Variety asked bonafide Dungeons & Dragons expert Spencer Crittenden — of “Harmontown” and “HarmonQuest” fame — to watch Amazon Prime Video’s new series “The Legends of Vox Machina” and give his take on the show. Crittenden knows a thing or two about turning his experience as a Dungeon Master into a bit of a career, and that’s exactly what the Critical Role team has done on their popular D&d stream — which has now led to “Vox Machina.” Here’s Crittenden’s review.
It’s hard to explain to the outside observer what Amazon Prime Video’s new animated series “The Legend of Vox Machina” means for the D&d fans of the world. Dungeons and Dragons, the once-reviled and still deeply misunderstood fantasy game, is enjoying unprecedented popularity in our current age of never-ending content and streaming. Thousands of creators have all garnered millions of views on Dungeons and Dragons content,...
It’s hard to explain to the outside observer what Amazon Prime Video’s new animated series “The Legend of Vox Machina” means for the D&d fans of the world. Dungeons and Dragons, the once-reviled and still deeply misunderstood fantasy game, is enjoying unprecedented popularity in our current age of never-ending content and streaming. Thousands of creators have all garnered millions of views on Dungeons and Dragons content,...
- 1/27/2022
- by Spencer Crittenden
- Variety Film + TV
Ellation-owned Vrv, the streaming platform that aggregates over-the-top video services into one destination, has announced that it is bringing back HarmonQuest for a third season.
Produced by Universal Cable Productions and Starburns Industries, the series is a mix of adult animation and live improvisation. Created by Dan Harmon, the man behind the breakout hit “Rick and Morty,” and longtime partner Spencer Crittenden, production for the new season will begin this fall in Los Angeles.
Also Read: 5 Questions With Ellation's Eric Berman on the Importance of Aggregation in a Saturated Ott Market
“Thanks to Vrv’s dedication to serving fandoms and growing communities, they’re the perfect home and partner for HarmonQuest and all adventurous and fantastical content online, we’re proud to stand tall with Otter Media powerhouses like Crunchyroll and Rooster Teeth,” said Spencer Crittenden.
The new season will star Harmon, Crittenden, Erin McGathy and Jeff B. Davis, who...
Produced by Universal Cable Productions and Starburns Industries, the series is a mix of adult animation and live improvisation. Created by Dan Harmon, the man behind the breakout hit “Rick and Morty,” and longtime partner Spencer Crittenden, production for the new season will begin this fall in Los Angeles.
Also Read: 5 Questions With Ellation's Eric Berman on the Importance of Aggregation in a Saturated Ott Market
“Thanks to Vrv’s dedication to serving fandoms and growing communities, they’re the perfect home and partner for HarmonQuest and all adventurous and fantastical content online, we’re proud to stand tall with Otter Media powerhouses like Crunchyroll and Rooster Teeth,” said Spencer Crittenden.
The new season will star Harmon, Crittenden, Erin McGathy and Jeff B. Davis, who...
- 10/2/2018
- by Matt Lopez
- The Wrap
Some folks might look at Spencer Crittenden and see a walking, talking stereotype that many of them might snicker at and make fun of. What they don’t realize is that while he does exemplify the stereotypical D&D player in many ways he’s still a very intelligent and imaginative human being. Spencer has been playing D&D for over half of his life it sounds like and aside from looking like the typical individual that doesn’t get out much and might live with his parents he has showed a great deal of talent when interacting with like-minded people that enjoy the skills
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Spencer Crittenden...
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Spencer Crittenden...
- 7/12/2018
- by Tom
- TVovermind.com
Nick Horton Oct 6, 2017
Nick has dug up 10 highly recommended gems from the digital online world for your viewing pleasure...
It’s no secret that the gap between premium television (paid for by and broadcast on traditional networks and/or the big online players like Netflix and Amazon) is getting smaller. Not in terms of budgets, but in terms of creativity, talent and opportunity. Increasingly the next big thing might come from the online world, and that wouldn’t be such a strange thing. Broad City and Insecure, two celebrated Us comedy series, both had their origins online, with sketches by Abbi and Ilana, and Issa Rae’s Awkward Black Girl. The celebrated Fleabag was a BBC Three digital show.
See related The Punisher yanked from Nycc by Netflix after gun violence Iron Fist season 2: Elektra writer takes over as showrunner Luke Cage season 2: new image reveals another familiar...
Nick has dug up 10 highly recommended gems from the digital online world for your viewing pleasure...
