Time Belt was a science fiction/comedy series that ran from June 30, 2003 – March 29, 2004 on Channel 101. It was created, written and produced by Chris Tallman, who starred as its main character, with Todd Bishop serving as Co-Producer, Editor and Director of Photography. The series followed the adventures of Dr. Bloom, a prestiged scientist who, after his girlfriend is killed in a lunar shuttle explosion, creates a belt that allows the wearer to travel through time. With intentionally poor production values, the series served as one of Channel 101's many homages to low-budget science fiction films.
Each episode usually starts and ends with Dr. Bloom entering and leaving a certain point in time and space. Towards the dramatic conclusion of each episode, Bloom responds to the situation with his catchphrase, "Fuck... that." Most sequences used in the credits, such as the ones depicting Bloom fighting Merlin and carrying Jesus from the cross, are not used in the actual show.
One of Channel 101's flagship series, it was created by producer/director/star Chris Tallman with the help of Todd Bishop and Rob Schrab. With low-budget techniques like toy dinosaurs and sound effects recorded from a microwave, they put together a pilot that was accepted by Channel 101. From there, Tallman and the crew created seven more episodes, ending in a dramatic conclusion that ties together the plot in the series finale.
The series is available to purchase on DVD.
Channel101.com Summary[]
The very last of Channel 101's original Prime Time shows to be cancelled. Tallman unveiled his homemade, apartment-based epic about a man with a tinfoil time belt at Thoi on Vine in the summer of 2003. The next month, a new title sequence from Rob Schrab and shots and editing by Todd Bishop began to open the audience's mind, and Dr. Bloom became the face of Channel 101. In November of that year, Time Belt won the most Channies, including Best Show. Upon Computerman's cancellation, Time Belt became the longest running show in 101 history, and with no more barriers to cross, no more enemies to defeat and no more records to break, Time Belt voluntarily retired before a packed house at Cinespace, nearly one year later.
Episodes[]
All episodes are written and directed by Chris Tallman unless noted.
| Image | No. in series | Title | Placement | Votes | Air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 | "Just a Theory" | N/A | N/A | June 30, 2003 |
| Dr. Daniel Bloom and Dr. Sara Becker are scientists developing an experimental form of time travel-- the Time Belt. When disaster strikes, and Sara is killed, Dr. Bloom acts without thinking in a desperate attempt to save his lost love. | |||||
|
2 | "Got Any Micro-Transistors" | N/A | N/A | July 28, 2003 |
| Flung far into the future, Dr. Bloom finds himself face to face with Garrett , an evil cyborg. Things go from bad to worse when a sinister stranger appears, wearing a Time Belt of his own. | |||||
|
3 | "Hitler!" | N/A | N/A | August 25, 2003 |
| Dr. Bloom is in Nazi Germany and Hitler has the Time Belt. The good doctor must battle past Nazi girls and laser eyes to save Anne Frank and continue his rescue mission. | |||||
|
4 | "Can I Tell You A Story?" | N/A | N/A | September 29, 2003 |
| Dr. Bloom awakens safe at home, with his wife and son at his side. His journey is over...or is it? | |||||
|
5 | "Oh. Shit. Zombies." | N/A | N/A | October 26, 2003 |
| When the world is overrun by the living dead, Dr. Bloom must join forces with the last woman alive on a suicide mission to retrieve the Time Belt. | |||||
|
6 | "Computerman...Kill Dr. Bloom!" | 3/13 | 182 (64.2%) | January 25, 2004 |
| Things are already tense between Dr. Bloom, Eugene, and Computerman when Montague arrives. Initiate fight sequence.
NOTE: This episode is co-written by Dan Harmon and Chris Tallman. | |||||
|
7 | "...At The Table Of The Gods." | 3/14 | 142 (53.6%) | March 1, 2004 |
| Dr. Bloom lands at the beginning of time-- in the middle of a fight to the death between bloodthirsty dinosaurs and savage Amazons. Without the Time Belt, will he ever see Sara again? | |||||
|
8 | "Finally." | 13/13 | N/A | March 29, 2004 |
| Dr. Bloom learns that the Time Belt has thrown the world into chaos. He must return to where it all began and make a choice: Will he sacrifice Sara in order to save the world? | |||||
Cast[]
Tallman, having won a Channy for Time Belt.
