Recently, we had a chance to go to Bento Box animation studios where Brickleberry season 2 production is underway. Find out what we learned after the jump!

It was rather interesting walking into Bento Box animation where Brickleberry season 2 is currently being put together. When you are seated and waiting, you notice on the walls both shows that THIS particular studio is known for (there could be others in there, we just didn’t get to see them). On the left, were pictures of Allen Gregory the one-time FOX series starring Jonah Hill that would only see six episodes. On the right was Brickleberry, the Daniel-Tosh executive produced series getting ready to start season 2 on Sept. 3rd, 2013 only on Comedy Central. In both cases, you have intellectual properties touting big-time names in comedy. So, why is Brickleberry still here and Allen Gregory not? After cancellation, Jonah would go on to do great things like work with Brad Pitt, get nominated for awards, and soon he will also be a part of the upcoming Comedy Central Roast with James Franco. Arguably Jonah and Daniel Tosh would have different, but both successful, careers so one would think their respective animated shows would still be on the air, right?  Maybe it isn’t about the name on the box, but rather what’s inside that matters.

 

Comedy Central has done something really interesting here and as such has potentially unlocked a template that could prove worthwhile post Futurama and South Park. Why not develop the talent ON Comedy Central, make them crazy popular (see: Tosh.0) , then see if they have other ideas for shows?? It’s working for Brickleberry, and it COULD work elsewhere, but its not Daniel Tosh’s name that is the main reason for success of the series because as we just learned name value only takes you so far. Rather, Brickleberry is a cast of writers, actors, and producers looking to make this show better and after watching the first episode of the second season entitled “Miracle Lake” one can’t help but think this series could be a dangerous player for Series of the Year for 2013.  Last year we talked to Waco O’Guin and Roger Black about the first season of Brickleberry and both were on a mission…to make fans have gut-busting laughs. Guess what? Mission: Accomplished. So how about THIS year?

Changes for Brickleberry

“We made some changes” says Waco. What kind of changes you ask? For starters as you may have noticed at San Diego Comic Con, Kaitlin Olson (It’s Always Sunny) is out and Natasha Leggero (Ugly Americans, also on the James Franco Roast coming up) is in as “Ethel”. For those out there thinking this is a major change, it is, but you really can’t tell. To be honest, they sound rather identical, and as such Natasha fits right in. Also added is a new sidekick for ‘Bobby Possumcods’ played by Roger Black and yes Bobby gets an ENTIRE episode to himself which just sounds awesome. The one thing that fans might notice right away in terms of change is the animation as Waco tells us that they are doing away with Flash animation and instead going with a more traditional-drawn series akin to say The Simpsons. And just from seeing the first episode, the timing of the jokes certainly seems to be a lot smoother, and for those fretting out there that the hand-drawn style may add to the production cost which could make network execs look at the show as more a financial burden (see: Futurama) , Roger has got you guys covered saying, “We were able to convince Korean animators to do the hand-drawn animation at the same price as Flash.”  Also, similar to the Simpsons, the guys say that the intros for each episode of Brickleberry will have revolving Easter eggs in each episode.

Not only has there been added production values for the animation, but more writers have been added to the staff. As opposed to last year when  Waco and Roger went into Season 1 with a bunch of ideas for episodes, this season the guys started from scratch but with a staff of people they can bounce ideas off of and vice versa. Both Roger and Waco surmised that writing isn’t the funnest part of the job, but it is the most necessary, “Post productions is SOOOO much better than writing.” says Roger with Waco adding “Writing was a HUGE challenge this season”. Its funny because when talking with the guys about how they go about writing new episodes, it isn’t too dissimilar to how other writing rooms operate. “No matter how bad an idea is, you don’t completely throw it away because you can still take pieces and turn it into something more useful ” explains Roger. Anyone who has watched any behind the scenes on how writing is done on television knows these are rather common practices in writers’ rooms.

What to expect (probably not what you were expecting) Season 2.

While at the studio, the guys were able to divulge a whole bunch of exciting story-lines coming up that includes the opening episode “Miracle Lake” where Woody and Malloy get into the business of selling healing services by way of a local lake all the while Denzel comes across an angry cave-lady that he consistently bangs out. Other stories include Steve getting paralyzed and enjoying the benefits that come with it, Ethel shaves Malloy so that she can send him to school, Steve doing steroids but none of the work that comes with being fit, Connie giving  birth to the Anti-Christ (who is the dad?) and Denzel throwing it into the volcano. A scene that we saw while at the studio is when Woody is a 70s porn star and let me just say the black bar over his dick is the funniest thing I have ever witnessed, and more importantly, what he does with it. Let’s just say he may be eligible for the 2014 Olympic games!

Don’t worry kids, just because there are changes coming for the Second season of Brickleberry, there is one thing that isn’t changing from last season. Gut-busting laughs.

Brickleberry Season 2 starts Sept 3 @ 10:30pm EST only on Comedy Central, check your local listings!