In March we told you about POUND DOGS, the new cartoon from award-winning Nashville-based animator Mike Salva, which features Nashville comics Sean Parrott and Ryan Williams in addition to Atlanta’s Andy Merrill (who played Brak on Space Ghost, and Oglethorpe on Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and some other Adult Swim shows).

Clay animated characters are the stars of this comedy about two dogs in an animal shelter. Blue Dog is showing Yellow Dog the ropes, when they find out that Blue Dog is going to be put to sleep if he is not adopted by the end of the day.

Last time we checked in, Mike had set up a Kickstarter project to raise funding for the production of the new film. Well, we have good news.. and then even better news:

The good news: The Kickstarter project was successful and production of the film was finished a few weeks ago. Here’s the trailer:

The even better news: “Pound Dogs” has been selected as a finalist in this year’s NY Television Festival pilot competition. The cartoon will be competing against a handful of other cartoons for two cable network development deals, one for the cartoon, and one in the writing category. This is fantastic news for this 100% Nashville production. Congratulations to all involved!

For more info about “Pound Dogs” or Mike Salva, visit the Project Meatball website, or check out the Pound Dogs imdb.com page.

Old Hickory’s own Nate Bargatze will appear on Conan tonight, Thursday July 21, 2011 on TBS. He previously appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien on Feb. 5, 2009 and September 30, 2008.

Nate says, “Would love for you to check it out if you get the chance. If not, Thursday then maybe another day and if not then, then maybe I’ll come to your house and make you watch it. I’m not trying to come off pushy.”

Be sure to watch the show! We’ll post the video as soon as Team Coco makes it available.

UPDATE: Unfortunately, Super Dave Osborne walked-on to an already packed line-up (and was hilarious) but.. as a result the show ran long and Nate got bumped! When a new date is announced, we’ll let you know. At least Conan name-checked him and announced his upcoming live dates. To watch the whole (Nate-free, mind you) show, visit TeamCoco.com.

Feel free to cyber-stalk Nate online:
http://www.natebargatze.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nate-Bargatze-Fan-Page/127380467315420
http://twitter.com/natebargatze

EDITORIAL NOTE: This is an opinion piece written by comedian Chad Riden, who does not represent or speak on behalf of anyone, including sometimes himself.

Today, comedian Louis CK took to twitter to defend Tracy Morgan. Over the course of several tweets, he said:

Tracey Morgan said something wrong, evil, cruel, ignorant and hilarious. He was on a comedy stage, not at a pulpit. You have a right to be offended, sound off. As a man who hates violence and discrimination against gays or anyone, I was not offended.

I can have two thoughts simultaneously. 1. Gay people have a right to grow up and live in confidence happiness, honesty and equality. thought 2. Tracey Morgan is ridiculous and I love watching him just go to wrongful and crazy places in his mind and I can laugh.

If every word a person says has to be right and balanced and fair, I will jump off a tall thing onto a hard place. It is clear to anyone with an ability to reason and understand people that he didn’t mean a word of what he said. he was fucking around.

Louis is 100% correct.

I was at the show and although the bit in question did not get laughs from ME, it DID get laughs at The Ryman that night. His “tone” wasn’t any different from when he was talking about butt-fucking “retards” or when he was talking about how women should be at home cooking. Where is the outrage from the retards? Why aren’t we talking about women’s rights right now?

The Tracy Morgan controversy is NOT about Tracy. It’s 100% about TN HB 600 / SB 632 & Stacy Campfield’s ridiculous “Don’t Say Gay” legislation — Both Tennessee state bills are terrible, hate-fueled legislation proposed by Republicans and GLAAD is using Tracy Morgan as a pawn to further their agenda in the state. I do not disagree with them on the real issue at hand, but I do dislike HOW they’re doing this.

LGBT rights / equality is important and Tennessee is a hotbed right now.. but by demonizing Tracy Morgan, the new victim has become free speech. Comedians – and all artists of any medium – must be able to communicate whatever they want, however they see fit. As soon as one subject/word/idea is “off limits” then it’s ALL taboo. Tracy’s words were in the context of a show, NOT a political statement.

Tracy’s act was paraphrased second-hand in text by someone who was offended by a performer who has said similar things many times before. Yes, it was “violent imagery” and it would be “disturbing” IF you thought he would act out literal interpretations of his ACT in REAL LIFE.. but what moron actually believes that?

Sometimes I say the exact opposite of what I mean and exaggerate view points I totally DISAGREE with, but sarcasm doesn’t translate to text. We can’t take the literal meaning of the text of the words comedians say in their ACTS and use that to try to judge their REAL WORLD opinions. Johnny Cash did not kill a guy in Reno. Steven Wright didn’t have a pony. Tracy Morgan wouldn’t stab his kid to death. Use your brain.

If special interest groups who exist ONLY to be offended by things are allowed to dictate what artists can say.. Freedom of Speech is dead.

I have been outspoken in the Nashville media this week. A lot of people I’ve talked to feel the same way. I find it ironic that because of this controversy comedians are now being bullied by the LGBT community.

I’ll be on NewsChannel5′s “Open Line” show tonight from 7-8pm Central (on NC5+) discussing the Tracy Morgan controversy. You can call in: 615-737-7587.

[ UPDATE: Here's a link to video of the first ten minutes of the show. ]

Gay or straight, sane or crazy, I love you – each and every one. Your pal, Chad Riden

BOY did Tracy Morgan stir up some controversy on June 3rd at the Ryman.. I’m sure you’ve heard. NashvilleStandUp’s Chad Riden (hey, that’s me!) has been very vocal about the situation.

I’ve been interviewed by The Tennessean (who just had to copy and paste my email but STILL spelled my name wrong. Way to go, lamestream media.*), US Weekly and NewsChannel5.

You can read my initial reaction to the controversy here on N’Sup.. and NewsChannel5 (CBS) here in Nashville will air part of an interview we shot today on their 6pm newscast tonight (Tuesday, 6/14).

THEN, I’ll be at Zanies telling jokes / crazy stories about Tracy Morgan during my set on the 6/14 N’Sup Showcase (doors @ 6:30, show @ 7:30 – $5). NewsChannel5 will probably come out and tape some of that show tonight and might interview people about their reactions to what has been going on.

Wednesday, I’ll be on NC5+’s “OpenLine” show debating the issue from 7-8pm.

UPDATE: here’s the link to the transcript of the package that aired on NewsChannel5′s 6pm show and here’s the video:

* Unfortunately, sarcasm doesn’t always translate in print. Imagine me saying that while doing an impression of Tina Fey doing an impression of Sarah Palin.

The NashvilleStandUp.com Showcase @ Zanies Comedy Showplace – a showcase of the funniest comedians based in the Nashville area, plus guest sets from traveling comics, and Chad Riden’s IRON COMIC comedy competition with jokes written on the spot based on audience suggestions.

Follow and reply to @IronComic to play along at home.

The June 14th show lineup includes: Nashville’s James Austin Johnson, Riley Fox, Monty Mitchell, Scott D. Hill and Gary Fletcher; plus Pittsburgh’s Ron Placone. New York City’s M. Dickson will headline the event.

Here’s a funny video clip of M. Dickson:

The NashvilleStandUp.com Showcase featuring Iron Comic
Tues., June 14, 2011
doors open: 6:30pm
showtime: 7:30 pm

Zanies Comedy Showplace
2025 8th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37204

tickets:
$5. available at the door, online, or at the Zanies box office at: 615-269-0221

Facebook event:
Tues., June 14, 2011 – 7:30 pm

More info about the N’Sup Showcase @ Zanies is available at: http://NashvilleStandUp.com/showcase/