It’s no secret that the gap between premium television (paid for by and broadcast on traditional networks and/or the big online players like Netflix and Amazon) is getting smaller. Not in terms of budgets, but in terms of creativity, talent and opportunity. Increasingly the next big thing might come from the online world, and that wouldn’t be such a strange thing. Broad City and Insecure, two celebrated Us comedy series, both had their origins online, with sketches by Abbi and Ilana, and Issa Rae’s Awkward Black Girl. The celebrated Fleabag was a BBC Three digital show.
See related The Punisher yanked from Nycc by Netflix after gun violence Iron Fist season 2: Elektra writer takes over as showrunner Luke Cage season 2: new image reveals another familiar...
- 10/3/2017
- Den of Geek
“HarmonQuest” is back for Season 2, although series creator Dan Harmon wouldn’t mind a name change. Harmon and co-star Spencer Crittenden initially wanted a moniker that references “HarmonTown,” his podcast that featured a segment in which the two played Dungeons & Dragons. But now they wonder if the audience is limited by the name in the title. “There’s a lot of people who are like, ‘I don’t know who you are, but this thing is pretty neat,'” Crittenden told TheWrap. Also Read: Dan Harmon Slams Adult Swim's 'Game of Thrones' Jab as 'Lazy, Craftless' Harmon added,...
- 9/15/2017
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Wrap
Spencer Crittenden went into “HarmonQuest” a game master and came out a showrunner. Long the trusted guide of the adventures of Fondue (Dan Harmon), Beor (Erin McGathy), and Bone Weevil (Jeff Davis) on the hybrid animated/live-action series and in other Harmon-led projects, Crittenden has taken a larger role than ever on “HarmonQuest” Season 2. That means not only continuing the ongoing deeds of Fondue and Co., but bringing in a new batch of week-to-week one-off characters to join the fray.
“A big part of role-playing games is that every group is different, every table is different, every player has different values and ideas of what the game is,” Crittenden recently told IndieWire. “They’re all kind of right and kind of wrong, but everyone is still having fun. I think they all highlight the correct way to play and show that you don’t necessarily have to be an expert.
“A big part of role-playing games is that every group is different, every table is different, every player has different values and ideas of what the game is,” Crittenden recently told IndieWire. “They’re all kind of right and kind of wrong, but everyone is still having fun. I think they all highlight the correct way to play and show that you don’t necessarily have to be an expert.
- 9/15/2017
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Dan Harmon's HarmonQuest TV show has been renewed for a second season on Seeso. The live-action/animated RPG and TV series, stars executive producers Harmon and Spencer Crittenden, along with Erin McGathy, Jeff Bryan Davis, and guest stars, as they play the Pathfinder RPG.Deadline reports that in HarmonQuest season two, Boneweevil (Davis) will be banished to the Demon Realm. Fondue Zoobag (Harmon) and Beur O’Shift (McGathy) set out to save him, but realize, "...meddling with powers beyond their control can have serious and hilarious consequences."Read More…...
- 10/19/2016
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Dan Harmon began playing Dungeons & Dragons with his pals as a kid. Now he’s turned a life-long affinity for role-playing games into a full-fledged TV show.
“HarmonQuest,” which premieres July 14 on Seeso, features Harmon and pals on stage as they improvise through the Pathfinder Roleplaying World, with much of their interaction and gameplay then set to animation.
Harmon told IndieWire that he was inspired by HBO’s “The Ricky Gervais Show,” which took Gervais’ podcast with Karl Pilkington and animated their conversations. “I was endlessly entertained by impromptu audio coupled with animation, with the animation bringing what was being said to life, especially when what was being said was absurd,” Harmon said.
“In TV or all things creative, it’s your job to follow your own laughter,” he added. “When I was watching that show I’d be laughing so hard my sides would hurt, which is a rare thing.
“HarmonQuest,” which premieres July 14 on Seeso, features Harmon and pals on stage as they improvise through the Pathfinder Roleplaying World, with much of their interaction and gameplay then set to animation.
Harmon told IndieWire that he was inspired by HBO’s “The Ricky Gervais Show,” which took Gervais’ podcast with Karl Pilkington and animated their conversations. “I was endlessly entertained by impromptu audio coupled with animation, with the animation bringing what was being said to life, especially when what was being said was absurd,” Harmon said.
“In TV or all things creative, it’s your job to follow your own laughter,” he added. “When I was watching that show I’d be laughing so hard my sides would hurt, which is a rare thing.
