MADtv (season 10)

MADtv (season 10)

The tenth season of MADtv aired from September 18, 2004, to May 21, 2005, with 23 episodes. Season 9 ended with Mo Collins and Josh Meyers leaving the cast to pursue movie careers. Thus, last year's featured cast members Daniele Gaither, Keegan-Michael Key, Nicole Parker, and Jordan Peele were upgraded to repertory players. Key and Peele performed a repertory sketch as the "Man Up" crew whose job was to break hexes. After the Ashlee Simpson lip-synching incident on Saturday Night Live, Nicole Parker would frequently appear in sketches as the pop singer. She also performed impersonations of Ellen DeGeneres, Kathy Griffin, and Britney Spears.

The season was also the last for Ron Pederson and Paul Vogt. Pederson left due to budget cuts, while Paul Vogt departed to pursue a career on Broadway. Pederson entertained audiences with his Clay Aiken impersonations, and Vogt impersonated James Lipton on Inside the Actor's Studio and performed his recurring characters 2 Liter Beth (from the Fanta Girl commercials) and Dale Priskett (from The Lillian Verner Game Show sketches). Aries Spears, who had been a MADtv cast member since season 3, also left the show at the end of the season, tying Debra Wilson's then-record for longest tenure as a MADtv cast member (it would later be surpassed by Michael McDonald's ten years). Crista Flanagan joined the cast and was upgraded to repertory player the next season. Her repertoire included neurotic, struggling comedienne Luann Lockhart. Spencer Kayden made her first appearance in episode 15, but did not return the next season.

Several former cast members appeared in season 10 episodes. Will Sasso reprised his role as Kenny Rogers in a reality show spoof. Mo Collins returned to portray the characters Doreen Larkin and Lorraine Swanson. Artie Lange also returned for two episodes. Alex Borstein reprised her role as Miss Swan and joined her Family Guy co-star Seth Green for another Brightling sketch. Notably, original cast members Nicole Sullivan and Debra Wilson appeared as some of their famous characters. Staff writer Steven Cragg appeared in three episodes starring in self-made short films.

The title sequence begins with the MADtv logo appearing above the Los Angeles skyline. The theme song, which is performed by the hip-hop group Heavy D & the Boyz, begins and each repertory cast member is introduced alphabetically, followed by the featured cast. When all cast members and guests are introduced, the music stops and the title sequence ends with the phrase "You are now watching MADtv."