Kath
Jasmina Lee
Alexandra Rose
Frankie Scapoli
Brian Senior
Ryan Simpkins
Miles Williams

[edit] Cameos

[edit] Season One

Flavor Flav - As himself in episode 101, The full "Storytime with Flavor Flav" was cut from the episode and it's on the Season One DVD.
Jon Glaser - As Mr. Story in episode 101.
Dick Gregory - As Mr. Sun in episode 103.
Amy Sedaris - As Miss Amy in episode 106.
Christopher Meloni - As the Cooties Spokesman in episode 107.

[edit] Season Two

Will Ryan - As the voice of "Letter P" in episode 201.
David Cross - As T-Totaled Timbo in episode 203, Hostage in episode 206, and Junkyard Jessip in episode 207.
Jon Glaser - As Dr. Rawstein in episode 203 and as a Horse Apples cast member in episode 207.
Amy Poehler - As Miss Mary in episode 206 and Don't Talk with Your Mouth Full Spokeswoman in episode 203.
John Oates - As himself, singing in the song, "War doesn't solve anything" in episode 206.
Devendra Banhart - As himself, singing in the song, "War doesn't solve anything" in episode 206.
Rick Springfield - As himself, singing in the song, "War doesn't solve anything" in episode 206.
Corin Tucker - As herself, singing in the song, "War doesn't solve anything" in episode 206.
Todd Barry - As a Horse Apples cast member in episode 207.
Zach Galifianakis - As Uncle Daddy in episode 207.
Will Oldham - As a Horse Apples cast member in episode 207.
Heather Lawless - As a Horse Apples cast member in episode 207.

[edit] Recurring Segments

Beat Kids - One of the children, most often Trevor, leads a journalistic segment with mostly offensive, humorous questions, ridiculing interviewees at a given venue. The segment appears in almost every episode. It's a play on "Kids Beat" which, at least in Canada, was part of the Owl TV series where kids were given the opportunity to take part in news broadcasting from their own perspectives.
What's Jim Drawing? - Appeared in episode 202, But then appeared again in episode 206 as a part of the bottom of the bootleg world in the end of the episode.
Horse Apples - A segment in episode 203, which later expanded into an entire episode in 207, that parodies Hee Haw and redneck comedy. The latter episode featured several guest actors.
Funny/Not Funny - A series of clips airs with a chorus of children yelling either "funny" or "not funny". It appeared once in episode 206 in the end of the episode.
So Now You Know - A parody of "There's More to Know", Where kids say questions and a computer shows their answers. It appeared once on season two in episode 205.
Q&A - A series of children each answer a single question.
Breaking News - Features the news reporter.
We Went To... - Children narrate an ostensibly educational trip while old stock film airs
Clarence's Movies - Clarence the puppet interviews people on the street on a common theme, usually antagonistically or obnoxiously, which is often reciprocated by violence or threats
Story Time - A special guest reads a story to the children. Guests have included Flavor Flav (as himself although it was unaired), Jon Glaser (as Mr. Story), David Cross (as a hostage), and Amy Sedaris (as Ms. Amy)
Dear Jesus or Dear Grandma - A short recurring segment where a letter written by a child is read. It appeared once in season two in episode 202, Where the girl is saying that Jesus is a garbage head.
Mr. Body - a cartoon segment that parodies the Slim Goodbody character from the Captain Kangaroo television series.
D.O.G O.B.G.Y.N - A cartoon chronicling a dog with the ability to aid in child birth

[edit] Episode Guide

Main article: List of Wonder Showzen episodes

[edit] DVD Releases

DVD Name	Cover Art	Ep #	Region 1 release date	Additional Information
Season 1		8	March 28, 2006	Audtions and Outtakes, Storytime with Flava Flav, Special Guest Commentaries by… Gordon Lish, Dick Gregory, and others!, Sneek Peek Cartoon, Locker Poster, PFFR Music Video.
Season 2		8	October 10, 2006	Clarence, Kids and Puppets Outtakes, Guest Commentaries on select episodes, Unaired Cartoon, Easter Egg, 1st wonder showzen storybook.