6/11/2006: Tube: TV Funhouse
The Anipals have been found!
Unfortunately "TV Funhouse" is long gone from Comedy Central's lineup, but they've archived quite a few clips on the show's website. In case you missed it, "TV Funhouse" was a late night show (with way too short a run) from Robert Smigel, the guy behind the SNL cartoon shorts and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.
It looked like a kid's show but it had some of the sickest and funniest humor since "Beavis & Butthead", "Sifl & Olly" and "Jackass". It was hosted by a seemingly kid-friendly nerdy host named Doug who ran a half dozen shorts between skits about ep's theme (Astronaut Day, Mexican Day, etc.) Some of the shorts were along the lines of the SNL toons but the best ones featured the Anipals, a troupe of animal puppets who played alongside real animals.
Anipals segments featured guest stars such as Robert Goulet, John Ritter, George Wendt, Sally Jessy Raphael and of course Triumph, who debuted Underage Bichon (click to sample) from his own CD Come Poop with Me on the show.
"TV Funhouse" really needs to be compiled for DVD release but in the meantime, check out some clips from the TV Funhouse website at Comedy Central. Sorry, they each have a short ad intro, but they're well worth the wait.
Anipals video clips on the page are: Chickie's in a cockfight; Jason join the Krishvu Church; Rocky licks the bowl; Feel like chicken tonight?; and Endangered and Single.
Sames Restaurant, where "you eat what you are":
Runaway chick Jason meets a cult and Sally Jessy hooks up a lizard:
John Ritter's attacked by terrorists and cheerleaders at a cockfight:
Cheering onlookers at the bloody match:
