Channel 101

I've posted about Channel 101 a couple of times in the Linklog but I really believe that they deserve more than that.

If you haven't experienced it yet (and you really must), 101 is a sort of playground for wannabe film-makers. How it works is:

• People send in a five minute 'pilot' for a new show.
  
• All the pilots are screened to a live audience of 400 at a cinema in LA
  
• The audience votes on which shows they like the best- the top five are considered 'Prime Time' and the creators are invited to make episode two of the show for the next screening- at which point they have to face the public vote again!
  

So it's sort of a 'survival of the fittest' short-film project, and the results, while occasionally extremely patchy, have created some incredible shows that make regular tv seem bloated and ridiculous.

Shows you really must check out are:

• Yacht Rock - So popular it has actually entered the vernacular as a new way to describe a musical genre, this serios follows the real-life (sort of) adventures of Michael McDonnell and Kenny Loggins as they penned hit after hit in the 70's and 80's.

• Laser Fart - Ludicrious title I know, and the show begins ludicrously as well, but somewhere along the line it morphs into a really quite serious look at grief and loss. Avoid episode ten- the first nine compose a tragic arc that is best watched as a single movie.

• The Wright Stuff - The adventures of the Wright Brothers! Watch in amazement as they use their flying machine to thwart evil-doers of all stripes.

• Ringwald & Molly - Not-really-animated show about a posh lizard and his scatalogical spider-dog. If you loved Terrahawks...
  

This is just a few of my favorites- there are literally dozens of shows that are all extremely amusing. As if that wasn't enough, there's also a NY-based 'sister' station, Channel 102. Swing by there and check out The Outer Limit, a wonderfully kooky science show, and Cakey! The Cake From Outer Space.

Anyway, I'm keen to submit a pilot. Can you act, film, edit? Check out a few shows to see what the hell I'm talking about and then get in touch!