However, assuming that you have seen The Guild (written by and starring nerd goddess Felicia Day) you're probably aware that it might just be the most popular, mainstream webseries there is. But that doesn't mean there aren't other great net produced series that deserve just as much attention, but don't actually get it. After all, what is the internet if not a place that talented people can showcase their creativity. So if you're looking for something to fill the void until the next season of The Guild starts up, or just enjoy a good dose of pop culture themed comedy, these are my five suggestions for where to start.
1. The Legend of Neil
"The last thing that Neil remembers he was drunk playing a game of Zelda,
when he whipped out his member and masturbated to the fairy in the game
cause she was kinda hot and he asphyixiated with the Nintendo game
controller and that somehow transported him into the game."
That short synopsis, which also serves as the series theme song, is all anyone really needs to know going into The Legend of Neil. Created and written by Sandeep Parikh (whom fans will recognize as Zaboo from The Guild), Legend of Neil is full of crude-but-clever humor and sly video game references that any gamer can enjoy. Don't let the production quality of the early episodes scare you away (but why would you? It's an internet show), over the course of twenty episodes across three seasons the show actually manages to go from something like looks like it was shot on a local nature trail, to something that could easily be mistaken for a network TV show. And while the tone show is decidedly silly, Neil's journey actually manages to cultivate an epic, larger than life feeling. Think Krod Mandoon, but with a more compelling story. Those who wish to watch the heroes journey can find the first episode here.
2. After Hours
Cracked.com has been responsible for a number of web series over the years with varying degrees of quality and success, and After Hours is definitely the latter. The premise is very simple; four incredibly nerdy Cracked.com staffers (that are probably way more interesting and well spoken than you and your friends) sit in a diner and discuss the finer things in life. Things like:
- Which infomercial universe would be the worst to live in?
- Which kind of apocalypse would actually be the most fun?
- Is Batman actually doing good in Gotham city?
3. Gigabots
Springing from the loins of the awesomely formatted Channel 101 film fest, Gigabots is the shortest entry on this list at just 9 episodes long. The shows premise will be familiar to fans of certain anime or Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers; the city of New Neo Tokyo II (yes, you read that right) is constantly under attack by the monstrous minions of Emperor Jumbo who lives on the moon (obviously). So the fate of the city is put into the hands of five men and women when they're tasked with piloting giant robots, called Gigabots, to keep the city in one piece. This series is one that truly walks the line between irreverent parody and loving homage, with every masturbation joke served alongside plot lines that feel as though they've been lifted directly from an episode of Power Rangers. Combine all that with the fact that it's shot on a very cleverly used shoestring budget, which just manages to create a unique style which is more endearing than anything else. I highly recommend Gigabots to anyone looking to kill an hour or so, but especially if you enjoy a little bit of nostalgia with your satire. Episode one of Gigabots is embedded below.
4. Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis
Between Two Ferns is the most uncomfortable to watch entry on this list, and quite possibly the most uncomfortable to watch web series on the Internet proper. Zach Galifianakis is the host of interview show with a different celebrity guest each time, a la James Lipton's Inside the Actors Studio. The twist is however that Zach doesn't always seem to like the interviewee and will often attack them with bizarre and provoking questions. The production values are also not what you'd expect, somewhat resembling a program one might find on a public access panel (the set is comprised of two chairs a small table and the eponymous, two ferns). The guests are usually A-list celebrities, with the likes of Bruce Willis, Bradley Cooper, Sean Penn and a mess of others making appearances and participating in the off the wall antics and it all seems to be in good fun. SEEMS to be. As one watches the interviews one can't help but wonder if the shows is actually legit and Mr. Galifianakis isn't just a weirdo with far too many famous friends. Those who'd like to decide for themselves can find Between Two Ferns at this link.
5. net_work
Sporting a surreal brand of comedy similar in nature to NBC's Community or the British TV show Spaced, net_work was the flagship show of the now defunct Black20.com. The series followed Michael Torpey and Mike O'Gorman on the daily goings on of working in the offices of Black20, where they viral videos for the internet. That description hardly does the series any justice, better to give some examples of what a typical episode synopsis:
- The office becomes sentient and tries to murder all the employees.
- Mike and Michael switch bodies and try and make themselves look like the bigger jerk.
- Mike's childhood imaginary friend escapes from imaginary jail and comes to ruin his life.
- Mike finds a phone that allows him to call himself in the past and uses it to enable his own laziness.
