by Wes Wilkensen, Entertainment Reporter
Harmon, flanked by his white male writers, looks to God for assistance on what will probably be his last attempt at getting on the air. L to R: Hancock, Ridley, Harmon, Ryznar, Roiland.
Founded in 2003 by perpetual industry underdogs Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab, Channel 101 has since gained visibility as a prolific source of viral internet video and as a west coast training ground for a resourceful new generation of filmmakers. The self-proclaimed "unavoidable future of entertainment," Channel 101 has been a launching pad for global-level breakouts like House of Cosbys, Kicked in the Nuts and Yacht Rock. Three Channel 101 alumni, known collectively as The Lonely Island, have moved on to Saturday Night Live, where they have infected the old school variety show with digital shorts like Lazy Sunday.
Until now, little information has been leaked about the Channel 101 VH-1 project. Harmon says secrecy was maintained primarily to shield 101's community from the poisonous influence of the legitimate industry. "What we do at 101 is bigger than projects like these," he says. "I want us to get picked up for series, and if we do, it's going to be good for everyone, but until then, I'm forced to exclude a lot of deserving people from this pilot and that's why I want it completed as quickly and quietly as possible."
The VH-1 project is being executive produced by Harmon and Schrab alongside Jack Black and his partner, School of Rock writer/producer Mike White. With Schrab busy working on Comedy Central's upcoming Sarah Silverman show, Harmon is overseeing this pilot on his own, acting as head writer on a staff comprising some of Channel 101's most successful creators: Yacht Rock's J.D. Ryznar, House of Cosbys' Justin Roiland, Wastelander's Ryan Ridley and Gregory Shitcock's Drew Hancock.
Hancock is directing most of the content, with David Hartman pinch-shooting one sketch. Roiland is supervising an animated piece, written by Roiland and Harmon, illustrated by Myke Chilian and Steven Chunn, who also comprise the project's art department. Todd Bishop is director of photography, receiving help on lighting from Sevan Najarian and Mike Baker.
Harmon, Ryznar, Hancock, Ridley and Roiland will play principle roles, alongside veteran Channel 101 actor Demorge Brown and newcomer Jen Kirkman. Jeff Davis will guest star and some of Channel 101's celebrity allies are likely to make cameo appearances.
Kelly Kubik is coordinating producer on the project. Najarian is editing, animating and supervising post production. Also editing is Danny Jelinek. Sona Panos, Abed Gheith, Rod Hassler and Dan Murrell are assisting the production.
Last year, Channel 101 produced its first foray into real TV, a pilot for the FX network, which passed on the show.
"I thought the FX Channel 101 pilot was great," says Harmon. "If that show were on the air, I would watch it. That being said, I learned twenty lessons making it, and this pilot is different in twenty ways. The one thing this pilot will share with the FX pilot, as well as with our regular show, is that the audience will choose what goes and what stays. Other than that, it's just our version of a sketch show. We're aiming to make people laugh, and that's it."
Approximately ten sketches, each one its own self-contained three to four minute TV show, will be delivered to the network by Channel 101 later this month. The cast and crew hope to celebrate with a party at Cinespace, where the material will be viewed for the first time.