The problem with most comic strip websites today is that they are just that: A site with a comic strip, and not much else. Sure, the actual comic is what draws the readers to the site in the first place, but most comic sites add little beyond a link to the T-shirts. TomatoTV.net is looking to change that by having multiple comics, in addition to blogs, podcasts, and interactive material, all sharing a common theme- classic television eras. From the action shows of the 80s, to the black and white sitcoms of the 60s, to low budget Sci-Fi shows of every era, TomatoTV has something for fans of every genre.

TomatoTV.net is the brainchild of founders Topher Davila and Mario Martinez. "While developing strips, we looked around at a lot of other comic sites, especially those with multiple comic strips," Davila says, "What we found was that strips on the page had no relation to each other. For TomatoTV.net, we decided each of our different comics needed tie in to each other in some way." To that end, Davila and Martinez chose to set up TomatoTV as a full TV station website modeled after local UHF channels that specialize in reruns. But instead of using actual programs, they created their own genre shows that would reflect specific eras of television (such as the faux 1980s action show McMullet), and then used the fictional station as the background for all of the comics the TomatoTV team has created.

In addition to the multiple shows running as comic strips, Tomato.TV.net has TV listings and humorous episode descriptions for dozens more shows on their site. And the creators make sure everything connects to the overall TomatoTV universe. "The thing we've done that no one else has," says Martinez, "is build an entire world that our comics fit into. For instance, we have characters from Daisy Hill (a kid's variety show set in the 60s) who grow up and then pop up again in Julie's Academy (an 80s-style boarding school sitcom)."

"There is a lot of demand for the types of shows that aren't on the air anymore. Just go to your local movie theater to see that" Davila said. "Our readers are always telling us they wish our shows were actually on TV." After checking the site out for yourself, the folks at TomatoTV.net hope you agree.

TomatoTV.net is a web comic strip site dedicated to new properties that pay homage to classical TV genres of the past. They are based in Huntington Beach, CA.

If you'd like more information about TomatoTV, or to schedule an interview, please call 714-493-3553, or email Linchpin@tomatotv.net