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{{Infobox television
| image =
| caption =
| alt_name =
| genre = [[Sitcom]] [[Parody]]
| creator =
| developer =
| writer = Neil Alsip [[Tim Burns (writer)|Tim Burns]]
| director = Brad Morrison [[Corky Quakenbush]]
| creative_director =
| presenter =
| starring =
| judges =
| voices = [[Daran Norris]] [[Jennifer Hale]] [[Richard Doyle (actor)|Richard Doyle]] [[Maurice LaMarche]] [[Mindy Cohn]] [[Michael Donovan]]
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| composer =
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 13
| executive_producer = Tony Shiff
| producer = Skot Bright<ref>[http://www.allbusiness.com/food-beverage/food-industry-food-mfg-sugar/6692969-1.html TBS Superstation's THE CHIMP CHANNEL Goes Retrowith Parodies of Classic Series.] ''Business Wire'' (July 16, 1999). Retrieved on 4-06-10.</ref>
| editor =
| location = [[Burbank, California]], United States
| cinematography =
| camera =
| runtime = 30 minutes
| company = Telescopic Pictures [[Warner Bros. Domestic Pay TV Cable & Network Features]]
| channel = [[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS]]
| first_aired = {{start date|1999|6|10|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{end date|1999|12|16|df=y}}
| related = ''[[Monkey-ed Movies]]''
}}
'''''The Chimp Channel''''' is an American sitcom which aired on [[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS Superstation]] in 1999. Based on the ''[[Monkey-ed Movies]]'' interstitials that TBS aired one year prior, it is the network's first original [[sitcom]]. The series primarily consists of costumed [[Common chimpanzee|chimpanzee]]s and [[orangutan]]s, [[voice acting|voiced]] by human actors, [[parody]]ing popular television shows, movies, and advertising as well as stars and personalities within the industry. ''The Chimp Channel'' marked the first all-[[simian]] series since [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s [[Saturday morning cartoon|Saturday morning]] ''[[Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp]]'', which ended in 1972.

==Premise==
The series revolves around the behind the scenes antics of the fictional, eponymous cable network, The Chimp Channel (abbreviated TCC), and the shows it produces. Television programs filmed at the network include ''[[NYPD Blue|NYPD Zoo]]'', ''[[Baywatch|Treewatch]]'', ''[[Ally McBeal|Ally McSqeal]]'', ''[[Larry King Live|The Murray Price Show]]'', ''News at Night'',<ref>[http://cgi.superstation.com/tv/chimpchannel/ The Chimp Channel] Superstation.com. Retrieved on 4-07-10.</ref> and ''Movies on Film''. The latter has two critics reviewing films from the ''Monkey-ed Movie'' library with a non-[[thumb#Opposable thumbs|opposable]] [[At the Movies (1986 TV program)|thumbs up or down]]. Due to the show's racy humor, it earned a [[TV Parental Guidelines#TV-14|TV-14 rating]].

==Background and production history==
In 1998, TBS aired [[Tom Stern (director)|Tom Stern]]'s ''Monkey-ed Movies''. Forty-eight of the short segments were produced to run during the feature-film program ''[[Dinner and a Movie]]'' and in odd time slots after sporting events. However, one day when a golf tournament ran short, the station played about half an hour of ''Monkey'ed Movies'' to unexpected results. The ratings actually increased, which prompted TBS to order 13 episodes of an expanded half-hour series.<ref>Lucas, Michael P. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jun-01-ca-42906-story.html] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' (June 1, 1999). Retrieved on 4-08-10.</ref> Aiming for a young male audience, TBS placed ''The Chimp Channel'' on Thursday nights at 10:05 p.m. ET following the network's top-rated [[professional wrestling]] show ''[[WCW Thunder]]''.<ref>[http://www.allbusiness.com/food-beverage/food-industry-food-mfg-sugar/6692969-1.html TBS Superstation's THE CHIMP CHANNEL Goes Retrowith Parodies of Classic Series.] ''Business Wire'' (July 16, 1999). Retrieved on 4-06-10.</ref> An April 1999 press release noted the series' original title as ''Channel of the Apes''.<ref>[http://www.allbusiness.com/media-telecommunications/movies-sound-recording-movies/6675870-1.html TBS Superstation Sets Premiere of THE CHIMP CHANNEL, Original Half-Hour Entertainment Series...] ''Business Wire'' (April 8, 1999). Retrieved on 4-07-10.</ref> The renamed ''Chimp Channel'' debuted on June 10, 1999.

