The 1st Annual Streamy Awards were held last Saturday, honoring the best in original shows on the Internet, and they could be watched around the world — where else? — online! Aside from the baby award show’s adorable moniker, the Streamys proved yet again that you don’t have to be a household name to get recognition in cyberspace. While Joss Whedon’s Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog pretty much swept the event, with seven wins (including the craft awards held two days earlier), lesser-known talent like the fresh faces of the hilarious college mockumentary Dorm Life and the Renaissance Faire comedy All’s Faire (which reminds me of the battle scene in Role Models but with more girls) at least earned themselves nominations for Best Ensemble Cast in a Web Series. (You can see the complete list of winners here.)
While I voted my heart out for Dorm Life (which was nominated for Audience Choice Award for Best Web Series), sadly, I couldn’t beat Dr. Horrible‘s devoted fans. I strongly recommend you check out the very short, very funny first episode of Dorm Life (below). If you’ve ever imagined what The Office would be like if Dwight were in charge…and wore puka shells, you won’t be disappointed.
Anyway, I, for one, am thrilled that web TV continues to gain so much attention, and I can’t see why anyone wouldn’t be. As a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Neil Patrick Harris, it’s awesome to see sci-fi mastermind Joss Whedon working on any screen, big or small. After all, a Joss Whedon masterpiece is a Joss Whedon masterpiece, no matter where it unspools. And for the rest of the world, if you’ve got an idea and some sort of video camera, clearly you don’t have to wait for a big network name to back you up anymore.
But what about you? What are some of your favorite online shows that you would like to see honored for distracting you, PopWatchers? And how great a name for a Web show is You Suck at Photoshop?
Pretty cool- Dorm Life was created by a guy who lived down the hall from me at UCLA a few years back. Great kid.
Dorm Life is pretty much hilarious and, in its own heightened way, shockingly accurate and representative of its title and premise. I have too many favorite episodes from the first season to count. Marshall is a character to treasure, that’s for sure.
What’s hilarious is that HBO tried their own college web series called “Hooking Up” and it was awful. Their budget was way higher than Dorm Life’s too, I bet.
Was a good event, highlight for me was the “How to make a Streamy” video by the Fine Brothers… Felicia Day just posted the link to it- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBaOCKtDY9g
I love Goodnight Burbank and they just debuted a new season on Babelgum. David Lawrence (Eric Doyle) form Heroes is in it!
I was sad “With the Angels” didn’t win. It was nominated in the Directing and Writing/Drama categories. It got beat out by Battlestar Galactica, which I’m not sure is fair. They had so much money, and to alot of people prodcution value looks like good writing.
I love online tv and shows its good how sites like http://www.freetube.us.tc and hulu.com offer free tv.
No mention of “After Judgment?” Easily my fave. It had 6 nominations – pretty good for no budget, no names, and no money!
Too bad it was up against “BSG” and “Gemini Division”…..
I was there, and Tubefilter.tv and Tilzy did a great job of putting on the event.
But what you are calling WebTV is not really traditional TV but more like free VOD services, like getting a movie from the video store without paying; they are pre-recorded and available to view anytime within a fixed time-frame. True internet TV is found on sites such as http://viewmy.tv which is based in London I think but they all have channels that you can watch. What I like about this is that there is a platform for lesser known companies to stream their channels on sites such as vmtv (I hate overly commercialized content. Maybe its just me).
Roger, Hulu doesn’t provide TV it provides VOD!
I’m not sure how you can write an article about the streamys and focus on “Dorm Life”, which was only nominated for an Audience Choice (and didn’t win) and not mention a show like “The Guild” which took a number of awards including Best Ensemble and Best Comedy. This article didn’t feel like information about the Streamys- which are a huge step forward in web television, it felt like an ad for Dorm Life.
Dorm Life was nominated for best ensemble, too. read carefully!
I’m puzzled why my web show, The Guild, didn’t get a mention? We had the most nominations, and won for Best Ensemble Cast, best Comedy Web Series and Best Female Actress in a Comedy.
http://www.watchtheguild.com
The other shows are awesome as well, and deserve attention, as do all the shows that are pioneering in the space.
XOXO
Felicia