Comedy Central Expands Motherload Lineup.

Last November Comedy Central, a division of MTV Networks and part of "New" Viacom, launched its broadband-optimized channel Motherload. The web-based channel featured original programming for online viewing (currently Motherload is incompatible with Firefox 1.5) by technically savvy consumers. In addition to a launch of five "broadband exclusive" shows, Motherload offers a number of services like previews/highlights/extras from existing Comedy Central programming. Motherload was created to both take advantage of a new medium while supporting existing Comedy Central Programming.

January 6, 2006, Comedy Central announced their 2006 development slate for the broadband entertainment site. Lou Wallach, senior vice-president, original programming and development, discussed upcoming developments:

Our 2006 broadband development slate further represents COMEDY CENTRAL's commitment to developing and producing quality programming exclusively for this digital platform," said Wallach. "There is such a wealth of talent and content in the broadband arena. With the launch of 'MotherLoad' we have become the comedic hub for broadband content. Top comedians, actors and writers are looking to COMEDY CENTRAL as the launching pad for their broadband shows.

A Comedy Central press release discussed what shows may be featured on Motherload in upcoming months.

Projects in consideration to premiere on "MotherLoad" include (all titles listed are working titles): "All Access: Middle Ages" This hilarious VH1 clip-show parody is from Littleman, the gang behind MotherLoad's hit series "I Love the Thirties." The new show includes such episodes as "Most Awesomely Bad Plagues," "Worst Breakups: Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn" and "Best Crusade Ever." "How To Live" From writer Steve Kerper, "How To Live" is a show about a modern dysfunctional family, but produced in the style of 50's-era educational reels. "Fanboy" "Fanboy" is a live-action scripted series about an obnoxious comic-book geek. The series was developed by Hungryman, the commercial production company that works with Spike Jonze and Michel Gondry. "Good God" "Good God" is a live action comedy, a la "The Office," about God's workplace environment. This show is another Hungryman production. "Golden Age" This animated show comes from Augenblick Studios, whose animation has appeared in COMEDY CENTRAL's "Shorties Watching Shorties" and MTV2's "Wonder Showzen." Each episode of "Golden Age" features a profile of what happened to long-since-retired cartoon characters. For example, "Jerome" the gumdrop from the "Let's Go Out to the Lobby" film strips that played before movies in the 70s, was afflicted with numerous abuse problems. "Daisy Garden Story Time" A dark & twisted "Reading Rainbow" parody from Nick Gurewitch, the artist behind cult comic strip "The Perry Bible Fellowship". "My Wife, The Ghost" This series is a dark parody of the 50's-era supernatural sitcoms such as "My Mother the Car" and "Bewitched." "MotherLoad Presents" Taped in front of a live audience at New York's own Ars Nova Theater, this series features some of the funniest, strangest and most unique bits from NYC's alternative comedy scene.

Recently Comedy Central has received criticism for pulling the second run of a South Park episode which featured a bleeding Virgin Mary Statue. The follow up showing was pulled after Catholic groups loudly protested the episode's content. I think it is possible that with sufficient pressure from individuals who want to watch the episode, the network would likely re-air the episode or at minimum make it available to view on Motherload. We at Cinerati don't know why some people don't understand that South Park pokes fun at everybody. Number One believes that comedy fans who only want to experience Schadenfruede-esque humor and never be the brunt of a joke ought think about what that means.