Carl Squared

TV Kids Weekly, February
6, 2007

NAME: Carl² (Carl Squared)

ORIGIN: The series is based on an original
idea.

CREATORS: Lila Rose, Carolyn Hay and Eva Almos

TV SHOW: Carl², an animated comedy for tweens, is
about teen responsibility, teen attitude, fresh perspectives and the true
meaning of DNA. The series pushes the boundaries of Flash, delivering a fluid
style that mimics traditional animation. The show is now in its third season of
production with 52 half-hour episodes available for broadcast.

Being a
teenager is tough…try being two! That’s the dilemma facing Carl Crashman, a
slacker teen who accidentally generates his own clone after venting about his
life in his online journal. Carl soon discovers that the miracle of cloning is
only skin-deep. His ho-hum life suddenly becomes one of a kind (well, two of a
kind) as he scrambles to cover up the trail of chaos that his exuberant clone
leaves in his wake.

EXECUTIVE
PRODUCERS: Lisa Olfman
and Joy Rosen, the co-founders and presidents of Portfolio Entertainment

COMMISSIONING
BROADCASTER: Teletoon
Canada

TV SALES: Carl² has been sold to Nickelodeon Germany,
Jetix Netherlands, VRT in Belgium, ABC and ABC2 in Australia, RTP in Portugal,
Canal+Cyfrowy in Poland and Noga in Israel. Sales are pending in Latin America
and South Africa.

PRODUCTS: While plans have not been finalized, a
video game, online games, DVDs and a line of school supplies are all under
consideration.

STRATEGY
FOR ROLL OUT: At the
same time as Carl²
was developed for television, it was developed as an interactive website that
is the main character Carl’s online blog, explains Joy Rosen, a co-founder and
president of Portfolio Entertainment. While it was expected that the site would
appeal to viewers, Portfolio did not anticipate to what extent this site would
become a destination.

The
correspondence received from viewers has been invaluable. From a production
standpoint, the writers have instant access to what the viewers are thinking.
Their reactions to the story lines and characters become the basis for ongoing
episodes and the whole process has been extremely beneficial.

Furthermore,
the viewer connection confirms the “stickiness” appeal to
broadcasters. Viewers are seeking out Carl² on more than just television screens
and this kind of viewer accessibility appeals to international program buyers
as well. Broadcasters the world-over are trying to reach their viewers wherever
they are. Carl²’s
interactive website gives the series a competitive edge.

Now Carl² is set to make animated TV history.
Always ahead of the curve, lead broadcaster Teletoon commissioned an innovative
and interactive two-part episode that features the characters competing in a
musical talent contest. At the end of part one the audience will be invited to
determine the winner of the Teen Superstar Talent Search by casting their votes live online or
via text messaging. Portfolio will provide broadcasters with all of the
elements necessary, allowing each viewing market to poll their own audience.
The winner will be announced in the following episode—an animated
television first.