Not long into production, Stern found himself at odds with TBS management regarding the direction of the series. This led to an incident on March 8, 1999 in which he improvised a raunchy [[performance art]] piece that involved full nudity and breaking two liquor bottles on the show's set. Stern was promptly fired for the incident despite claiming that he had permission from network officials to do what he called "[[improv comedy]]" described as "trying to get stuff off my chest about the wrong-headed direction the show was taking." On June 9, one day before the ''Chimp Channel'' series premiere, Stern filed a breach-of-contract suit against TBS, Warner Bros. Domestic Pay TV, Telescopic Pictures, and Palomar Pictures in Los Angeles, seeking damages in excess of $1,675,000.<ref>Wolk, Josh [https://archive.today/20130122220647/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,84441,00.html 'Melrose' Placed] ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' (June 10, 1999).</ref><ref>Lee, Will; Patterson, Troy [https://web.archive.org/web/20081205060859/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,273909,00.html Monitor] ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' (June 25, 1999).</ref> Stern was represented in the suit by Los Angeles attorney David Wall.<ref>Buckman, Adam [https://nypost.com/1999/06/11/tv-man-goes-ape-chimp-tv-creator-is-fired/ TV MAN GOES APE: CHIMP TV CREATOR IS FIRED] ''[[New York Post]]'' (June 11, 1999).</ref><ref>O’Neill, Ann [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jun-27-me-50657-story.html THE COURT FILES] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' (June 27, 1999).</ref> Production of the series continued for a few more months without its creative founder.

Filming of ''The Chimp Channel'' required a reportedly critical sensitivity regarding its animal cast. In attempt to avoid any performance hampering or distraction, studio personnel and visitors were instructed not to mingle with, make gestures toward, or make eye contact with the chimps. Brief scenes required strenuous rehearsal before filming could begin, and all personnel not required for immediate set consulting, including the director, viewed the shooting from monitors 50 feet away.<ref>[http://www.scrammagazine.com/chimpchannels Monkeyin' around on the set of The Chimp Channel] Scram Magazine #12. Retrieved on 4-07-10.</ref> Regarding the apes' behavior on set, Tom Stern quipped "Maggie, [the chimp] who plays Marina, loves the Lycra suit she wears and can't refrain from going to the bathroom in it — she thinks it's just a really cool red diaper. All the chimps wear diapers, though, so it's a lot like ''[[Frasier]]''."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081120013334/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,272329,00.html Summer TV Guide] ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' (1999). Retrieved on 4-08-10.</ref>

The ape performances were coached by off-screen trainers using signals to communicate with them. This made shooting more than two chimps at once difficult, so high-tech editing was used to multiply the number of apes in the frame. And since they couldn't always follow the script perfectly, the apes' reactions were cataloged and often edited together to create cohesive scenes. Regarding the unpredictability of the apes, co-executive producer Tim Burns noted, "They're a comedy writer's best friend. I think the stuff is funny to begin with, but there's no replacing how much funnier it is when the monkeys add their own peculiar performance style."<ref>Lucas, Michael P. [https://web.archive.org/web/20101206144841/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/jun/01/entertainment/ca-42906/2] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' (June 1, 1999). Retrieved on 4-08-10.</ref>

The [[American Humane Association]]'s Film and Television Unit supervised the filming of both ''The Chimp Channel'' and its predecessor, ''Monkey-ed Movies'', and reported:
:"The chimps and orangutans are receiving a very high standard of care. The trainers use modern, humane techniques to cue and motivate the animals. . . The TBS production team has been very cooperative, has upheld the Guidelines and insures the wellbeing [sic] of the chimps during filming."<ref>[http://www.ahafilm.info/movies/moviereviews.phtml?fid=7327 Movie Review - The Chimp Channel] AHA Film (1999). Retrieved on 4-07-10.</ref> AHA field representative Netta Bank rated the crew's treatment of the apes "A-plus" and noted "This is all chimps, all the time, so they're treated like stars. . . They have their own dressing room, their own green room. They have a play area for themselves."

==Characters==

===On-camera stars===
* '''Brock Hammond''' (voiced by [[Daran Norris]]) is a 39-year-old male actor fitting the self-absorbed, masculine archetype, similar to [[David Hasselhoff]].
* '''George W. Heinlein''' (voiced by [[Richard Doyle (actor)|Richard Doyle]]) is The Chimp Channel's veteran news anchor.
* '''Marina''' (voiced by [[Jennifer Hale]]) is a parody of [[Pamela Anderson]], the "super sexy" blond actress from ''Treewatch''.
* '''Murray Price''' (voiced by [[Eugene Roche]]) is the "undisputed king of all celebrity interviews," a parody of [[Larry King]] who hosts his own talk show. He is played by an [[orangutan]].

===Behind the scenes stars===
* '''Bernard the Sarcastic Parrot''' (voiced by [[Maurice LaMarche]]) is the parrot sidekick of Harry.
* '''Bif & Stan''' (voiced by [[Michael Donovan]] and [[Dwight Schultz]]) are veteran writing team who provide material for a plethora of television genres.
* '''Ford Carter''' (voiced by Richard Doyle) is a 58-year-old, Australian, self-made "gazillionaire" who owns The Chimp Channel in addition to newspapers, hotel chains, and other properties. He shares traits with [[Rupert Murdoch]], a long-standing media rival of [[Ted Turner]]'s.
* '''Timmy Briar''' (voiced by [[Richard Steven Horvitz]]) is a young, bright-eyed intern at The Chimp Channel.
* '''Harry Waller''' (voiced by Maurice LaMarche) is the 52-year-old president of The Chimp Channel and a television veteran.
* '''Candy Yuponce''' (voiced by [[Mindy Cohn]]) is The Chimp Channel's makeup and wardrobe girl.

