Watch Thingstarter
- 2014
- 1 Season
Thingstarter was a web series that aired on YouTube in 2013, produced by the comedy team Above Average. The show featured comedians Sasheer Zamata, Craig Rowin, and Nathan Min. The premise of the show was that the team would invent fake products and create mock crowdfunding campaigns to raise money for them.
Each episode began with the team introducing a new product idea, such as a mobile app that would translate baby cries into human language or a device that would allow users to control the weather. The team would then create a fake crowdfunding campaign for the product, complete with a video pitch, testimonials from fictional users, and a list of rewards for backers.
Over the course of the show, the team tackled a wide range of products, from a virtual reality headset that simulates childhood trauma to a fitness tracker that measures how much time you spend arguing with your spouse. The episodes were filmed in a mockumentary style, with the team often breaking the fourth wall to comment on the absurdity of their own ideas.
One of the standout episodes of the series was the "Smart Belt" episode, in which the team created a belt that would measure the wearer's waistline and send notifications on their phone if they were gaining too much weight. The team even created a fake ad for the product featuring a man struggling to zip up his pants before discovering the Smart Belt.
As the series progressed, the team became more ambitious with their product ideas, often incorporating complex technology or social commentary into their inventions. In one episode, they created a device that would allow users to experience racism in virtual reality, while in another, they invented a service that would send trained actors to attend family gatherings and play the role of the perfect son or daughter.
Despite the often ridiculous nature of their product ideas, the team's commitment to the satire of the start-up culture was unwavering. They even created a fake TED Talk in which they presented their latest product idea, an "emotional condom" that would allow users to block out unwanted emotions.
Overall, Thingstarter was a clever and entertaining satire of the world of crowdfunding and start-up culture. With its well-executed mockumentary style and talented cast, it managed to both poke fun at and comment on the absurdity of the world of tech innovation.