HBO Downtown Productions

Credits

Descriptions by
James Fabiano, Kris Starring, and Zach Harden

Captures by
Doctorine Dark

Editions by
V of Doom

Video captures courtesy of
Broken Saw and LogicSmash

Background

HBO Downtown Productions was a production company of HBO that was launched in 1988 to produce comedy specials for the network as well as content for Comedy Central (which HBO formerly co-owned with Viacom International). In 2001, the company was dissolved (though their last production was aired on February 24, 2002).

1st Logo (November 28, 1989-December 24, 1999)

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Visuals: On a black background, there is a dressing screen with each panel in a different color (from left to right: yellow with a pink bottom, green with a black bottom, pink with a dark blue bottom, red with a yellow bottom, and dark blue with a white bottom) and positioned at an angle. The words "IN ASSOCIATION WITH" are above the panels, and the white text "HBO DOWNTOWN PRODUCTIONS" (with "HBO" in its trademark font) is in front.

Variants:

• From 1995 to 1997, the panels' colors were slightly changed (with the yellow and green parts being in different shades) and "IN ASSOCIATION WITH" was replaced with "This Has Been A Presentation Of" and the byline "A Subdivision of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P." was added below.
• From 1997 to 1998, the panels' colors were changed again (with the yellow and green parts being in their original shades and the pink ones in a new shade), and they were made smaller.
• From 1998 to 1999, the panels reverted to their original colors but kept the presentation text and the byline from the later variants.

Technique: A still graphic.

Audio: None or the end theme of the show.

Availability:

• It's seen at the end of Comedy Central-era episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. It's retained on a few episodes of MST3K on PlutoTV, but is usually removed on DVD releases.
• The 1995 variant can be seen on the last Comedy Central season of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and seasons one to four of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.
• The 1997 variant can be seen on season five of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist and season 1 episodes of The Chris Rock Show.
• The 1998 variant can be found on the first six episodes of season six of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.

2nd Logo (September 12, 1997-February 24, 2002)

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Visuals: Same as the previous logo, but the panels are CGI and have glitter on them, and the text is also in CGI and slowly zooms towards the screen. The byline and the "In association with" text are also omitted.

Variants:

• Early versions have a gray background with a faint spotlight on the logo.
• The logo may or may not have a trademark symbol "™" on the company name.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The end theme of the show.

Availability: It's seen on all season six episodes of Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist excluding the first six and on seasons 2-5 of The Chris Rock Show.