Web Therapy
Encyclopedia
Web Therapy is an improvised online television series starring Emmy award
winning actress Lisa Kudrow
as Fiona Wallice, a therapist who has conceived of a new form of therapy: the titular "web therapy".
. They are taped in the hope of attracting investors into promoting her new technique as a worldwide therapy option.
A dark comedy, much of the humor revolving around Fiona's obvious self-interests and how they overshadow her legitimate ability to suss out people's issues quickly and effectively. (For instance, in "Sibling Ribaldry," she manages to completely clarify a couple's romantic emotional issues in thirty seconds, but does so only to bring them around so that she can then film them discussing more trivial sexual issues that are more shocking.)
, Bob Balaban
, Rashida Jones
, Selma Blair
, Tim Bagley
, Dan Bucatinsky
, Jane Lynch
, Molly Shannon
, Rosie O'Donnell
and Courteney Cox
. Oscar winning actress Meryl Streep
guest starred in three special episodes that were made after the third series had been completed.
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
winning actress Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Kudrow
Lisa Valerie Kudrow is an American actress, best known for her role as Phoebe Buffay in the television sitcom Friends, for which she received many accolades including an Emmy Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards...
as Fiona Wallice, a therapist who has conceived of a new form of therapy: the titular "web therapy".
Synopsis
Fiona Wallice, is a therapist who has conceived of a new "modality" of therapy: the titular "web therapy". In her estimation, the traditional "50 minute hour" version of therapy gives people too much leeway to talk about irrelevant things. By dramatically shortening session time, she hopes to get results more quickly. Her sessions take place via webcam over the internet using Apple Inc.'s iChatIChat
iChat is an instant messaging software application developed by Apple Inc. exclusively for its Mac OS X operating system. It has audio, video and screen-sharing capabilities as well as text messaging...
. They are taped in the hope of attracting investors into promoting her new technique as a worldwide therapy option.
A dark comedy, much of the humor revolving around Fiona's obvious self-interests and how they overshadow her legitimate ability to suss out people's issues quickly and effectively. (For instance, in "Sibling Ribaldry," she manages to completely clarify a couple's romantic emotional issues in thirty seconds, but does so only to bring them around so that she can then film them discussing more trivial sexual issues that are more shocking.)
TV series
In April 2010, Showtime announced plans to run the online episodes on television with extra scenes being shot. The series is set to premiere with 10 episodes on Showtime on July 19, 2011.Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Streamy Awards Streamy Awards The Streamy Awards, popularly known as the Streamys, are presented annually by the International Academy of Web Television to recognize excellence in the arts and science of web television production, including directing, acting, producing, and writing. The formal ceremony at which the awards are... |
Best Female Actor in a Comedy Web Series | Lisa Kudrow | |
| Webby Award | Special Achievement: Outstanding Comedic Performance | |||
| Best Writing | Series | rowspan=5 | ||
| 2010 | Streamy Awards | Best Female Actor in a Comedy Web Series | Lisa Kudrow | |
| Best Guest Star in a Web Series | Courteney Cox | |||
| Webby Award | Best Individual Performance | Lisa Kudrow | ||
| Best Writing | Series | |||
| Comedy: Long Form or Series | rowspan=4 | |||
| 2011 | Best Individual Performance | Lisa Kudrow | ||
| Comedy: Long Form or Series | Series | |||
| Banff World Media Festival Banff World Media Festival The Banff World Media Festival is an international media event in held in the Canadian Rockies at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada. The Festival is dedicated to world television and digital content and its creation and development... |
Award of Excellence in Digital Media | Lisa Kudrow |
Guest stars
The series has featured appearances by a number of prominent comedians and actors including Julia Louis-DreyfusJulia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Scarlett Elizabeth Louis-Dreyfus is an American actress and comedienne, widely known for her sitcom roles in Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine....
, Bob Balaban
Bob Balaban
Robert Elmer "Bob" Balaban is an American actor, author and director.-Personal life:Balaban was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Eleanor and Elmer Balaban, who owned several movie theatres and later was a pioneer in cable television...
, Rashida Jones
Rashida Jones
Rashida Leah Jones is an American film and television actress, comic book author, screenwriter and occasional singer. She played Louisa Fenn on Boston Public and Karen Filippelli on The Office as well as roles in the films I Love You, Man and The Social Network...
, Selma Blair
Selma Blair
Selma Blair is an American actress who has worked in film, theatre and television. She has performed in feature films including Cruel Intentions, Legally Blonde, The Sweetest Thing, Hellboy, The Fog, Purple Violets and Hellboy II: The Golden Army...
