Infomercials (TV specials)

Infomercials
Genre	Parody/Satire Comedy Black comedy Horror Comedy horror Anthology
Starring	Various
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	Keith Crofford [a] Mike Lazzo [b] Walter Newman [b]
Producers	Melissa Warrenburg [c] Ollie Green [d] Mark Costa [e] Paige Boudreaux [f]
Camera setup	Single camera
Running time	5–22 minutes (15-30 min. with commercials) 91 minutes (Adult Swim Yule Log) 87 minutes (Adult Swim Yule Log 2: Branchin' Out)
Production company	Williams Street
Original release
Network	Adult Swim
Release	November 3, 2009 (2009-11-03) – 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while others parody tropes in niche media such as closed-circuit hotel information channels, industrial films, sitcoms, outdated reality television formats, and public-access television.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. ^{[1] [2]}

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.

No.	Title	Created by / Developed by	Written by	Directed by	Co-production(s)	Original air date
1	Icelandic UltraBlue	H. Jon Benjamin and David Cross		Jeff Buchanan	—	November 3, 2009 (2009-11-03)
2	Dangerously Delicious: Paid Advertisement	Aziz Ansari (original stand-up comedy film) (d): Aziz Ansari, Jason Woliner, and Eric Wareheim	Aziz Ansari, Jason Woliner, and Eric Wareheim	Eric Wareheim	Abso Lutely Productions Grandpa Pictures	July 23, 2012 (2012-07-23)
3	The NTSF:SD:SUV:HISS Infomercial [3] [4] [g]	Paul Scheer	Alex Fernie and Nick Wiger	Alex Fernie	2nd Man On The Moon Abominable Pictures	November 9, 2012 (2012-11-09)
4	Swords, Knives, Very Sharp Objects and Cutlery [g]		Rob Huebel	Eric Appel		November 27, 2012 (2012-11-27)
5	Broomshakalaka	Justin Becker, Steve Clemmons, and Becca Kinskey	Justin Becker and Steve Clemmons	Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert	Abominable Pictures	December 10, 2013
6	For-Profit Online University	Wild, Aggressive Dog	(s): Geoff Haggerty, Dan E. Klein, Matthew Klinman, Michael Pielocik, Chris Sartinsky, and Sam West (t): Sam West	Sam West	Abominable Pictures Wild, Aggressive Dog (uncredited)	December 17, 2013 (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	AB Video Solutions, LLC	December 24, 2013 (2013-12-24)
8	Fartcopter [h]	Rob Huebel		Alex Fernie	Abominable Pictures	October 6, 2014 (2014-10-06)
9	The Salad Mixxxer	Chris Amick, Ben Mekler, and David Soldinger		Ken Marino and David Soldinger		October 13, 2014 (2014-10-13)
10	Alpha Chow [i]	Justin Becker, Steve Clemmons, and Becca Kinskey	Justin Becker and Steve Clemmons	Dave Green		October 20, 2014 (2014-10-20)
11	Goth Fitness [i]	Chris Amick, Ben Mekler, and David Soldinger		Danny Jelinek
12	Too Many Cooks	Casper Kelly			Awesome Inc.	October 28, 2014 (2014-10-28)
13	The Newbridge Tourism Board Presents: "We're Newbridge, We're Comin' to Get Ya!"	Tom Scharpling and Jon Wurster		Tom Scharpling	Production Company Productions	November 3, 2014 (2014-11-03)
14	In Search of Miracle Man	Matt Besser and Rich Fulcher		Neil Mahoney	Abominable Pictures	November 10, 2014 (2014-11-10)
15	Smart Pipe	Wild, Aggressive Dog	(s): Geoff Haggerty, Dan E. Klein, Matthew Klinman, Micheal Pielocik, Chris Sartinsky, and Sam West (t): Micheal Pielocik (in Smart Pipe); Chris Sartinsky (in Book of Christ)	Zachary Johnson and Jeffrey Max	Abominable Pictures Wild, Aggressive Dog	November 17, 2014 (2014-11-17)
16	Book of Christ					November 24, 2014 (2014-11-24)
17	Frank Pierre Presents: "The Frank Pierre Resort & Casino"	Paul Scheer		Matthew Freund	Abominable Pictures 2nd Man On The Moon	December 2, 2014 (2014-12-02)
