PFFR
Encyclopedia
PFFR Forever Ltd., PFFFR (or Pre-natal Fighting Frightening Remembrances) or (Pre-natal Fighting Frightening Forever Remembrances) traditionally known as PFFR is a Brooklyn
based production company/art collective/electro-rock band consisting of Alyson Levy, Vernon Chatman
, Jim Tozzi
, and John Lee
. The group has been active since 2000.
, CA
between April 3 and May 1.
PFFR are also active in television comedy. They wrote, directed, produced and starred in the MTV2
variety show Wonder Showzen
(2005–2006) and the Adult Swim
CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel
. For both these shows, Chatman and Lee are the directors and main voice talent, whilst Tozzi and Levy are the animation/character designer and art director, respectively. Levy provides additional voices for both shows whilst Tozzi does only for 'Xavier'. PFFR are also responsible for producing, directing and co-writing Jon Glaser
's Adult Swim show Delocated
.
Chatman and Lee collaborated on Doggy Fizzle Televizzle
, a short lived sketch show starring Snoop Dogg
, although this was not an official PFFR production. Following this show, Snoop Dogg made a guest appearance on PFFR's 'United We Doth' LP as well as a second season episode of Xavier: Renegade Angel
.
radio show, host Jesse Thorn asks the duo about the beliefs behind Wonder Showzen, to which they partly reply "We believe in the power of a mythical gem that emanated from a dark cloud in the sky. 'God' queefed her light through it, and the refraction formed a dragon, a cougar and a sea beast. They together shat out a script and we printed it up and shot it." The band's old website was equally outlandish, consisting of streams of garish, neon colours, a news column with such nonsense articles as "Goblins of Gob World Tour conceived. PFFR hospitalized after first grog. Hospital still under construction" and a 'cute' chipmunk that, when clicked, grows an enormous erect penis that ejaculates to display the sites menu options.
character Towelie and worked as a staff writer/consultant on the show in 2004. He returned to the show in 2009 as a producer. He has written for Matt Stone
and Trey Parker
's short lived sitcom That's My Bush, Late Night with Conan O'Brien
and The Chris Rock Show
.
Levy directed the documentary film The Hands Of God about Christian puppeteers. She had a photography exhibition at Momenta Art, Brooklyn, in 2000 which featured a selection of photographs depicting various spoof sitcom scenes starring herself and friend Janeane Garofalo
. She is also married to Lee.
Tozzi is an independent artist and has worked as a member of the production companies KanDoKid and T.H.E.M. directing a plethora of television commercials.
Lee was previously a member of the now defunct rock band Muckafurgason. He is known as a supertaster
through the song John Lee Supertaster by the alternative rock band They Might Be Giants
, with whom he is close friends.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
based production company/art collective/electro-rock band consisting of Alyson Levy, Vernon Chatman
Vernon Chatman
Vernon Chatman is a television producer, writer, voice actor, stand-up comedian, musician and a member of PFFR, an art collective based in Brooklyn, NYC....
, Jim Tozzi
Jim Tozzi (PFFR)
James "Jim" Michael Tozzi is an American artist, commercial director, producer, voice actor, and musician. He is best known for his work on the MTV2 comedy series Wonder Showzen and the Adult Swim show Xavier: Renegade Angel and as a member of the rock band/art collective PFFR.Jim Tozzi grew up in...
, and John Lee
John Lee (PFFR)
John Lee is an American television writer, producer, director, voice actor, and musician. He is best known for his work on the MTV2 comedy series Wonder Showzen and as a member of the rock band/art collective PFFR....
. The group has been active since 2000.
Work
The group's portfolio of work includes 3 albums, a 7" EP and a download-only EP (plus a string of live performances as a band), various art exhibits such as An Attack On All Americans Or The Tyranny Of Weed shown at the LFL Galley in New York, and the script for the film Final Flesh. In 2010 they held an exhibition/video screening of a selection of their work entitled PFFR Presents Legacy IIX which took place at the Synchronicity Space in Los AngelesLos 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...
, CA
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
between April 3 and May 1.
PFFR are also active in television comedy. They wrote, directed, produced and starred in the MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
variety show Wonder Showzen
Wonder Showzen
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 is rated TV-MA....
(2005–2006) and the Adult Swim
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
CGI series Xavier: Renegade Angel
Xavier: Renegade Angel
Xavier: Renegade Angel is an American CGI fantasy-comedy television series created by John Lee, Vernon Chatman, Jim Tozzi and Alyson Levy. Lee and Chatman are also the creators of Wonder Showzen. The show was produced by PFFR, with animation by Cinematico...
