Channel 101:NY is a monthly live screening of five-minute-long "TV shows" in New York City, created by Tony Carnevale, with the blessings of Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab. Harmon and Schrab created Channel 101, the Los Angeles-based show that inspired Channel 101 NY.
The festival was launched as Channel 102 on February 3, 2005 at the Variety Underground showcase at the Parkside Lounge. For that debut screening, all pilots that were submitted which met the five-minute maximum length were accepted. Eleven were shown, and the top five became the first "prime time" shows of Channel 102.
The concept is identical to that of Channel 101, and follows its model of operations. Anyone can submit a pilot on a standard DV tape. The content, genre, and style of the show are entirely open as long as the length of the show is under five minutes.
From all the submissions, only a portion is screened for the live audience.
Between three and seven new pilots join the previous months' prime time of five continuing shows. At the end of the screening, all audience members fill out "Executive Decision Ballots," checking off their five top shows. Only the shows with the highest five ratings will return next month with a new episode, all other shows are "cancelled."
The "Prime Time Panel" is made up of representatives from the shows with the highest audience vote totals from the previous month's screening.
At the screening (which occurs roughly every month), the audience votes (or "renews") its top five favorite shows. The creators of those shows continue making new episodes each month until they fall from the top five, which means they have been "cancelled."
Screening Locations
After leaving the Parkside Louge, Channel 102 held several screenings at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (NYC) from March through September 2005. In November 2005, Channel 102 moved to the 192-seat Courthouse Theater at The Anthology Film Archives. Other past venues included Pianos Bar and Tribeca Cinemas. Channel101: NY currently screens at 92YTribeca at 200 Hudson St., generally the first Wednesday of every month.
Notable Personalities
- Tony Carnevale: Locked in A Closet, Purgatory
- Will Hines: The Fun Squad, Sexual Intercourse: American Style
- John Gemberling: Gemberling
- Curtis Gwinn: Gemberling
- Austin Bragg: Jesus Christ Supercop, The Defenders of Stan
- Hunter Christy: Jesus Christ Supercop, The Defenders of Stan
- Dyna Moe: My Wife the Ghost, Cakey! The Cake From Outer Space, Mister Glasses
- Kirk Damato: My Wife the Ghost, Cakey! The Cake From Outer Space
- Jon Golbe: Teen Homicide, The Jon & Jess Variety Hour
- Jess Lane: Teen Homicide, The Jon & Jess Variety Hour, Produced Channel101: NY's first Channy Awards in 2009
- Christopher Ford: Puppet Rapist
- Randall Park: Dr. Miracles
- Mitch Magee: Sexual Intercourse: American Style, Mister Glasses
- Karen Lurie: American Cookbook
- Nick Poppy: American Cookbook
- Shek Baker: Current host of Channel101: NY
- Stephen Levinson: Currently runs Channel101: NY
- Ed Mundy
- Chris Prine: Scissor Cop, Sandwich of Terror
Rivalry
Some personalities that have been part of the festival since the early days of Channel 102 have expressed the feeling of being considered an "embarrassment" by people at Channel 101, and resenting the name change to Channel 101:NY.
JD Ryznar has been accused of posting rant bait on the Channel101.com forum whilst drunk to brew up west-east coast rivalry, which he replied to, as seen here. He has posted compliments on the NY.Channel101.com forums too however. He stated that he made such posts to rile up 101:NY contributors to step up their game.
External Links
Wikipedia article on Channel 101 NY
ny.channel101.com: Channel101: NY's official website.
92YTribeca: current screening venue