The Court Supreme - A Cosmic Courtroom Comedy Web Series

The Highest Court In All Reality

Where do deities, superheroes, myths, legends and personified universal forces turn to seek justice?

Answer: The Court Supreme - the highest court in all reality!

Created by writer/producer/director Arik Sternberg, The Court Supreme is a sci-fi comedy web series in which the most powerful weapons wielded are rhetoric and debate.

Hear Ye Hear Ye!

Originating from his love of speculative fiction, history, philosophy, and language, Mr. Sternberg has created a brilliantly inventive series.

A series that uses legal discourse to satirize both classic and modern cultural myths.

For example, in one especially amusing episode, a barbarian appeals to the Court Supreme to grant him a divorce - from his enchanted sword! 

In another courtroom battle, Zeus the All-Father faces off against a superteam of skeptics he blames for the loss of his power and status.

By focusing on the legal proceedings within the courtroom, the series entertains by relying solely on theme and dialogue, instead of hyperactive visual effects.

The result is a more intimate, cerebral - yet entertaining - viewing experience that will appeal to those who occasionally enjoy something more than typical genre fare.

Order In The Court

Check out the series pilot episode Blood Knight Vs. The Blade Of Doom ...

Currently there are five episodes of The Court Supreme available for viewing on Vimeo: The Court Supreme.

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Geek And Sundry's Caper The Web Series - Even Superheroes Have To Pay The Rent

A Tale Of Four Super-Friends

Caper the web series is the latest project from Geek and Sundry, the popular online channel founded by Felicia Day.

Written by Amy Berg and Mike Sizemore, Caper has a premise that had me instantly hooked: four young housemates with superpowers valiantly protect the fictional city of Los Angles from  super-villains.  

However these super-friends have one huge problem - they are flat broke!

Bills, Bills, Bills

Sure it's fun to follow the exploits of billionaire playboys whose alter-egos heroically save the day.

It's pure escapism at its best.

But being a comic book geek, I love the fact despite their fantastic powers, these characters must grapple with real world problems - like finding employment and paying the rent.  

It is these struggles that make them far more relatable.

"Super" Stars In The Making

In the premiere episode, we meet the four protagonists who are sly subversions of the most iconic superhero archetypes:

• Dagr (Hartley Sawyer) - an immortal royal Viking scion who is 12th in line for the throne

• Alexia (Beth Riesgraf) - a hotheaded amazon princess recently returned from a walk on the dark side

• Luke (Harry Shum, Jr.) - the idealistic superman of the group

• Penny (Abby Miller) - a penniless (pun intended) genius who had to steal back her high-tech armor from her sleazy billionaire ex

The main cast has great chemistry together, which is one of the hallmarks of the series.   

Caper also features a great script filled with wry, self-referential jabs. 

A prime example is one scene in which Penny damages the group's only television set, frustrated over her ex receiving credit for her heroic deeds.

Looking at the cracked screen,  another character quips "Nobody watches television anymore anyway. All the good stuff is online."

Thrilling Heroics

The show also features  excellent cinematography, including an ingenious device for including action sequences.

Superhero battles scenes would be cost prohibitive to produce on a web series budget.

To overcome this challenge, whenever an episode calls for depictions of thrilling super-heroics, the visuals transition to vibrant graphic illustrations.

The gorgeous graphic art gives Caper a unique visual style that also pays homage to its comic book roots.

Also very exciting is the slew of  cameos by many fan favorite actors.  Sorry I can't say more due to spoilers, but definitely  have an eagle's eye when watching!

Take a look inside the world of Caper by watching the official trailer:

You can watch all the episodes of the series on its official page on YouTube: Geek And Sundry Caper

Caper is Geek and Sundry's first scripted series.  It shows much promise, and I'm definitely onboard for the ride.

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The Coffee Table - A Sci-Fi Comedy Web Series Review

A Cosmic Misadventure 

The Coffee Table is the brainchild of Seattle playwright Scotto Moore. The sci-fi comedy centers on a coffee table which is actually a powerful alien artifact.

After it mysteriously comes into the possession of a close-knit family, the artifact transports them - along with their entire house! - to a strange dimension known only as "The Void."

Desperate to return home, the family must decipher how to operate the coffee table, all while encountering strange aliens and numerous peculiar phenomena on their journey.

The Who Connection

The Coffee Table is a sci-fi comedy that almost defies description - and that's a very good thing!

I must agree with the series producers, who bill the project as a cross between Doctor Who and The Greatest American Hero.

Like the TARDIS of Doctor Who, the titular coffee table is actually a means for transporting its possessors through time and space - although operating it is problematic at best.

