TV Funhouse

Plot synopsis:
Every episode had a different theme to it (e.g., "Hawaiian Day" or "Astronaut Day") and saw the Anipals usually getting into some sort of trouble, not wanting to do whatever their happy-go-lucky host had in mind for the day. The Comedy Central version of TV Funhouse premiered in December 2000 and was not picked up for a second season. Interviews with Smigel indicate that Comedy Central believed in the show but was disappointed in how it went over budget every episode. Smigel has also expressed how difficult the show was and how tedious the puppet-live animal segments were to shoot. The show was released on DVD July 22, 2008 under the title Comedy Central's TV Funhouse.
=== Recurring skits ===
The Baby, the Immigrant, and the Guy on Mushrooms—Artemis the Cat watches over a baby, an immigrant, and a guy on mushrooms while the female homeowner, voiced by Sarah Thyre, is away. Artemis works to keep the clueless trio out of any danger.
Wonderman—A parody of Max Fleischer's Superman cartoons that stars Wonderman, voiced by Robert Smigel, who fights a constant crusade to stop crime and get his alias of Henry Moore laid.
=== Episodes ===
"Western Day" (December 6, 2000)—Doug must wrangle up his own fun when the Anipals ditch him to head for high times south of the border in Tijuana.
"Hawaiian Day" (December 13, 2000)—Doug and Rocky the Fish have a luau all by themselves while the Anipals help Chickie rescue his 95th son, Jason, from a cult.
"Christmas Day" (December 20, 2000)—The Anipals tap Doug's spine to extract his Christmas cheer. After one of Chickie's sons helps to turn the cheer into powder, the Anipals snort it and get addicted to powdered Christmas cheer.
"Mexican Day" (December 27, 2000)—The Anipals appear on the Sally Jessy Raphael show to help an endangered lizard get laid, leaving Doug to celebrate Mexican Day with a tequila worm and a Puerto Rican Mexican-food deliverer.
"Caveman Day" (January 3, 2001)—The Anipals compare New Year's resolutions: Hojo wants to learn to play the saxophone, Chickie hangs out with his brother with Tourette syndrome, and Fogey must resist eating his own poop. Meanwhile, Doug builds a dinosaur skeleton out of baby back ribs, and Rocky the Fish takes a group of kids to visit a cookie factory.
"Safari Day" (January 10, 2001) Part 1 of 2—The Anipals travel to Atlantic City to visit Fogey's old friend, Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog, where Chickie falls in love with a chimp-stitute.
"Astronaut Day" (January 17, 2001) Part 2 of 2—Still in Atlantic City, the Anipals attempt to "unstick" Triumph before his big show. Meanwhile, Doug tries to achieve weightlessness.
"Chinese New Year's Day" (January 24, 2001)—The Anipals ditch the Funhouse to enter the lucrative, glamorous world of lab animals, as Doug celebrates Chinese New Year's Day and makes fireworks with a panda. This being the final episode, the set was struck by detonating a puppet panda (full of innards for realism) on the set, splattering everywhere. Staged as a satirical accident, Doug replied after with resignation: "Cut."
=== Cast ===
Doug Dale - Doug
==== Anipal Voices ====
Tommy Blacha—Hank
Doug Dale—Jeffery
Matt Davis
Jon Glaser—Hojo
Jonathan Groff
Jackie Hoffman
David Juskow—Larry
Susan Krause
Frank Simms
Robert Smigel—Fogey, Xabu, Rocky, Terrence
Brian Stack—Mr. Whiskers (first episode)
Dino Stamatopoulos—Chickie, Mr. Whiskers
==== Cartoon Voices ====
Brad Abelle—Various
Darren Baker—Various
Daniel Barrios—Various
Doug Dale—Various
Andrew Daly—Various
Tyrone Finch—Various
Daniel Fitzgerald—Various
Ana Gasteyer—Various
Jen Jiles—Various
Joe Letrullio—Various
Tim Meadows—Stedman Graham ("Stedman")
Tracy Morgan—Globetrotter Geese ("The Harlem Globetrotters' First Christmas")
Chris Parnell—James Brolin ("Stedman")
Maya Rudolph—Oprah Winfrey ("Stedman")
Robert Smigel—Various
Deanna Storey—Various
Sarah Thyre—Mom ("The Baby, The Immigrant and The Guy On Mushrooms")
Nancy Walsh—Various

Tags: comedy, insanity, psychedelic, absurd, humor, satire

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