"Pilot" is the television pilot of the Adult Swim television series Hot Streets, which premiered on December 4, 2016. (It had previously been uploaded to the Adult Swim website in August 2016.[1]) It was written and directed by Brian Wysol, who previously created the Channel 101 animated shorts Hot Cross Buns and We Solve the Crime.

"Pilot"
Hot Streets episode
Comparison between the 2011 animated film We Solve the Crime and the 2016 episode "Pilot"
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 1
Directed byBrian Wysol
Written byBrian Wysol
Original air dateDecember 4, 2016 (2016-12-04)
Running time11 minutes
Guest appearances
Justin Roiland as Random Civilian
Mindy Sterling as Dr. Brainbrook
Eric Bauza as Brain Face/Police Officer #1
Michael McCafferty as Agent Magafferty
Rob Schrab as Steven Davis/Police Officer #2
Kate Freund as Patient
Brian Wysol as J.A.S.O.N.
Episode chronology
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"Got a Minute for Love?"

The pilot introduces the protagonists of Hot Streets: Agent Mark Branski (voiced by J.D. Ryznar), Agent Donald French (voiced by Scott Chernoff), Jen Sanders (voiced by Chelsea Kane), and Chubbie Webbers (voiced by Justin Roiland).

Development and production

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In 2011, writer Brian Wysol created a series of shorts for Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab's Channel 101 including Hot Cross Buns and We Solve the Crime.[2][3] Wysol said it was a synthesis of the two: "One was a supernatural horror cartoon and the other was a cop show, and they were my favorites [...] I wanted to weave their sensibilities together, so I came up with the idea for this new FBI supernatural investigative show."[4] In 2012, Wysol decided to combine the shorts for Hot Streets.[5][6]

Production involved Brian Wysol and the Robot Chicken team: co-creator Seth Green,[7] John Harvatine IV, Matthew Senreich, and Eric Towner.[8][1][9][10][11][12][13][4] Previously, Wysol wrote two Rick and Morty episodes and four Robot Chicken episodes.[7] It was produced by Justin Roiland's Solo Vanity Card Productions,[3] Stoopid Buddy Stoodios,[8][9][10][11][12][13] and Williams Street.[3] Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland plays a cowardly talking dog, Chubby Webbers.[7][3] Animation was created in Burbank, California by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios and Salty Dog Pictures in Ireland and produced using Toon Boom Harmony.[4]

Broadcast

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In 2016, Adult Swim uploaded four television pilots: Apollo Gauntlet, Bad Guys, The Hindenburg Explodes!, and Hot Streets.[7] Viewers were asked to vote with a ratings system ranging from "Laugh," "Boo," "Costanza," "Tomatoes," to "Kill This."[1][13]

Plot

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French finds a ghostly baby head which bewilders him. Nonplussed, Branski answers a phone and they are called away. Finding a crime scene, they determine it was by a brain monster which returns and kills. It flees. Cornering two in an alleyway, French reveals a serum to interrogate it. However, Branski opts to punch them. After a brawl, they shoot them repeatedly but run out of bullets. However, the two dispatch the monsters.

At Branski's home, Jen Sanders is grieving over her mom. Branski consoles Jen but he has a brain tumor which will kill him and make her homeless. Jen implores him to see a surgeon. As he leaves, Jen tries talking with her dog Chubbie who is sad too. Chubbie talks to her, but is ignored. Driving, French says there are no brain monsters. Branski says they will take a break and get brain surgery.

