Watch My Damn Channel!

Tuesday’s debut of My Damn Channel promises to start a new era in Web entertainment. Hoping to cash in on the latest in online video offerings, comedian Harry Shearer, filmmaker David Wain, and music producer Don Was, among others, hope to use the Internet to foster creative freedom rarely offered through traditional media companies.

Many creatives mourn the loss of individuality since much of the media has been deregulated. Sterilized entertainment floods the airwaves, leaving little freedom to those who want to broaden the scope or develop new outlets for public consumption. In addition, traditional media outlets are required to stare so hard at the bottom line that, oftentimes, the shows that are produced are mere cookie cutter images of the previous season’s money-makers. The Internet, however, is one venue that is still open to the masses, and therefore, total creative expression. Perhaps "My Damn Channel" will bring a much needed breath of fresh air to the airwaves and open the door to similar ventures.

The revolutionary new website is the brainchild of Rob Barnett, a former executive at MTV and CBS Radio. Barnett believes that Internet audiences want to see professionally produced shows beyond what is offered by TV networks.

"The old media companies don't know how to program for this medium," Barnett said. "There is a focus on reruns and outtakes, and I don't think that cuts it."

Shearer, a well known comedian who provides the voices for several characters on the landmark TV show "The Simpsons", will produce a weekly political and pop-culture satire show. Was, renowned genius producer for music industry heavyweights like Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and Bonnie Raitt, will host a music interview show along with actor Paul Reiser. Wain, writer and director of "The Ten," an upcoming film starring Jessica Alba and Paul Rudd, will produce ten comedy shorts for the site.

Predicting the success of My Damn Channel, Barnett refers to the media buzz created by Will Ferrell’s video "The Landlord", which helped launch Ferrell's outrageously successful website, "FunnyorDie.com". According to the site, "The Landlord" has been viewed more than 40 million times.

Do I hear opportunity knocking? Most definitely.

Shearer’s main pitch mirrors Barnett’s in that the Internet provides huge, untapped creative opportunities in comparison to traditional networks and studios.

"If you walk into any of those places today, you will sooner or later be smothered by network creative input," Shearer said. "And unless you have made the studios about a billion dollars, your project will be creative inputted to death."