Another similarity is the show's tone.  It would not be accurate to describe it as sci-fi parody, straight-forward comedy, or drama.

Instead, Scotto Moore has spliced together from those genres a wonderfully weird animal in a class all its own.

From encountering a chivalrous alien named "Discrete Moment," to visiting a realm that resembles a technicolor Van Gogh painting, this series' singular brand of zaniness also takes a cue from the revered work of Douglas Adams.

Watch the season one trailer for a glimpse into the void:

Step Into The Void

The engaging first season of The Coffee Table is comprised of 15 episodes averaging between 4 to 8 minutes in length.

A total of three seasons are planned, with the story coming to a definite end at the conclusion of season three.  

Fortunately, capital for the second and third season were raised via a successful Kickstarter campaign. Filming for both seasons two and three began concurrently at the beginning of 2014.

Armed with its unique premise, charismatic cast, and solid production value, I found the first season to be refreshingly original - and a delight to watch. 

I'll definitely be back for seasons two and three.

To view the series, visit its channel on YouTube: The Coffee Table.

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Transolar Galactica The Sci-Fi Web Series - A Review

Journey Into Hilarity

Transolar Galactica is a sci-fi comedy web series that satirizes popular tropes of genre icons such as Star Trek, Star Wars, Firefly and Battlestar Galactica.

Written by Clancy Bundy and Adam Harum, the series recounts the adventures of the crew of the S.S. Transolar as they traverse the galaxy epically fumbling one mission after another.

Led by the arrogant and inept Captain Remmingtion Trigger (Isaac Joslin), the rest of the crew includes:

• Petty Officer McCall (Adam C. Boyd) The constantly beleaguered ship's engineer

• Security Chief Reginald Murdock (Clancy Bundy) A testosterone-riddled, shoot first ask questions later macho man

• Samson (Adam Harum) The meek communications officer with a mysterious past

• Pilot Charles Sang-Soo Yasaki (Jade Warpenburg) The rational and lone voice of reason aboard a ship of misfits

The first season of the show is comprised of ten episodes averaging between 3 and 7 minutes in length. Each installment is a stand alone episode, which makes the series very accessible to new viewers.

Let me just say, Transolar Galactica skillfully succeeds in poking fun at the most nonsensical tropes of many beloved sci-fi franchises.

For example, one episode addresses the illogical risks the command staff take in going on almost every away mission. On other hilarious occasions, you witness what really happens when a space vessel is pushed beyond its physical  limits.

Even the show's  terrific cinematography is a send-up of one of J.J. Abrams' widely ridiculed directorial affectations.

However, the lynchpin that makes the humor work is the performance of Mr. Warpenburg as Pilot Yasaki.

His rational objections to the absurdities around him generates a major portion of the show’s humor - and serves to drive home the satire.

Without his straight-man reactions, most of the comedy would fall into unfunny, over-the-top camp.

A Skilled Crew

On the production side, the show features striking sets, costumes, and visual effects - especially the virtual computer displays and controls.

What makes the production value all the more impressive is the entire first season was produced on less than a shoe-string budget.  

The eye-popping results serve as a testament to the exceptional skills and talents of all involved.

The official series trailer is available for viewing below:

To watch the complete season one episodes, check out the show's channel on YouTube.

If you want to know more about the production and how you can support the series, visit the official web site: TransolarGalactica.com

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BAMF GIRLS CLUB - What Happens When The World's Most Badass Women Live Under One Roof

BAMF (Badass Mother F***er) Girls Club is funny as hell.

Produced by the comedy geniuses at Comediva, this web series imagines a Big Brother style reality show where the following famous heroines from pop fiction reside under one roof:

• Buffy Summers (Michelle Lang) from Buffy The Vampire Slayer

• Hermione Granger (Amanda Troop)  from Harry Potter 

• Lisbeth Salander (Iselle Slome) from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

• Katniss Everdeen (America Young) from The Hunger Games 

• Michonne (Aliza Perl) from The Walking Dead 

And, well,  then you have Bella Swan (Stephanie Bentley) from Twilight. 

Created by Vickie Toro with writing by Erika Cervantes and direction by Emily McGregor, BAMF GIRLS CLUB is brilliant in its send-up not only of these pop culture icons, but also of reality television.

The first season of the web series is comprised of  12 laugh-out-loud episodes during which you will witness many hilarious hijinks such as:

• Lisbeth hacking into the girls' social media accounts

• A special fan favorite "guest star" is hired to investigate the theft of Hermione's magic purse

• Michonne and Katniss volunteer to mentor a visiting member of the Stark family (Game of Thrones)  - to Hermione's chagrin

• Bella spending all of her time doing only what Bella does best.   

