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My New Favorite Thing: CHANNEL 101

Started by Dan Harmon and Rob Scrab, Channel 101 is a sort of independent network in Los Angeles--a way for all the frustrated filmmakers and writers to actually do what they came here to do. To participate, people submit a 5-minute pilot, and Channel 101 selects a small percentage of the submissions to show at one of its free monthly screenings, which are very, very well attended. At the screening, the audience votes to decide which pilots will be picked up for another episode. If your pilot is picked up, you become part of the group that selects new pilots.

The end result is a lot of very creative, fun, and often strikingly well-made five-minute shows mostly by unknowns (though occasionally some big names, like Jack Black and Drew Carrey, show up in episodes).

All shows are available online, where they serve as a painful reminder of how much quality comedy is not on televison. --Jason Torchinsky

[You can view Mr. Torchinsky's very own comedy group, the Van Gogh-Gogh's, and its pilot, Shitbag From Tomorrow, here as well. Shitbag, alas, wasn't picked up. --Ed.]

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