So before I tackle why it didn't succeed, let me first give you a little background. Collegehumor, formally know as CHTV, began as a website mostly writing articles and creating a few books. As they grew and hired more writers and editors, many of them began starring in their own web videos. This began very popular webseries such as Jake & Amir and Hardly Working. These episodes are mostly just shot in their office, where their coworkers continue to work as if no one was shooting an online video. This is the exact feeling that Collegehumor portrays. The business is very laid back, and they mostly just write and make videos to make each other laugh. But the website also produces more professional videos which they call Collegehumor originals. Many of these are writen by the writers and then real actors are hired (but most videos include many of the prominant writers and editors that star in the webseries as well).
Here's the first Jake & Amir I ever watched. Let's just say it hasn't been my last... Also, this one's kind of old so the quality isn't as good. Enjoy!
How do I know so much about this random webiste that you've probably never heard of? I'm absolutely obsessed. All the information I stated earlier was just off the top of my head, I know that Jake & Amirs are posted every Tuesday and Thursday and I have seen every episode of that and also Hardly Working. I can recite all the cast members first and last names, but I won't bore you with that... Oh you want me to? Streeter Seidell, Patrick Cassells, Amir Blumenfeld... just kidding. I don't have very many friends that have watched Collegehumor, but when I find someone who hd seen a video or two, I always get very excited to discuss it in detail.
So why didn't the website successfully switch over to television? I have a few theories. My first thought is the transition from small internet videos to a full length thirty minute show. This isn't always a successful endeavor. The writing, producing, acting, and editing are all completely different. I believe although this was a completely different format they still shot it in their offices. One, this seems kind of crazy. I would not appreciate it if all day my coworkers were shooting episodes for their own TV show. Also, this kind of set them up for failure. Maybe not that extreme, but it gave that feeling of internet videos instead of a classy television show. This may not have been a factor at all, but it probably gave the show a feeling of being not good or not, or not trying hard enough. I know this sounds weird, but it just seems like it wasn't really put together very professionally. Let's not forget that all of the actors and writers were part of the staff and did not have much experience anyway.
This brings me to my other reason, which is the actors were not actors! The writers and editors I mentioned earlier who starred in Hardly Working wer the ones who wrote and starred in this show. I know how much I love them, but other people don't understand this hidden talent that they pocess. Plus, none of them had been formally trained in acting and honestly a lot of them are lot funnier in just comedy itself than in acting in comedy. Not to say that they are bad actors, just inexperienced. In fact, one of my favorites, Amir Blumenfeld, is starring in the next Harold and Kumar movie that is coming out I believe sometime this month?
This post may not be much about television, but it expresses the idea that not everything is made for television. This year, a new show came out called Charlie's Angels. It didn't even last a season. Although a pretty popular film, the transition to television was a bit rocky. Although I will mention it has been a few years since the movie came out (the first premiered in 2000). College humor may not have had the greatest run on television, but their comedy website is booming! They have a very large fan base, which continues to grow as they expand in their experience and knowledge of the art comedy.
Here's a video of one of my favorite Hardly Workings. The content may be a bit explicit, viewer discretion is advised!
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