Husbands (web series)
Encyclopedia
Husbands is an American comedy
web series
starring Brad Bell, aka "Cheeks", Sean Hemeon and Alessandra Torresani. It is written by Jane Espenson
, co-written by Brad Bell and directed by Jeff Greenstein
. It is an 11-part web series, based on the classic premise of newlywed comedy.
. After celebrating a new marriage equality
law in Las Vegas
, they wake up married. Not wanting to resort to an embarrassing public divorce, they stay espoused. It is told in an alternate world setting, where marriage
is equalized. Bell plays an already out
actor called Cheeks. Hemeon portrays Brady, a professional baseball player
, who has been an out gay man for about a year. Alessandra Torresani is playing Haley, Cheeks' best friend, who is skeptical, but supportive of their decision.
on Brad Bell, with the additional "y" and the surname's "B" replaced by a "K", and another "y" at the end.
During the live world premiere on Streamin' Garage, Brad Bell announced two celebrity guest appearance
s, the first being Michael Buckley
from the YouTube
hit show What the Buck?. The second guest was Nathan Fillion
, from the musical
miniseries
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
.
Main cast
Guest appearances
man in his twenties, his female best friend, and the single life in Los Angeles
. Espenson
read it, and articulated her interest by saying that she "thought it was brilliant, and funny, and hilarious." It started to take shape when she approached the idea with the premise of an accidental marriage, fully fleshing out the concept. Bell agreed to write the script, and did so over one night. The show that was going to be named Husbands had then emerged into pre-production
.
and crew
started their first on-location rehearsal for Husbands. Shawna Trpcic
was announced as the costume designer
and Greg Aronowitz as production designer
. Cinematography
was handled by Benjamin Kantor, Bridget Foley as editor
and Nathaniel Atcheson as assistant director
. The principal photography
began on August 6, 2011. As of August 14, the filming was completed and the development then became post-production
. It was later announced that the streaming of Husbands would be hosted by Streamin’ Garage for its worldwide premiere. The first episode aired September 13 on the official website. It aired on Tuesdays and Thursdays until all episodes were up.
, where the main cast and Jane Espenson
promoted the show. E-mails
were also sent out to anyone who joined the subscription on their website. They once consisted of behind-the-scenes
promotional
photographs every day, until the release date. On August 29, the first sneak peek of the show was released on the internet. Subsequent promotional videos were revealed to e-mail subscribers, and later to the public.
celebrities and media
. LA Weekly
said that it "possessed the top quality earmarks of a primetime TV sitcom, both in production value and zippy romcom sensibility." Aol TV
called it "a Cheeky Web Series." AfterElton made a statement, saying that "Husbands the Series veers into the ridiculous by making Haley a life coach. I laughed hard at this one, especially when she goes to take notes."
On September 24, 2011, the numbers of the individual viewers were announced, which astonishingly amounted up to 100,000 after only 10 days on air. Husbands currently possess over 500,000 total upload views on YouTube
, as of November, 2011.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
web series
Web series
A web series is a series of episodes released on the Internet or also by mobile or cellular phone, and part of the newly emerging medium called web television. A single instance of a web series program is called an episode .While the popularity of web series is continuing to rise, the concept...
starring Brad Bell, aka "Cheeks", Sean Hemeon and Alessandra Torresani. It is written by Jane Espenson
Jane Espenson
Jane Espenson is an American script writer and television producer who has worked on both situation comedies and serial dramas. She had a five-year stint as a writer and producer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and shared a Hugo Award for her writing on the episode "Conversations with Dead People"...
, co-written by Brad Bell and directed by Jeff Greenstein
Jeff Greenstein
Jeff Greenstein is an American television writer and producer. His credits include Desperate Housewives, Jake in Progress, Will & Grace, Partners, Friends, and Dream On....
. It is an 11-part web series, based on the classic premise of newlywed comedy.