- Chris Tallman - Dr. Daniel Bloom
- Catherine Perkins - Dr. Sara Becker
- Kurt Scholler - Newscaster, Nazi Soldier, Zombie
- Derek Mears - Garrett
- Maria Lay - Lola
- Rob Schrab - Montague
- Jeremy Carter - Adolf Hitler
- Andy Goldblatt - Anne Frank
- Cynthia Calley - Nazi Girl #1
- Tricia Clark - Nazi Girl #2
- Jennifer Flack - Nazi Girl #3, Artemis
- Lyndon Smith - Jack
- Shanna Fleischhacker - Zombie
- Brian Bishop - Zombie
- Chris Sapone - Zombie
- Paget Brewster - Colonel Jocelyn Anchor
- Jack Black - Computerman
- Dan Harmon - Eugene Murzowski
- Dawn Cody - A.M.I.
- Erinn Carter - Diana
- Rob Reinis - Soldier
- Doreen Pina - Dr. Vargas
- Chris Garnaas - Zombie Victim
- Emily Mellin - Zombie
- Scott Chernoff - Wizard in Title Sequence
- Claudia Dolph - Cavewoman in Title Sequence, Helen
- Matt Gourley - Jesus Christ in Title Sequence, Soldier
Crew[]
- Chris Tallman - creator, writer, director, producer, makeup, costumes, editor, cinematography
- Matt Taylor - cinematography
- Rob Schrab - title sequence, cinematography, editor, visual effects, makeup
- Steve Agee - editor
- Todd Bishop - cinematography, editor, sound, producer, lighting director
- Derek Mears - fight choreography
- Jeff Crocker - visual effects
- Andy Gorzalski - cinematographer
- Shanna Fleischhacker - makeup
- Allen Simpson - score
- Mira Cho - makeup
- Dan Harmon - writer, digital effects (episode 6)
- Michael T. Smith - digital effects, editor
"Phase 2"[]
As part of the Channel 101 Spin-Offs special by Ryan Nagata, one segment shows a continuation of the story where Dr. Bloom's grandsons Chase and Lucas discover a Time Belt in the attic. Against their Grandfather's wishes they use the Belt and cause havoc with history, accidentally informing Hitler of the planned Normandy invasion and bringing the world to shambles. Dr. Bloom decides to build a Mark II. Time Belt and travels through time to fix their mistakes.
Opening Titles[]
Time Belt had two opening credits sequences. Scenes appeared, such as a Wizard (played by Scott Chernoff) casting a spell, that did not appear in the series.
Theme Song Lyrics:
- TAKE MY HAND
- By Allen Simpson (Vocals by Tracy Burns)
Take my hand
And open your mind.
My Love, don't say goodbye.
But if you
Take my hand
And follow your heart,
You'll find me... in time.
Trivia[]
- The theme song to Time Belt from episode two onwards is "Sonic Boom (Quo Vadis Maxieus Mix)".
- The second line in the lyrics to "Take My Hand" is a small homage to the old theme.
- In Episode One, Dr. Bloom states that time travel using the Belt would be limited to the user's own personal lifespan, a homage to Quantum Leap.
- Dr. Bloom's Goggles were skiing/snowboarding goggles that Tallman bought in Colorado. He went into a snack shop, saw them on the counter and thought, "These look cool, I could use them for something.", about six months before Time Belt.[1]
- Chris Tallman broke Todd Bishop's back during the filming of episode Five. Todd was playing a zombie and took a particularly nasty fall, resulting in back injury. JD Ryznar made reference to this in the opening sequence for the 2008 Channys.
- The title is referred to as both "Time Belt" and "Timebelt" on the Channel 101 Website.
External Links[]
DVD cover.
- TimeBelt Official Site - Official site and place to order Timebelt DVDs.
- Wikipedia Article
- Time Belt Episodes & Information at Channel101.com
- Mark and Tony's Unofficial Fanpage
- Unofficial Fansite - Calls Chris Tallman "Christ Tallman."
- Episode 5 behind-the-scenes Photos
- Time Belt at IMDb.