Check out the funny series trailer for a sneak peek inside the insanity: 

BAMF GIRLS CLUB is a joy to watch. Is it unabashed fan service?  Absolutely, and you wouldn't want it any other way.   

To watch the complete first season, visit BAMF GIRLS CLUB on YouTube. 

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The Bloody Mary Show - The Life And Times Of An Urban Legend

According to urban legend, if an individual stands in front of a mirror and recites "Bloody Mary" three times, the horrid spirit of a vengeful woman is summoned.

Chaos ensues.

The Bloody Mary Show is an ongoing British web series adaptation of the American myth - not to be confused with the historical figure of the same name.

As the series opens, two young girls are putting the legend to the test.  When Bloody Mary appears, she is not what is expected.

The Bloody Mary Show is not only a funny satire of American and British urban legends, but also of dramatic tropes in general.

Primarily set in the otherworldy bar Hemingways, Mary and her spectral friends commiserate about their professional and personal quandaries.

Think of it as a supernatural version of the sitcom Cheers. 

Honestly, I can't divulge more details about the plot without spoiling some very delightful surprises . 

However, if you are ready for a cleverly written, funny web series about supernatural creatures other than cliche´ vampires or zombies, The Bloody Mary Show is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Watch the season one trailer for a glimpse into Bloody Mary's world: 

To view the series, visit its channel on YouTube. 

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Walking In Circles - A 'Dungeons & Dragons' Style Fantasy Comedy

The fantasy-comedy web series Walking In Circles (WIC) is a humorous and slightly subversive love letter to the fantasy genre - especially the Dungeons & Dragons role playing game.

Created and written by James Rodehaver, the series chronicles the adventures of a band of unlikely heroes as they set out on a quest to slay an infamous dragon.  

The members of this very un-merry company are: 

• Krag (Eric Radic) A vengeful, young barbarian who formed the band - and gets far less than he bargained for

• Angie (Katie Wilson) A free-spirited Druid who abhors violence, and has never met a tree she didn't want to hug

• Markus (Adam Rady) A sarcastic, barely competent wizard

• Garand (Jonah Priour) A bard who seeks ballad-worthy adventures, but instead only annoys the hell out of everyone

• Alex (?) Dressed in black, all we know is she is mysterious, stealthy and deadly

While the party consists of classic fantasy archetypes, these personalities are written slightly off-kilter, which makes for hilarious interactions.

WIC's humor is also very self-referential. 

It pokes good-natured fun at fantasy fandom. A prime example is when the party encounters a cult whose members zealously worship the word of the “Dungeon Master.”

While the satire is razor sharp, the cast turns in terrific performances as well.  

The actors play their roles straight, which makes the humor all the more effective. Additionally, they have real acting chops and chemistry together.

To get a taste of the tone of the series, watch the pilot episode Party Up:

WIC  possesses solid overall production value including detailed costumes, gorgeous props, and scenes shot in beautiful locales.

Make sure to watch the 11-episode first season in high definition. 

My only criticism is the series is fairly dialogue heavy with very little action. Some viewers may find the pacing a slow burn.

However, the teaser trailer for the forthcoming second season has been released, and it seems to promise a lot more action:

To watch the complete first season, future episodes, and to see special behind-the-scenes features, visit the official YouTube channel and web site: 

WICTheSeries.com

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SOLO - A Sci-Fi Comedy Web Series About A Mission To Mars Reality Show Gone Epically Wrong

Imagine a world where a gullible schmuck is promised celebrity and fortune if he volunteers to go solo on a space flight to Mars - as part of a reality television show. 

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the premise behind the sci-fi comedy web series SOLO. 

Jonathan Nail (who also wrote and directed the series) stars as Scott Drizhal, a down-on-his luck guy who agrees to embark on a solo, three-year round trip mission to the red planet as part of the most ambitious reality show ever produced.

There's just one problem: on the mid-way point to Mars, the series gets canceled!  

All but the sleazy executive producer and two members of the privately funded ground-control crew are fired.

So, how in the hell is Scott going to get back home? He is the very incompetent, sole crew member aboard a sophisticated spacecraft. His only companion is the ship's sarcastic computer, the PHAL 9000.

SOLO is seriously funny.  

The series' humor stems from it poking fun at many standard science fiction tropes. It also places our cultural fascination with "reality" television in its comedy cross-hairs. The privatization of space travel isn't spared satirical lampooning either.

