"Enjoy The Show" byJoseph M. Saba and Stewart J. Winter (Seasons 1-12, 15) "The Knockout" by Janos Fulop, Adam Brostoff, and Darin MacEachern (Season 14)
On Cinema (also calledOn Cinema at the Cinema) is an Americancomedyweb series andpodcast starringTim Heidecker andGregg Turkington as amateur film critics. The duo appear as fictionalized versions of themselves. The show started as an independently releasedpodcast from 2011 to 2013, before being picked up as a professionally produced web video series by Thing X in 2012, continuing after the site merged withAdult Swim's website in 2013.[1] The show moved to HEI Network, an independent service, in 2021, with funding given by user subscriptions and special event ticket purchases.[2][1]
On Cinema at the Cinema is the hub of a metafictional 'fictional universe', including the original podcast, 16 seasons of the web video series,[3] yearly liveOscar specials, a spin-off limited series entitled "The Trial",[4] the spin-off seriesDecker, a movie review app, anOn Cinema Live! tour,[5][6][7][8] and a film entitledMister America.
On Cinema also features guest actors, some of whom play fictionalized versions of themselves, most notably actorsJoe Estevez andMark Proksch. The show and fictional universe have a dedicatedcult following of fans who play along with the storylines via social media, often taking sides as "Timheads" or "Greggheads", or "Unityheads" for those that do not take a side.[9] Heidecker and Turkington also startedDecker-Con, where they appear in character and interact with fans.[10]
Early podcast episodes ofOn Cinema were usually no longer than one or two minutes. Heidecker and Turkington would "review" films without actually providing any meaningful information or critical insight. With the video series, Heidecker and Turkington start using a rating scale of "bags of popcorn" ranging from 0–5.[1] While Turkington respects the limit of five, Heidecker often goes overboard giving "6 bags" or dozens more, creating tension with Gregg. Almost every film gets a score of "5 bags"—known as a 'five-bagger'—or higher from both reviewers.[1]
Played byTim Heidecker as a fictionalized version of himself, Heidecker is the creator and host ofOn Cinema. Despite being host, he appears to know very little about the films he is discussing, although he is a fan ofTom Cruise andJack Reacher. Heidecker often uses his show to discuss his conservative views and personal problems, or to promote his other projects, like his action seriesDecker, his band Dekkar or his company HEI Inc. Heidecker is an aggressive and egomaniacal alcoholic, constantly drinking and berating his costars during the Oscar specials.
Heidecker has faced multiple family problems throughout the show. Heidecker has an estranged teenage son from his first marriage, which ended after he underwent brain surgery against the wishes of his wife. He then met Ayaka while she was staying with his family as a foreign exchange student. The two eventually marry and have a child called Tom Cruise Jr. Heidecker. Tom Cruise Jr. died shortly after birth after Heidecker refused to have him vaccinated, and his death led to their marriage rapidly spiraling apart. After they divorced, Heidecker married Juliana, the sister of fellow Dekkar band member Axiom, which was short-lived. Heidecker then began a relationship with Toni Newman, the sole juror who refused to find Heidecker guilty and Heidecker's aide for his political campaign. They married twice, but following an affair and a trip to rehab, a newly sober Toni divorced Heidecker. Later, after Toni’s son Matt is shot and killed, they reconcile, with Heidecker taking the name of "Newman Heidecker" owing to a misunderstanding while getting his marriage license certified.[citation needed]
Played byGregg Turkington as a fictionalized version of himself, Turkington is a frequent guest ofOn Cinema, sometimes acting as host when Heidecker is away. Turkington is a film buff and self-described movie expert, with a large amount of unimportant, uninteresting and often incorrect trivia to share about films discussed on the show. Despite his obvious lack of critical insight Turkington believes thatOn Cinema should be devoted exclusively to "the movies" rather than Heidecker's personal life and views. Turkington has an extensive collection of VHS cassettes located inVictorville, California, which he refers to as the Victorville Film Archives, boasting that it's one of the largest film archives in North America, though its exact size is unknown and has been destroyed on multiple occasions by Heidecker. Turkington's favorite film isThe Hobbit and he describes himself as a "Hobbithead", campaigning every year for the Academy Awards to recognizePeter Jackson and give theBest Picture award toThe Hobbit trilogy, believing that the academy has "a write-in section". Turkington produces many of the show's recurring segments, including "Popcorn Classics" and "On Cinema On Location", and plays Special Agent Jonathan Kington onDecker. Despite his clear antipathy towards Tim, as well as the constant abuse he suffers under him, Turkington repeatedly returns toOn Cinema in the hopes that he will be made co-host.[citation needed]
Joe Estevez (as himself): Joe is a prolific actor and close friend of both Heidecker and Turkington and the second most regular guest onOn Cinema. He portrays President Davidson and President Davidson Jr. onDecker. He is often friendly and forbearing, and often helps both Tim and Gregg out with their projects and personal problems. He staged Tim's intervention in season 8 and was the only person to visit him while in jail in season 9.
