This is sure turning into a banner week for online television. We haven't even gotten around to talk about MTV's all-encompassing Internet plans for its new quasi reality series, Twentyfourseven (December 6), when NBC-Universal goes and launches its Dotcomedy.com broadband channel, a sprawling dumpsite for all kinds of television comedy.
There's stand-up; there's late-night fare from Leno & Conan; the first ten years of Late Night With David Letterman (all that "intellectual property" came in handy after all) and Saturday Night Live; sitcoms from the vaults, from forgotten shows like Significant Others to old favorites like Leave It To Beaver; and other miscellaneous funny stuff. And The Munsters.
This morning, the three most-viewed clips on the site are a Blue Collar TV sketch, a bit from Kevin Nealon (!?), and a scene from Beaver. And by the end of the year, they're planning to roll out original pilots, shorts and at least three series: a news show parody with Brian Unger, formerly of The Daily Show (sounds very original); Hot Tub in Space, the adventures of four boys travelling the galaxy (Homeboys in Outer Space, anyone?); and Playback, with musical comedians Stuckey & Murray mocking current events through original songs (paging Dennis Blair...).
But what's got most of here in the Tabloid Baby office most pumped up for broadband squinting: Dotcomedy has also got lots of episodes of The Munsters.