Watch the premiere episode in its entirety here: 

Unfortunately,  only one 9-episode season of SOLO was produced. Still, this series deserves to find an audience because of its whip-smart satire, decent production value, and unexpected plot twists. 

To watch the series, visit its channel on YouTube.

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Super Knocked Up - An Action Comedy In The Family Way

It's the morning after, and you awaken to the fact you made a huge mistake sleeping with the person next to you.

Now imagine the person you bumped uglies with is a powerful - though conceited - superhero,  while you are an infamous super-villain.

This is the brilliantly hilarious premise behind the action comedy web series Super Knocked Up.

In the pilot episode we meet  Jessica James, a.k.a. the super-villain Darkstar. She's beautiful, intelligent, on the wrong side of the law, and now she must contend with fallout from having a one night stand with her arch-enemy, Captain Amazing.

The good captain, whose alter ego is Michael Masters, loves chasing women as much as saving the day.  

Much to their mutual shock and horror, our super-foes not only know the other's secret identities, but they also discover they are in the family way. 

Now currently in its second season, Super Knocked Up is a blast.  

Check out the trailers for seasons one and two ...

Created by writer/producer/director Jeff Burns, this series features a premise rife with comedic gold - and the writing mines every bit of it.

This series is funny, but it also contains surprising moments of poignancy as the protagonists deal with their impending parenthood - all while fighting their growing attraction for each other. 

Super Knocked Up is based on comic books with all of the classic tropes intact. Though it's a comedy, this project is not a satire of comic books.

Instead it's a homage - a comic book brought to vivid life. 

There are costumed superheroes and super-villains with powers on full display, as well as nefarious plots by evil masterminds.  

However, these side plots complement the main narrative thread of two superhuman people facing the anxiety, fear, and joy of becoming parents. 

Jeff Burns' scripts are witty and smart.  The cast is a revelation.  While many other web series often suffer from subpar acting at best, this cast has real chops.

The two leads bring their characters to life without falling into out-of-control campiness: 

View fullsize

• Darkstar/Jessica James is portrayed by Natalie Bain in season one. Ms. Bain embues Jessica with a complex mix of fierce strength and vulnerability.

• Jourdan Gibson takes over the role of Darkstar/Jessica in the series' second season. Ms. Gibson makes the role her own with her emotional depth, wit, and intelligence.

• Mark Pezzula as Captain Amazing/Michael Masters also gives a layered performance that successfully makes you like the lecherous superhero.

• David Bunce as Dr. Destruction provides real gravitas as the evil mastermind intent of ridding the world of superheros. Mr. Bunce eschews moustache twirling to creating a villain with depth, who also has a mentor-student relationship with Darkstar.

Not to be overlooked, the supporting cast adds just the right amount of comedy relief as well as menace. 

The production values are of excellent quality.  The visual effects are sterling.  The soundtrack is filled with energetic tunes which complement each episode.

Consequently, this award-winning series is proving very popular with over two million views to date!

Super Knocked Up is among a slew of cutting-edge web series raising the bar for online entertainment.  With a great premise, network comparable production values, a skilled cast,  and engaging plot, it makes an excellent case for the web being the new hotbed of   stellar filmmaking.

To view all current episodes, and to find out more about the production, visit the series channel on YouTube: SuperKnockedUp.com

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'Guides' The Web Series - They Are Helping Humanity Evolve...Or Else!

What if some of the most enlightened minds in human history weren't human at all?  

Instead, what if these extraordinary individuals were highly evolved aliens incarnated as humans, whose goal was to help humanity advance to the next stage of evolution?

No, this isn't the syllabus for a New Age symposium (well, it could be).  It actually is the premise for the sci-fi web comedy Guides.

Guides centers on  a group of altruistic, advanced aliens whose mission is to help us achieve "transmutation," by which we achieve our full mental and psychic potential.

There's just one catch - our guides have about 19 months left to accomplish their mission before the Galactic Alignment of 2012, or we will remain in our relatively primitive state forever. 

Complicating matters is the existence of rouge guides who feel humans aren't worthy to evolve - or exist - at all.

As the series opens, we are introduced to five benevolent guides: 

• Cree (Jenn Wilson) is the stern, dedicated leader of the group

• Dray (Alvin Lam) is oldest of the four, and the most infatuated with humanity

• Makenna (Jennifer Nangle) is free-spirted, but also very single-minded toward accomplishing her goals

• The Boss (Gayla Johnson) is, well, the Boss!

Opposing our protagonists are rouge guides including: 

• Zyra (Patricia Fructuoso) is most disdainful of humanity

• Koric (Eric Naroyan) is the consummate schemer

Guides is a blast to watch because of its sharp, satirical whit and humor.  