Mark Proksch (as himself): Mark is an aspiring comedian and impersonator, having been hired by Tim and Gregg to do impersonations of famous actors, such asW.C. Fields,Charlie Chaplin, andthe Three Stooges, for the Oscar specials. He also played various roles inDecker, most notably the Taliban terrorist Abdul. Mark is a poor impressionist, reciting biographic information instead of imitating his subjects and doing a similar voice for every impression. He has taken various odd jobs related to Tim and Gregg's projects, and frequently faces verbal and physical abuse from both. He has also been arrested and put into comas multiple times.
Ayaka Ohtani (portrayed by Ayaka Ohwaki): Ayaka was aforeign exchange student who stayed with Tim's family. She dated Tim briefly before being deported back toJapan, giving birth to their son, Tom Cruise Jr. They later reunited after a heartfelt plea by Tim during an episode. During Tim's trial, Ayaka called Tim a cold, abusive husband and revealed that Tim forced her toabort their second child. This ended their relationship, and Ayaka returned to Japan and married a new man.
Luther Sanchez (portrayed byZac Holtzman): Commonly referred to as "Dr. San", he was a practitioner ofalternative medicine, serving first as Tim's acupuncturist and later as his family physician with the birth of Tom Cruise Jr. A con-man, Dr. San tricked Tim out of large sums of money for sub-standard acupuncture with dirty needles, convinced him not to vaccinate his child, and provided him with toxicvape pens that poisoned him and later resulted in the death of 19 people at Tim's music festival. He was arrested along with Tim and committedsuicide while in custody.
Tom Cruise Jr. Heidecker (portrayed by an unknown child actor): Tim and Ayaka's son, named by Ayaka after Tim's favorite actorTom Cruise. He died of an undisclosed illness after his father, under the supervision of Dr. San, refused tovaccinate him. Tim hotly contests this, claiming that Tom Cruise Jr.'s death was caused by a fatal buildup ofblack mold at Gregg's beach house. Tim later 'resurrects' Tom Cruise Jr. as a fully-grown CGI mannequin on both the fourth and seventh Oscar specials, with 'Tom' taking a stance against vaccination like his father.
Alessandro "Axiom" Serradimigni (as himself): Axiom is an Italian guitar player who became the second member of Dekkar after meeting Tim atGuitar Center. Loyal to Tim, Axiom at one point donates his hand to Tim via a hand transplant. At Tim's trial, it is revealed that he originally wrote the song that became Tim's "Empty Bottle", despite not being given a writing credit. He and Tim have had multiple fallings-out, such as after Tim dissolves Dekkar and after Axiom has an affair with Tim's wife Toni. He has a sister, Julianna, who Tim was briefly married to.
