Cracked After Hours Explained

Num Seasons:7
Num Episodes:86

Cracked After Hours is a comedy web series hosted on the website Cracked.com (and simultaneously on YouTube) and produced by Cracked and its then-parent company The E. W. Scripps Company.[1] [2]

Overview

The scripted comedy followed four friends/co-workers of Cracked.com who meet after work at their local diner.[3] [4] The Seinfeldian conversations usually result in heavily disputed opinions about pop culture and life in general.[5] [6]

The series was launched on July 19, 2010 with an episode centered around the 1985 film Back to the Future, and grew to become the most viewed web series on Cracked.com. The show's first 13 episodes had reached 15 million views by April 2012 [7] and it subsequently expanded to 30 episodes and surpassed 25 million total views. It starred Cracked.com employees Michael Swaim, Daniel O'Brien,[8] and Soren Bowie[9] and regular Cracked contributor Katie Willert.[10] Most episodes were written by one of the stars or series co-creator Jack O'Brien, with help from the Cracked team.[11]

The series integrated animated segments created by artists Winston Rowntree, Brett Herholz, Anthony Clark, and Matt Barrs. Characters' thoughts are illustrated by thought-bubbles or full-screen display. The first 22 episodes were directed by Justin Viar. Subsequent episodes were directed by Abe Epperson, Adam Ganser or various others.

The episode "Why Mario is Secretly a Dick With a Mustache" infamously had a slightly extended version when first uploaded to YouTube. This was quickly replaced by the regular version with a new title card because the original one used unathorized artwork from internet artist "Fictionalhead", rendering the extended version as lost media since 2012.[12]

In 2013 After Hours was nominated for a Webby Award.[13] [14]

Introduction of second cast (2017)

The July 24, 2017 episode "Awkward Scenes That Must Have Happened In Marvel Movies" introduced a second cast of diner patrons: Yazmin Monet Watkins, Kimia Behpoornia, Cracked writer Carmen Angelica and Cracked head writer for video Cody Johnston.[15] This group meets at the same diner, and has similar pop culture conversations. Before its cancellation, episodes of this second cast were to be released monthly, alongside new episodes from the original cast.

Cancellation

Prior to December 4, 2017, Soren Bowie had left Cracked to pursue another writing job while Michael Swaim[16] had quit in October to pursue other media. On December 4, 2017, Cracked laid off a significant number of staff members, including Daniel O'Brien,[17] Carmen Angelica,[18] and Cody Johnston.[19] Before this, an episode had been filmed which would be the final one to feature the original cast, allowing the show to continue with the new cast. In the wake of the layoffs, this episode was never aired. The last episode uploaded to the Cracked YouTube channel was "The Best Movie Hell to End Up In" on November 20, 2017.

After After Hours

On April 9, 2019, via the Small Beans Patreon, Michael Swaim announced that he and several other of his Cracked alumni would be raising money to create a new version of After Hours away from Cracked.com.[20] In the update, Swaim stated that the new show Off Hours would focus on four friends who 'discuss pop culture in their spare time, accompanied by fanciful illustrations and masterfully-edited clip packages'. He went on to say that everybody working on it had a prior association with After Hours and that episodes would be directed by Abe Epperson (the director of many After Hours episodes) with a revolving cast including Swaim, Cody Johnston, Katy Stoll, Greg Burke, Damien Washington, Maggie Mae Fish, Teresa Lee and Daniel Vincent Gordh.

On May 10, 2019, Michael Swaim tweeted a logo for the new show designed by Small Beans artist Michael Bramley and added; 'It's real now, you guys. There are art assets. This is really happening.' [21]

On July 12, 2020, the original cast met for a charity stream, doing a table read for the intended series finale for the original cast. The episode saw the group discuss "What TV Friend Group would be the best to join" - as it's revealed that the foursome is about to go their own ways.[22] The stream ended up raising $11,000 for the CDC Foundation.[23]

On May 28, 2021, the original cast released another series finale on the Small Beans channel, titled "The After Hours Quarantine Special."

