PROVO — Whitney Call knows how much work goes into a live taping of "Studio C." The original cast member has seen the crew spend a lot of effort — and, she suspects, some sleepless nights — building sets, working on wardrobe and producing props.
But when the cast and crew convened Aug. 21 in preparation for the sixth season of the BYUtv sketch comedy show, Call didn't detect any dip in enthusiasm.
"They start off a show really excited because they know that it's all going to something that in the end is premium content, and it takes everyone to make it that way," Call said. "That everyone is still excited by show 8, I think it's just a great sign of things to come."
Season 6 of "Studio C" premieres Monday, Sept. 7, on BYUtv and its over-the-air and digital platforms. Since Season 5 concluded in December 2014, producer Jared Shores and the cast, writers and crew members — a team that numbers approximately 100 individuals — have been working on a new production schedule in hopes of delivering more quality, family-friendly content that will resonate with current viewers and continue growing the "Studio C" audience on social media.
Season 6 will follow a more typical network cycle, according to Shores, beginning in September and ending in April with periodic breaks in between.
"It's been fun for us," Shores said. "We’ve been able to spend more time writing as a group, and more time in production. We kind of get the flow of things for a longer period of time, which I think has really helped and it's reflected back in the content."
A handful of new sketches have already been released on YouTube, including "Boy Band Breakup" and "Prince Charming's First Kiss." But with 150-plus sketches in the queue for Season 6, that's "just a taste, really," Call said.
The new schedule has also allowed "Studio C" to explore some new territory. For instance, fans can expect a Valentine's Day episode. The team has also been able to implement more graphics and computer-generated imagery.
But Season 6 will also put more emphasis on an area that has worked well in the past: "topical" humor based on popular fan franchises and pop culture offerings. There will be a "Jurassic World" parody; sketches based on Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Back to the Future; and, of course, "a number of Star Wars things," according to Shores.
"This season we’ve made a more concerted effort to hit those more regularly and also really well," Shores said.
A Season 6 "premiere party" is scheduled for Sept. 5 at 8 p.m. at BYU's South Field. Cast members and selected fans will participate in an "epic Bubble Ball soccer game." The first episode of the season will then be shown on a giant screen. (Those interested in attending are encouraged to fill out an RSVP form at byutv.org.)
Of course, a soccer field was the setting for one of "Studio C's" biggest hits. The Scott Sterling sketch — where cast member Matt Meese is pummeled in the face multiple times with a soccer ball while playing goalie — is closing in on 31 million views on YouTube.
Growing audiences on YouTube is a priority for Shores. The "Studio C" YouTube channel currently has nearly 463,000 subscribers and more than 213 million views. That's a healthy ratio, Shores said, because it means "you have a lot of people who are watching a whole lot."
Taking on popular franchises such as The Hunger Games and Doctor Who can expand an audience, but the comedy doesn't have to be "topical," Shores said. "The Top Soccer Shootout Ever With Scott Sterling" didn't fit into that category. What's important, according to Shores, is producing material that viewers want to share.
"If we can continue to create high-quality content that at the end of the day makes people laugh — what our writers are so good at doing — (growth) will continue happening organically," Shores said. "At the end of the day, we always make sure our scripts are the absolute best that they can be."
Shores also emphasizes key partnerships on the marketing side. "Studio C" has collaborated with YouTube influences such as Brooklyn and Bailey, Stuart Edge, CuteGirlsHairstyles, Bored Shorts TV, the Piano Guys and Peter Hollens.
"We can kind of build off one another's audience and say, 'Hey, we have like-minded viewers. Let's see if we can cross-promote one another,'" Shores said.
After three years and five seasons, cast member Stephen Meek said he's "really amazed at how everything has developed." Meek, Call and Shores are quick to credit the talented individuals behind the scenes.
"There’s no way we would have any amount of success if it wasn’t for the whole working machine," Meek said.
The fact that the "Studio C" team is working well together and still having fun as a group is "a big indicator that we think (Season 6 is) good," Shores said.
"We’ve been doing this for over three years of writing, and if we can still make each other laugh, then I think we are feeling pretty happy," he said. "We hope that always transfers to our audience."
If you go ...
What: "Studio C" season 6 premiere party
When: Sept. 5, 8 p.m.
Where: South Field, BYU campus
Cost: One canned food item per person
Email: ashill@deseretnews.com
Twitter: aaronshill