We Need Girlfriends – Ep. 4 “Rod vs Henry” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Comedy Web Series

2 Swirlies

“I wanted to make things right. So I photoshopped this picture of you porking your ex-girlfriend.”

This is a wonky episode of this web series about three roommates.

It swings from silly, over the top gags with no consequences (like putting Draino in a roommate’s eggs) to out-of-nowhere learning-and-hugging resolutions.

But here’s something interesting. I was scrolling through the comments on saw this one from cast member Evan Bass:

“@samdunhamss, a little after episode 10 came out, YouTube tried to buy the show and in order to bid low, YouTube shut off the viewer counter for the episodes. No new views have registered in over 2 years. - EvanBass” 8 Months ago.

What? Could this be true? I am not naive enough to think that YouTube is above reproach, but did they really game their own network to cheat a web series creator out of a sale price? That’s low, man. Even for a self interested corporation.

From YouTube Description:

Rod’s actions push Henry to the breaking point, and their friendship is tested in an epically pathetic and childish battle.

Pick up your own Team Rod/ Team Henry shirt at www.cafepress.com/ragtagfilms

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The Annoying Orange Ep.2 “Plumpkin” | A Web Series on The Watch List

Annoying Orange returns to annoy a pumpkin for Halloween.

ANNOYING ORANGE YOUTUBE PAGE: http://youtube.com/realannoyingorange

2 Swirlies

“Whoa! You’re the biggest orange I’ve ever seen!”

Yep, it’s more of the annoying orange, the biggest hit web series on YouTube right now.

I can see why this has done well. It’s exactly what it says it is, it has a neat visual look, and it is easily accessible and infinitely repeatable. I can see office buddies repeating Orange’s catch phrases for days on end.

While the video’s ending is funny in a snickering kind of way, it is exactly the same ending as the previous episode, only with a different fruit. (Is a pumpkin a fruit? Probably not.)

I think the popularity of this video demonstrates the continuing divide for people wanting to make actual, TV like narrative web series. That’s not what people go to YouTube to see - they go to YouTube to be distracted or amused, which is different from being entertained. The Annoying Orange would make a great commercial. But a TV series? Or a movie? What do you do after you already introduced a number of new characters for him to annoy?

ANNOYING ORANGE T-SHIRT: http://bit.ly/8RyANa

ANNOYING ORANGE TWITTER: http://twitter.com/annoyingorange

ANNOYING ORANGE FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/annoyingorange

WATCH ALL OF THE ANNOYING ORANGE SERIES: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=D81F5B7E80B4E853

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Microwave Porn: Ep.3 “Borgya”

Dave meets a Slavkishkian model at the Architect’s Ball. She only speaks 3 words of English. Fortunately, Allen the talking. porn addicted microwave is ready to help.

4 Swirlies

“You don’t talk to Nigel! Nigel is my friend!”

This is a weird one – from the odd scene with Nigel “dropping a deuce” and undressing in slow motion to the just slightly not-the-real song “Shove it” to the transitions where Alan the porn addicted microwave talks us through the episode’s structure (“That was the build up.”)

And it is pretty damned funny.

What I liked was the way Alan drives the episode. It is kind of a straight and zany set up, with Dave trying to keep things “normal” until he can stand it no longer and becomes the “zany” one.

Outside of all the porn jokes and the strangeness of it, this is really well constructed series – Dave and Alan will always want different things, but because Alan can’t really do much for himself, he’ll always be up in Dave’s business.

Nice job, Cancelproof.

Best Laid Plans Ep.1 “Dashboard Confessions”

Boys will be boys as John and Alex try to coach Tom and Skip out of their respective life crises.

Watch the entire series NOW at http://www.webserials.com

2 Swirlies

“Laser beams… I understand, that part of it is crazy. But the… metaphor. That’s what’s important.”

I totally forgot about this show, I liked the episode I saw before. And another one from WebSerials.com – I guess this is WebSerials.com catch up week.

Four guys discuss love while waiting for the comic book store to open.

Hmm… I really liked the first one I reviewed (which I now realize was episode 7) but this one didn’t grab me. It’s essentially one long joke with a reveal at the end which, considering the subject matter of the dialogue, isn’t all that surprising.

If you like comics, you’ll probably get a chuckle or two out their shout outs to super heroes.

Dick Figures S01E06 “OMG”

Red and Blue will plant this episode in your subconscious and then cover it in their own fertilizer. Dick Figures was created by Ed Skudder, who wrote, directed and voiced the episode along with Zack Keller.

Dick Figures TwitterBot9000
http://twitter.com/dick_figures

4 Swilies

“Make me a sandwich… out of babies!”

If you haven’t seen Inception, you probably won’t get a lot of the jokes in this episode. For those who think that Inception is the single smartest movie ever made, you’ll probably think this is hilarious.

I was surprised to find we hadn’t covered Dick Figures here before. Maybe this isn’t the best one to start discussing, because it is essentially a whole bunch of dream gags. Some of them are pretty funny, but if you’re looking for story or character, look elsewhere.

This is another Mondo Media released show. Man, they just about own animation on the YouTube.

Like I said, there’s a few good laughs in here, and the production is nicely done. Another thing I like that they go on to the next joke pretty rapidly, instead of playing the same joke long after we get it, like many YouTube series.

Oh Brother Ep.2 “Friday the 13th”

Episode Two: Krystal makes such a big deal about it being Friday The 13th. Josiah performs some experiments in order to shed light on Krystal’s belief in superstitions. However, those experiments turn out to backfire on Josiah.

2 Swirlies

“I’ll miss you. Wait. No I won’t.”

There’s still some charm here, but the jokes in this episode are kinda obvious. The smart brother tries to disprove bad luck. Guess how it turns out?

