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Wonder Showzen is an American sketch comedy television series that aired between 2005 and 2006 on MTV2. It was created by John Lee and Vernon Chatman of PFFR.
The show's format is that of educational PBS children's television shows such as Sesame Street or The Electric Company (e.g. use of stock footage, puppetry, and clips of children being interviewed). However, Wonder Showzen parodies the format in a very adult-oriented manner. In addition to general controversial comedy, it satirizes politics, religion, war, sex, and culture with black comedy.
Recurring skits include interviews with kids who give irreverent, controversial answers (a parody of similar segments on Sesame Street), kid reporters interviewing adults in a segment titled 'Beat Kids', and man-on-the-street interviews by the puppet Clarence (voiced by co-creator/writer Vernon Chatman). Clarence has a knack for harassing New Yorkers with innocent questions. Every episode also features short animated cartoon segments, many of which are produced at Augenblick Studios.
The creators described the episode "Patience" as an attempt at creating a "visual palindrome". Midway through the show, the episode stops and runs in reverse.
Wonder Showzen was originally developed and pitched to the USA Network, but after a few minutes of viewing, executives there quickly concluded it did not fit the network's programming style. However, Viacom was re-branding MTV2 and made Wonder Showzen part of its new programming lineup. It aired as part of Sic 'Em Fridays, along with Dirty Sanchez and Jackass spinoff Wildboyz. The pilot was named simply Kids Show. The Wonder Showzen theme song is still 'Kids Show'. Reruns of the show also air on MTV and Comedy Central.
MTV released the first season of Wonder Showzen on DVD March 28, 2006. The second season of Wonder Showzen premiered on March 31, 2006 and had its season-two finale starring Clarence on May 19, 2006 on MTV2. This season was released on DVD October 10, 2006, with an easter egg that featured an animation contest. The grand prize was announced as the winner's animation appearing on "the next DVD", but the creators later said a third season was unlikely, and MTV afterward canceled the show. A return has been made even more unlikely now as the creators of Wonder Showzen are working on a new animated series titled Xavier: Renegade Angel. It currently airs Sundays on Adult Swim.
It is shown in the UK on MTV Two, MTV and TMF. As of 2007, the program airs Fridays.
The original unaired pilot was named "Kids' Show" and was produced for the USA Network.





