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Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Reality TV Goes Webcomicy: Strip Search

I'm a big fan of the Penny-Arcade guys, Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik.  I especially like there internet charity Child's Play, but I also tend to like the various spinoffs of their main site.  I'd be lying if some of the topics in our show weren't from the excellent PA Report.  The latest no exception.

Strip Search is Penny-Arcade's latest attempt at reality "tv".  The show is available on the website, in easily consumable 15 minute chunks.  Episodes are released twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Right now two episodes have been released, so this is the time to jump on the train.  What's this reality show about?  Webcomics.

I'm a fan of reality TV that displays skills on the part of the user.  Top Chef is one of my favorites.  SyFy's Face Off, a show where special effect makeup artists make monstrous creations every week is another vice I'm not afraid to admit.  Strip Search does the same thing for comic creators.  As someone who started reading webcomics back when Sluggy Freelance was comprehensible  (read: almost two decades) this is a cool thing.

So far there hasn't been an elimination, that comes this Thursday, I presume.  The first episode introduces the contestants.  Unlike most shows (even Top Chef), everyone is really likable.  I won't mind if anyone wins in the end, but I have my favorites.  Alex's attitude is infectious, Maki's beard mirrors my own, and I spent a lot of last night perusing the archives of Abby's comic.  There are nine other contestants, all of whom are interesting and engaging.  I've seen all of their comics, and they are all of exceptional quality, something that is in short supply in webcomics.  Episode two shows the contestants engaging in a game of "fax machine", similar to telephone except with doodles.  The results are whimsical and hilarious.  You can see them here but beware of spoilers.

I'm looking forward to Thursday's episode, when the contest begins in earnest.  Completely worth the watch, and at 15 minutes snack episodes, its easy to do.

Check out episode 2 right here, due to the power of Youtube.
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1 comment:

  1. I've also been wanting to watch the fake reality show on Spike. It looks hilarious.

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