MADtv is an American sketch comedy television series. It licenses the name and logo of Mad, but otherwise has no connection with the humor magazine outside of animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin cartoon shorts and images of Alfred E. Neuman that the show featured during the late 1990s. Its first TV broadcast was on October 14, 1995. The one-hour show airs Saturday nights on Fox and is in syndication on Comedy Central. In Australia the show screens on satellite and cable TV channel The Comedy Channel and in late-night timeslots on free-to-air broadcaster the Nine Network Australia and its affiliates. It was created by Fax Bahr and Adam Small. The series was originally produced by Bahr/Small Productions and Quincy Jones/David Salzman Entertainment (QDE). Since Bahr and Small left the series at the end of the third season (they are currently credited as "executive consultants"), the series has been handled by QDE and Warner Bros. Television (Warner Bros.' parent company Time Warner owns Mad magazine through its DC Comics subsidiary).

On November 12, 2008, Fox announced that MADtv's 14th season would be its last. However, David Salzman said that he would be exploring the continuation of the show on another channel, possibly cable. However the show will not air in the 2009–2010 season. In early 2009, the show was moved behind Talkshow with Spike Feresten, the show that normally follows MADtv, as a test, before being moved back. The series finale aired on May 16, 2009.

Format

MADtv was taped in front of a live audience and consists of sketch comedy skits and musical performances. Much of its comedy parodies popular television shows, movies and music, and covers topical, political, and pop cultural humor.

Notable tenures

Tenure by seasons

Although MADtv has a rapid turnover of supporting players, some performers have had long tenures with the show. Few have broken the seven-year barrier. The longest-serving cast members are, by number of seasons:

Cast Member	First Cast Appearance	Last Cast Appearance	Total Seasons
Michael McDonald	September 12, 1998	May 17, 2008	10
Aries Spears	September 20, 1997	May 21, 2005	8
Debra Wilson	October 14, 1995	May 17, 2003	8
Bobby Lee	October 6, 2001	May 16, 2009	8

Tenure by episodes

There have been fourteen MADtv cast members who have appeared in over 100 episodes. Among the cast members who have appeared in the most episodes are the following:

Cast Member	First Cast Appearance	Last Cast Appearance	Seasons	Episodes	Guest Appearances
Michael McDonald	September 12, 1998	May 17, 2008	4–13 (10 total)	239	1 (Season 14)
Aries Spears	September 20, 1997	May 21, 2005	3–10 (8 total)	198
Debra Wilson	October 14, 1995	May 17, 2003	1–8 (8 total)	196	4 (Seasons 10, 13, and 14)
Mo Collins	September 12, 1998	May 22, 2004	4–9 (6 total)	150	3 (Seasons 10, 13, and 14)
Bobby Lee	October 6, 2001	May 16, 2009	7–14 (8 total)	147
Nicole Sullivan	October 14, 1995	May 12, 2001	1–6 (6 total)	141	6 (Seasons 8, 9, and 10)
Alex Borstein	September 20, 1997	May 18, 2002	3–7 (5 total)	122	4 (Seasons 9, 10, and 14)
Will Sasso	September 20, 1997	May 18, 2002	3–7 (5 total)	121	3 (Seasons 9, 10, and 14)
Stephnie Weir	November 18, 2000	May 6, 2006	6–11 (6 total)	120
Frank Caliendo	September 22, 2001	May 20, 2006	7–11 (5 total)	117
Nicole Parker	November 1, 2003	March 28, 2009	9–14 (6 total)	113
Phil LaMarr	October 14, 1995	May 20, 2000	1–5 (5 total)	112	1 (Season 9)
Ike Barinholtz	September 14, 2002	May 19, 2007	8–12 (5 total)	112
Keegan-Michael Key	February 7, 2004	May 16, 2009	9–14 (6 total)	106

• Nicole Parker is the only cast member to be nominated and win an Emmy for her work on the show.
• Michael McDonald is the only cast member to have a "Best Of" compilation episode devoted to him.

History of MADtv

Historical synopsis

The following are a series of links to pages which give a detailed account of the history of MADtv.