Plot
The series tells the story of a newly dating gay couple, both with public personasPublic figure
Public figure is a legal term applied in the context of defamation actions as well as invasion of privacy. A public figure cannot base a lawsuit on incorrect harmful statements unless there is proof that the writer or publisher acted with actual malice...
. After celebrating a new marriage equality
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
law in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, they wake up married. Not wanting to resort to an embarrassing public divorce, they stay espoused. It is told in an alternate world setting, where marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
is equalized. Bell plays an already out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
actor called Cheeks. Hemeon portrays Brady, a professional baseball player
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, who has been an out gay man for about a year. Alessandra Torresani is playing Haley, Cheeks' best friend, who is skeptical, but supportive of their decision.
Cast
On July 12, 2011, the main cast was announced as Brad "Cheeks" Bell, Sean Hemeon, and Alessandra Torresani. An abundance of actors auditioned for the part of Brady. Hemeon was the very last one to test his ability, and eventually got the role. The name Brady Kelly is actually a word playWord play
Word play or wordplay is a literary technique in which the words that are used become the main subject of the work, primarily for the purpose of intended effect or amusement...
on Brad Bell, with the additional "y" and the surname's "B" replaced by a "K", and another "y" at the end.
During the live world premiere on Streamin' Garage, Brad Bell announced two celebrity guest appearance
Guest appearance
In show business , a guest appearance is a participation of an outsider performer , usually called guest artist , in an event , i.e., the participation of a performer which does not belong to the regular crew In performance...
s, the first being Michael Buckley
Michael Buckley (Internet celebrity)
Michael Buckley is an American Internet celebrity, comedian and vlogger. Noted for his vlog What the Buck?!, Buckley comments on popular culture events and celebrities. He also maintains one of YouTube's most popular channels with several million viewers each month...
from the YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
hit show What the Buck?. The second guest was Nathan Fillion
Nathan Fillion
Nathan Fillion is a Canadian actor, currently starring as Richard Castle on the ABC series Castle. He is also known for his portrayal of the lead role of Captain Malcolm Reynolds in the television series Firefly and its feature film continuation, Serenity.He has acted in traditionally distributed...
, from the musical
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is a 2008 musical tragicomedy miniseries in three acts, produced exclusively for Internet distribution. Filmed and set in Los Angeles, the show tells the story of Dr...
.
Main cast
- Brad Bell as Cheeks
- Sean Hemeon as Brady Kelly
- Alessandra Torresani as Haley
Guest appearances
- Michael BuckleyMichael Buckley (Internet celebrity)Michael Buckley is an American Internet celebrity, comedian and vlogger. Noted for his vlog What the Buck?!, Buckley comments on popular culture events and celebrities. He also maintains one of YouTube's most popular channels with several million viewers each month...
as himself - Nathan FillionNathan FillionNathan Fillion is a Canadian actor, currently starring as Richard Castle on the ABC series Castle. He is also known for his portrayal of the lead role of Captain Malcolm Reynolds in the television series Firefly and its feature film continuation, Serenity.He has acted in traditionally distributed...
as Anchor
Concept
The conceptualization of the series originated from a script, written by Brad Bell, entitled SO L.A., the story of a gayGay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
man in his twenties, his female best friend, and the single life in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Espenson
Jane Espenson
Jane Espenson is an American script writer and television producer who has worked on both situation comedies and serial dramas. She had a five-year stint as a writer and producer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and shared a Hugo Award for her writing on the episode "Conversations with Dead People"...
read it, and articulated her interest by saying that she "thought it was brilliant, and funny, and hilarious." It started to take shape when she approached the idea with the premise of an accidental marriage, fully fleshing out the concept. Bell agreed to write the script, and did so over one night. The show that was going to be named Husbands had then emerged into pre-production
Pre-production
Pre-production or In Production is the process of preparing all the elements involved in a film, play, or other performance.- In film :...
.
