LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED FROM COMEDY CENTRAL

LESSON #1
Just because your animated show gets an F from Entertainment Weekly doesn't mean it won't be picked up for a second season.

DRAWN TOGETHER picked up for season #2

LESSON #2
If the authors of said animated show themselves can't believe they got away with creating the show, it will be picked up for another 15 episodes.

"We're astonished that Comedy Central wants more of these things," [the show's creators] say in a statement. "We didn't even think they wanted the ones they have now. Amazing."

LESSON #3
America loves reality shows. Even if it's a completely concocted, animated parody of reality shows.

The decision to pick up the show wasn't a tough one, as early episodes have shown strong ratings. In its first two weeks, "Drawn Together" has averaged 2.3 million viewers, many of whom are in the network's core audience of men ages 18-49.

LESSON #4
SOUTH PARK rules.

The Nov. 3 episode was the No. 2 show on cable that night among adults 18-49, behind only its lead-in, "South Park.""Drawn Together's" second season is scheduled to unspool in fall 2005 and will include a "reunion special" among its 15 episodes.

Esther's review? Not quite an F.

DRAWN TOGETHER is actually pretty funny, but is not for the squeamish. Episodes feature things that are both as randomly funny as they are repulsive, like a pig defecating into a canteloupe for no apparent reason. OK, so that wasn't really funny. But for fans of The Real World, or for those who love to hate it, this shows plays adeptly with the cliches in a way that offends many as it entertains. Just as with South Park (which, by the way, rules) there's no propriety here. But without any rules, the bedlam is unfettered and unchaperoned, which turns out to be a good thing. (And isn't that what drew people to the "seven people living in a house" concept to begin with?)

All the reality stereotypes are exploited along with the archetypes that we've all seen in cartoons from Superman to He-Man, from Cinderella to Pokemon. It's tempting to read it as a satirical critique on our reality-obsessed culture, but to do so, I think, would be reading into what is supposed to be straight-up, no-holds-barred parody.

Enjoy it, or don't. How does that sound?

LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED FROM COMEDY CENTRAL

LESSON #1
Just because your animated show gets an F from Entertainment Weekly doesn't mean it won't be picked up for a second season.

DRAWN TOGETHER picked up for season #2

LESSON #2
If the authors of said animated show themselves can't believe they got away with creating the show, it will be picked up for another 15 episodes.

"We're astonished that Comedy Central wants more of these things," [the show's creators] say in a statement. "We didn't even think they wanted the ones they have now. Amazing."

LESSON #3
America loves reality shows. Even if it's a completely concocted, animated parody of reality shows.

The decision to pick up the show wasn't a tough one, as early episodes have shown strong ratings. In its first two weeks, "Drawn Together" has averaged 2.3 million viewers, many of whom are in the network's core audience of men ages 18-49.

LESSON #4
SOUTH PARK rules.

The Nov. 3 episode was the No. 2 show on cable that night among adults 18-49, behind only its lead-in, "South Park.""Drawn Together's" second season is scheduled to unspool in fall 2005 and will include a "reunion special" among its 15 episodes.

Esther's review? Not quite an F.

DRAWN TOGETHER is actually pretty funny, but is not for the squeamish. Episodes feature things that are both as randomly funny as they are repulsive, like a pig defecating into a canteloupe for no apparent reason. OK, so that wasn't really funny. But for fans of The Real World, or for those who love to hate it, this shows plays adeptly with the cliches in a way that offends many as it entertains. Just as with South Park (which, by the way, rules) there's no propriety here. But without any rules, the bedlam is unfettered and unchaperoned, which turns out to be a good thing. (And isn't that what drew people to the "seven people living in a house" concept to begin with?)

All the reality stereotypes are exploited along with the archetypes that we've all seen in cartoons from Superman to He-Man, from Cinderella to Pokemon. It's tempting to read it as a satirical critique on our reality-obsessed culture, but to do so, I think, would be reading into what is supposed to be straight-up, no-holds-barred parody.

Enjoy it, or don't. How does that sound?