Manuel Giusti (as himself): Manuel is the third member of Dekkar, having joined in the fourth Oscar special, and is also a friend of Axiom. Overwhelmingly loyal to Tim, Manuel donates skin from his buttocks to repair Tim's burned face and perjured himself at Tim's trial by presenting a falsified suicide note that Tim wrote and had Manuel claim came from Dr. San. He has never cut ties with the band, throughout its multiple rebrands and new members. He is hospitalized when Tim crashes the VFA Tour Bus in season 13, and briefly forgets how to speak English.
Toni Newman (portrayed by Terri Parks): Toni first appeared inMister America as Tim's campaign manager for hisdistrict attorney campaign. Toni was the sole juror in Tim's trial who refused to vote guilty, resulting in the mistrial. While Toni was more competent than Tim in some areas, she was often equally disorganized and didn't hesitate to employ illegal tactics to achieve her ends. She later joined HEI Inc. as the CFO. They married at the end of season 11 and again during the seventh Oscar Special. During season 12, Toni has a drunken affair with Axiom. She goes to rehab and returns sober, revealing that she was constantly under the influence of alcohol the entire time she knew Tim, and admitting that she knew he was guilty. She kicks Tim out of her house and files for divorce, though later reconciles with Tim after the death of Matt during season 14. She splits with Tim again after he makes a film trivializing the death of Matt and starts hanging out more with Joe Estevez.
Matt Newman (portrayed by Tobias Icasatti): Matt is Toni's son from a previous marriage. As a step-dad, Tim tried to bond with Matt in both the seventh and eighth Oscar special, mainly talking about video games. Matt doesn't show much love for Tim, and didn't give a toast at the wedding reception. Matt even messes with Tim, leading him to believe that Dr. San has been talking to him from beyond the grave. Matt was shot and killed during a botched home invasion during the events of season 14.
Michael "LaRue" Matthews: LaRue originally appeared as a bit actor fromDecker, and was later hired by Tim as his bodyguard and private detective. Michael is a right-wing militant who believes in various right-wingconspiracies theories typically found on the Internet and is regularly sent by Tim on errands to obtain personal information on his supposed enemies. He's also a gun enthusiast, the host ofXposed on the HEI Network, and an amateurrapper that performed with Tim's band DEK4R. Since Gregg ran him over during the eighth Oscar special, LaRue uses an electric mobility aid vehicle.
Hank Friedmann: Hank is a restaurateur who has worked for many franchises catering the Oscar specials over the years. In the third special, he runs Chaplin's Chili, serving chef Tom Chaplin's chili. In the fourth special, he now runs Chaplin's Soup and Subs, having split from Tom Chaplin after the brand was acquired. In the fifth special, he runs Chaplin's X-press, now a gas station restaurant. In the sixth special, he runs QwikBite, having legally been forced to drop the Chaplin name. In the ninth special, he runs Tim's HEI Ranch Grub Shack. In the tenth special, he runs Tom's Original Chili and serves chili flavored popcorn.
John Aprea (as himself): An actor best known for appearing onThe Godfather Part II, John first appears on the first Oscar special and later serves as a guest host ofOn Cinema. He also appears onDecker as General Jeffrey Cotter. John tends to maintain a professional composure lacked by many of the other characters.
James Dean (portrayed by Ralph Lucas): A famous actor that many believed died in 1955, until Gregg revealed in 2015 that he had faked his death, bringing him out as a guest in the third Oscar special. Tim refused to believe it was him and got Dr. San to perform a DNA test in the fourth Oscar special, which confirmed he was in fact James Dean. He plays Dracula onDecker.
Wendy Kerby (portrayed by Jessica Ruth Bell): Wendy is a singer who frequents Tim and Toni's church and first appeared in the eighth Oscar special. She joins Tim's band, D4, replacing Axiom. She appears as co-host in the Wendy Kerby Valentines Day Special, but after an awkward attempt by Tim to stage a kiss between her and Manuel, she runs off set and doesn't return.
