Invasion Iowa
Series Overview
Invasion Iowa is a television series that aired on Spike TV beginning on March 29, 2005, on ITV4 beginning on 3 November 2005 and The Comedy Channel in April 2007. The series depicts events from September 2004, in which William Shatner played a hoax on the small town of Riverside, Iowa by claiming to film a science fiction movie there. Unbeknownst to the residents of Riverside, the movie was in fact fake, a satire on the genre. In front of and behind the cameras, Shatner and his purported entourage performed a living, breathing parody of Hollywood. Producers designed the various plots and gags to elicit reactions from the townspeople. Shatner played the part of the eccentric star. Improvisational actors pretended to be members of his entourage. Residents of Riverside were encouraged to audition for parts in the movie and take jobs on its crew, only to bear witness, firsthand, to an elaborate send-up of tinseltown. Producers chose Riverside because it is the self-proclaimed future birthplace of Shatner's most enduring character, Captain James T. Kirk. Invasion Iowa was created by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who also created Spike TV's earlier "reality parody" series, The Joe Schmo Show, and its sequel, Joe Schmo 2.
Broadcast Schedule & Network Information
Airing status, episode counts, upcoming schedule, and network syndication.
1 Season • 4 Episodes
60 min per episode
2005 – 2005
Premiered: Tue, Mar 29, 2005
Paul Wernick
Rhett ReeseLatest Aired Episode
Season 1, Episode 4: “It Came from Her Popo”
The shenanigans continue as Shatner puts in place a prank to change the name of Riverside to ""Billville."" Shatner meets Don Rath ""Coon,"" who shares the story of his ""raccoon penis."" Gryffyn reports on changes made to her Popo story, based on feedback, but it turns out that it's even more outrageous than before. Filming is completed on the phony Invasion Iowa movie, at which point Shatner tells the Iowa cast and crew that there's not going to be any movie. After he reveals the reality TV show hoax, the actors and actresses reveal their real identities, but one of the Iowans is so incensed that they feel they've lost him. Still, everyone comes back together in time for the big reveal to the entire town. The town is given $100,000, plus an additional $12,000 to the Riverside Elementary from the crew, as well as special prizes to many of the Iowa cast and crew. Following this is the world premiere of the phony Invasion Iowa movie. Finally, the audience learns about what happened following
Seasons & Episodes Breakdown
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Invasion Iowa
Type: Trailer • Published 2008-02-06
Cast & Creators
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Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Paul Wernick, Rhett Reese
Paul Wernick
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Invasion Iowa.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Invasion Iowa
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What is Invasion Iowa about?
Invasion Iowa is a television series that aired on Spike TV beginning on March 29, 2005, on ITV4 beginning on 3 November 2005 and The Comedy Channel in April 2007. The series depicts events from September 2004, in which William Shatner played a hoax on the small town of Riverside, Iowa by claiming to film a science fiction movie there. Unbeknownst to the residents of Riverside, the movie was in fact fake, a satire on the genre. In front of and behind the cameras, Shatner and his purported entourage performed a living, breathing parody of Hollywood. Producers designed the various plots and gags to elicit reactions from the townspeople. Shatner played the part of the eccentric star. Improvisational actors pretended to be members of his entourage. Residents of Riverside were encouraged to audition for parts in the movie and take jobs on its crew, only to bear witness, firsthand, to an elaborate send-up of tinseltown. Producers chose Riverside because it is the self-proclaimed future birthplace of Shatner's most enduring character, Captain James T. Kirk. Invasion Iowa was created by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who also created Spike TV's earlier "reality parody" series, The Joe Schmo Show, and its sequel, Joe Schmo 2.
How many seasons does Invasion Iowa have?
Invasion Iowa comprises 1 season available to explore.
Who stars in Invasion Iowa?
Key cast members in Invasion Iowa include William Shatner, Desi Lydic, Bill Blank, Ernie Grunwald, Michael O'Hara.
Who created or directed Invasion Iowa?
Invasion Iowa was developed and directed by Paul Wernick, Rhett Reese.