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Transylvania Television (TVTV) is a web and television comedy series about monsters running a television station in the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania. Much of its comedy involves spoofing pop-culture an retro B-movie cliches. Though it uses puppets as its main characters, the program is not meant for children and often skews towards mature audiences. TVTV was created by Michael Heagle, a Minneapolis independent filmmaker, and Gordon Smuder, a special effects specialist and propbuilder. It originally aired as a 22-minute sitcom pilot on local CW affiliate WUCW-23 (Formerly KTMA, the original home of Mystery Science Theater 3000). In 2008 Heagle and Smuder began production on a internet series, which is currently in its third season. On April 15, 2010, episodes of TVTV started appearing on ThatGuyWithTheGlasses. Oh October 22, 2010 Transylvania Television returned to their WUCW home, airing a one-hour made-for-television annual Halloween special: Transylvania Tellevision Real Meanin of Halloween Special. Plot The series episodes tend to be based around one of two primary scenarios: office politics and the everyday life of the castle's occupants, and havoc caused by the Frankenstein Device. The Frankenstein Device is the same steampunk-style contraption that gave life to the Frankenstein Monster. When used to boost the signal of the station, it resurrects or reanimates old tv programs - and turns them into parodies in the process. Characters *The Vampire Voldomyr Le Shoc (Charles Hubbell) - A bitter 900 year old vampire who struggles vainly to maintain order while taking delight in the suffering of his motley crew. *Furry J. Ackermonster (Gordon Smuder) - The station's new production assistant. He's a bright orange yeti. In the pilot, he's a recent graduate of the University of Monstersota with a job offer from an obscure TV station in Transylvania. As the audience surrogate, Furry struggles with relatable problems like student loans, laziness, and where the next party is. *Batfink (Laszlo Nemesi) - The station's majordomo and Le Shoc's right hand man. Based on 1960's stereotypes like and various surf-movie bums. *Dwayne Frankenstein (Michael Heagle) - A Frankenstein's-monster, made from thirteen different people, all of which contribute to his personality. He is dense but not naïve, and has been known for moments of brilliance. Dwayne's persona is based on various comedy stereotypes, and is part soccer hooligan and part Neil from The Young Ones. *Miss Mansfield (Renee Werbowski) - A talking skull and the personal secretary of Count LeShoc. She appears to be the late Jayne Mansfield and the false rumor that she was decapitated. It's yet to be confirmed they are one and the same person. *Archie Leech (Troy LaFaye) - A leech and the station accountant. Although his name is inspired by Cary Grant's birth name, he is typically portrayed as a weak loser. Archie has a running gag where his lack of eyes is problematic. *Hannibal von Bucket (Jeff Neppl) - A demon and archduke of the "second half of the third level of Hell twice removed", though he was fired by the devil in his first appearance for losing his soul to Furry in a game of Bouzouki Hero. Though Furry officially owns his soul, he has no idea how to work it, which allows Von Bucket to continue to taunt him. Von Bucket is as much a personification of the 1970s as Batfink is of the 1960s. He lives on Furry's couch. *Kim Ho-Tep (Gordon Smuder) A mummy and Egyptian empress. She was owned by Richard Roundtree until her sarcophagus was lost at the Denver International Airport in 1973, where she stayed until freed by Count LeShoc in the Transylvania Tellevision Real Meanin of Halloween Special. Minor Characters *Esmerelda the Gypsy Lady (Renee Werbowski) - A crotchety old gypsy, and host of the poorly rated show, Babushka Buzz. *B.O.R.I.S. (Michael Huyck) - A computer formerly used by the Soviet space program; it has been repurposed to run the station's broadcast systems. B.O.R.I.S. is a rude, heckelling computer with a particular distaste for Furry. *Gorzon the Cosmic Destroyer (Gordon Smuder) - A computerized, domed brain grafted to an ape-like body, Gorzon claims to be from a cosmic eternal alien race, but others believe him to be nothing more than a derranged monster prom from Atomic-era B-movies. *Robbie (Jeff Neppl) - A zombie who originally died from complications due to eczema. *Vladesku (Gordon Smuder) - A hapless villager. In the season 2 episode "Cutbacks" his first name was revealed to be Brian. *Mad Man Mennows (Gordon Smuder) - Rarely seen. Apparently some sort of salesman or huckster. *Cryptonicus (Michael Heagle) - The keeper of the crypt beneath the castle. He has a hatred of puns.
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