At the science center, Branski tells the guard, a masked brain monster, he was recommended by Dr. Steven Davis. Inside, Dr. Brainbrook explains she cloned a piece of his brain which will grow in his neck. The piece will replace the tumor. Elsewhere, Jen and Chubbie investigate Thrifty Medical Experts. Using Branski's phone, Jen finds Dr. Steven Davis has done medical malpractice. Annoyed, he approaches them. Interrogating him, Jen finds out Branski has no tumor but was only diagnosed for the mosnters' plan. Branski and French talk with a patient with similar surgery. Despite her concerns, Branski and French dismiss them. The lump explodes into a brain monster which attacks both Branski and French. Fleeing, they run from the brain monsters. Outside, Jen tells Chubbie to enter the center under disguise. Dressed as a baseball player, Chubbie tries a distraction. It attacks him but Jen kills it. Inside, French tells them they should operate before he turns into a monster. The monster appears in his neck and French interrogates it. Telling French Dr. Brainbrook's plan, French asks how to remove it. The antidote is in Dr. Brainbrook's lab but is only accessible via teleportation. Chubbie volunteers. It malfunctions with two appearing with different densities. The interphasic one proceeds. Near the antidote, Chubbie solidifies but is torched. Running for water, he collides with a brain container. While the brains are laughing, Chubbie fights them. Before dying, the brain implant asks if they may have sex with Jen. Branski declines and stabs it.

Cast

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The cast of "Pilot", in order of the characters' first appearances.
Voice Role Notes
J.D. Ryznar Mark Branski An FBI agent who investigates supernatural phenomena
Scott Chernoff Donald French Another FBI agent who investigates supernatural phenomena
Chelsea Kane Jen Saunders Mark Branski's niece
Justin Roiland Chubby Webbers A cowardly dog

Reception

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Den of Geek!'s Daniel Kurland praised the pilot, saying "Hot Streets is a crazy ride down an unpredictable neighborhood, but you'll love every minute of it."[1] Anticipating "Got a Minute for Love?", Anglophenia's Nick Levin described it as "well-received."[14]

Viewing figures

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On its first showing, "Pilot" was seen by 0.877 million viewers.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Kurland, Daniel (August 18, 2016). "Ranking Adult Swim's New Prospective Pilots". Den of Geek. Dennis Publishing. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  2. ^ Lynn, Crystal (February 18, 2018). "Hot Streets, the Outrageous & Trippy Adult Swim Comedy". Cartoon Buzz. WordPress. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d Takao (January 12, 2018). "Hot Streets premieres on Adult Swim this weekend". ToonBarn. toonbarn.com. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Zahed, Ramin (January 12, 2018). "Hot Streets': Not Your Father's FBI Show!". Animation Magazine. Animation Magazine, Inc. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  5. ^ Turner staff (January 8, 2018). "The Folks Behind "Rick and Morty" and "Robot Chicken" Introduce "Hot Streets"". Turner Broadcasting System. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  6. ^ Time Warner Blog staff (January 8, 2018). "The Folks Behind Rick & Morty and Robot Chicken Introduce Hot Streets". Time Warner Blog. Time Warner, Inc. Retrieved January 14, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d Dry, Jude (January 3, 2018). "'Hot Streets' Trailer: 'Rick and Morty' Creator Justin Roiland Is a Cowardly Dog in New Adult Swim Show". IndieWire. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  8. ^ a b King, Darryn (May 10, 2015). "Adult Swim Unveils 2015–2016 Lineup". Cartoon Brew. Cartoon Brew, LLC. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Maglio, Tony (May 7, 2015). "Adult Swim's New Slate Boasts Projects Featuring Adam Scott, Seth Green and Nathan Fillion". TheWrap. The Wrap News Inc. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Petski, Denise (May 7, 2015). "Adult Swim's 2015-16 Slate Includes New Animated Series From Brad Neely, Miniseries From Jon Glaser". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  11. ^ a b Stanhope, Kate (May 7, 2015). "Adult Swim Upfront Slate Includes 12 Pilots, Two From 'Robot Chicken's' Seth Green". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  12. ^ a b Steinberg, Brian (May 7, 2015). "Upfront 2015: Adult Swim To Launch 'TV Sucks,' 'Neon Joe'". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  13. ^ a b c Wright, Megh (August 16, 2016). "Adult Swim Asks Viewers to Watch and Rate Four New Pilots from Rob Corddry, Paul Scheer, and More". Splitsider. theawl.com. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  14. ^ Levine, Nick (January 8, 2018). "10 Things You Need to Know This Week – January 8 — 14". Anglophenia. BBC America. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  15. ^ Porter, Rick (December 6, 2016). "Sunday cable ratings: 'Westworld' ends with season highs, 'Walking Dead' stops 5-week slide". TV by the Numbers. Tribune Media. Archived from the original on December 7, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
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