18	Unedited Footage of a Bear	Ben O'Brien (concept)	Alan Resnick, Robby Rackleff, and Dina Kelberman	Alan Resnick and Ben O'Brien	Wham City	December 16, 2014 (2014-12-16)
19	This House Has People in It	Alan Resnick (concept)		Alan Resnick	Wham City	March 15, 2016 (2016-03-15)
20	Joe Pera Talks You to Sleep [j] [k]	Joe Pera; (d): Kieran O'Hare	Joe Pera	Kieran O'Hare	Chestnut Walnut Unlimited	March 21, 2016 (2016-03-21)
21	Big Grams: "Born to Shine" / "Run for Your Life" [j] [l]	Antwan Patton, Sarah Barthel, and Josh Carter (original EP) (d): Erik Minkin	Sarah Barthel, Antwan Patton, and Jim Petosa	Awesome Inc.	Awesome Inc.	March 28, 2016 (2016-03-28)
22	M.O.P.Z.	Todd Rohal and Benjamin Kasulke		Todd Rohal	Mechanical Dreams PFFR	April 4, 2016 (2016-04-04)
23	Gigglefudge, USA	Nicholas Maier and Dimitri Simakis		John Lee	PFFR Everything Is Terrible! FishBowl Worldwide Media	April 11, 2016 (2016-04-11)
24	Giles Vanderhoot	Michael Showalter	Michael Showalter and Jonathan Stern	Michael Showalter	Abominable Pictures	April 25, 2016 (2016-04-25)
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		May 2, 2016 (2016-05-02)
26	NewsHits	Rob Huebel		Sergio Cilli		May 31, 2016 (2016-05-31)
27	Mulchtown	Chris Sartinsky and Becca Kinskey	Chris Sartinsky	Danny Jelinek	Ideal Milk Co. Abominable Pictures [7] (uncredited)	June 7, 2016 (2016-06-07)
28	Check It Out! with Scott Clam [g]	John C. Reilly, Tim Heidecker, and Eric Wareheim		Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim	Abso Lutely Productions	October 23, 2017 (2017-10-23)
29	The Suplex Duplex Complex	Zack Carlson, Bryan Connolly, and Todd Rohal		Todd Rohal	PFFR Ten Acre Films	October 30, 2017 (2017-10-30)
30	Wet Shapes	Kati Skelton			Little Bear Bear Productions It's Grim	November 6, 2017 (2017-11-06)
31	Innovation Makers: The Coyote Suit	Dan Guterman and John Harris		Danny Jelinek	Abso Lutely Productions	December 12, 2017 (2017-12-12)
32	A Message from the Future [m]	Paul Scheer	Paul Scheer and Jonathan Stern	Ryan Perez	Abominable Pictures 2nd Man On The Moon	June 4, 2018 (2018-06-04)
33	Cool Dad - Official Trailer	Alex Kavutskiy and Ariel Gardner			Abominable Pictures	June 11, 2018 (2018-06-11)
34	Dayworld [j] [h]	Cole Kush and Jay Weingarten			Abso Lutely Productions Daytime Studio	June 18, 2018 (2018-06-18)
35	Final Deployment 4: Queen Battle Walkthrough [n]	Casper Kelly and Nick Gibbons			Awesome Inc.	June 25, 2018 (2018-06-25)
36	Food: The Source of Life [m]	Greg Hess		Ryan Perez	Abominable Pictures	July 2, 2018 (2018-07-02)
37	Pervert Everything	Lorelei Ramirez			PFFR Wham City	December 10, 2018 (2018-12-10)
38	Flayaway	Sarah Sherman		Kati Skelton	Abso Lutely Productions Helltrap Nightmare	December 17, 2018 (2018-12-17)
39	When Panties Fly	Chiyoung Lee			—	December 16, 2019 (2019-12-16)
40	Piggy	Steve Smith	Steve Smith & Clay Tatum	Steve Smith	Abso Lutely Productions	April 27, 2020 (2020-04-27)
41	Skeleton Landlord [h] [o]	Doug Bleichner & Sam Wagstaff			—	May 4, 2020 (2020-05-04)
42	Wormholes	Benjamin Berman	Clark Baker, Benjamin Berman & Kirk C. Johnson	Benjamin Berman	The Ranch Productions	September 8, 2020 (2020-09-08)
43	11 Minute Whambam 90's Ride!	Anders Holm			Abominable Pictures	November 30, 2020 (2020-11-30)
44	A Life In Questions: Wisdom School with Aaron Chen	Aaron Chen & Henry Stone		Henry Stone	West Street Sports, Pty Ltd.	December 8, 2020 (2020-12-08)
45	Rate The Cookie (with Jo Firestone)	Jo Firestone		Julie Miller	PFFR	December 14, 2020 (2020-12-14)
46	Danny Ketchup	Casper Kelly			Fried Society Awesome Inc	December 21, 2020 (2020-12-21)
47	Adult Swim Yule Log				Fried Society	December 11, 2022 (2022-12-11)
48	Adult Swim Yule Log 2: Branchin' Out					December 6, 2024 (2024-12-06)

