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* Graham Techler as Kenneth Parsons
* Graham Techler as Kenneth Parsons
* Moujan Zolfaghari as Catherine Nadaan
* Moujan Zolfaghari as Catherine Nadaan
* Niccole Thurman as Jordan
* Niccole Thurman as Jordan Thurman
* Clark Jones as Blake Holliday
* Clark Jones as Blake Holliday
* Steph Cook as Charlotte Fitzgerald
* Steph Cook as Charlotte Fitzgerald

Revision as of 03:55, 10 September 2023

Tooning Out the News
Also known asStephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out the News
Genre
Created by
Voices of
  • R.J. Fried
  • Maureen Monahan
  • Jack Bensinger
  • Naima Pearce
  • Ike Ufomadu
  • Zach Smilovitz
  • Addison Anderson
Narrated byMitch Lewis
Theme music composerTom Polce
Country of originUnited States
Original language
  • English
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes263
Production
Executive producers
  • Stephen Colbert
  • Chris Licht
  • R. J. Fried
  • Tim Luecke
Producers
  • Zach Smilovitz
  • Mike Leech
  • Nicole Savini
  • Melanie Loebig
  • Tiffany Pollard
Editors
  • Thomas Berkley
  • Jesse Millward
  • Katey Spinner
  • Melissa Weiss
Running time
  • 7–44 min. (seasons 1–2)
  • 21 min. (seasons 3)
Production companies
Original release
Network
ReleaseApril 7, 2020 (2020-04-07) –
May 3, 2023 (2023-05-03)
Related

Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out the News (TOTN) is an American live-action/animated satirical news television show created and executive produced by comedian and The Late Show host Stephen Colbert, Chris Licht, R. J. Fried and Tim Luecke. The series premiered on CBS All Access (now Paramount+) on April 7, 2020.

From August 18–20, 2020, the show covered the 2020 Democratic National Convention.[1] It also covered the 2020 Republican National Convention from August 26–28, 2020.[2] From November 1–3, 2020, the show also covered the 2020 United States presidential election. The first season ended on December 11, 2020.

In March 2021, it was announced that the show had been renewed for a second season starting with an exclusive half-hour special to promoted the launch of Paramount+ on March 4, 2021, which was followed by a full premiere on March 9, 2021. Season 2 added with two new segments: "The Establishment with Tory Hughes" and "Smart Talk Tonight."[3] On April 28, 2021, the show also covered the 2021 joint session of the United States Congress. On October 4, 2021, it was announced that the regular episodes would expand to a half-hour starting on October 8, 2021, and the show would switch to a weekly format. The second season ended on November 12, 2021.

On May 18, 2022, it was announced that the show would move to Comedy Central for a third season renewal consisting of thirteen episodes, which premiered on October 5, 2022.[4] On November 9, 2022, the show also covered the 2022 United States midterm elections. On February 7, 2023, it was announced that the third season was expanded with twelve additional episodes, including a special coverage based on the 2023 State of the Union Address.[5] On March 22, 2023, the show also covered the live report at 2023 Conservative Political Action Conference. On April 26, 2023, the third season added a new segment, "Sparks!". On May 18, 2023, Comedy Central cancelled the show after its third season, with two remaining episodes left unfinished due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.[6]

Format

Describing itself as an animated news program, Tooning Out the News combines live-action and animation and focuses on topical news satire form from real-life news stories as well as lampooning current events, political issues, media coverages, social commentaries, pop culture topics, and often aspects of the show itself.

The first season consisted of four main segments, "Big News with James Smartwood," "Inside The Hill," "Hot Take," and "Virtue Signal," which resemble shows seen on cable news channels, plus added interstitial vignettes covering other stories not mentioned in the main segments. Some interstitial vignettes are previewed on The Late Show. The second season was added with two new segments, "The Establishment with Tory Hughes" and "Smart Talk Tonight." Both "The Establishment with Tory Hughes" and the vignettes were dropped in the third season with a new segment, "Sparks!".