G. Amato (portrayed by Carlos Barbouth): G. Amato was a mysterious investor and owner of The Amato Group, which funded production ofOn Cinema season 13 and 14. He was introduced in the ninth Oscar special as the person with the most HEI Points. He unofficially adopts Tim as a son in the tenth Oscar special. After the disastrous AmatoCon, in which Tim accuses The Amato Group of murdering Matt Newman and cuts ties, G. Amato steps down from his role at the company and is placed in a retirement home. Tim reconnects with him and, after a confrontation from Joey, becomes responsible for his well being. G. Amato dies in season 16, after eating a long-expired can of soup from the 1950s used as a movie prop in theMa and Pa Kettle franchise.
Kaili Amato (portrayed by Marie Gibeault): Kaili is the daughter-in-law of G. Amato. InOn Cinema season 13, she co-hosts, and provides updates on Hollywood gossip in season 13 and 14. She is a widow, after her husband Chris Amato was suspiciously killed. InOn Cinema season 14, Gregg develops an unrequited attraction towards her, culminating in a failed marriage proposal during AmatoCon.
Joey Patrocelli (portrayed by Eddie Alfano): Joey is an employee of The Amato Group and co-host ofOn Cinema on Demand during season 14. Joey is an athletic, composed, and well spoken man with a fondness for mafia movies. He often comes into conflict with Gregg over his pre-recorded segment, "Joey's Take," and his use of a four star rating system, as opposed to Gregg's five bags. He ends AmatoCon by punching Tim and throwing Gregg, resulting in Gregg getting a settlement from The Amato Group.
TheOn Cinema podcast was produced independently by Heidecker and Gregg. The podcast consists of Heidecker, along with Gregg as a "special guest" for almost every episode, covering movies poorly and with little insight, and often engaging in arguments. Gregg later developed a more pretentious "film buff" persona, and Tim took a turn to being obnoxiously political, sometimes devoting entire episodes to conspiracy theories, much to the chagrin of Gregg.
Heidecker has stated that On Cinema was started out of a desire to mock the podcasting community.[11] The first episode was recorded on the set ofThe Comedy, where Heidecker and Turkington were working together, after Heidecker proposed the idea between takes.[10] In April 2017,On Cinema initiated aPatreon page for funding, most of it going to the Oscar specials, with some of the higher options including receiving producer credits, walk-on roles for the Oscar specials, or live customSkype reviews fromGregg Turkington.[12]
In 2013, theOn Cinema Film Guide app was released, featuring the voices of Turkington and Heidecker reviewing over 17,000 films.[13]
The series moved premieres to Adult Swim's online live streams in 2017, with the series continuing to be posted on YouTube on a delay. The Adult Swim streams later picked up a fan-show series,Big Unhappy Family, in 2019, as a companion to season 11 andMister America. However, in late 2020, following theCOVID-19 pandemic and layoffs that shuttered the Adult Swim streams, it was announced that the show would move from Adult Swim's platforms to HEI Network, an independent streaming service created for the series.[1]
The show has a dedicatedcult following of fans who interact with the storylines via social media, often taking sides as "GreggHeads" or "TimHeads" in the frequent personal conflicts between the hosts which are often only tangentially, if at all, related to films or cinema.[10] During the annual live Oscar special, Tim and Gregg both frequently provide interactive elements via online polls for fans to vote on. This cult following is especially found onYouTube,Facebook, andTwitter, the latter through Gregg and Tim's respective profiles, of which Gregg has completely devoted to the persona of his alter-ego. Heidecker and Turkington have also appeared in character on the podcastsKreative Kontrol with Vish Khanna andThe Best Show in 2015 and 2017.
Heidecker and Turkington also startedDecker-Con, where new episodes ofDecker are shown to fans and the cast appears as theirOn Cinema characters to field questions.[10]
For "The Trial", Heidecker and Turkington upended the traditional review aspect of the series, and staged a mock event where Tim's character was on trial for murder, which lasted over a week. It received acclaim from observers, some of whom called it "brilliant" and "ambitious."[14][15][16][17]
