Prime Time is precarious and at any time the top shows can be cruelly yanked from glory by an audience's hand (or euthanized by their own creators). These series all had their moment in the sun, and now serve as milestones of Prime Time's past.
Mopper's Closet
Created by Ken Kocses
In May's screening, the audience put Ken Kocses, Christie Brown and company back in the closet. Hopefully they'll bust out with more of their handiwork in July.
First screened: 2008-04-08 at Pianos
Last screened: 2008-05-05 at Pianos
Beyond Fact
Created by Craig Rowin, Rory Panagotopulos, Damian Chadwick
First time submitters Damian Chadwick, Rory Panagotopulos, Craig Rowin and co. crashed prime time with this mock doc about conspiracy theories and the theorists that love them, but the audience didn't show quite enough love for episode 2. Corporate sponsorship backlash, or coordinated electioneering campaign? We smell a conspiracy!
First screened: 2008-03-04 at Pianos
Last screened: 2008-04-08 at Pianos
Police Procedures: NYC Casting
PP: NYCC, the show that, well, explored the casting dilemmas of a CSI-style drama, turned in perhaps their best effort yet in March '08, then followed up with a successful bid for self-cancellation. Good luck with the NY Television Festival, fellas.
First screened: 2007-10-01 at Tribeca Cinemas
Last screened: 2008-04-08 at Pianos
Welcome To Our House
Created by Julie Klausner, Jackie Clarke
Julie Klausner and Jackie Clarke mined parody gold from the vein of one seriously cheesy '80s video for five fun episodes, but elected to self-cancel at the March '08 screening without making a sixth.
First screened: 2007-06-04 at Tribeca Cinemas
Last screened: 2008-03-04 at Pianos
Video Shmideo
Created by Yang Miller, Ali Reza
The story of Alan Zick, the proprietor of a "60/40 video store," his employees and porn-hound customers. Video Shmideo limped into 2008 and collapsed, completing an impressive seven episode run (and freeing creators Yang Miller and Ali Reza for their next project).
First screened: 2007-03-26 at Tribeca Cinemas
Last screened: 2008-02-05 at Pianos
Earth vs. Bird
Created by Matt Vermeulen, Dan Greeney
We may never know whether mankind wins out against the ever-present threat of birds, since the audience sent this show packing in November.
First screened: 2007-10-01 at Tribeca Cinemas
Last screened: 2007-11-05 at Tribeca Cinemas
Commercial Time
Created by Kristof Ruzics, Richard Moreno
Newcomers Kristof Ruzics and Richard Moreno hit Prime Time with this send-up of ultra low budget ads, but once to the well was enough for the 102 audience in November.
First screened: 2007-08-29 at Tribeca Cinemas
Last screened: 2007-10-01 at Tribeca Cinemas
Cover Me
Created by Tom Bartos
A cover band is tormented by the whims of a magic talking song book. After tripping to a flipside dimension and raising the stakes, a busy month for creator Tom Bartos and company forces a self-cancellation.
First screened: 2007-04-30 at Anthology Film Archives
Last screened: 2007-10-01 at Tribeca Cinemas
God's Weatherman
Created by Peter Holmes
God gives a local weatherman flawless forecasts in exchange for a few favors. Peter Holmes and company pulled out the stops for a special effects laden third episode, but not even a trip to hell and a duel with the devil could save God's Weatherman from cancellation.
First screened: 2007-04-30 at Anthology Film Archives
Last screened: 2007-08-29 at Tribeca Cinemas
The F.N.G.R.
Created by Nick Gibbons
After just two months in the spotlight, Nick Gibbons decided his cop caper needed to end, despite what the audience may have thought. F.N.G.R., we'll miss you... and we'll look forward to your next show (as well as the episodes you wrote for a certain Cartoon Network show).
First screened: 2007-03-26 at Tribeca Cinemas
Last screened: 2007-06-04 at Tribeca Cinemas
The Man Who Loved Lesbians
Created by Michael Jaffe, Sarah Yorra
After setting up a premise with episode 1 and knocking it out of the park with episode 2, Michael Jaffe and Sarah Yorra got bogged down in some talky scenes. And talky scenes spell doom.
First screened: 2007-02-26 at Tribeca Cinemas
Last screened: 2007-04-30 at Anthology Film Archives
The Jon and Jess Variety Hour
Created by Jon Golbe, Jess Lane
In this humble writer's opinion, you can only earn the privilege to self-cancel with honor by beating the "longest running show" record (currently at 8 episodes, soon to be 9 or more). But Jon and Jess have never been about honor. They've been about fun! That, and saying "fuck you" to the audience in the most adorable way possible. So perhaps it's no surprise that that's how they went down in episode 5.
First screened: 2006-11-06 at Tribeca Cinemas
Last screened: 2007-04-30 at Anthology Film Archives
S.H.R.T.M.S.
Created by Jonathan Wilkes
After two months in fifth place, SHRTMS amped up the production and writing quality... and got cancelled. By a lot. Hey, March was a competitive month.
First screened: 2007-01-29 at Tribeca Cinemas
Last screened: 2007-03-26 at Tribeca Cinemas
Sell This Bike!
After the overnight success of "Sell This Bike," something didn't quite click, and the audience returned the bike. And show.
First screened: 2007-02-26 at Tribeca Cinemas
Last screened: 2007-03-26 at Tribeca Cinemas
The Rewinder
Created by Aaron Wilson
"The Rewinder's" premise was perfect, and at best, it was a hilarious and action-packed blitzkrieg. At worst, it could appear to be just going through the motions. Perhaps the audience sensed that episode 3 was somewhat more workmanlike than the absolutely inspired episode 1, and decided creator Aaron Wilson deserved a shot at a new idea. Whatever he comes back with, count on this: it'll be great.
First screened: 2006-11-06 at Tribeca Cinemas
Last screened: 2007-02-26 at Tribeca Cinemas



