In this spin-off of the Saturday Night Live TV Funhouse cartoons, happy-go-lucky Doug hosts a children's show in the vein of Pee-wee's Playhouse, wherein he chooses a theme for the day (Caveman Day, Western Day, Spaceman Day, Mexicans Day, etc.) and encourages his puppet friends, the Anipals, to participate. Of course, the depraved felt animals are far more interested in other activities, including going to a cockfight, visiting a bordello, becoming lab tests, and even getting (literally) high on Christmas cheer!
The worst episode of "TV Funhouse" is "Chinese New Year's Day", rated 5.9/10 from 13 user votes. It was directed by Ted May, Sean Lattrell, Bill Berner, David Wachtenheim, Robert Marianetti, Michael Wetterhahn and written by Robert Smigel, Mark Rivers, Tom Bell, Jason Brandenberg, A.J. Jacobs. "Chinese New Year's Day" aired on 1/24/2001 and is rated 0.6 point(s) lower than the second lowest rated, "Caveman Day".
The Anipals ditch the Funhouse to enter the lucrative, glamorous world of laboratory animal testing, as Doug celebrates Chinese New Year's Day and makes fireworks with a panda.
Director: Ted May, Sean Lattrell, Bill Berner, David Wachtenheim, Robert Marianetti, Michael Wetterhahn
Writer: Robert Smigel, Mark Rivers, Tom Bell, Jason Brandenberg, A.J. Jacobs
The Anipals compare New Year's resolutions: Hojo wants to learn the saxophone, Chickie hangs out with his brother with Tourette syndrome, and Fogey must resist eating his own poop. Meanwhile, Doug dresses as a caveman and builds a dinosaur skeleton out of baby back ribs, and Rocky the Fish takes a group of kids to visit a cookie factory.
Director: Sean Lattrell, Bill Berner, John Schnall
Writer: Robert Smigel, Mark Rivers, Tom Bell
The Anipals appear on The Sally Jessy Raphael Show to get endangered lizard Dave laid. Doug is left to celebrate Mexicans Day with a tequila worm and a Puerto Rican Mexican-food delivery guy.
Director: Ted May, Sean Lattrell, Benjamin Porcari, Bill Berner, Adam Sorota, Brian Kalin O'Connell
Writer: Robert Smigel, Mark Rivers, Tom Bell
Still in Atlantic City, the Anipals attempt to 'unstick' Triumph before his big show. At the Funhouse, Doug tries to achieve weightlessness while dressed as an astronaut.
Director: Ted May, Sean Lattrell, David Lipson, Don McGrath, David Wachtenheim
Writer: Robert Smigel, Mark Rivers, Tom Bell, Sean LeFleur
The Anipals travel to Atlantic City to visit Fogey's old friend, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, where Chickie falls in love with a chimpstitute. Meanwhile, Doug goes on a safari and ends up with a rash from a tropical plant.
Director: Ted May, Sean Lattrell, David Wachtenheim, Robert Marianetti
Writer: Robert Smigel, Mark Rivers, Tom Bell
Doug and Rocky the Fish have a luau all by themselves while the Anipals help Chickie rescue his 95th son, Jason, from a cult.
Director: Ted May, Sean Lattrell, David Lipson, Don McGrath, Benjamin Porcari
Writer: Robert Smigel, Mark Rivers, Tom Bell
The Anipals tap Doug's spine to extract his Christmas cheer. One of Chickie's sons helps to turn the cheer into powder, and the Anipals become addicts.
Director: Sean Lattrell, Bill Berner, David Wachtenheim
Writer: Andy Breckman, Robert Smigel, David Reynolds, Mark Rivers, Tom Bell
Doug must wrangle up his own fun when the Anipals ditch him for high times south of the border in Tijuana.
Director: Ted May, David Concepcion, James Dean Conklin, Sean LeFleur
Writer: Robert Smigel, Mark Rivers, Tom Bell