. For both these shows, Chatman and Lee are the directors and main voice talent, whilst Tozzi and Levy are the animation/character designer and art director, respectively. Levy provides additional voices for both shows whilst Tozzi does only for 'Xavier'. PFFR are also responsible for producing, directing and co-writing Jon Glaser
Jon Glaser
Jonathan Daniel "Jon" Glaser is an American actor, comedian and television writer based out of New York City. A graduate of the University of Michigan where he performed in the sketch comedy troupes Comedy Company and Just Kidding with Jon Hein, he is a five-time Emmy nominee with the writing...
's Adult Swim show Delocated
Delocated
Delocated is an American live-action television series which premiered February 12, 2009 on Adult Swim. The original pilot for the show was aired on April 1, 2008....
.
Chatman and Lee collaborated on Doggy Fizzle Televizzle
Doggy Fizzle Televizzle
Doggy Fizzle Televizzle is a sketch comedy show that was produced by, and starred, the rap musician Snoop Dogg. It was aired on MTV in 2002 until 2003....
, a short lived sketch show starring Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
, although this was not an official PFFR production. Following this show, Snoop Dogg made a guest appearance on PFFR's 'United We Doth' LP as well as a second season episode of Xavier: Renegade Angel
Xavier: Renegade Angel
Xavier: Renegade Angel is an American CGI fantasy-comedy television series created by John Lee, Vernon Chatman, Jim Tozzi and Alyson Levy. Lee and Chatman are also the creators of Wonder Showzen. The show was produced by PFFR, with animation by Cinematico...
.
Style and image
In interviews, the group have proven to be whimsical and flippant, often going off at random, nonsensical tangents to their own amusement. When asked about their inception and existence, the answer is often the same: "A shimmering gem crashed down from the heavens, black clouds exploded unto the Earth and PFFR was formed." The story's finer details are known to vary, but the basic premise is kept. In an interview given by Chatman and Lee for The Sound Of Young AmericaThe Sound of Young America
The Sound of Young America is a public radio program and podcast based in Los Angeles, California and distributed by Public Radio International...
radio show, host Jesse Thorn asks the duo about the beliefs behind Wonder Showzen, to which they partly reply "We believe in the power of a mythical gem that emanated from a dark cloud in the sky. 'God' queefed her light through it, and the refraction formed a dragon, a cougar and a sea beast. They together shat out a script and we printed it up and shot it." The band's old website was equally outlandish, consisting of streams of garish, neon colours, a news column with such nonsense articles as "Goblins of Gob World Tour conceived. PFFR hospitalized after first grog. Hospital still under construction" and a 'cute' chipmunk that, when clicked, grows an enormous erect penis that ejaculates to display the sites menu options.
Individual achievements
Chatman provided the voice for South ParkSouth Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
character Towelie and worked as a staff writer/consultant on the show in 2004. He returned to the show in 2009 as a producer. He has written for Matt Stone
Matt Stone
Matthew Richard "Matt" Stone is an American screenwriter, producer, voice artist, musician and actor, best known for being the co-creator of South Park along with creative partner and best friend, Trey Parker....
and Trey Parker
Trey Parker
Trey Parker is an American animator, screenwriter, director, producer, voice artist, musician and actor, best known for being the co-creator of the television series South Park along with his creative partner and best friend Matt Stone.Parker started his film career in 1992, making a holiday short...
's short lived sitcom That's My Bush, Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
and The Chris Rock Show
The Chris Rock Show
The Chris Rock Show is a late night comedy talk show featured on HBO. It was created by Chris Rock and featured various guests. The show won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program in 1999. It ran for three seasons from 1997 to 2000. Seasons 1 and 2 were released as a DVD set...
.
Levy directed the documentary film The Hands Of God about Christian puppeteers. She had a photography exhibition at Momenta Art, Brooklyn, in 2000 which featured a selection of photographs depicting various spoof sitcom scenes starring herself and friend Janeane Garofalo
Janeane Garofalo
Janeane Garofalo is an American stand-up comedian, actress, political activist and writer. She is the former co-host on the now defunct Air America Radio's The Majority Report. Garofalo continues to circulate regularly within New York City's local comedy and performance art scene.-Early...
. She is also married to Lee.
Tozzi is an independent artist and has worked as a member of the production companies KanDoKid and T.H.E.M. directing a plethora of television commercials.
Lee was previously a member of the now defunct rock band Muckafurgason. He is known as a supertaster
Supertaster
A supertaster is a person who experiences the sense of taste with far greater intensity than average. Women are more likely to be supertasters, as are individuals of Asian and African descent. The cause of this heightened response is currently unknown, although it is thought to be, at least in...
through the song John Lee Supertaster by the alternative rock band They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
, with whom he is close friends.
Discography
- Rock, Rocker, Rocketh (20012001 in musicSee also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....