- 7/13/2016
- by Michael Schneider
- Indiewire
As fans of the twice-cancelled Community TV series know, creator Dan Harmon is a fan of Dungeons & Dragons and other RPGs (role-playing games). Below, watch two trailers for Harmon's new HarmonQuest TV show, premiering on Seeso, Thursday, July 14, 2016. HarmonQuest is a live-action/animated RPG and TV series, starring executive producers Harmon and Spencer Crittenden, along with Erin McGathy, Jeff Bryan Davis and guest stars, as they play the Pathfinder RPG.Also featured in HarmonQuest are: Aubry Plaza, Chelsea Peretti, Thomas Middleditch, Steve Agee, Paul F. Tompkins, Ron Funches, John Hodgman, and Kumail Nanjiani. The entire 10 episode first season drops July 14th. Seeso is NBC-Universal's ad-free, paid-subscription S-vod (streaming video-on-demand) platform. The membership rate in the Us is currently $3.99 per month. The first episode of HarmonQuest is currently streaming for free on Amazon.Read More…...
- 7/13/2016
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
I'm sure most of you are already familiar with who Dan Harmon is, but if not, he's the creator of shows such as Community and Rick and Morty. The guy is a huge geek who, like many of us, enjoys the sci-fi and fantasy genre. The guy also loves to play Dungeons & Dragons and that's what this new series called HarmonQuest revolves around.
The series features Harmon playing Dungeons & Dragons with some of his comedian friends that include Aubrey Plaza, Paul F. Tompkins, Chelsea Peretti, Ron Funches, and more. It takes things to a whole new level, though, when the adventures and stories of the games they play are brought to life through the magic of animation. I've got a trailer and a clip for the series that you can watch below, and it looks like it could be a fun show to watch.
Ten episodes were shot and will...
The series features Harmon playing Dungeons & Dragons with some of his comedian friends that include Aubrey Plaza, Paul F. Tompkins, Chelsea Peretti, Ron Funches, and more. It takes things to a whole new level, though, when the adventures and stories of the games they play are brought to life through the magic of animation. I've got a trailer and a clip for the series that you can watch below, and it looks like it could be a fun show to watch.
Ten episodes were shot and will...
- 7/11/2016
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Chicago - Dan Harmon does not look very good in his documentary “Harmontown,” which is probably why he agreed to the project. The creator of NBC’s cult comedy “Community” is presented wantonly in this documentation of his tour across America to interact with his fans through live recordings of his podcast “Harmontown.”
Director Neil Berkeley (2012’s “Beauty is Embarrassing”) has created a different yet lacking type of tour film, as it whittles a revered showman to a representation of his polarizing elements; of the self-loathing narcissism that defines Harmon.
Rating: 2.0/5.0
The spectacle of Berkeley’s film is Harmon’s podcast, which aside from Harmon’s GoPro & mirror confessions, provides a physical representation of what being inside Harmon’s head is like. As Harmon comes to comedic life by sauntering onstage to be his unapologetic self for an enthused crowd, he interacts with co-host (and actor) Jeff B. Davis, who...
Director Neil Berkeley (2012’s “Beauty is Embarrassing”) has created a different yet lacking type of tour film, as it whittles a revered showman to a representation of his polarizing elements; of the self-loathing narcissism that defines Harmon.
Rating: 2.0/5.0
The spectacle of Berkeley’s film is Harmon’s podcast, which aside from Harmon’s GoPro & mirror confessions, provides a physical representation of what being inside Harmon’s head is like. As Harmon comes to comedic life by sauntering onstage to be his unapologetic self for an enthused crowd, he interacts with co-host (and actor) Jeff B. Davis, who...
- 10/31/2014
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
We're not sure if there's been a figure in the history of television quite like Dan Harmon. The "Community" creator has over the past few years become one of the bigger celebrity showrunners, and whose fiiter-free, headline-grabbing antics and rise-and-fall-and-rise again narrative, have seen him become, if not a household name, then a serious cult figure. Neil Berkeley's documentary "Harmontown" investigates that cult, and the man who leads it. The film follows the writer taking his "Harmontown" podcast on tour in early 2013, six months or so after he was fired from "Community" at the conclusion of the show's third season. For the uninitiated, the podcast is a rambling, chaotic, mostly improvised couple of hours that features Harmon, actor/comic Jeff B. Davis, Harmon's girlfriend Erin McGathy, and Spencer Crittenden, a fan who was picked out of the audience during the tour to play "Dungeons & Dragons" onstage and now serves.
