[Kozispoon]

The following commentary found in this thread may have spoilers of recent episodes so read at your own risk!

http://penny-arcade.com/strip-search/

What?
WHAT??

Is this a reality TV game show for artists? Web comic artists?? YES PLEASE


also I am displaying my bias for Erika Moen. totally going to watch this!

[Angie]

Yes, I need Erika to win. She is amazing!

[Tofubeast]

Well, I guess if Syfy can have Face/Off for sfx makeup artists, I guess Penny Arcade can make a reality show for comic artists.

I'm still kind of weirded out by the whole prospect. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big RuPaul's Drag Race fan, but I'm not sure how I feel about "nerd friendly" reality shows.

[The Bent One]

I'm not sure how I feel about "nerd friendly" reality shows.

Yeah, look what happened with King Of The Nerds.

[Tofubeast]

Lordy lordy lordy, King of the Nerd's trailer looked more embarrassing than The Tester.

[Kozispoon]

Has the King of Nerds thing aired yet? Is it as awkward and horrible as I'm assuming?

[Atomicfish]

Has the King of Nerds thing aired yet? Is it as awkward and horrible as I'm assuming?

I caught some of it the other day. It was...pretty bad. It's basically the same as any other back-stabbing reality show but with a "nerd" twist.

[Animeshen]

aw man why hadnt any of us heard of this when they were having auditions
I am all about this so hard

[William_Duel]

Yeah King of the Nerds fits into the Big Bang Theory category of Mainstream Nerds.

Here's an apologetic letter by someone who worked on the show:
http://www.toplessrobot.com/2013/01/king_of_the_nerds_crew_member_responds_to_backlash.php

[Mister Kent]

I will be eagerly watching this! So many talented artists!

[Ransom!]

"Flown from around the world". Well, at least the USA has added Canada to their idea of the world now.

I don't like reality shows or penny arcade, but I also love Erika Moen...I'm conflicted.

[neens]

I'm excited for this! fun fact: I actually applied to this and made it to the second round of consideration. now seeing who made the cut, these folks would have stomped me I'm sure haha.

[Red]

I'm excited for this! fun fact: I actually applied to this and made it to the second round of consideration. now seeing who made the cut, these folks would have stomped me I'm sure haha.

You would have been AWESOME.

[Kozispoon]

Omigosh omigosh the first episode is up!! Argh, why am I at work??? Can't wait to see it!!!

http://penny-arcade.com/strip-search/episode/artists-assemble

[Mister Kent]

Seeing them all lined up like that--just realized all the guys are have facial hair

[squid]

what, I forgot fence applied to it. I wish you had gotten in!
i just went and read erika moen's autobio comic(or what's up on her site), i hope she wins too...
I dunno about the actual idea of the show though, cause it's like two dudes picking out comics that THEY like, based on their own tastes and criteria, so like any other competition show, it is biased... So I wonder how balanced the actual competition part will be.

[squid]

Why were Katie and Alex put in the elimination round? Their ideas were original, even if they didn't work for t-shirts I guess (design isn't my forte, were they really that awful?)... Is this show gonna punish people for trying different things?

[UmbrellaFrog]

Is this show gonna punish people for trying different things?

The winner of the round is the one who chose who to punish. Her choice does not reflect in any way what the show is trying to do.
I also think her choice was weird, but to be fair she was clearly struggling to make it. And she didn't have a very solid reasoning behind it either, it looked like she simply chose the artists of the designs she personally didn't like.
But yeah coming up with a good design can take weeks and even then its unsure whether or not it will sell.
I tried to do the challenge along with the show, just for fun, but i didn't get an interesting idea for a design until a few hours after i had watched it. (and i still don't think its that good a design)

[Angie]

Just finished watching it. I don't like that the winners have to pick who gets put on the chopping block. I can't think of any professional situation where anyone besides the client/editor/company would have the power to get someone off a project so it's kind of a horrible idea because it can easily make everyone hate each other. It's an otherwise entertaining show. I'm not great with graphic design, but I think I would have done alright on that challenge, since super limited color palettes are something I excel with.

[Red]

I was all excited to see the first challenge and then it was .... merch design?! Graphic design and comics are ... pretty different lol, what a curve ball to toss at them. I'm sure that it will get better, but I'm not super jazzed about it so far :/

[Minteh]

I think Mac is 100% my favourite so far, the only thing I dislike is how much they're stretching it out.  The first three 'episodes' are just like, parts 1, 2, and 3 of one episode.  I guess I can kind of understand the idea, but it really feels like it ends as soon as it starts, and it has nothing to do with the quality of the program - it just feels like not very much is happening.

As for the winner choosing who goes to the elimination round, I feel like putting up Katie was just a rude move because of that 'special mention' she got.  But then again, this is 'reality tv' I guess, maybe I'm reading into things too much.

[neens]

yea.. personally, I didn't like alex's design at all. katie's however, I think would have been great (with some refinement) so I am upset to see her get picked /: HOWEVER, it could also be a power play to try and eliminate a strong opponent? I sincerely doubt this, but it would be a good strategy haha. I predict katie blowing alex out of the water though.

[Angie]

Yeah, I KNEW she was going to call out a girl after specifically commenting on the other girls being her enemies. She wasn't going to eliminate Erika who does comics professionally but she said she loves, so she goes after Katie who works for Dreamworks/Nick and had a cool design.  The girl who was picked by the pros as the worst should have gotten eliminated. Trying to keep certain text on top of the magnifying glass is a pretty big design crime.

[galvo]

holy shit --- i know monica ray. like personally.


i had no idea she was in this ... this is so fuckin rad.
years after this is gotten buried in the vaults of internet history- WE SHOULD HAVE A VOID ONE.


VOID HOUSE WILL BE A DIRTY ASS CRACK HOUSE.
REAL FIGHTS WILL TAKE PLACE.
YES.

[Zest]

I don't care if you're serious or not, I want this to be a thing. One catch, though- during the fistfights, everybody dresses up as their character.