Episodes

Season 1: 2010–2011

Title !Writer Director Original airdate
1 "Why 'Back to the Future' Is Secretly Horrifying" Daniel O'Brien Justin Viar July 19, 2010
2 "5 Classic Movie High Schools That Would Suck to Attend" Jack O'Brien Justin Viar August 30, 2010
3 "Which Apocalypse Would Be the Most Fun?" Daniel O'Brien Justin Viar November 18, 2010
4 "Why The Harry Potter Universe Is Secretly Terrifying" Michael Swaim Justin Viar December 20, 2010
5 "How Breakfast Cereal Mascots Brainwashed You" Soren Bowie Justin Viar January 31, 2011
6 "Which Ninja Turtle Are You?" Soren Bowie Justin Viar March 14, 2011
7 "Why Star Wars Is Terrifying for Women" Daniel O'Brien Justin Viar April 4, 2011
8 "Why Everyone Wants to Have Sex with Vampires" Soren Bowie Justin Viar May 23, 2011
9 "Why Batman Is Secretly Terrible for Gotham" Daniel O'Brien Justin Viar June 27, 2011
10 "The Best Super Power (Is Not What You Think)" Michael Swaim Justin Viar July 25, 2011
11 "TV Ads That Depict Terrifying Alternate Universes"Soren Bowie Justin Viar September 26, 2011
12 "4 Terrifying Psychology Lessons Behind Famous Movie Monsters" Robert Brockway Justin Viar October 24, 2011

Season 2: 2012

Title !Writer Director Original airdate
1 "Why Mario is Secretly a Douchebag" Daniel O'Brien Justin Viar March 12, 2012
2 "If You Could Have Dinner (And Sex) With Any Famous Figure" Jack O'Brien Justin Viar April 2, 2012
3 "Why The Scariest Sci-Fi Robot Uprising Has Already Begun" Jack O'Brien Justin Viar April 16, 2012
4 "The 6 Most Unintentionally Creepy Sitcom Characters" Cody Johnston Justin Viar April 30, 2012
5 "3 Popular Children's Characters Who Secretly Hate Animals" Daniel O'Brien Justin Viar May 29, 2012
6 "Why The Star Trek Universe is Secretly Horrifying" Michael Swaim Justin Viar May 14, 2012
7 "4 Creepy Hidden Truths Behind Popular Scary Stories" Jack O'Brien Abe Epperson July 9, 2012
8 "Why Pixar Movies Are All Secretly About the Apocalypse" Daniel O'Brien Justin Viar September 4, 2012
9 "Why Indiana Jones Secretly Sucks at His Job" Michael Swaim Abe Epperson September 24, 2012
10 "The Only 8 Types of TV Shows That Get Made" Daniel O'Brien Abe Epperson October 15, 2012
11 "5 Reasons James Bond Might Be the Worst Spy Ever"Soren Bowie Justin Viar November 12, 2012
12 "The 4 Worst Lessons Disney Movies Taught Us as Kids" Jack O'Brien Justin Viar December 17, 2012

Season 3: 2013

Title !Writer Director Original airdate
1 "Four Reasons Spider-Man is Secretly Bad at His Job" Michael Swaim Justin Viar January 21, 2013
2 "Why Romantic Comedies Are Secretly Bad for You" Soren Bowie Adam Ganser February 14, 2013
3 "The 4 Best Movie Universes To Die In" Cody Johnston Adam Ganser March 25, 2013
4 "5 Horrifying Secret Rules of Life in a Movie Universe" Daniel O'Brien Abe Epperson April 15, 2013
5 "The Horrifying Truth About Life Inside of Movie Musicals" Kristi Harrison Adam GanserMay 13, 2013
6 "The 3 Worst Lessons Taught by '80s Sports Movies" Jack O'Brien Adam Ganser June 17, 2013
7 "Why Tarantino Films Take Place in the Same (Insane) Universe" Soren Bowie Adam Ganser July 22, 2013
8 "4 Movie Apocalypses That Would Be More Fun Than Reality" Daniel O'Brien Adam Ganser August 19, 2013
9 "4 Disney Movie Villains Who Were Right All Along" Daniel O'Brien Abe Epperson September 23, 2013
10 "The Horrifying Secret 'The Matrix' Reveals About Humanity" Jack O'Brien Abe Epperson October 21, 2013
11 "The 10 Most Secretly Ridiculous Moments in Classic Movies" Daniel O'Brien Adam Ganser November 18, 2013
12 "6 Beloved Christmas Movies With Horrible Secret Meanings" Michael Swaim Adam Ganser December 16, 2013

