''Downtown'' is an American
animated series
An animated series is a set of animated works with a common series title, usually related to one another. These episodes should typically share the same main characters, some different secondary characters and a basic theme. Series can have either ...
and
sitcom
A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...
on
MTV
MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
on
urban
Urban means "related to a city". In that sense, the term may refer to:
* Urban area, geographical area distinct from rural areas
* Urban culture, the culture of towns and cities
Urban may also refer to:
General
* Urban (name), a list of people ...
life, based on interviews with real people. The show, created by
Chris Prynoski
Chris Prynoski (born November 1, 1971) is an American film and television producer, animator, and director, known for his work on TV programs such as '' Downtown'', ''Metalocalypse'', '' Freaknik: The Musical'', ''Motorcity'' and ''Megas XLR'' an ...
, follows a diverse and
multiracial
Mixed race people are people of more than one race or ethnicity. A variety of terms have been used both historically and presently for mixed race people in a variety of contexts, including ''multiethnic'', ''polyethnic'', occasionally ''bi-ethn ...
cast who live in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
, and presents their everyday lives. In 2000, ''Downtown'' was nominated for a
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program
The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program is a Creative Arts Emmy Award which is given annually to an animated series.
In the following list, the first titles listed in gold are the winners; those not in gold are nominees, which ...
for the episode "Before and After".
''Downtown'' aired 13 episodes from August to November 1999.
Cast
*
Gregory Gilmore as Alex Hensen
*Leyora Zuberman as Chaka Hensen
*Marco H. Rodriguez as Fruity
*Scot Rienecker as Scott ("Goat")
*Tammy Lang as Jen
*Hector Fontanez as Matt
*Aurora Lucia-Levey as Mecca
*Phoebe Summersquash as Serena
*Rosanna Plasencia as Leah
Episodes
Reception
Sarah Nechamkin of
Interview
An interview is a structured conversation where one participant asks questions, and the other provides answers.Merriam Webster DictionaryInterview Dictionary definition, Retrieved February 16, 2016 In common parlance, the word "interview" ...
, called ''Downtown'' “the best piece of discarded treasure to come out of the glorious trove of ’90s MTV”. In a retrospective review for
Vulture
A vulture is a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion. There are 23 extant species of vulture (including Condors). Old World vultures include 16 living species native to Europe, Africa, and Asia; New World vultures are restricted to North and ...
, Greta Rainbow called it a “feat of naturalistic dialogue”, describing the series as a “hyperspecific time capsule”.
References
*
External links
*
{{MTVNetwork Shows
1990s American adult animated television series
1990s American sitcoms
1999 American television series debuts
1999 American television series endings
American adult animated comedy television series
American animated sitcoms
English-language television shows
MTV cartoons
Teen animated television series
Television series created by George Krstic
Television series created by Chris Prynoski
Television shows set in New York City