, self released) - Injustice Center (20032003 in music-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
, Invasion Planete France) - United We DothUnited We DothUnited We Doth is the third & most known album from collective PFFR. It was released on July 29, 2003 on Birdman Records. The album cover art was designed by Scott Hug-Track listing:...
(20042003 in music-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
, BirdmanBirdman RecordsBirdman Records is an independent record label based in South San Francisco, founded by former Warner Bros. Records A&R vice-president David Katznelson.-History:...
) - Chrome Ghost (Download only EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
) (20052005 in music-Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...
, Birdman-A-PhoneBirdman RecordsBirdman Records is an independent record label based in South San Francisco, founded by former Warner Bros. Records A&R vice-president David Katznelson.-History:...
)
Videography
- Sacajaweahhh (From Injustice Center LP)
- Our Concern (From Injustice Center LP)
- Superfine (From United We DothUnited We DothUnited We Doth is the third & most known album from collective PFFR. It was released on July 29, 2003 on Birdman Records. The album cover art was designed by Scott Hug-Track listing:...
LP) - Japoney Appoe (From United We Doth LP)
Television shows
- Doggy Fizzle TelevizzleDoggy Fizzle TelevizzleDoggy Fizzle Televizzle is a sketch comedy show that was produced by, and starred, the rap musician Snoop Dogg. It was aired on MTV in 2002 until 2003....
(20022002 in televisionThe year 2002 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 2002.For the American TV schedule, see: 2002–03 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1940s:...
), Not an official PFFR production, but created by Chatman & Lee. - Wonder ShowzenWonder ShowzenWonder 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 is rated TV-MA....
(20052005 in televisionThe year 2005 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 2005.For the American TV schedule, see: 2005–06 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-Miniseries:...
) - Xavier: Renegade AngelXavier: Renegade AngelXavier: Renegade Angel is an American CGI fantasy-comedy television series created by John Lee, Vernon Chatman, Jim Tozzi and Alyson Levy. Lee and Chatman are also the creators of Wonder Showzen. The show was produced by PFFR, with animation by Cinematico...
(20072007 in television2007 in television may refer to:*2007 in American television*2007 in Australian television*2007 in British television*2007 in Canadian television*2007 in Japanese television...
) - DelocatedDelocatedDelocated is an American live-action television series which premiered February 12, 2009 on Adult Swim. The original pilot for the show was aired on April 1, 2008....
(20092009 in televisionThe following is a list of events affecting American television in 2009. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and new channel launches.-January:-February:-March:-April:-May:-June:-July:-August:...
) - Totally for TeensTotally for TeensTotally for Teens is an American television series created by and starring Derrick Beckles for Cartoon Network's late night programing block, Adult Swim....
(20092009 in televisionThe following is a list of events affecting American television in 2009. Events listed include television show debuts, finales, cancellations, and new channel launches.-January:-February:-March:-April:-May:-June:-July:-August:...
, unaired pilot) - Neon KnomeNeon KnomeNeon Knome is an unaired Problem Solverz Pilot episode. Unaired in 2010, PFFR or PFFFR, Williams Street Studios, & Cartoon Network Productions produced it instead of Boulder Media Limited & Mirari Films. It is created by Ben Jones & is Rated TV-14. It was only featured @ [adultswim.com], Cartoon...
(20102010 in television2010 in television may refer to:*2010 in American television*2010 in Australian television*2010 in British television*2010 in Canadian television*2010 in Japanese television...
, unaired pilot) - The Heart, She HollerThe Heart, She HollerThe Heart, She Holler is a live action miniseries on Cartoon Network's late night programming block, Adult Swim. The series, which premiered on November 6, 2011, is produced by PFFR....
(2011)
Films
- Final Flesh (2003) (2009 DVD release)
- Hands of God (200?)
External links
- PFFR Website
- PFFR at Birdman Records
- PFFR at IMDb
- Audio interview with Lee & Chatman on the public radio show The Sound of Young AmericaThe Sound of Young AmericaThe Sound of Young America is a public radio program and podcast based in Los Angeles, California and distributed by Public Radio International...
(also features Jim GaffiganJim GaffiganJames Christopher "Jim" Gaffigan is an American stand-up comedian and actor.-Early life:Gaffigan was born in Chesterton, Indiana and attended La Lumiere School in La Porte, Indiana. He is the youngest of six children and often jokes about growing up in a large family. He attended one year at...
) - Archived interview with PFFR by Jason Thompson shortly after the release of Rock, Rocker, Rocketh. Originally published on the Echo From Esoterica website.
- Review of Rock, Rocker, Rocketh on PopMatters by Jason Thompson.
- http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/adult-swim-announces-3-new-series/