For-Profit Online University
For-Profit Online University | |
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Genre | |
Written by |
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Directed by |
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Starring |
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Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
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Executive producer(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Cinematography | Kevin Atkinson |
Running time | 11 minutes |
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Distributor | Williams Street |
Broadcast | |
Original channel | Adult Swim |
Picture format | 1080i (16:9 HDTV) |
Audio format | Stereo |
Original airing | December 17, 2013 |
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For-Profit Online University is a television special written and directed by Sam West for Adult Swim. The special is presented as an infomercial parodying for-profit universities. The special is co-written by Wild Aggressive Dog, a conglomerate of former Onion writers, consisting of Geoff Haggerty, Dan Klein, Matthew Klinman, Michael Pielocik, Chris Sartinsky and Sam West.
The special aired on December 17, 2013 at 4 a.m. on Cartoon Network's late-night programming block, Adult Swim. The special was viewed by 871,000 viewers and received a 0.6 rating in the 18–49 demographic Nielsen household rating.
Synopsis
The infomercial consists of various students giving testimonies of their success, owing it to the school, literally named For-Profit Online University. The later half of the special introduces the threat of an evil rogue spambot named Howard, who was bribed with a large sum of ThoughtCoins, a digital currency used through the school, in an attempt to placate him.
Cast
- Nicole Byer as "22MuchBIZ"
- Nelson Cheng as "LetsFunHans"
- Nick Corirossi as "FPOU_DEAN"
- Geoff Haggerty as "USAdude1981"
- Brian Huskey as "FPOU_PROF_300954"
- Ingrid Tejada as "sALTedAngel69"
Production
The special presents itself as a spoof of for-profit universities infomercials, a source of frequent criticism and congressional investigation in the United States.[1]:2[2] The special is written and directed by Sam West, and is co-written by the creative writing team Wild Aggressive Dog, a conglomerate of former Onion writers, consisting of Geoff Haggerty, Dan Klein, Matthew Klinman, Michael Pielocik, Chris Sartinsky and Sam West.[3] According to Nelson Cheng, who portrays a collegian with the username "LetsFunHans", the special is the first in a series.[4]
Reception
For-Profit Online University aired on December 17, 2013, at 4 a.m. on Cartoon Network's late-night programming block, Adult Swim. The special was published onto Adult Swim's YouTube channel the same day.[5] Initially made private on their channel, the special became viral online after being spotted by comedy blogs.[6] The special was viewed by 871,000 viewers and received a 0.6 rating in the 18–49 demographic Nielsen household rating.[7]
Dan Simmons of the Wisconsin State Journal praised the special as "hilariously" parodying "what some in academia fear is a growing movement toward commodifying college."[2] Andy Thomason of The Chronicle of Higher Education called the presentation of the special "brutal" in its criticism of both for-profit and traditional universities.[8] Gaby Dunn of The Daily Dot compared the fictional college to the University of Phoenix in her review of the special.[6] Laughing Squid's EDW Lynch called the infomercial "hilarous",[9] while Splitsider stated of all of Adult Swim's faux-infomericals, the special was "the best one yet".[10]
See also
References
- ↑ Staff writers (February 6, 2014). "Viral parody video: Bad for online education?". eCampus News. eSchool Media. pp. 1–3 (paginated). Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Simmons, Dan (December 30, 2013). "On Campus: Come profit with us, says founder of fake online university". Wisconsin State Journal. Lee Enterprises. Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
- ↑ Kingkade, Tyler (December 22, 2013). "For-Profit Online University Isn't a Scam Like Real College". The Huffington Post. AOL Inc. Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
- ↑ Chang, Nelson. "Adult Swim". Nelson Chang's official website. SC Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
- ↑ "Infomercial: For-Profit Online University". YouTube. January 24, 2014. Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Dunn, Gaby (December 19, 2013). "Ex-Onion writers mock for-profit colleges in this parody infomercial". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
- ↑ Pucci, Douglas (December 24, 2013). "Adult Swim Ratings Scorecard – Week of Dec. 16, 2013". TV Media Insights. Cross MediaWorks. Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
- ↑ Thomason, Andy (December 20, 2013). "Fake Infomercial for For-Profit Online University Satirizes Higher Ed". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
- ↑ Lynch, EDW (December 27, 2013). "A Hilarious Parody Infomercial for For-Profit Online University by Adult Swim". Laughing Squid. Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
- ↑ Evans, Bradford (December 18, 2013). "Here's an Infomercial for a Fake College Written by Ex-Onion Writers that Adult Swim Has Been Airing at 4 a.m.". Splitsider. The Awl. Archived from the original on August 17, 2014. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
External links
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