Downtown
Drawn from real life.
Downtown is an animated series on MTV on urban life, based on interviews with real people. The show follows a diverse and multiracial cast who live in New York City, and presents their everyday lives through quirky, humorous, and imaginative perspectives from the characters. It was created by Chris Prynoski, a former animator on Beavis and Butt-Head and produced by David McGrath. In 2000, Downtown was nominated for an Emmy in the category of outstanding animated program. Downtown faced a similar fate to many of MTV's other cartoons - it only lasted one season. The use of an original score rather than licensed music makes a sanctioned DVD release unlikely. Some of the show's staff have gone on to work on the action animated series Megas XLR, which uses the same quirky humor found in Downtown as well as the character Goat, reprised by Scott Rienecker.
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Episodes
1. Sin Bin
Alex moves into his own apartment, which turns out to be a total dump. When a young punk steals the moving van, Chaka is determined to get it back.
2. Train Pain
Chaka and Mecca challenge Fruity and Matt to a battle-of-the-sexes subway race. Meanwhile, Alex and Jen's competitive board game play results in a big blowup.
3. Hot Spot
A trendy new club replaces a dive bar on the ground floor of Alex's building. Chaka is thrilled, but Alex and Jen are appalled and try to shut the place down.
4. Insomnia
Chaka arranges for Alex to share a dinner of slugs with the exotic Goth girl, Serena. Alex's overwhelming anxiety leads to night after night of insomnia. In the end, it's all worth it when he has an unexpected late-night encounter with his dream girl.
5. The Con
Alex attends a Horror Con, where he is torn between his wish to impress Serena and his geeky, toy-collecting inclinations.
6. Graffiti
A subway line fire creates an irresistible opportunity for Matt to tag the stalled trains. Fruity and Chaka tag along and their friendship is tested.
7. Hotel Bar
Jen accompanies her gold-digging roommate to a fancy hotel bar, while Alex and Goat go cruising for chicks. All involved get more than they bargained for.
8. Limo
Jen impulsively rents a stretch limo for the night and takes Alex along for a ride chock full of sexual tension. Chaka is pursued by Fruity's nasty ex-girlfriend Patty, the meanest Catholic school-girl in town.
9. Testing
Alex, Fruity and Goat take part in a research study. Goat becomes extremely paranoid and Alex's high score leads him to question his non-ambition.
10. Night Shift
Jen is sick of Alex's fixation on Serena and tells him so. But despite her supposed indifference, Jen ends up stalking Serena herself.
11. Before and After
A set of extremely embarassing photos of Chaka are lost and she must retrieve them. Alex's apartment cleaning results in his secrets being revealed to the public.
12. Cropsey Clanners
Alex, Jen, Chaka and Mecca take a trip to rural New Jersey. The car breaks down in the woods, close to where the infamous Cropsey Clanners are said to live.
13. Trip or Treat
Alex finally gets up the nerve to ask Serena out, but when she decides to drop the Goth look, Alex must deal with the question: does he really like her or her outfit?
