New web series lineup includes the Reddit-inspired TV and movie mashup series Tvoovies, learnings from a failed actor on Hollywood Acting Studio, and seafaring puppet adventures on Captain Cornelius Cartoon’s Cartoon Lagoon.
Beverly Hills, CA --
Starz Digital Media announced the next step in its mission to deliver quality programming across multiple platforms with the launch of its new entertainment and comedy YouTube channel, Union Pool. Brought to life by the company behind the web series sensation How It Should Have Ended, Union Pool will offer a unique variety of animated and live-action series, with new episodes launching every Tuesday and Thursday beginning today at www.youtube.com/unionpool. Initial programming will include pop culture animated mashup Tvoovies, acting school spoof Hollywood Acting Studio, and the award-winning puppet animation adventure Captain Cornelius Cartoon’s Cartoon Lagoon.
The original concept for Tvoovies was inspired by casual conversations on the popular social news site Reddit. Created by award winning LA-based producers Cosmic Toast Studios in partnership with Starz Digital Media, Tvoovies is a pop culture animated mashup where hit television series collide with blockbuster films. Whip-smart, tongue-in-cheek and often outrageous, this season’s lineup, parodies the biggest titles in entertainment, including “Jurassic Parks and Rec,” “Mad X-Men,” “Indiana Jones and the Abbey of Downton” and “The Grey’s Anatomy.”“We have been so successful with two of our award-winning web animation series How It Should Have Ended and 30-Second Bunnies Theater, that we saw an opportunity to provide viewers with more original content,” said Mara Winokur, SVP, Digital for Starz Digital Media. “We’re extremely proud of our newest lineup of web series and are looking forward to providing more quality comedy originals to viewers everywhere.”
Nickelodeon and DC Comics alumni Manny Galán and Pat Giles of Pat-Man Studios serve as Executive Producers for Captain Cornelius Cartoon’s Cartoon Lagoon. The show is an award-winning animated adventure that follows seafaring puppets on their underwater quest aboard the Manta Ray. This cartoon-retrieving vessel commanded by Captain Cornelius dives deep into Cartoon Lagoon in search of the best and the worst cartoons ever made. Meanwhile, a motley crew spoofs PSAs and retro animated favorites, including the original Casper The Friendly Ghost, The Underwater Adventures of Captain Nemo, and Popeye the Sailor Man. Celebrated by Amazon Studios with the 2012 New York Television Festival Audience Award, this magical salute to Saturday morning cartoons unites MAD TV and Robot Chicken scribe Steve Borst with a lineup of veteran and breakthrough talent from The Disney Channel, Nick Jr., The Jim Henson Company, Marvel Comics, Archie Comics, WB Animation, MTV, Spike TV, Bear in the Big Blue House, and Avenue Q.
Created by Kevin Best, co-founder of the Natural Disastronauts (Cracked.com’s Cracked Advice Board), Hollywood Acting Studio follows the hilarious unorthodox teaching methods of Professor Lafrange, a failed Hollywood hopeful instructing a new crop of aspiring actors at a local community college. Students learn the pillars of the craft, such as auditioning, green-screen acting, crying, and more through Lafrange’s deranged and pretentious techniques. Hollywood Acting Studio stars Groundlings and Upright Citizen’s Brigade breakout comedian Drew Droege, creator of the viral video sensation Chloë, and features Co-Producer Daniel Vincent Gordh, star of the Interactive Media Emmy -winning series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries,. The ensemble cast of Hollywood Acting Studio includes J. Teddy Garces (The Guild, The Sessions) and award-winning actress Myra Turley (Mad Men).
Source: Starz Digital Media
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