Season 4: 2014

Title !Writer Director Original airdate
1 "4 Weirdly Specific Things Famous People Do in Every Movie" Jack O'Brien Abe Epperson January 13, 2014
2 "8 Mind-Blowing Connections Between the Works of Joss Whedon" Michael Swaim Abe Epperson February 17, 2014
3 "7 Horrifying Lessons Hidden in Famous Movies About Childhood" Soren Bowie Abe Epperson March 10, 2014
4 "6 Insane Stereotypes That You Still See in Every Movie" Daniel O'Brien Adam Ganser April 14, 2014
5 "5 'Jurassic Park' Plot Holes With Horrifying Implications" Jack O'Brien Adam Ganser May 12, 2014
6 "11 Movie Alternate Dimensions With Horrifying Downsides" Soren Bowie Adam Ganser June 16, 2012
7 "Why Disney's 'Aladdin' Is Secretly Horrifying" Daniel O'Brien Abe Epperson July 14, 2014
8 "Why 'Peter Pan' Is Propaganda for Perverts" Soren Bowie Abe Epperson August 18, 2014
9 "The Horrifying Hidden Subplot You Missed in Star Wars" Cody Johnston Abe Epperson September 8, 2014
10 "6 Weirdly Conservative Messages Hidden in 'Ghostbusters'" Soren Bowie Adam Ganser October 20, 2014
11 "5 Movie Epilogues That Should Have Been Sequels" Soren Bowie Adam Ganser November 10, 2014
12 "The 9 Creepiest Things Movies Portray as Romantic" Daniel O'Brien Adam Ganser December 8, 2014

Season 5: 2015

Title !Writer Director Original airdate
1 "5 Racist and Sexist Messages Hidden in Forrest Gump" Jack O'Brien Abe Epperson January 12, 2015
2 "14 Super Powers That Every Movie Character Apparently Has" Michael Swaim Abe Epperson February 9, 2015
3 "5 Evil Organizations We Wouldn't Mind Joining (in Movies)" Soren Bowie Abe Epperson March 2, 2015
4 "Why The Friends From 'Friends' Are Terrible People" Katie Willert Adam Ganser April 13, 2015
5 "Movies Secretly Told From The Perspective Of One Character" Katie Willert Adam Ganser May 11, 2015
6 "10 Terrifying Implications Of The Matrix Universe" Michael Swaim Adam Ganser June 15, 2015
7 "Why Movie Cops Are Terrible At Their Jobs" Soren Bowie Abe Epperson July 27, 2015
8 "The 3 Worst Lessons Hiding in Children's Movies" Daniel O'Brien Abe Epperson August 17, 2015
9 "The Terrifying Truth About Doc Brown" Jack O'Brien October 21, 2015
10 "'Stupid' Movies That Are Surprisingly Progressive" Katie Willert Adam Ganser November 16, 2015
11 "4 Reasons The Jedi Are Secretly The Bad Guys Of Star Wars" Alex Schmidt Abe Epperson December 14, 2015

Season 6: 2016

Title !Writer Director Original airdate
1 "Why Sauron Is Secretly The Good Guy In 'Lord Of The Rings'"JF Sargent Adam Ganser January 11, 2016
2 "Why Body-Switching Movies Are Way Creepier Than You Think" Teresa Lee Abe Epperson February 22, 2016
3 "4 Insane Simpsons Fan Theories (That Might Be True)" Michael Swaim Abe Epperson March 7, 2016
4 "Why The Most Terrifying Movie Alien Isn't Who You Think" David C. Bell Abe Epperson April 11, 2016
5 "Why Professor X Is Really The Villain Of The X-Men Universe" Soren Bowie Adam Ganser May 23, 2016
6 "What Your Favorite Video Game Says About You" JF Sargent Adam Ganser June 20, 2016
7 "The Horrifying Truth About Living Inside A TV Show " Alex Schmidt Adam Ganser July 18, 2016
8 "The Only Film Genre That Gets You To Root For The Bad Guy" Carmen Angelica Abe Epperson August 29, 2016
9 "Why Captain America Is The Worst Avenger" Alex Schmidt Abe Epperson September 19, 2016
10 "7 Movies That Don't Realize They're Horror Movies" David C. Bell Abe Epperson October 17, 2016
11 "Why Every '80s Sitcom Decided To Kill Off The Mom" Soren Bowie Adam Ganser November 21, 2016
12 "Why Homer Simpson Might Be God" Michael Swaim Adam Ganser December 19, 2016