- 10/2/2014
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
The new trailer for the documentary Harmontown takes viewers on the road with Community's Dan Harmon.
This doc chronicles Harmon bringing his Los Angeles-based podcast on a live tour several months after he was famously fired from Community in 2012.
Filmmaker Neil Berkeley followed Harmon, his girlfriend Erin McGathy, the show's 'comptroller' Jeff Davis and resident Dungeons & Dragons expert Spencer Crittenden on a tour of the Us.
Harmon was subsequently re-hired as the showrunner of Community after finishing the live tour, and will oversee the programme's move to Yahoo Screen for season six.
Harmontown contains interviews about Harmon's triumphs and eccentricities from friends and co-workers including Sarah Silverman, Joel McHale, Jack Black and Gillian Jacobs.
The documentary – which was screened at the SXSW Film Festival – will receive a limited theatrical release and debut on VOD on October 3.
This doc chronicles Harmon bringing his Los Angeles-based podcast on a live tour several months after he was famously fired from Community in 2012.
Filmmaker Neil Berkeley followed Harmon, his girlfriend Erin McGathy, the show's 'comptroller' Jeff Davis and resident Dungeons & Dragons expert Spencer Crittenden on a tour of the Us.
Harmon was subsequently re-hired as the showrunner of Community after finishing the live tour, and will oversee the programme's move to Yahoo Screen for season six.
Harmontown contains interviews about Harmon's triumphs and eccentricities from friends and co-workers including Sarah Silverman, Joel McHale, Jack Black and Gillian Jacobs.
The documentary – which was screened at the SXSW Film Festival – will receive a limited theatrical release and debut on VOD on October 3.
- 8/30/2014
- Digital Spy
Dan Harmon is a contradiction. He is happy and sad, loving and cruel, appreciative and narcissistic – but above all, he is bitingly honest. This trait is what makes him a great writer and a compelling documentary subject. After getting fired from Community (the show he created), Harmon began the podcast, “Harmontown,” which became his form of therapy in the wake of this latest rejection. Hamontown follows Harmon, along with his co-host Jeff B. Davis, Dungeon Master Spencer Crittenden and his girlfriend Erin McGathy, as they take “Harmontown” on the road. Harmon is also faced with writing two new pilots, one for CBS and one for Fox, which become “homework” he is constantly working on (or not working on) while on the road. Director Neil Berkeley asks Harmon at the beginning of Harmontown what he learned while on tour and the rest of the documentary works to try and answer this question. Berkeley...
- 6/17/2014
- by Allison Loring
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Honesty has gotten Dan Harmon in trouble in the past -- whether you're a fan of his or not, you're likely well-aware of Harmon's much-publicized trials with "Community," his meta-sitcom, beloved by critics and a small-but-diehard fan base. The show was taken away from him in May 2012, but honesty also seemingly ended up being his salvation, and not just because NBC hired him back to run the show's fifth season in June 2013.
Somewhere along the way, the "Community" mantra-turned-meme of six seasons and a movie became 20 shows and a documentary. And much like another fan favourite ousted by NBC, Harmon decided to hit the road during the ensuing layoff, taking his nerd-friendly podcast Harmontown on a 20-city, 23-day cross-country tour with a documentary crew, his co-host Jeff Davis, fiancée Erin McGathy and personal D&D dungeon master Spencer Crittenden in tow. Bringing his brand of unfettered candour to the people...
Somewhere along the way, the "Community" mantra-turned-meme of six seasons and a movie became 20 shows and a documentary. And much like another fan favourite ousted by NBC, Harmon decided to hit the road during the ensuing layoff, taking his nerd-friendly podcast Harmontown on a 20-city, 23-day cross-country tour with a documentary crew, his co-host Jeff Davis, fiancée Erin McGathy and personal D&D dungeon master Spencer Crittenden in tow. Bringing his brand of unfettered candour to the people...
- 4/25/2014
- by Rick Mele
- Moviefone
Within seconds after sitting down to watch "Harmontown," you will notice that the doc is brought to you by "Starburns Industries." For those in the know, the production company is paying homage to one of the bit characters played by Dino Stamatopoulos on the TV show "Community." Those who watch the show will get a lot out of "Harmontown," and there may just be something for everyone else.
Dan Harmon is the comedic genius behind programs like "The Sarah Silverman Show," and the cult pilot one-off "Heat Vision and Jack," but his baby is "Community." The NBC art-sitcom experiment has been a massive underground hit, rewarding endless fanboys and girls with rapid-fire cultural references, endearing nerdy characters and non-stop punchy one-liners. The show is by no means a ratings-getter, and every new season is borne out of a turbulent gestation. Harmon's perfectionist work ethic towards the production and casting of...
