Mad TV

Mad TV (stylized as MADtv) is an American sketch comedy television series originally inspired by Mad magazine. The series was based on MAD, a property owned by Time Warner Entertainment (parent of WB Television Distribution) through its DC Comics subsidiary. From the magazine, the show featured animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin shorts, as well as recurring images of longtime MAD mascot Alfred E. Neuman in earlier seasons, though the live-action sketches had no relation to the magazine's content.

Launch
The first broadcast was October 14, 1995. The one-hour show first-ran on Saturday nights on Fox.

MADtv was created by Fax Bahr and Adam Small. The series was originally produced by Bahr/Small Productions and Quincy Jones/David Salzman Entertainment (QDE). After Bahr and Small left the series at the end of the third season (they were later credited as "executive consultants"), the series was handled by QDE and distributed by WB Television Distribution. The series was directed by Bruce Leddy (196 episodes), as well as David Grossman, and former Married...With Children cast member Amanda Bearse.

Finale
In November 2009, Fox announced that the 15th season of MADtv would be its last on Fox. The series finale aired on May 15, 2010. The show was nominated for 35 Emmy Awards, winning five.

Format
MADtv was taped in front of a live audience and consisted of sketches, cartoon shorts, and musical performances. Much of its comedy parodied popular television shows, movies and music, as well as topical, political, and pop culture humor.