Channel Awesome

Channel Awesome, Inc.

Company type	Private
Industry	Digital media production
Predecessor	That Guy with the Glasses
Founded	2008 (2008)
Founder	Mike Michaud, Mike Ellis, Bhargav Dronamraju
Headquarters	Lombard, Illinois , United States
Area served	Worldwide (primarily online)
Key people	Doug Walker (creator and host of Nostalgia Critic)
Products	Nostalgia Critic, The Angry Joe Show, Todd in the Shadows, The Cinema Snob, other digital content
Number of employees	7 (2011)
Website	www.channelawesome.com

Channel Awesome, Inc. is a U.S.-based digital media production firm located in Lombard, Illinois. Established in 2008 by entrepreneurs Mike Michaud, Mike Ellis, and Bhargav Dronamraju, the company originally managed the website That Guy with the Glasses (TGWTG), which was renamed Channel Awesome toward the end of 2014. Its premier offering is the humorous movie review series Nostalgia Critic, starring Doug Walker, who also acts and hosts.

TGWTG broadened its scope by incorporating channels such as Bar Fiesta (launched November 2009) and Blistered Thumbs (started November 2010). Presently, Channel Awesome centers on its YouTube presence, primarily featuring content from Doug Walker and his brother Rob. Previously, content was distributed through Blip.tv alongside YouTube until Blip ceased operations in August 2015. After controversies arose in 2018, the majority of associated creators severed ties with the company.

Origins

The inception of Channel Awesome followed the 2007 layoffs of Michaud, Ellis, and Dronamraju from Circuit City. This job loss expedited their business launch; Michaud remarked that without this event, the company’s formation would have been delayed.

Simultaneously, Doug Walker began uploading comedic film critiques on YouTube under the persona "Nostalgia Critic." Initially a minor hobby with minimal audience engagement, Walker disclosed his identity publicly after the Northern Illinois University shooting. Due to copyright strikes from major studios like 20th Century Fox and Lionsgate, his YouTube videos were removed. After multiple takedowns, he departed from YouTube to partner with Michaud in developing the That Guy with the Glasses website, where Michaud took on webmaster duties.

That Guy with the Glasses

Launched in April 2008, That Guy with the Glasses showcased satirical commentary on films, television shows, music, comics, and video games. The platform primarily featured Doug Walker’s creations such as Nostalgia Critic (a comedic take on poorly received movies), 5 Second Movies, Ask That Guy with the Glasses, and Bum Reviews. Over time, additional contributors joined the site. Video content was mainly distributed via Blip following earlier challenges with Revver.

In 2008, Walker appeared in a PBS advertisement for Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America. The following year, Walker and his collaborators won RiffTrax’s contest by submitting an iRiff of The Lion King, earning $1,000 and producing a commentary track for Batman Forever under guidance from industry professionals.

Nostalgia Critic drew between 100,000 to 300,000 weekly viewers along with one million monthly page views. After Blip partnered with YouTube in 2009, advertising income surpassed $10,000 monthly and was supplemented by donations exceeding $11,000. In the third quarter of 2009 alone, total revenue reached $53,000—$32,000 of which came from Nostalgia Critic—backed by sponsors like Puma and Starburst. This financial success allowed Walker to resign from his illustrator position and cover COO Ellis’s salary. The site’s growth and future ambitions were featured in Entrepreneur magazine in December 2009.

By 2011, Channel Awesome had expanded to seven full-time employees and was seeking warehouse facilities near Chicago to accommodate its growth. Walker highlighted that their ability to attract audiences cost-effectively gave them a competitive edge influencing online video production strategies.

The network grew to include over twenty shows and personalities. Its inaugural crossover event celebrated its one-year anniversary through a fictional "Reviewaverse," leading to a trilogy of feature-length crossover films: Kickassia, Suburban Knights, and To Boldly Flee. These initiatives demonstrated coordinated content collaboration and brand expansion.

On June 28, 2012, prominent producers including Walker, Lindsay Ellis (The Nostalgia Chick), Brad Jones (The Cinema Snob), and Todd Nathanson (Todd in the Shadows) signed exclusivity agreements with Blip. This arrangement hosted most Channel Awesome content directly until Blip's shutdown in August 2015. The deal increased budgets for production and provided enhanced technical support. Additionally, a related YouTube channel named "League of Super Critics" uploaded uncut videos from these creators to expand their audience reach.

On December 3, 2014, the website was rebranded as ChannelAwesome.com. The original domain redirected there until June 2018 before forwarding visitors to Channel Awesome’s YouTube channel—reflecting a strategic move toward platform consolidation and digital content distribution.

Subdivisions

Channel Awesome broadened its operational scope by introducing several branches under the primary website That Guy with the Glasses. These included Bar Fiesta, which focused on Chicago's entertainment scene, and Inked Reality, dedicated to anime and comic culture. Launched in 2009, Blistered Thumbs served as the gaming content division before becoming a standalone site on November 4, 2010.

Joe Vargas, known as Angry Joe, was the founding editor-in-chief of Blistered Thumbs, with the team assembled from various affiliated platforms. He was later succeeded by Austin Yorski. Despite initial expansion, the subdivision ceased operations in late November 2014.

ChannelAwesome.com

Towards the end of 2014, Channel Awesome underwent a rebranding effort that merged all content from That Guy with the Glasses under the new domain ChannelAwesome.com. The website introduced weekly Spotlight Sections designed to highlight content creators and bloggers, aiming to boost both audience engagement and market presence.

In January 2015, four notable contributors—Andrew Dickman, Kyle Kallgren (Oancitizen), Allison Pregler (Obscurus Lupa), and Phelan Porteous (Phelous)—left to pursue independent projects, signaling changes within the company’s structure and talent retention strategies. Lindsay Ellis concluded her long-running series The Nostalgia Chick but continued creating content independently, illustrating evolving approaches among key personnel.

