Detour pilot project a hit

“The Simpsons” is iconic in that it was the first real “adult” cartoon that appealed to the masses and then become a modern-day hit on primetime TV. Several others followed like “Family Guy” and “King of the Hill,” and soon all-cartoon networks caught onto the trend and began dedicating their late-night spots to grown-ups. Well, TELETOON, with its evening programming “The Detour,” took it one step further.

The Detour on TELETOON Pilot Project, which was launched two years ago, was an initiative started by the channel to involve viewers in the programming. The idea was simple – get Canadians to submit their own original and off-the-wall cartoons, and offer them the chance of having nationwide exposure when it’s aired on late-night TV. They may even receive a television deal to develop the cartoon into its own series. This year there were over two hundred submissions, and TELETOON somehow found a way to whittle it down to ten finalists. The pilots started airing on “The Detour” last week. 

“The ten selected pilots reflect the broad and sometimes twisted humour that Canadian show creators can offer, and although we can't guarantee a series for all the pilots, I can promise that we are keen to explore risky and innovative ideas and support Canadian producers to find content that will resonate with the discerning Detour audience and hopefully adult animation audiences around the world,” said Michael Goldsmith, Director, Original Content, said in an Astral Media press release. 

Not only were viewers invited to participate in contributing content, but now, they’re also rating the 10 pilot projects and helping the network decide whether to develop the cartoons further.  

Shows will run every week for another eight weeks on TELETOON.