Riverstreet produces "Thanksgiving Island" for Comedy Central

In the US, the Thanksgiving holidays is a time to celebrate the family--warts and all.

This year, Los Angeles production company has teamed up once again with Comedy Central on a promo campaign for the network’s annual "Thanxgiveaway" on-air contest. Riverstreet scripted, directed and edited 18 reality TV-inspired spots, which air from Thursday, November 23 through Sunday, November 26. The contest will give hourly prize packages over the course of the holiday weekend, including the new Wii console, TomTom ONE GPS and the Grand Prize—a tricked-out Scion xB.

Stuffing Survival:

"For the past six years, we've given our audience some original Holiday comedy over the long Thanksgiving weekend. Our goal has always been to have a bit of fun at the Holiday's expense and to keep all that family togetherness from getting to be too much," said Comedy Central Senior VP / Creative Director Bob Pederson.

Sell Out:

"Thanksgiving Island" stars the white trash Woods clan, the clearly planted model/actor Fitch family, the African American Hughes, and the seemingly normal yet deeply disturbed Bixby brood. Each 90- to 120-second promo features scenarios lifted straight out of the absurd world of reality TV, and is purposefully rife with reality TV clichés. These include the all-knowing, manipulative host (played by Brian Unger), the "confessional" where cast members expound on a variety of inane subjects, the use of time-lapse footage as a transition device, and the use of wrenching emotional music that turns the smallest moment into an overblown, emotional situation.

Car Wash:

Along with the ubiquitous "eating bugs" challenge seen on other shows, Thanksgiving Island also has the "Grace-Off," in which each team's patriarch sits at a Thanksgiving spread and engages in what the host calls "the most brutal, intense, once-a-year prayer action on earth." Another spot shows the hillbilly Woods family checking out the Grand Prize—the Scion XB. The daughter comments that she's particularly excited since most of her kids were born in cars, while Mr. Woods screams, "This car is amazing! I can't wait to live in it!"

Grace Off:

Riverstreet put together a team of eight writers with backgrounds in reality TV, comedy and film, while the company's Michael Blum and Jay Lehrfeld directed the spots. In addition to reaching out to actors and actresses who previously appeared in Riverstreet-produced projects, the company also hired Hollywood casting director Rachel Tenner.

The Ringer:

"Every year, it's like we get to create our own mini-mini-series, so we always look forward to Thanksgiving the way most people do Christmas," said Riverstreet's creative director Michael Blum.

Eliminascion:

White Trash:

CREDITS
Client: Comedy Central/Scion/Nintendo
Title: Thanksgiving Island
Air Date: 11/23 - 11/26
Client: Comedy Central
Senior Vice President: Bob Pederson
Head Writer: Darry Logan
Art Director: Chris Scarlata
Director, Promotion & Marketing: Heather Zarnett
Creative Agency: Riverstreet Productions/Los Angeles
Creative Director: Michael Blum
Creative Producer: Jay Lehrfeld
Executive Producers: Michael Blum, Tracy Pion
Writers: Luke Del Tredici, Jim Dubensky, Aaron Hilliard, Jay Lehrfeld, Darry Logan, Chris Reed, Murray Valeranio,
Production Company: Riverstreet Productions/Los Angeles
Directors: Michael Blum, Jay Lehrfeld
Line Producer: Jared Christensen
DP: Raphael Smadja
Where Shot: Los Angeles Arboretum
Graphics and Animation: Comedy Central
Production Designer: Alex Fymat
Editorial facility: Riverstreet Productions
Editors: Dan Clougherty, Galen Herod
Assistant Editor: Sal Jurado, Tony Laudati, Matt Hamilton
Post-Production Coordinator: Xavier Pilsudski
Audio Mixing: Blaine Stewart, PostPlus Sound

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