Unless you've been blinded by a tear gas grenade launcher in the last month, you've probably noticed that Sam & Max were due to make their long-awaited return today in Culture Shock. For North Americans, the wait is finally over, as GameTap has announced the release of the first episode on the broadband entertainment network, along with a "Making of" documentary.

Culture Shock is the pilot episode in a six-part series that will resume in December and release monthly through next April. Each episode will premiere exclusively on GameTap for fifteen days, followed by a worldwide release for download and purchase by the game's developer, Telltale Games.

Between games, GameTap will also be running weekly episodes of the short-lived 1997 Sam & Max television cartoon and brand new machinima shorts created by Telltale. For a more detailed look at the proposed release schedule, be sure to check out GameTap's updated Sam & Max web page. It's an ambitious schedule with seemingly no margin for delay, so don't be surprised if these are updated over time, but fans can now pencil them in on their calendars.

Along with the Sam & Max goodness, GameTap also offers access to almost 700 other games and a variety of other entertainment for $9.95 USD per month or less, depending on the subscription package chosen. It's also possible to sample the service for a free trial period, which you can learn more about from the GameTap website. As of today, GameTap has expanded its market into Canada as it is seeks to become a more international presence, though the service is currently not available outside North America.

Today also marks a special day for GameTap in another way, as it's the first birthday for the Turner Broadcasting-owned "virtual game shelf". To celebrate the occasion, GameTap has announced the formation of its "GameTap Original" label, which will continue what it's begun with Sam & Max and the upcoming Uru Live in partnering with independent developers to provide more original content. No new titles have yet been announced under the new label, but today's press release revealed that "the GameTap Original stamp will identify soon to be announced episodic games based on renowned TV and film franchises."