==Episodes==
{{Episode table |background= |overall= |title= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=1
|Title=Timmy's First Day
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|6|10}}
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=2
|Title=Murray Loves Marina
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|6|17}}
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=3
|Title=The Chase
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|6|24}}
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=4
|Title=Brock's a Movie Star
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|7|1}}
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=5
|Title=Zazz!
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|7|15}}
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=6
|Title=Telethon
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|7|22}}
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=7
|Title=The Computer
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|9|2}}
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=8
|Title=When Harry Was Sally
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|9|9}}
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=9
|Title=Stolen Memories: TCC Anniversary
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|9|16}}
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=10
|Title=Marina's Wedding
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|9|23}}
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=11
|Title=Y' Win Son, Y' Lose Son
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|10|7}}
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=12
|Title=Dead Like Me
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|10|14}}
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=13
|Title=The Briar Witch Project
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|12|16}}
}}
}}

==Reception==
While the training and animal work was commended, ''The Chimp Channel'' received largely negative critical reception with the notion that it fails its attempt to expand the simple, effective concept of ''Monkey-ed Movies''. ''[[The New York Times]]''' Caryn James gave a negative review of the show, stating "''The Chimp Channel'' is so scattershot and predictable it becomes tiresome in about five minutes. . . And the brief parodies of television shows and movies offer mere glimpses of wit."<ref>James, Caryn [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/10/arts/television-review-hunting-for-kernels-of-wit-in-mtv-s-golden-popcorn.html?pagewanted=1 TELEVISION REVIEW; Hunting for Kernels of Wit In MTV's Golden Popcorn] ''[[The New York Times]]'' (June 10, 1999). Retrieved on 4-07-10.</ref>

Ray Richmond of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' described how the original ''Monkey-ed Movies'' "proved to be clever stuff, in large part because it was short and sweet" but that "with ''Chimp Channel'', TBS monkeys with an undeniably thin concept and stretches it past the limit." While he commended the "sharp, well-organized direction from Mitchell Walker and the uncannily effective animal work from head trainer Bob Dunn, coordinator Mike Morris and their team," Richmond added "What seems cute in small doses feels awfully humiliating in this expanded format, sucking out any novelty and leaving in its wake only the uncomfortable entrails."<ref>Richmond, Ray [https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117499863.html?categoryid=32&cs=1&query=chimp+channel+richmond The Chimp Channel Review] ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' (June 7, 1999). Retrieved on 4-07-10.</ref>

Tom Jicha of the ''[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel|Sun-Sentinel]]'' claimed "''The Chimp Channel'' sounds a lot funnier than it turns out to be on the air. As an occasional brief skit on a show like ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' or ''[[MADtv]]'', ''The Chimp Channel'' might be entertaining." However, Jicha also provided additional insight into the series' predicament, pondering "TBS seems to have it's{{sic}} days and nights confused. Cleaned up of its occasional randy references - there's even a snarky shot at [[Monica Lewinsky]] - ''The Chimp Channel'' might work for the audience at 10 in the morning on Saturday. At 10 at night on Thursdays it's a [[King Kong]]-sized loser."<ref>Jicha, Tom [https://web.archive.org/web/20110725001322/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-06-06/news/9906030329_1_chimp-monkey-tbs A New Prim(ate)-time Series: The Chimp Channel] ''[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel|Sun-Sentinel]]'' (June 6, 1999). Retrieved on 4-08-10.</ref>

Fan reception appears to be somewhat more positive; as of 2010, ''The Chimp Channel'' holds an 8.2/10 rating on the [[Internet Movie Database]] and 6.2 "Fair" on [[TV.com]].

==In popular culture==
The show was promoted during time trials for the 1999 [[Coca-Cola 600]] by commentator [[Ken Squier]], who, after reading the promo, was jokingly non-verbally referred to as a chimp by broadcasting partners [[Buddy Baker]] and [[Dick Berggren]].

==See also==
*[[Chimp Lips Theater]], a pair of pilots also featuring live chimpanzees with a similar premise that aired on [[Fox Kids]] in 1997.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title | id = 0202721 | title = The Chimp Channel }}

{{TBSNetwork Shows}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chimp Channel}}
[[Category:1999 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:1999 American television series endings]]
[[Category:1990s American parody television series]]
[[Category:1990s American sitcoms]]
[[Category:American television spinoffs]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Rupert Murdoch]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Television shows about chimpanzees]]
[[Category:Television series about talking animals]]
[[Category:Television series about television]]
[[Category:Television series by Studio T]]
[[Category:Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios]]
[[Category:TBS (American TV channel) sitcoms]]

The Chimp Channel - Revision history

imported>Ser Amantio di Nicolao: /* top */ add {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}