Season 7: 2017

Title !Writer Director Original airdate
1 "The Best And Worst Disney Kingdoms To Live In" JF Sargent Adam Ganser January 23, 2017
2 "4 Movie Curses With Unexpected Upsides" Cody Johnston Abe Epperson February 20, 2017
3 "How To Ruin Your Favorite Sitcoms With Simple Math" Soren Bowie Abe Epperson March 20, 2017
4 "The Inevitable Future Of Each Superhero Universe" Michael Swaim Abe Epperson April 17, 2017
5 "Why Movies Want Us To Torture Adults" Carmen Angelica Adam Ganser May 15, 2017
6 "All Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies Are In The Same Terminator Universe" Adam Ganser Adam Ganser June 5, 2017
7 "How 9/11 Changed 90s Sitcoms Forever (Friends, Seinfeld)" Cody Johnston Adam Ganser June 19, 2017
8 "5 Movie Villains That Would Make Great Leaders (Game of Thrones, The Dark Knight)" Carmen Angelica Abe Epperson July 10, 2017
9 "Awkward Scenes That Must Have Happened In Marvel Movies (Captain America, The Hulk)" Daniel O'Brien Abe Epperson July 24, 2017
10 "Why Time Travel Wouldn't Work For Everyone" Soren Bowie Adam Ganser August 14, 2017
11 "Why Disney Princes Are Bad Role Models For Boys" Carmen Angelica Adam Ganser August 28, 2017
12 "6 Movies Whose Timelines Don't Add Up" David C. Bell Adam Ganser September 11, 2017
13 "What Movie Ghost Would You Rather Be Haunted By" David C. Bell Adam Ganser October 2, 2017
14 "Which Ghost Movie Was The Best (For The Ghosts)? (Casper, Ghostbusters, RIPD)" Tom Reimann Adam Ganser October 23, 2017
15 "The Best Movie Hell to End Up In" Carmen Angelica Moana Sherrill November 20, 2017

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.digiday.com/video/demand-medias-unlikely-success-story/ "Demand Media's Unlikely Success Story"
  2. http://www.comedyspotnation.com/web-series-after-hours-at-cracked-com/ "Web Series: ‘After Hours’ at Cracked.com."
  3. http://comedytvisdead.com/2013/03/10/cracked-after-hours-or-how-to-do-internet-comedy-right/ "Cracked After Hours; Or, How to do Internet Comedy Right "
  4. http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/11/08/comikaze-panel/ "Behind The Scenes Of A Future Cracked: After Hours Episode"
  5. http://www.tubefilter.com/2012/03/26/cracked-after-hours/ "Geeks Argue About Mario After Hours"
  6. https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/12/the-10-best-web-series-of-2014.html "The 10 Best Web Series of 2014"
  7. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanholiday/2012/04/16/exclusive-how-comedian-daniel-obrien-turned-one-joke-into-a-major-book-deal/ "How Comedian Daniel O'Brien Turned One Joke Into a Major Book Deal"
  8. http://www.geekscape.net/geekscape-interviews-agents-of-cracked-star-dan-obrien "Geekscape Interviews Agents of Cracked Star Dan O'Brien"
  9. http://fanboynation.com/we-get-crackin-up-with-cracked-com/ "We get Crackin’ Up with Cracked.com"
  10. http://www.paste.com/issues/week-18/articles/after-hours-answering-lifes-least-important-questions "After Hours- Answering Life's Least Important Questions"
  11. http://www.statedmag.com/articles/profile-after-hours-works-the-late-shift-on-crackedcom.html# "After Hours Works the Late Shift"
  12. Web site: - YouTube . https://web.archive.org/web/20120413171723/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sGhqc62sD4 . 2012-04-13 . .
  13. http://www.thevideoink.com/breaking-news/nominees-18th-annual-webby-awards/#.VB9KFRYQZco "And the Nominees for the 18th Annual Webby Awards Are…"
  14. http://www.webbyawards.com/winners/2014/online-film-video/performance-craft/best-writing/ "2014:Best Writing"
  15. Awkward Scenes That Must Have Happened In Marvel Movies. Cracked, July 24, 2017. Daniel O'Brien
  16. https://twitter.com/SWAIM_CORP/status/938185966954541056 "Michael Swaim's Official Twitter"
  17. https://twitter.com/DOB_INC/status/937870512679665665 "Daniel O'Brien's Official Twitter"
  18. https://twitter.com/Carmesancheeses/status/938091460301275136 "Carmen Angelica's Official Twitter"
  19. https://twitter.com/drmistercody/status/937927201172754432 "Cody Johnston's Official Twitter"
  20. https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-goal-off-25992500
  21. "Michael Swaim's Official Twitter". Twitter.com
  22. Web site: O'Brian . David . [Redacted] Reunion ]. tumblr.com . 15 July 2020.
  23. "Daniel O'Brien's Official Twitter July 12, 2020". Twitter.com