Web Therapy Explained

Camera:Single camera
Runtime:~3–15 min
Creator:Lisa Kudrow
Director:Don Roos
Starring:Lisa Kudrow
Country:United States
Network:LStudio.com
Num Seasons:6
Num Episodes:133 (List of episodes)
Related:Web Therapy (TV series)

Web Therapy is an improvised online series starring Lisa Kudrow as Fiona Wallice, a therapist who has conceived of a new form of therapy, the titular "web therapy". The series debuted on LStudio.com on September 22, 2008.

Synopsis

Fiona Wallice is a therapist who has conceived of a new "modality" of therapy: the titular "web therapy". In her estimation, the traditional "50-minute hour" version of therapy gives people too much leeway to talk about irrelevant things. By dramatically shortening session time, she hopes to get results more quickly. Her sessions take place via webcam over the internet using Skype.[1] They are taped in the hope of attracting investors into promoting her new technique as a worldwide therapy option.

A dark comedy, much of the humor revolves around Fiona's obvious self-interest and how it overshadows her legitimate ability to determine people's issues quickly and effectively. (For instance, in "Sibling Ribaldry," she manages to completely clarify a couple's romantic emotional issues in thirty seconds but does so only to bring them around so she can then film them discussing more trivial sexual issues that are more shocking.)

TV series

See main article: Web Therapy (TV series). In April 2010, Showtime announced plans to adapt the online episodes for broadcast on television with extra scenes being shot. The series premiered on Showtime on July 19, 2011, and ran for 10 episodes. In December 2011, Showtime renewed Web Therapy for a second season of 11 episodes, which premiered on July 2, 2012.[2] On November 16, 2012, Web Therapy was renewed for a 10 episode third season by Showtime.[3] On January 14, 2014, Showtime renewed Web Therapy for a fourth season,[4] that ran for 12 episodes. On August 11, 2015, Showtime cancelled the series after four seasons.[5]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRecipient(s)Result
2009Streamy Awards[6] Best Female Actor in a Comedy Web SeriesLisa Kudrow
Webby Award[7] Special Achievement: Outstanding Comedic Performance
Best Writing Seriesrowspan=5
2010Streamy Awards[8] Best Female Actor in a Comedy Web Series! Lisa Kudrow
Best Guest Star in a Web Series Courteney Cox
Webby AwardBest Individual Performance Lisa Kudrow
Best WritingSeries
Comedy: Long Form or Series rowspan=4
2011Best Individual Performance!Lisa Kudrow
Comedy: Long Form or Series Series
Banff World Media Festival[9] Award of Excellence in Digital Media Lisa Kudrow
2012Emmy Award[10] Outstanding Special Class-Short-format Live-Action Entertainment ProgramsWeb Therapy

Guest stars

The series has featured appearances by a number of prominent comedians and actors including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bob Balaban, Rashida Jones, Selma Blair, Tim Bagley, Dan Bucatinsky, Jane Lynch, Molly Shannon, Lily Tomlin, Rosie O'Donnell, Conan O'Brien, Craig Ferguson, Alan Cumming, Natasha Bedingfield, Minnie Driver, Courteney Cox and Darren Criss. Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep guest starred in three special episodes that were made after the third series had been completed.[11] It was announced on the show's Facebook page that guest stars for the second series will include Selma Blair, David Schwimmer and Victor Garber.

Lisa Kudrow's connection to guest stars

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://blogs.skype.com/tag/lisa-kudrow/ lisa kudrow Archives | Skype Blogs
  2. Web site: Lisa Kudrow's 'Web Therapy' Gets Second Season on Showtime . The Hollywood Reporter . December 5, 2011.
  3. Web site: 'Web Therapy' Renewed by Showtime for 10 Episode Season 3 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121119230642/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/11/16/web-therapy-renewed-by-showtime-for-season-3/158050/ . dead . November 19, 2012 . TVbytheNumbers.com . November 16, 2012.
  4. Web site: Web Therapy Renewed, Revenge Actress Promoted, New Today Host? and More . TV Line . January 14, 2014.
  5. Web site: N'Duka. Amanda. Lisa Kudrow's 'Web Therapy' Cancelled By Showtime After 4 Seasons. Deadline Hollywood. 31 March 2016.
  6. Web site: Streamy Award Nominations 2009. . 2009 . 2011-11-11 .
  7. Web site: Webby Nominations 2009. . 2009 . 2011-08-03 .
  8. Web site: Streamy Award Nominations 2010. 2010 . 2011-11-11 .
  9. Web site: The Interactive Rockies Special Achievement Awards . banffmediafestival.com . 2011 . 2011-07-15 . 2011-08-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110809101101/http://www.banffmediafestival.com/press-releases.php . dead .
  10. Web site: Outstanding Special Class-Short-format Live-Action Entertainment Programs. 2012-07-24 .
  11. Web site: Web teaser: Meryl Streep in 'Web Therapy' . Deadline.com . Nellie . Andreeva. November 4, 2010.