Development
On July 20, 2011, the castCast member
A cast member is:* An actor who performs in a theatrical production, motion picture, or television program. The actors who perform in the show are collectively referred to as the cast....
and crew
Television crew
Television crew positions are derived from those of film crew, but with several differences.-Pre-production:-Casting Director:-Costume designer:-Director:* Associate Director -Location Manager:-Make-up artist:...
started their first on-location rehearsal for Husbands. Shawna Trpcic
Shawna Trpcic
Shawna Trpcic is a Hollywood costume designer. She got her start in the industry with the 1990 film Megaville, and went on to work as a wardrobe assistant on the films Toys and Red Shoe Diaries...
was announced as the costume designer
Costume Designer
A costume designer or costume mistress/master is a person whose responsibility is to design costumes for a film or stage production. He or she is considered an important part of the "production team", working alongside the director, scenic and lighting designers as well as the sound designer. The...
and Greg Aronowitz as production designer
Production designer
In film and television, a production designer is the person responsible for the overall look of a filmed event such as films, TV programs, music videos or adverts. Production designers have one of the key creative roles in the creation of motion pictures and television. Working directly with the...
. Cinematography
Cinematography
Cinematography is the making of lighting and camera choices when recording photographic images for cinema. It is closely related to the art of still photography...
was handled by Benjamin Kantor, Bridget Foley as editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
and Nathaniel Atcheson as assistant director
Assistant director
The role of an Assistant director include tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, maintaining order on the set. They also have to take care of health and safety of the crew...
. The principal photography
Principal photography
thumb|300px|Film production on location in [[Newark, New Jersey]].Principal photography is the phase of film production in which the movie is filmed, with actors on set and cameras rolling, as distinct from pre-production and post-production....
began on August 6, 2011. As of August 14, the filming was completed and the development then became post-production
Post-production
Post-production is part of filmmaking and the video production process. It occurs in the making of motion pictures, television programs, radio programs, advertising, audio recordings, photography, and digital art...
. It was later announced that the streaming of Husbands would be hosted by Streamin’ Garage for its worldwide premiere. The first episode aired September 13 on the official website. It aired on Tuesdays and Thursdays until all episodes were up.
Marketing
The marketing for Husbands consisted of tweetsTwitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
, where the main cast and Jane Espenson
Jane Espenson
Jane Espenson is an American script writer and television producer who has worked on both situation comedies and serial dramas. She had a five-year stint as a writer and producer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and shared a Hugo Award for her writing on the episode "Conversations with Dead People"...
promoted the show. E-mails
Email
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
were also sent out to anyone who joined the subscription on their website. They once consisted of behind-the-scenes
Making-of
In cinema, a making-of, also known as behind-the-scenes, is a documentary film that features the production of a film or television program...
promotional
Promotion (marketing)
Promotion is one of the four elements of marketing mix . It is the communication link between sellers and buyers for the purpose of influencing, informing, or persuading a potential buyer's purchasing decision....
photographs every day, until the release date. On August 29, the first sneak peek of the show was released on the internet. Subsequent promotional videos were revealed to e-mail subscribers, and later to the public.
Reception
The series gained a wide variety of positive reviews from an abundance of notableNotability
Notability is the property of being worthy of notice, having fame, or being considered to be of a high degree of interest, significance, or distinction...
celebrities and media
News media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
. LA Weekly
LA Weekly
LA Weekly is a free weekly tabloid-sized "alternative weekly" in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Editor/Publisher Jay Levin and a board of directors that included actor-producer Michael Douglas...
said that it "possessed the top quality earmarks of a primetime TV sitcom, both in production value and zippy romcom sensibility." Aol TV
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
called it "a Cheeky Web Series." AfterElton made a statement, saying that "Husbands the Series veers into the ridiculous by making Haley a life coach. I laughed hard at this one, especially when she goes to take notes."
On September 24, 2011, the numbers of the individual viewers were announced, which astonishingly amounted up to 100,000 after only 10 days on air. Husbands currently possess over 500,000 total upload views on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, as of November, 2011.