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"The Papdits" Live... Online at Innertube, Anyway

Every once in a while there's a pilot that comes along that amuses you to no end but just doesn't end up getting ordered by the network. Nobody's Watching was one, and Lookwell another, but one that I think that never got a chance was the wacky reality/comedy hybrid The Papdits, from creator Ant Hines, one of the writers on the current #1 movie in America. (That would be Borat, of course.)

So, it's no coincidence that following the HUGE opening this weekend of Borat that CBS has launched the twenty-plus minute pilot of The Papdits on its broadband network Innertube. The pilot, made available today for free streaming to all visitors of Innertube, follows a fictional Kashmir family as they travel around on a cross-country RV expedition of the United States, interacting with real people along the way.

The series originally began life at FOX, at the time under Gail Berman's reign, which gave the project, from Ant Hines, Tom Nunan, and Cathy Schulman, a six-episode commitment back in November 2004. Those episodes were ultimately produced but never aired and the series quickly died once its champion Gail Berman departed for Paramount. Last year, CBS decided to resurrect The Papdits, with a view to redeveloping the concept for either CBS or UPN, but then passed on the show, which while hysterical, was felt to be too out there for mainstream audiences. (Hmmm, curious that 20th Century Fox felt the same way initially about Borat, downgrading its release to only 800 screens.)

But CBS' Nancy Tellem didn't want The Papdits to just die. "The response was really positive," she told Variety. "We wanted to figure out a way to get it out there, instead of letting it go to one of those dead-pilot places." The decision was made to put the series on Innertube, but wait until they could synergize the launch of The Papdits with that of Ant Hines' Borat film.

Which brings us to today. The Papdits has gone live on Innertube and I think America is ready for its very own Ant Hines series (Hines also recently signed a development deal with CBS for a new comedy series). While the Innertube launch will most likely NOT lead to The Papdits getting a network slot, the success of the first installment could lead to the rest of the series streaming online.

So check it out. And let me know what you think.
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Comments

rockauteur said…
It's way funnier than Borat!!!!
11/07/2006
Anonymous said…
I thought it was pretty funny, very well done and in the Borat style, but doesn't completely make fools of people the way Borat does. It's a bit like a kinder, gentler Borat, but still funny.
11/07/2006
Danielle C.F. Maris said…
I think Ally described this show perfectly as a "kinder, gentler Borat." It's funny and charming in a dysfunctional kind of way. And all of the actors comprising the Papdit family are excellent. I love the wife! She is so sweet and innocent. The scene where she throws the tupperware party was hilarious.
11/07/2006
Anonymous said…
why did we just have them in the field chopping cotton like slaves. this is so bad for the Indian people to see i hope the american people and cbs can see this as a disgrace and remove this soon. it is not fun or cool to make fun of other races. i hope the people that did this are ashame of themselves
12/08/2006
Anonymous said…
I'm Indian and I thought the show was HYSTERICAL! I think you have to have a sense of humor and can't take things too seriously. Some of my friends found it offensive (they hadn't seen Borat)until I explained the concept. I wish shows like this could make it to primetime (rather than the senseless drivel they have on now), but I'd be satisfied being able to watch the rest on Innertube.
12/13/2006
Unknown said…
I don't think it was all that funny. The american ppl did not fall for it. Unlike kazhakstan, indians have a more pronounced presence in the united states. It did not look like any of the americans fell for it like they did to the antics of borat. This is a cheap imitation of the ali g and borat. And totally sub-standard comedy.
6/02/2007
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