We recorded a new podcast last night and I mentioned to the team that I would like to discuss internet-exclusive “tv shows” on the next week’s (or some upcoming) episode. I thought it might make sense to open it up to any discussion and clue in both the listeners and Jeff, Tina, and Jake as to what I’m talking about, specifically. Following are a few of the shows that I watch regularly on the internet.

Channel 101

One of my absolute favorite sites is Channel 101. The site allows you to submit a 5-minute “pilot” tv show. A panel selects a handful to be screened once a month at a bar/theatre in L.A. with a live audience. The audience votes on their favorites and 5 shows are selected as “Prime Time” and are added to the site the next day. They are then able to make a second episode but it will go up against whatever new shows the panel has selected. Every month, there are the 5 prime time shows, the ones that get cancelled, and the pilots that fail to make the cut. Almost all of them are comedy and most are VERY well done. Some of my favorites over the years include LASER FART, YACHT ROCK, THE WRIGHT STUFF, GROOVE FIGHTERS, and THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY SPACE INVESTIGATIONS.

Channel 101 often features several talented performers that mix and match creative teams on new shows. VH1 recognized their talent and gave them a half hour sketch comedy show called Acceptable.tv. The second season will appear in 2008. A lot of big name celebrities make fairly regular appearances in these shows, including Sarah Silverman, Jack Black, and others. The site has a large archive and will provide you with a lot of good and free entertainment.

Lonelygirl15

Lonelygirl15 is essentially a soap opera, but with a genre element in its mythology. The shows are made almost daily and are posted to YouTube and its official site (linked above). The eponymous “lonelygirl15″ was a young teenager named Bree who posted video blogs. All the shows are shot from this style, as though she and her friends (and adversaries) record almost everything in their lives. Most posts are between 3 to 5 minutes. The story followed Bree as her parents readied her for a mysterious religious ceremony for a cult known as The Hymn of One which was really a front for “elders” known as The Order. By the end of the first year, Bree was captured by the elders and killed. Her blood and the blood of certain other girls can give prolonged life to these elders. The ceremony does not need to kill anyone, but Bree was killed by a rogue Elder.

The show is obviously very melodramatic. However, it’s quick and has a million twists and turns. The show has continued with the rest of its cast, Bree’s friends Daniel, Jonas, Sarah and others on the run and fighting to take down the Order. Catch yourself up or jump right in, it’s goofy fun.

Angry Videogame Nerd

The Angry Videogame Nerd regularly reviews old videogames, mostly from the NES era.  The series coasts on the charm and knowledge of the titular character, played by filmmaker James Rolfe.  The videos are regularly added to both his site and Gametrailers.com, a big videogame site.  His rants are frequently hilarious, aided by his uncanny ability to uncover truly horrible videogames.  James frequently posts other reviews of films as himself that are equally insightful but in a more serious tone.  The fact that he is a filmmaker himself allows the videogame reviews to occassionally break out into mini movies with guests that have included Jason Voorhees, Spider-Man, Bugs Bunny, and a lot more.

The internet is rife with good shows.  Lost and Battlestar Galactica have both recently released original mini episodes as internet exclusives.  The Office did the same thing last year.  The MySpace tv show “Quarterlife” just got picked up to air on NBC next year.  No one has quite figured out a perfect formula yet, but there is little doubt that the internet is the future of tv.  I am very curious to know of any shows you watch regularly on the net.