Scrapped

• The Six Pack Comedy Minute ^[10]
• Ultimate Beetles Collection ^{[11] [12]}

Notes

1. Keith Crofford serves as Executive Producer for Williams Street on all infomercials.
2. Mike Lazzo and Walter Newman serve as Executive Producers for Williams Street on select infomercials individually alongside Crofford.
3. 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.
4. Ollie Green serves as Producer for Williams Street on animated infomercials and on M.O.P.Z.
5. Mark Costa serves as Producer for Williams Street on live action infomercials after 2016.
6. Paige Boudreaux serves as Producer for Williams Street on action infomercials after 2018.
7. These three Infomercials are the only ones to be related to TV series.
8. These Infomercials also serve as pilot episodes for Adult Swim. ^{[5] [6]}
9. 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.
10. These three Infomercials are the only animated ones of the project.
11. In 2019, the Adult Swim's official YouTube channel posted a version of this special repeated for 10 hours.
12. Only music video Infomercial of the entire project.
13. These two Infomercials were originally called: Nuclear Political Ad (for the first), and Farm to Table (for the second). ^[8]
14. Only half-hour Infomercial of the entire project.
15. This infomercial was greenlit after being pitched on Adult Swim's weekly Development Meeting livestream. ^[9]

References

1. Grinberg, Emanuella (November 10, 2014). "This weekend's trending video: 'Too Many Cooks'". No. Online. Turner Media. CNN. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
2. Branch, Chris (14 November 2014). "'Too Many Cooks' Creator Dishes on Making the Viral Hit". Huffington Post. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
3. "NTSF:SD:SUV" The NTSF: SD: SUV: HISS Infomercial (TV Episode 2012)". IMDb. 9 November 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
4. Bean, Alex (November 13, 2012). "NTSF:SD:SUV:: Episode Recap - HISS Infomercial - Season 2, Episode 13 – ToonZone News". ToonZone. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
5. "Adult Swim Pilot or Real Florida". Vimeo. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
6. "DAYWORLD - Cole Kush / Hello!". www.ckush.com. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
7. Adult Swim Infomercials — Abominable Pictures
8. CREDITS — Abominable Pictures
9. "Pitch Adult Swim | Development Meeting 7/11 | Adult Swim - YouTube". YouTube . 11 July 2019.
10. Bnjrivera (March 11, 2016). "NEWS: The Return of the 4am Infomercials Premiering on 03.14.16 - [swim squad]" . Retrieved May 26, 2018.
11. LySK1hZ.png (1301×642)
12. Bnjrivera (March 11, 2016). "NEWS: The Return of the 4am Infomercials Premiering on 03.14.16 - [swim squad]" . Retrieved May 26, 2018.

External links

• Official website