Noah Antwiler, known as "The Spoony One," also transitioned to his own platform while maintaining involvement in collaborative efforts until approximately Channel Awesome’s fourth anniversary.

By January 2024, ChannelAwesome.com was discontinued, shifting all new content distribution exclusively to the Channel Awesome YouTube channel in response to changing patterns in digital media consumption.

Nostalgia Critic

Nostalgia Critic stands as Channel Awesome’s flagship program, created and hosted by Doug Walker with writing contributions from his brother Rob Walker. Initially launched on YouTube, the series moved to Blip TV in 2008. Its popularity facilitated the growth of Channel Awesome’s content lineup, spawning spin-offs such as Nostalgia Chick.

The Angry Joe Show

Jose "Angry Joe" Antonio Vargas led Channel Awesome’s prominent video game review series, blending straightforward game evaluations with sketch comedy elements. Vargas exited the platform in April 2018.

Todd in the Shadows

Todd Nathanson developed and hosted Todd in the Shadows, a music review show focusing on pop songs, one-hit wonders, and albums that significantly influenced artists’ careers. Debuting in 2009, it became a staple of Channel Awesome until Nathanson’s departure in 2018. Known for preserving his anonymity by appearing in silhouette, Nathanson established a unique identity with segments like Todd's Pop Song Reviews and One Hit Wonderland. In 2023, he publicly accused James Somerton of spreading misinformation on YouTube.

The Cinema Snob

Brad Jones stars as The Cinema Snob, portraying a pretentious film critic who reviews a variety of movies including exploitation films, religious-themed works, and adult genres. Jones joined Channel Awesome with his debut episode "E.T. The Porno" on January 7, 2010. Although initially hosted on YouTube, the show encountered copyright challenges related to Nail Gun Massacre. Jones further contributed to Channel Awesome by creating additional series such as Brad Tries and Midnight Screenings, enhancing the platform’s content variety.

Awards

Doug Walker was honored as Entrepreneur of the Year in Las Vegas on January 6, 2011, during the 4th Annual Mashable Awards. This accolade recognized his effective leadership in expanding Channel Awesome’s brand recognition and market influence.

Activism

In December 2009, Channel Awesome spearheaded a fundraising campaign benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities, successfully collecting more than $32,000 through prolonged efforts that included participation incentives and involvement from talent. On December 15, 2011, senior executives and content creators actively lobbied the U.S. Congress to oppose the Stop Online Piracy Act and PROTECT IP Act, underscoring the company’s commitment to protecting internet freedom and engaging in policy advocacy relevant to its operational interests.

Initial allegations

Between late 2014 and early 2015, numerous veteran content creators departed from Channel Awesome. In March 2018, former contributors publicly leveled accusations against senior management—specifically founders Doug and Rob Walker and executive Mike Michaud—alleging mismanagement and mistreatment. Claims included sexist conduct directed at female producers, unprofessional behavior by Michaud, inadequate production quality by the Walker brothers during anniversary projects, and ineffective communication regarding decisions impacting creators. Lindsay Ellis notably revealed pressure to perform a contentious scene in To Boldly Flee, highlighting internal cultural issues within the company.

These disclosures prompted influential producers such as Lewis Lovhaug (Linkara), Todd Nathanson (Todd in the Shadows), Daren Jackson (Rap Critic), and Mike Jeavons (MikeJ) to leave Channel Awesome in March and April 2018, marking a period of significant internal disruption that affected both operational stability and public perception.

Further departures

On April 2, 2018, more than twenty former contributors and employees published a document titled "Not So Awesome," detailing complaints about poor leadership, verbal abuse, bullying, and sexual misconduct. The company’s subsequent response was widely criticized for its lack of accountability.

In the days that followed, prominent producers including Omar Ahmed (Yomarz), Nash Bozard, Mathew Buck (Film Brain), Tony Goldmark (Some Jerk with a Camera), Elisa Hansen (Maven), Brian Heinz (The Last Angry Geek), Leeman Kessler (Ask Lovecraft), Heather McDonald (Calluna), Dominic Smith (The Dom), Luke Spencer (Rocked), and Chris Stuckmann also exited Channel Awesome. Many cited dissatisfaction with how the company addressed the controversy. This wave of departures reduced the number of active producers from approximately forty to just ten by April 5. As a result, Channel Awesome canceled its planned tenth anniversary celebration.

Second response and fallout

On April 11, 2018, Channel Awesome published a follow-up statement titled "Our Response," aiming to counter major allegations made by former producers Holly Brown and Jane Doe, whom the company characterized as "disgruntled individuals with vindictive intentions."

Within two days, nearly all remaining producers—including veterans Joe Vargas (Angry Joe), Bennett White (Bennett the Sage), Lawrence Simpson (MasakoX), Gaming Wildlife, Bargain Boy, Ryan Molina (Battle Geek Plus), Timid Jester, DToons Productions, and Eric Rodriguez (Blockbuster Buster)—ended their association with Channel Awesome.

By April 14, 2018, only two producers remained alongside the Walkers: Brad Jones (Cinema Snob) and Larry Bundy Jr. (Guru Larry). Bundy Jr. cited feeling marginalized within the community as a reason for his continued involvement. On February 16, 2024, he announced his departure from Channel Awesome coinciding with the website’s shutdown earlier that year.

On August 2, 2021, Doug Walker addressed the controversy during an interview with Korey Coleman on Double Toasted, acknowledging that Channel Awesome had grown beyond manageable limits which resulted in communication breakdowns. He indicated that efforts were being made to foster closer and more personal connections within the team moving forward.