KEY POINTS:
1) 50 to Death
Pitched squarely at members of the baby-boomer generation, this wistful web series about three 50something friends (Norm Golden, Joan Barber and Jon Freda) who become embroiled in various schticks is a comic hybrid of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Woody Allen. Cranky
and wry in equal measure.
2) Blahgirls
This cartoon pop-culture site from Ashton Kutcher's company Katalyst Media is hosted by three "drama queen" Valley girls called Britney, Tiffany and Krystle. It bills itself as Beavis and Butt-Head for girls, with gossip, fashion reports and music as well as interactive facilities for social networking.
3) Easy to Assemble
Actress Illeana Douglas (To Die For, Stir of Echoes) was approached to produce this 10-episode series by Ikea execs after they saw her previous cult web series Illeanarama: Supermarket of the Stars (about an LA grocery store staffed by former acting stars). This is like an episode of Extras set in Ikea, with cameos by Jeff Goldblum, Ed Begley jnr and others. In its first week it picked up 300,000 views.
4) Sanctuary
After its online premiere last year this web series was picked up by the Sci-Fi channel for transfer to TV. With the highest budget of any web-based series ($3.6 million for eight episodes) the show follows Dr Helen Magnus in her quest to round up an assortment of dangerous creatures. A gothic X-files.
5) The Guild
Now in its second series, this comic web series about a band of dorky online gamers had such a local following that the last seven episodes of series one were paid for by viewer donations.
6) House Poor
One of the best offerings on strike.tv (with Unknown Sender and Faux Baby), this credit-crunch mockumentary sees The Office US star Mindy Kaling unable to afford furniture after over-extending herself buying a new house. Her answer? Stage a fake pregnancy and throw a baby-shower for gifts.
7) Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy
Created in partnership with Burger King, the first video in this series devised by Seth MacFarlane scored three million hits in two days. It's a series of animated comic asides: in one two Seinfeld-like ducks watch Meet the Parents, in another, a Barry Gibb falsetto screams his way over a rollercoaster. Offbeat and very funny.
8) Smart Girls at the Party
Launched and co-presented by Amy Poehler, this chat show aims to inspire pre-teens by celebrating "extraordinary individuals who are changing the world by being themselves". It's more lighthearted than it sounds. Incongruously it's sponsored by Barbie.
9) Kirill
The UK's first big online drama, a co-venture between MSN UK and Big Brother production company Endemol, has more than a million streams to date. A sci-fi series set 50 years into a post-apocalyptic future about a lone video blogger, played by Gladiator actor David Schofield, it's puzzling but nicely sinister and atmospheric.
10) Sorority Forever
"The beautiful people have an ugly secret" runs the strapline for this entertaining web series about a Phi Chi Kappa sorority house with spooky undertones. Developed by Warner Bros' digital studio and starring LonelyGirl15's Jessica Rose, the series has picked up five million views.
- OBSERVER
