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IMDbPro

The Downer Channel

  • TV Series
  • 2001
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
65
YOUR RATING
The Downer Channel (2001)
Sketch ComedyComedy

An American sketch comedy television seriesAn American sketch comedy television seriesAn American sketch comedy television series

  • Creator
    • Michael Halpern
  • Stars
    • Mary Lynn Rajskub
    • Wanda Sykes
    • Steven Wright
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    65
    YOUR RATING
    • Creator
      • Michael Halpern
    • Stars
      • Mary Lynn Rajskub
      • Wanda Sykes
      • Steven Wright
    • 10User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Episodes6

    Browse episodes
    1 season2001

    Photos

    Top cast30

    Edit
    Mary Lynn Rajskub
    Mary Lynn Rajskub
    • Various
    • 2001
    Wanda Sykes
    Wanda Sykes
    • Various
    • 2001
    Steven Wright
    Steven Wright
    • Walter
    • 2001
    Jeff Bryan Davis
    Jeff Bryan Davis
    • Various
    • 2001
    Lance Krall
    • Various
    • 2001
    Teri Garr
    Teri Garr
    • Wilma McVoid
    • 2001
    Fred Willard
    Fred Willard
    • Henry McVoid
    • 2001
    Ted Hardwick
    • Host
    • 2001
    Josh Daly
    • Timmy
    • 2001
    Jennifer Coolidge
    Jennifer Coolidge
    • Esmé
    • 2001
    Ken Jeong
    Ken Jeong
    • Store Owner
    • 2001
    Craig Robinson
    Craig Robinson
    • Boyfriend
    • 2001
    Mindy Sterling
    Mindy Sterling
    • Neighbor
    • 2001
    Todd Giebenhain
    Todd Giebenhain
    • Weedy
    • 2001
    Kevin G. Schmidt
    Kevin G. Schmidt
    • Timmy
    • 2001
    Pamela Dunlap
    Pamela Dunlap
    • Lady at Diner
    • 2001
    Henriette Mantel
    Henriette Mantel
    • Self
    • 2001
    Mike Rad
    Mike Rad
    • Wedding Guest
    • 2001
    • Creator
      • Michael Halpern
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews10

    6.965
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    Featured reviews

    Warteen

    Had its moments, but overall a downer

    Despite the obvious comic talent in its cast - particularly Jeff Davis of Whose Line is it Anyway, and stand-up comedienne Wanda Sykes - this show was doomed to fail from the beginning.

    It's hard to list all the things wrong with it. First, it assumed that the audience had a two-second attention span. Think of Saturday Night Live, but with 25 scenes in a show. That's how quick the "jokes" were. Second, most of the scenes or gags that they gave a huge set-up to were just not funny. For example, there was a mini-documentary about a woman's fear of clowns that was just ridiculous. Third, the idea of using real-life interviews and turning them into humorous scenes is simply unlikely to work with any American audience.

    There were a few good things about the show, however. The Walter character was quite funny with his sagas throughout the show. An occasional situation or joke worked quite well. For example, the Relationship Roadshow bits were original and fairly amusing. And finally, the theme song was catchy - this holds little relevance to the show's quality, but should still be noted.

    Overall, the show was definitely an original idea, but a bad one. The positive could come nowhere near balancing the glaring negative. There's a reason this show only ran five episodes. However, those fans of the cast members who taped it will be happy with their little piece of cult trivia.
    JBoze313

    Maybe the worst show ever

    This show is awful. I can't say awful enough times. The previews for this show made it look as tho it was the funniest show ever made, but I watched it the other night-and wow this stuff is bad. This is the oddest humor I have ever seen, and I can't imagine anyone finding it funny. As far as I have heard, almost everyone hates the show, and I have to wonder, how did this ever get on tv in the first place? There is SO much great tv that gets canned without a chance (Freaks and Geeks for example), yet garbage like this makes it on the air at all, it amazes and shocks me! NBC is becoming the worst channel on tv, and I don't even watch it at all anymore. I used to watch NBC all the time, but it definitely losing it's crown as king of the networks. This show is horrible...Spy TV is a gem compared to this show, and that means The Downer Channel HAS to be awful. .000000000001/10--is that possible?
    andykleinendorst

    Worst Show in Downer history

    This show is so stupid it's not even funny. I mean come on, are we supposed to laugh at a bunch of slackjawed people crowding around a pan of hot cookies, then trying to eat them and realize they're too hot? This would be funny for toddlers but not for teens and adults. I'll also have to agree that this show get the rating it deserves. 0.000000001/100000
    PhinePhriend

    I hate to say this, but- no I don't, I don't mind saying this at all. I like this show.

    This show reminds me of SCTV with John Candy and Catherine O'Hara, only... funnier. Variety, sketches, oddball humor, I love that stuff. I like this show. I'm not terribly fond of the real people on the street, but I really liked the takeoff on Antiques Roadshow. I like Jeff Davis from "Whose Line is it Anyway" (he's quite ripping, by George, spiffing great stuff, that), and Wanda Sykes is quite the goofball herself.

    This is a corking good show, chaps. I'm glad it's on, and I wish there was more of the likes of it on TV.

    Have a crummy week!
    MovieAddict2016

    Without a Doubt One of the Worst Television Shows I Have Ever Encountered...

    "The Downer Channel" features an unfunny cast, unfunny skits, and bears absolutely no direction. At times we are thrown unrecognizable "skits," dare I say, that have no significance to the other skits.

    Steve Martin co-produced this show, which made me think it would be hilarious...wrong!

    "The Downer Channel" proves that trying to cash in on the fabled success of "Saturday Night Live" is not at easy task.

    1/5 stars --

    John Ulmer

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    Storyline

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    • Connections
      Referenced in Harmontown: Death to Superman (2014)

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • July 24, 2001 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Carsey-Werner Company
      • NBC Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Color
      • Color

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