Dan Harmon is the comedic genius behind programs like "The Sarah Silverman Show," and the cult pilot one-off "Heat Vision and Jack," but his baby is "Community." The NBC art-sitcom experiment has been a massive underground hit, rewarding endless fanboys and girls with rapid-fire cultural references, endearing nerdy characters and non-stop punchy one-liners. The show is by no means a ratings-getter, and every new season is borne out of a turbulent gestation. Harmon's perfectionist work ethic towards the production and casting of...
- 4/24/2014
- by Mark Wigmore
- Moviefone
We're not sure there's been a figure in the history of television quite like Dan Harmon. The "Community" creator has, over the past few years, become one of the bigger celebrity showrunners, a writer as well-known as any of his creations, and whose fiiter-free, headline-grabbing antics, and rise-and-fall-and-rise again narrative, have seen him become, if not a household name, then a serious cult figure. Neil Berkeley's documentary "Harmontown," which screened at the SXSW Festival this past week, is an investigation into that cult, and the man who leads it. The film follows the national tour that the writer took his "Harmontown" podcast on the road with in early 2013, six months or so after he was fired from "Community" after the end of the third series. The podcast, for the uninitiated is a rambling, chaotic, mostly unprepared couple of hours that features Harmon, actor/comic Jeff B. Davis, Harmon's girlfriend Erin McGathy,...
- 3/15/2014
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
I really have to commend Community for how subtle it has been in the handling of Donald Glover’s departure. I would’ve expected any other comedy to make a lot of noise in the aftermath of his final episode, shoving the gaping black hole he’s leaving behind in our faces. I am quite thankful this hasn’t been Community’s goal. Troy has been mentioned, but fleetingly and only as a subconscious motivator for certain storylines, specifically those involving Abed. It would’ve been much more annoying to endure several episodes of Abed bemoaning the loss of his best friend, instead we are smartly treated to the stories of a young man trying to find his way on his own. It’s still about Troy in a sense, but not in a way that is obnoxious. These are Abed’s stories and his friendship with Troy informs them in a heart-warming way.
- 3/15/2014
- by Brody Gibson
- Boomtron
Review Mark Harrison 14 Mar 2014 - 07:32
After a run of inventive, bonkers episodes, Community feels somewhat generic this week. Here's Mark's review...
This review contains spoilers.
5.9 Vcr Maintenance And Educational Publishing
“If Rachel or I win, Rachel moves in. If you or Anthony win, I'll gladly surrender, and count down the days until he eats me.”
After a blinding run of episodes, Vcr Maintenance And Educational Publishing feels almost generic. Well, not generic- there's no show that could do an episode that was principally about a Wild West-themed Vcr-based board game, and come off as generic. But as we approach the final stretch of the fifth season, this marks the first point since the gas-leak year where it (at least partly) feels like a product of its own tropes.
The main issue is really that the B-plot overwhelms much of the central premise - perhaps that's inevitable, given how more...
After a run of inventive, bonkers episodes, Community feels somewhat generic this week. Here's Mark's review...
This review contains spoilers.
5.9 Vcr Maintenance And Educational Publishing
“If Rachel or I win, Rachel moves in. If you or Anthony win, I'll gladly surrender, and count down the days until he eats me.”
After a blinding run of episodes, Vcr Maintenance And Educational Publishing feels almost generic. Well, not generic- there's no show that could do an episode that was principally about a Wild West-themed Vcr-based board game, and come off as generic. But as we approach the final stretch of the fifth season, this marks the first point since the gas-leak year where it (at least partly) feels like a product of its own tropes.
The main issue is really that the B-plot overwhelms much of the central premise - perhaps that's inevitable, given how more...
- 3/14/2014
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
When Community showrunner Dan Harmon was axed from his metasitcom in 2012, it was the result of a showbiz shit-storm triggered at his oddball variety show "Harmontown." One night, in the black-box backroom of the Hollywood geek headquarters Meltdown Comics, Harmon shared voicemails in which Chevy Chase called him an "asshole, alcoholic fat shit" and invited him to "suck my cock." He was kicked off Community after three seasons, forced to watch it rebooted with replacement directors. (He'd eventually be rehired back in June 2013, in time to head up the show's fifth season.
- 3/10/2014
- Rollingstone.com
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