MADtv era breakdown

For a historical overview with a detail analysis of each era of MADtv (cast members, sketches, animation, etc.) please see one of the following links below:

*1995–2000

*2000–2005

*2005–2009

MADtv season breakdown

For a detailed description of each season of MADtv, with cast members, sketches, animation, etc., see below:

• Season One
• Season Two
• Season Three
• Season Four
• Season Five
• Season Six
• Season Seven

• Season Eight
• Season Nine
• Season Ten
• Season Eleven
• Season Twelve
• Season Thirteen
• Season Fourteen

Recurring characters and sketches

Home media

Warner Home Video released The Complete First Season of MADtv in 2004. However, due to poor sales, the release of the second season was cancelled (despite a preview for it in the first season DVD). MADtv: The Best of Seasons 8, 9, and 10 was released in 2005, featuring the most popular sketches from those seasons.

Reruns

Originally, reruns of MADtv aired as 30-minute reruns on local TV stations. The cable channel TNN (now Spike TV) aired the first six seasons of MADtv from 1999 to 2001. Comedy Central soon picked up the show after its syndication package of Saturday Night Live reruns was acquired by the E! Entertainment Network, and has aired 30-minute and full-hour reruns of episodes from season one to season eleven (though, as of 2009, Comedy Central is airing MADtv episodes from seasons eight to eleven).

Awards/Nominations

This table is incomplete. You can help by expanding it.

