TVSquad

Not too long ago I mentioned that some new series would soon be popping up on Comedy Central's Motherload site. A couple of these series have already debuted, and I have to say, I'm not exactly floored by what I've seen so far. Granted, it's hard to justify spending too much money and energy on a Web-only series that might not be seen by that many people, but Motherload still managed to provide some really smart and funny shows, like "I Love the '30s," "All Access: Middle Ages" and Jon Glaser's "Tiny Hands."

One of the newest series to hit the broadband player is "Guacamole," from comedians Michael Blieden and Matt Price. I don't think anyone has ever created a show about a tub of guacamole and a can of minestone soup, but to be honest, I'm a little torn about this one. I like both the comedians involved, and there are some funny bits, but the premise of inanimate objects talking and living like normal people doesn't seem all that original. I'm either going to get bored with watching food "talking", or it's totally going to win me over.

The Jim Henson Company has acquired the rights to John Chandler's The Skrumps. The company plans to create projects for both the Web and television with the quirky little monsters, including an animated program for television that will utilize the Henson Digital Performance Studio that allows puppeteers to manipulate CG characters in real-time.

The company has also added some new characters to the mix, such as Wishbone, lead singer of the band Grumblebelly, and Raisins, his adoring fan. You can see a music video featuring the characters on Yahoo Kids, as well as some video blogs. The new project is executive produced by Brian Henson, Lisa Henson, John Chandler and Craig Bartlett, creator of Hey, Arnold! Bartlett will also be a writer for the new project.

Based on the videos, I think little kids will probably love The Skrumps if they don't already know about the line of toys and books. The "real-time" animation technique is also interesting, if not somewhat limiting when compared to traditional animation.

Yesterday I mentioned that Comedy Central's Motherload site was gearing up for more new Web-only programming, and now I actually have a full list of all the show's slated for the site.

The one that caught my eye was "Stephen and Steven," an animated series from Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim of Tom Goes to the Mayor and the upcoming Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!. The series will focus on Siamese twins who are attached at the groin and love online dating. Yeah, that pretty much sounds like Tim and Eric.

(S01E02) Nightmares are an interesting phenomenon. What can seem terrifying while it's playing out in your subconscious loses much of its power once you wake up and try to explain it to someone. In that regard, Nightmares and Dreamscapes was a perfectly apt title for Stephen King's 1993 short story collection. When King is at his best, he's able to make even the most absurd situations seem real and horrific. When those same ideas are fleshed out into a visual medium, however, they become diluted without King etching the images into your mind himself.

This is why so many of King's works suffer when they're translated to the movie or television screen, and why "Crouch End" the second offering of the new series Nightmares and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King (click here for Keith's review of the premiere episode "Battleground," based on a short story from the Night Shift collection) was more tiresome than terrifying. Also, out of all the short stories the man has written, this wasn't his best one.

(S01E01) The new Adult Swim series from SpongeBob SquarePants writer and storyboard artist Aaron Springer, Korgoth of Barbaria, which also features the talents of Bill Wray (Ren and Stimpy, Mad Magazine) and Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack) does not officially debut until September, but last night a sneak peek was shown. Actually, I don't think this is the first time the pilot has been shown, but it was the first time I saw it, and I have to say I thought it was pretty good, especially if you like creative violence.

While it's no small feat to create an animated series kids will love, or one adults will love, it's especially amazing when someone is able to create something that both kids and adults can get a kick out of. SpongeBob SquarePants is a perfect example, and so is pretty much everything Craig McCracken has had a hand in, from Dexter's Laboratory (which he didn't create, but did work on) to The Powerpuff Girls to Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, which, by the way, will kick of its fifth season later this month (April 28 at 7 p.m. EST on Cartoon Network to be exact). I've praised Foster's plenty of times already, but I'll say again that if you like cartoons and haven't checked this one out yet, you should. The unique creatures and design of the show give it a kind of "storybook" feel, and there's plenty of subtle jokes for adults and slightly older kids. I loved the episode when a sculpture of Grandma Foster is broken, causing Bloo to point out in one scene that "a bust this big needs ample support." What makes McCracken's work so admirable is that he's able to combine elements that are both jokey and heartwarming. The result is a show both myself and my three-year-old niece can enjoy. As "simplistic" as the show may seem, that's actually quite an accomplishment.

So we've already told you that Surface is the best new show of the season, and why you should be watching it. I recently talked with Carter Jenkins, who plays Miles, the shy, curious, lizard-loving teen who started the whole thing when he brought an egg he found in the water into his home and now might be turning into a lizard thing himself. He called from California, after wrapping up filming on the NBC show for the season.

Carter Jenkins: Bob!
Bob Sassone: Hey man, how's it going?