TV Funhouse - Comedy Central / Paramount

If you are a fan of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, you probably recognize the name Robert Smigel. His cartoons, smart, often satirical and political in nature, have been showcased in that show for years. Following a creative outburst, Smigel, together with Dino Stamatopoulos, created “TV Funhouse,” which was aired on Comedy Central from December 6, 2000 to January 24, 2001. Despite being a very, very funny show, it apparently didn’t catch up with the audience and it was cancelled after just eight episodes. However, there is justice for those who missed its very special brand of humor, and this TV gem is being released as a DVD collection.

“TV Funhouse” is an adult version of kid’s Saturday morning cartoons, and it has been described as a “twisted Pee-Wee’s Playhouse,” although I would also add “Mr. Rogers’s Neighborhood” into the mix. It also had hilarious and satirical takes on 1950s educational movies, as well as super-hero cartoons. My favorite cartoon is “Stedman”, where Ophra’s famous boyfriend steals her money, pretending to be a secret agent. However, it’s the segments with the host, Doug Dale, and the puppet animals - the Anipals –, that steal the show. It is non-stop laughing, I tell you.

Each episode has a different name and covers a different topic: Hawaiian Day, Mexicans Day, Christmas Day, Astronaut day, etc. Once you see the first one, “Western Day,” you are hooked. Each episode also has an established pattern, in which Doug Dale arrives at the set, and with exception of Zabu the dog, who is always chasing his tail clockwise, the Anipals take off, leaving the host alone, and getting into trouble. The Anipals are always looking for fun, usually involving sex. On one occasion, they go to Tijuana, looking for a bordello, and in another they go to Atlantic City, where they meet Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog. Just imagine, for a second, puppet dogs, chickens, turtles, roosters, lobsters (yes, lobsters) having or taking sex on the screen. In addition, these puppets would interact with guest stars, such as Robert Goulet, Joe Frazier, John Ritter, and George Wendt.

Perhaps “TV Funhouse” was ahead of its time, and would have done better in the era of reality shows. This series was not only funny to the extreme, but also touched controversial topics as racism, corporate behavior and values, animal testing for pharmacological purposes, and TV hypocrisy in general — all done in a smart and witty way. The two-DVD set also includes commentaries by the creators and Doug Dale, dirty outtakes, and more. (USA, 2000-2001, color & B/W, 176 min plus additional materials)