Newsgasm: A more animated MADtv

MADtv kicks off a run of new Sweeps episodes tomorrow night, and it promises to be more animated– if not more funny–than usual, by throwing claymation and cartooning into the weekly mix. South Park writer and voice Toby Morton has been hired to create bits to be produced by clay animator and MADtv vet Corky Quakenbush (now that’s funny). Less giggle-inducing is word that the bits include Weekly Kid’s News with Toby, covering events like the Mel Gibson arrest “through the eyes of a child” (we’d figure that creepy Stuart character would give MADtv its fill of kiddie stuff).Producers of the Saturday night not-live series also promise a Family Guy parody on November 11th, with the help of guest Seth MacFarlane, the (Fox) show’s creator (and let’s not forget how much South Park hates Family Guy).

The most promising news from MADtv is the executive producer’s promise that the tooning is part of an effort “to double the amount of comedy segments per episode.” We’ll be counting, and see if tomorrow’s Project Runway sketch drags as much as SNL‘s Brit Hume takeoffs.

–Tabloid Baby