There’s one funny political-esque joke about FEMA, but other than that I liked the first one much better.

What I did notice is that his episodes got 20,000 views since being posted in October. Almost all of the views came before the end of November. 20,000 views in a month? Those are fairly impressive numbers. How did he get those views in that time period, with only four videos?

Coffee Break Episode 1 (Part 2 of 4)

Triple Shot Productions presents:

COFFEE BREAK Episode 1 Part 2 -
A New Comedy Web Series.

Neal and David are two writers struggling to make it in the biz.  They watch their friend Phil’s theatre monologue.

www.CoffeeBreakSeries.com

Become a FAN on FACEBOOK

www.DouchebagDave.net

www.TripleShotProductions.com

Follow us on Twitter @CoffeeBreakTV

3 swirlies

“I’d rather watch douchebag Dave clean his own pipe.”

This is exactly how the audience feels during the opening scene when Dave and Neal’s actor friend drones on in a theatre monologue, playing… yup, chickenpox.

Like a lot of scenes in this series so far; things could be lot funnier if they were shorter.  Timing is everything in comedy.  Get in, make the audience laugh, then get out.

Instead, we find ourselves asking, along with Dave and Neal at the 3 ½ minute mark: “What is this about?”

Indeed, what is this series about?

This episode introduces a Starbucks-y waitress/barista who trades lattes for writing help from the guys—in a very male nerd fantasy kind of way.  Think Rachel in “Friends.”  But less perky.  This could add an interesting love interest tension to the all-guys dynamic.

Also, for the first time, we get a sense of their goals as they brainstorm how to make money.  Yes, stakes!  Could this be a hint of things to come?  How do you pursue your dreams and make a living at the same time?  If so, that’s a powerful premise that many young people can aspire and relate to—if that’s where the series is headed.

Despite its length, there are some good and funny moments if you stick it through to the end.  But the highlight has to be the boy band music video spoof.  It’s pretty ridiculous, and will have you yearning for the good old days of ‘N Sync and The Backstreet Boys—or not.  Probably not.

There’s a lot of comedic potential in this series, and the two leads have a nice, subtle comedic chemistry.  If they can define what they want to say with this series, as well as hone that comedic timing, this could very well be the kind of diversion you’re looking for on your coffee break!

Happy Tree Friends “Lumpy’s Lame Card Trick”

Lumpy needs a volunteer to help him with his card trick. Do you have the psychic ability to make him look like a real magician? Step right up, you won’t believe your eyes!

5 Swirlies!

Uh… wow. It’s an interactive episode.

Through the magic of YouTube annotations, you get to help Lumpy with a card trick. The mechanics behind the illusion are pretty easy if you think about it (and many commentators will helpfully explain it to you) but it is still fun and well done.

I also like that each of the six endings has its own unique fun visual gag after the trick is done. And yes, I did play the trick four times.

Super short, but very enjoyable! It’s nice to see Happy Tree Friends do something very different from the formula they have grown into. I’m giving it 5 Swirlies on the idea alone. But I don’t think it’ll end up in the Friday Playlist…

Hot Girls – Escape!: Episode 3

4 Swirlies

“That was amazing! You are the best at Ding Dong Ditch!”

More inspired silliness from The Station!

Hmm… did I miss Episode 2?

The girls time in prison catches up with them on the outside.

The weight of this episode is on the guy in the wig. Normally I don’t go for that sort of thing, but somehow that guy makes okay with the idea that she’s a girl with a beard. Nicely done!

And again, the musical parody is really great! If you listen closely the lyrics are both funny and exactly right for the genre, in this case a “Love Hurts” kinda song.

I really like this show. I may even go track down episode 2.

From YouTube:

Retweet: http://clicktotweet.com/81d3_

You’re My Perfect Day
Ready To Go
If You Wanna Be My Lover
Ready
Let You Know
I Know you Can Do It
Camden Town
COURTESY OF APM Music LLC

Best Laid Plan – Tom’s Big Date

Tom finally gets his dream date, but his friends’ advice might be a recipe for disaster.

Watch the entire series NOW at http://www.webserials.com

4 Swirlies

“If you’re buying her dinner, then you’re grabbing her by the back of the head and kissing her deep. Now get out of here and make it happen!”

It’s a ball’s hair over ten minutes, which made me hesitate before hitting play. But seeing as it is from WebSerials.com,  I thought I’d give it a chance and I’m glad I did.

The first thing you see is a claim that this series is 100% improvised. There’s a lot of camera angles and editing, which makes me doubt that claim, but the video is funny either way!

There’s 6 characters in the first scene, which helps keep it high energy and the one-liners flying. It builds, there’s goals and stakes, there’s a sharp button on the resolution – very strong writing. (Or improvising?)

The second scene brings it down to 3 characters, but the brilliant addition of a very funny and dry waiter to interfere with Tom’s Big Date. I like that they didn’t make the character of the waiter more silly, but kept to very simple and very small but potent escalations that drove up the stakes for Tom.

The humour dips once Tom saves the date from ruin, and ventures into more emotional, drama territory. Which is nice but… really, that switching gears is very tough and I don’t feel like they made it work. I think, at the end of the day, the writing and the acting wasn’t up to the task.  I felt the emotional tones but once the basic tension of the scene was over, there was nothing left to keep me engaged. But kudos for the attempt!

I also noticed that the credits are pretty long, about a minute, which brings the total length to over 10 minutes. I think that on YouTube, there’s the same factor at play that makes prices always end in 99 cents. If this clip was 9:40 it would be much attractive to those who stumble on it than it is crossing into double digits.

Overall, a very funny episode that shows off the comedic talents of those involved very nicely.