Year	Association	Award Category	Recipients	Result
1999	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Costume Design for a Variety or Music Program		Nominated
1999	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Hairstyling for a Series		Nominated
2000	Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Award	Best Use of a Boson Dart - Television (for a Single Episode of a Regular Series - Sitcom, Drama or Daytime)	Jennifer Aspinall Felicia Linsky Ed French	Nominated
2000	Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Award	Best Innovative Hair Styling - Television (for a Single Episode of a Regular Series - Sitcom, Drama or Daytime)	Dugg Kirkpatrick	Nominated
2000	Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Award	Best Character Hair Styling - Television (for a Single Episode of a Regular Series - Sitcom, Drama or Daytime)	Judith Tiedemann Dugg Kirkpatrick Chriss Curry	Nominated
2000	Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Award	Best Character Hair Styling - Television (for a Single Episode of a Regular Series - Sitcom, Drama or Daytime)	Judith Tiedemann Dugg Kirkpatrick Chriss Curry	Nominated
2000	Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Award	Best Character Makeup - Television (for a Single Episode of a Regular Series - Sitcom, Drama or Daytime)	Jennifer Aspinall Felicia Linsky Ed French	Won
2001	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Costumes for a Variety or Music Program	Wendy Benbrook (costume designer) Wanda Leavey (costume supervisor)	Nominated
2001	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Hairstyling for a Variety or Music Program	Matthew Kasten (hairstylist) Mishell Chandler (hairstylist) Desmond Miller (hairstylist) Rod Ortega (hairstylist) Mimi Jafari (hairstylist) Fabrizio Sanges (hairstylist)	Won
2001	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program	John Sabato (production designer) D. Martyn Bookwalter (art director) Cece Destefano (art director) Daryn-Reid Goodall (set decorator)	Nominated
2001	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Main Title Design	Steve Kirklys (title designer) Adam Byrd (title designer)	Nominated
2001	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Makeup for a Series	Jennifer Aspinall (makeup artist)Felicia Linsky (makeup artist)Stephanie L. Massie (makeup artist)Darrell McIntyre (makeup artist)Randy Westgate (makeup artist)Julie Purcell (makeup artist)Ed French (makeup artist)Susan A. Cabral (makeup artist)Myke Michaels (makeup artist)	Nominated
2001	Canadian Comedy Awards	Television - Pretty Funny Male Performance	Will Sasso	Nominated
2001	Art Directors Guild Awards	Excellence in Production Design Award	John Sabato (production designer) D. Martyn Bookwalter (art director) Cece Destefano (art director)	Nominated
2001	Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Award	Best Special Makeup Effects - Television (For a Single Episode of a Regular Series - Sitcom, Drama or Daytime)	Jennifer Aspinall Randy Westgate Episode: "MADtv Goes To The Movies"	Won
2001	Image Awards	Outstanding Variety Series/Speciality jumpsuit		Nominated
2002	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program		Nominated
2002	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Choreography		Nominated
2002	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Costumes for a Variety or Music Program		Nominated
2002	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Makeup for a Series (Non-Prosthetic)		Nominated
2002	Young Artist Awards	Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series - Guest Starring Young Actress	Michelle Trachtenberg	Nominated
2002	Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards	Best Special Makeup Effects - Television (For a Single Episode of a Regular Series - Sitcom, Drama or Daytime)		Won
2003	Art Directors Guild Awards	Television - Variety or Awards Show, Music Special or Documentary		Nominated
2003	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Makeup for a Series (Prosthetic)		Nominated
2003	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Makeup for a Series (Non-Prosthetic)		Nominated
2003	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Hairstyling for a Series		Nominated
2003	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Costumes for a Variety or Music Program		Nominated
2003	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program		Nominated
2003	Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards	Best Character Makeup - Television Series		Nominated
2003	Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards	Best Character Hair Styling - Television Series		Nominated
2003	Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards	Best Special Makeup Effects - Television Series		Nominated
2003	Teen Choice Awards	Choice TV Show - Late Night		Nominated
2003	WGA Award	Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series		Nominated
2004	Teen Choice Awards	Choice TV Show - Late Night		Nominated
2004	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program		Nominated
2004	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Choreography		Nominated
2004	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Hairstyling for a Series		Nominated
2004	BET Comedy Award	Outstanding Comedy Variety Series		Nominated
2001	Canadian Comedy Awards	Television - Pretty Funny Male Performance	Ron Pederson	Nominated
2005	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Costumes for a Variety or Music Program		Won
2005	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety, Music Program or Special		Nominated
2005	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Choreography		Nominated
2005	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Hairstyling for a Series		Won
2005	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Makeup for a Series (Non-Prosthetic)		Nominated
2005	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie or a Special		Nominated
2006	Emmy Award	Excellence in Production Design Award		Won
2006	Emmy Award	Outstanding Makeup for a Series (Non-Prosthetic)		Nominated
2006	Emmy Award	Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety, Music Program, or Special		Nominated
2006	Emmy Award	Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics	Greg O'Connor (music by) Jim Wise (lyrics by)	Won
2006	Emmy Award	Outstanding Costumes for a Variety or Music Program		Won
2007	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Miniseries, Movie or a Special		Nominated
2007	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics	Greg O'Connor (music by) Bruce McCoy (music and lyrics by) Jim Wise (music and lyrics by)	Nominated
2007	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Makeup for a Series (Non-Prosthetic)		Nominated
2007	Emmy Award	Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety, Music or Nonfiction Programming		Nominated
2007	Art Directors Guild Award	Excellence in Production Design Award	John Sabato (production designer) D. Martyn Bookwalter (art director) Nicole Elespuru (assistant art director)	Won
2008	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Art Direction for Variety, Music or Nonfiction Programming	Nicole Elespuru (production designer) James Yarnell (production designer) Daryn-Reid Goodall (set decorator)	Nominated
2008	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or a Special (Non-Prosthetic)	Jennifer Aspinall (department head makeup artist) Heather Mages (additional makeup artist) Chris Burgoyne (additional makeup artist) Ned Neidhardt (additional makeup artist)	Nominated
2008	Emmy Awards	Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics	Greg O'Connor (music by) Jordan Peele (music and lyrics by) Jim Wise (music by)	Nominated
2008	Art Directors Guild Award	Excellence in Production Design Award	John Sabato (production designer) D. Martyn Bookwalter (art director) Nicole Elespuru (assistant art director)	Won
2008	ALMA Awards	Outstanding Female Performance in a Comedy Television Series	Anjelah Johnson	Nominated
2008	ALMA Awards	Outstanding Male Performance in a Comedy Television Series	Johnny A. Sanchez	Nominated

Notes

1. http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/05/07/2009-05-07_madtv_hopes_fox_finale_isnt_last_laugh.html

External links

• Official site
• MADtv - Official MySpace
• Planet MADtv
• MADtv - Jump The Shark
• MADtv Streaming episodes on TheWB.com (Only for US viewers)
• MADtv - MySpace Fan Page
• Collection of MAD TV Videos