Three of the main segments originally debut on Paramount+ Tuesday through Thursday (the morning after a new The Late Show with Stephen Colbert episode), with the fourth, plus a compilation "Week in Review" show containing all four plus vignettes are released every Friday. In the second season, both regular episodes expanded to a half-hour, which was released every Friday starting on October 8, 2021, and the series would switch to a weekly format.[7] The third season airs on Comedy Central every Wednesday, following after The Daily Show.[4]

Cast and characters

Main

  • R.J. Fried as James Smartwood
  • Maureen Monahan as Kylie Weaver/Sarah Sabo/Nicole Vance
  • Jack Bensinger as Tyler Templeton
  • Naima Pearce as Tory Hughes
  • Ike Ufomadu as Dr. Ike Bloom
  • Zach Smilovitz as James Smartwood Jr.
  • Addison Anderson as Rich Ballard/Austin Sparks

Recurring

  • Laurel Zoff Pelon as Bonnie Davis
  • Jeremy Bent as Teddy Hopper/Jonathan Keene
  • Sarah Caldwell as Eleanor Palmer
  • Keisha Zollar as Susan Shephard
  • Neil D'Astolfo as Peter Womack/Troy Lawson
  • Alise Morales as Lila Moreno
  • Nathan Min as Brian Min
  • Otter Lee as Otter Lin
  • Kennedy Baldwin as Morgan Herbert Walker
  • Graham Techler as Kenneth Parsons
  • Moujan Zolfaghari as Catherine Nadaan
  • Niccole Thurman as Jordan Thurman
  • Clark Jones as Blake Holliday
  • Steph Cook as Charlotte Fitzgerald
  • Allison Reese as Lydia Parker
  • Ritchie Moriarty as Ted Jaworski
  • Jeremy Levick as Jeremy Levy-Levin
  • Rajat Suresh as Rajat Mehta
  • Mitch Lewis as Announcer

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast releasedNetwork
1112April 7, 2020 (2020-04-07)December 11, 2020 (2020-12-11)CBS All Access
2121March 9, 2021 (2021-03-09)November 12, 2021 (2021-11-12)Paramount+
323October 5, 2022 (2022-10-05)May 3, 2023 (2023-05-03)Comedy Central

History

The show was set to premiere on March 16, 2020, but production was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8][9] The show debuted on April 7, 2020, instead, after production continued via remote work, with animators and showrunner RJ Fried, who has also produced The Late Show and Showtime animated series Our Cartoon President, working via Zoom and Slack.[10][11]

Tooning Out The News received widespread critical acclaim and has recently gained mixed to positive reviews from critics. The show also garnered nominations for numerous awards, including a Critics' Choice Award for Best Short Form Series,[12] a Producers Guild of America Awards for Outstanding Short-Form Program, a Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Comedy-Variety Talk Series and two Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama or Variety Series, but eventually lost to Carpool Karaoke: The Series.[13] It was also won Technical Achievement Video at 2022 Webby People's Voice Award.

On October 4, 2021, it was announced that the regular episodes would expand to a half-hour starting on October 8, 2021, and the show would switch to a weekly format.[14]

On March 29, 2022, co-creators and co-executive producers Mike Leech and Zach Smilovitz renewed their overall deal at CBS Studios, originally signed in 2020, where they will continue to write and produce across all platforms. On May 18, 2022, it was announced that the series would move to Comedy Central as part of its adult animation push, with Paramount+ will simultaneously serve as its streaming home.[15]

On July 23, 2022, senior researcher Jonathan van Halem was offered the role of News Producer, making him the first person of Dutch descent to hold the position in the show's three-season history.[16]

On September 29, 2022, the animation staff at Tooning Out the News publicly voted to join a union with The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839, making them the first group of animation workers and production staff in New York to vote in favor of unionizing.[citation needed] At the same time, the guild is generally submitting a letter for voluntary recognition to CBS Eye Animation Productions, an animation studio division of CBS Studios.

Production

The concept of the show inspired by an idea to parody the popular cable news format took shape with short clips featuring animated cartoon pundits on The Late Show, where animated anchors are interviewed with a range of guests while working on a parallel track to produce the week’s segments. Originally, the show's production used motion capture to "record" the actors' performances on the show, after converting David Letterman's old personal screening room at the Ed Sullivan Theater as a control room.[17]

After the pandemic forced animators to work from home, they switched to remote production, shipping equipment to animator's houses and using Adobe Character Animator software to animate the show's virtual hosts, which allow guests to interact with the show’s animated hosts and panelists in real-time. While the show usually takes months to produce, an episode of Tooning Out the News is turned around a few days before airtime for the concept to stay current, with the topical productions and real-time animation works done remotely.[citation needed]

