Comedy Central has named Wade Randolph’s animated series Awesome Friends the first winner of its user-generated content contest dubbed ‘Test Pilots.’ The quirky toon about a sneaker-wearing dog-and-cat odd couple earned Randolph a production deal that will see six-episodes created for the network’s MotherLoad broadband channel. The series will reportedly debut sometime next year.
Awesome Friends won out over approximately 2,500 submissions. Sponsored by Amp’d Mobile, Test Pilots has Comedy Central staff members pick their favorite submissions, which were then subject to online voting. Awesome Friends was voted through to the finals and chosen by network execs.
With its crude animation, absurd dialogue and stoner tone, Awesome Friends bares an uncanny resemblance to Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim offering, 12oz. Mouse, which may hurt its chances of graduating to Comedy Central’s TV lineup. In addition to generating content for its broadband activities, the Test Pilots contest is a way for Comedy Central to discover new talent for possible broadcast deals. The network, which recently added Freak Show from David Cross and H. Jon Benjamin to its lineup, is particularly keen on animation since South Park remains its highest-rated show and Drawn Together continues to pull solid ratings.
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