Various cultural, social and political realities are lampooned as a means to reflect just how screwed up we humans can be.

A great example is a scene in which a local news anchor is being fired. He can't understand why he is being let go after an extra-marital tryst is videotaped and released online.  His retort is to point out the video is popular with over 38 million hits.

Oh the social media generation! 

Created by Jenn Wilson, the series' satire succeeds due to the superb writing, and capable performances of the main cast. The actors seem to relish the material. Plus, there is great chemistry between them.

To get a feel for the tone of the series, watch the official trailer:

Guides is a light-hearted, sci-fi comedy with many cutting observations about the human condition. 

To watch the series, visit its YouTube channel: Guides Web Series.

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Generic Girl - A Comedy Web Series of Super-Heroic Hilarity!

Generic Girl is one of the most bizarre, absurd and funny satires of the world of comic book based media I've ever seen.

As the series opens we meet Gillian Romero (Allie Olson) a.k.a. Generic Girl, a closeted geek who is just trying to pay the rent.  Her roommate is the earnest, yet very ineffectual superhero Pete Kirby (Matthew Bohrer), better know to the world-at-large as Captain Freelance.

Adventure and hilarity ensue when the super villain Doctor Mascalzone (Richard Hawkins) mistakenly delivers a powerful (and very horny) artificial intelligence - brilliantly named "deus ex machina"-  to Gillian and the Captain.  

Generic Girl springs from the wonderfully warped minds of Victor R. Solis and Steven Itano Wasserman. This dynamic duo (see what I did there?) has written a superb send up of many classic comic book tropes including:

• An amusing opening sequence complete with a Jack Kirby-esque origin for Captain Freelance

• Animated word balloons a lá the Batman live-action television series from the late 60s

• A death ray, because what decent comic book story doesn't have one?

• A world where even superheroes and villains are no match for their respective labor unions

• A deus ex machina machine that doesn't live up to its name

• An inept, arch enemy who excels at the twirling of the mustache

The creators even sneak in a line that pays homage to the late, great sci-fi television series Firefly! Hint: listen for it in episode nine.

For your viewing pleasure, the pilot episode has been embedded below: 

Generic Girls is a lot of fun, and I found myself laughing out loud more than once. The humor, while also a tad subversive, stems from a genuine love and appreciation of comic books. 

I would also be remiss if I didn't include the excellent video tribute to legendary comic book creator Jack Kirby by the series creators:

 Check out the series on its YouTube channel: Generic Girl Series.

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Voyage Trekkers - May This Sci-Fi Comedy Web Series Live Long And Prosper!

For the past several years, there has been a trend in science fiction television where recent series have been dark and bleak in tone, devoid of almost any joy or levity (I'm looking at you Battlestar Galactica).

Now along comes Voyage Trekkers, a sci-fi web series that is an unabashed satire and comedy. 

Thank God! 

An heir apparent to the 1999 comedy film Galaxy Quest, this series also pokes good-natured fun at a - ahem - certain iconic science fiction franchise.

Set in the distant future, Voyage Trekkers chronicles the (mis)adventures of the worst crew in the Galactic Union as they travel aboard the ironically christened starship GSV Remarkable.

Led by the dashing yet moronic Captain Sunstrike (Adam Rini), along with the long-suffering Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rena (Gabrielle Van Buren), and apathetic first officer Commander Powell (Logan Blackwell), the crew of the Remarkable excel to epic heights of incompetency as they encounter alien lifeforms and civilizations.

Comedic highlights include:

• a send-up of a popular starship captain's out-of-control libido

• first contact scenarios gone horribly, hilariously wrong

• a funny light saber duel

• an emphasis on the "babble" in techno-babble

The series is also episodic, not serial in nature, so you can jump in at any time and consume as much as you want without feeling lost in an ongoing story line. 

Brilliant! 

Voyage Trekkers sprang from the warped minds of Nathan Blackwell and Craig Michael Curtis. The writing clearly shows a deep love for the sci-fi franchise lampooned while being unafraid to poke fun at many of that show’s nonsensical elements and tropes.

However, this comedy would not work if not for the skill of the cast. This cast has great comedic timing - a skill essential for a project like this to succeed.

And succeed they have with - as of this writing - one, 10-episode season already completed, and a second (complete with a new bridge set financed by fan backing) filming.  

To get a taste of the series tone, here is the pilot episode from the first season:

To view all available episodes, visit the series YouTube channel.

For more information about the production, check out the official web site VoyageTrekkers.com 

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