The pandemic also forced producers to find a remote solution for guests, who were set to be filmed in the studio. Because the show's back-and-forth banter required low latency, producers partnered with The Video Call Center to handle the acquisition and quality control of guest connections.[18] The VCC developed a custom process that enables the show’s animated hosts and correspondents to have topical, live, natural conversations with newsmakers and journalists.[19]

Marketing

From October 9–10, 2020, the hosts from Tooning Out The News made their appearance at 2020 Just for Laughs Comedy Festival. On February 4, 2021, James Smartwood made his cameo appearance in a marketing campaign for Super Bowl LV commercial to promote ViacomCBS' launch of the rebranded streaming service Paramount+. On July 23, 2021, the hosts from Tooning Out The News also made their appearance along with a special coverage to promote the show during Paramount+'s "Peak Animation" panel at 2021 Comic-Con@Home.

Notable guests

The show features interviews with newsmakers, journalists, analysts, politicians, activists, and celebrities, including:

References

  1. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (August 17, 2020). "'Tooning Out the News' Launches Special 2020 Election Coverage with DNC". Animation Magazine. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  2. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (August 26, 2020). "Anthony Scaramucci to Appear on 'Tooning Out the News' RNC Special". Animation Magazine. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  3. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (February 11, 2021). "Paramount+ Renews' Tooning Out the News' S2 with New Segments". Animation Magazine. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Milligan, Mercedes (September 16, 2022). "This Just In! 'Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out the News' Returns Oct. 5". Animation Magazine. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  5. ^ White, Peter (February 7, 2023). "Stephen Colbert's 'Tooning Out The News' Handed Season 3 Extension, Sets Up State Of The Union Special". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  6. ^ White, Peter (May 18, 2023). "Stephen Colbert-Exec Produced Pair 'Tooning Out The News' & 'Hell Of A Week With Charlamagne Tha God' Canceled At Comedy Central". Deadline. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  7. ^ Tooning Out The News [@tooningout] (October 4, 2021). "🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨 Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out The News is expanding to new half-hour episodes every Friday starting October 8th" (Tweet). Retrieved October 4, 2021 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ a b c White, Peter (March 31, 2020). "'Tooning Out The News': Stephen Colbert Animated News Show Resumes Production & CBS All Access Sets New Premiere". Deadline. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c Porter, Rick (March 31, 2020). "Stephen Colbert's 'Tooning Out the News' Restarts With Remote Production". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 19, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ Desowitz, Bill (April 16, 2020). "'Tooning Out the News' Reinvented Its Animated Workflow to Fight Coronavirus". IndieWire. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  11. ^ Swain, Rhea. "Having the last laugh: How late-night comedy is moving online during coronavirus". The Daily Targum. Retrieved June 19, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "Critics Choice Awards 2021: The Complete List of TV Nominees". Entertainment Tonight. January 18, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  13. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan; Bosselman, Haley; Moreau, Jordan (July 13, 2021). "Emmys 2021: Complete Nominations List". Variety. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  14. ^ Tooning Out the News (October 4, 2021). "BREAKING NEWS: Stephen Colbert Presents Tooning Out The News is expanding to new half-hour episodes every Friday starting October 8th". Twitter. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  15. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 18, 2022). "'Tooning Out The News' Moves From Paramount+ To Comedy Central, New 'Inside Amy Schumer' To Also Be Available On Old Net". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  16. ^ "Jonathan van Halem". IMDb.
  17. ^ Dowling, Amber (April 14, 2020). "How 'Tooning Out The News' Pivoted Its Animation Process Amid Coronavirus Pandemic". Variety. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  18. ^ "Innovative New Animated Series to Enable Live Video Chats Between Newsmakers and Animated Hosts". The Video Call Center. June 24, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  19. ^ "VCC Assists with Live Interviews for CBS Animated Series". June 25, 2020.
  20. ^ Goodykoontz, Bill. "Joe Arpaio was interviewed for Stephen Colbert's 'Tooning Out the News.' It was brutal". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  21. ^ "Lincoln Project cofounder Rick Wilson gets sabotaged by Colbert's cartoon news anchors". The Week. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  22. ^ Goodykoontz, Bill. "Why Stephen Colbert's new TV news parody 'Tooning Out the News' really needs to be great". azcentral. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
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