, Tim Bagley
Tim Bagley
Timothy Hugh "Tim" Bagley is an American character actor who has appeared in numerous films and television programs. He is perhaps best known for his recurring roles on the TV series Will & Grace, Monk and $h*! My Dad Says.-Early life:...
, Dan Bucatinsky
Dan Bucatinsky
Dan Bucatinsky is an American actor, writer and film producer living in Los Angeles, California. He was born in New York City to Argentine parents, Julio and Myriam...
, Jane Lynch
Jane Lynch
Jane Marie Lynch is an American comedian, actress and singer. She gained fame in Christopher Guest's improv mockumentary pictures such as Best in Show and is currently best known for playing the role of Sue Sylvester in the television series Glee...
, Molly Shannon
Molly Shannon
Molly Helen Shannon is an American comic actress best known for her work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1995–2001 and for starring in the films Superstar and Year of the Dog. More recently, she starred in NBC's Kath & Kim from 2008–2009 and on the TBS animated series Neighbors from...
, Rosie O'Donnell
Rosie O'Donnell
Roseann "Rosie" O'Donnell is an American stand-up comedian, actress, author and television personality. She has also been a magazine editor and continues to be a celebrity blogger, LGBT rights activist, television producer and collaborative partner in the LGBT family vacation company R Family...
and Courteney Cox
Courteney Cox
Courteney Bass Cox is an American actress, she is best known for her roles as Monica Geller on the NBC sitcom Friends, Gale Weathers in the horror series Scream and as Jules Cobb in the ABC sitcom Cougar Town, for which she earned her first Golden Globe nomination....
. Oscar winning actress Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep
Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep is an American actress who has worked in theatre, television and film.Streep made her professional stage debut in 1971's The Playboy of Seville, before her screen debut in the television movie The Deadliest Season in 1977. In that same year, she made her film debut with...
guest starred in three special episodes that were made after the third series had been completed.
Lisa Kudrow's connection to guest stars
- Courteney CoxCourteney CoxCourteney Bass Cox is an American actress, she is best known for her roles as Monica Geller on the NBC sitcom Friends, Gale Weathers in the horror series Scream and as Jules Cobb in the ABC sitcom Cougar Town, for which she earned her first Golden Globe nomination....
- Former cast member on Friends and star of Cougar TownCougar TownCougar Town is an American television sitcom that premiered on ABC on September 23, 2009. The series focuses on a recently divorced woman in her forties facing the often humorous challenges, pitfalls and rewards of life's next chapter, along with her son, ex-husband, and friends who together make...
on which Lisa Kudrow guest starred.
- Former cast member on Friends and star of Cougar Town
- Dan BucatinskyDan BucatinskyDan Bucatinsky is an American actor, writer and film producer living in Los Angeles, California. He was born in New York City to Argentine parents, Julio and Myriam...
- Production partner and former cast member on The ComebackThe Comeback (TV series)The Comeback is a television series produced by HBO that stars actress Lisa Kudrow as sitcom actress Valerie Cherish in modern-day Los Angeles, California. It was created by Kudrow and Michael Patrick King, a former executive producer of Sex and the City...
.
- Production partner and former cast member on The Comeback
- Bob BalabanBob BalabanRobert Elmer "Bob" Balaban is an American actor, author and director.-Personal life:Balaban was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Eleanor and Elmer Balaban, who owned several movie theatres and later was a pioneer in cable television...
- Guest star on Friends (he played Phoebe Buffay's father).
- Drew Sherman
- Played the cameraman (Dan) in a The Comeback featurette.
- Alan CummingAlan CummingAlan Cumming, OBE is a Scottish stage, television and film actor, singer, writer, director, producer and author. His roles have included the Emcee in Cabaret, Boris Grishenko in GoldenEye, Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler in X2: X-Men United, Mr. Elton in Emma, and Fegan Floop in the Spy Kids trilogy...
- Co-star in Romy and Michele's High School ReunionRomy and Michele's High School ReunionRomy and Michele's High School Reunion is a 1997 comedy film starring Lisa Kudrow, Mira Sorvino, Janeane Garofalo, Camryn Manheim, and Alan Cumming directed by David Mirkin. The plot revolves around two 28-year-old women who appear to have achieved very little success in life and decide to invent...
.
- Co-star in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion
- Meryl StreepMeryl StreepMary Louise "Meryl" Streep is an American actress who has worked in theatre, television and film.Streep made her professional stage debut in 1971's The Playboy of Seville, before her screen debut in the television movie The Deadliest Season in 1977. In that same year, she made her film debut with...
- Both alumnae of Vassar CollegeVassar CollegeVassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
, where they both currently serve on the Board of Trustees.
- Both alumnae of Vassar College