Caffeinated Clint
While many would attribute the success of cartoons within a late-night adult audience to The Simpsons, it wasn’t until the likes of South Park and the folk over at The Cartoon Network started making jokes that related to bestiality, homosexuality and blunt racism that the craft was really honed.
Gary Cole, Stephen Colbert
While many would attribute the success of cartoons within a late-night adult audience to “The Simpsons”, it wasn’t until the likes of “South Park” and the folk over at The Cartoon Network started making jokes that related to bestiality, homosexuality and blunt racism that the craft was really honed.
Come on, how often do you see Homer being felt up by a 60’s Hanna Barberra cartoon? That’s where the likes of Harvey Birdman take the reigns as the king of late night adult cartoon comedy.
Harvey Birdman
Let’s face it, shows like this are a dime a dozen these days. From “Space Ghost: Coast To Coast”, “Drawn Together”, “VHI Illustrated”, “Family Guy”, “American Dad” to other animated adult comedies such as “Robot Chicken”, “STARveillence” or “Celebrity Death Match” – there are very few taboo topics that can be touched on anymore.
In fact, now that I think of it, nothing is taboo anymore! Heck, if I had of tuned into a show like “South Park” (in particular the episode in which Paris Hilton shoves a fully grown man up her own arse) five years ago – the world would have cried “Demonic!”. But these days, it barely registers as a blip on the offensive radar. And one can’t help but think that in pushing the limits so far, programs such as “Harvey Birdman” are digging their own grave.
I must admit, I’ve regularly tuned into the show, which airs on Cartoon Network on Foxtel, and have always found it’s quirkiness quite appealing. It’s just so completely random – which for a lot of comedies – works an absolute treat!
“What separates this from the rest?” I hear many of you ask.
Well, admittedly, a lot of the humour and laughs are lost due to the fact that taboos no longer exist – but “Birdman” has several clever tricks up it’s sleeve that most animated series don’t. Character rights!
Yep, some genius has worked his way around Copyright issues to the point where “Harvey Birdman” is able to use original animated footage and cartoon character likeness’ from the Hanna Barberra catalouge. Meaning, we aren’t simply getting Family Guy-esque humour in which a wry line is thrown in suggesting “George Jetson was a rapist” – but we actually get to see these famous characters ridiculed.
Following Ex-superhero manbird (Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, defender of cartoons in legal trouble) the set up for each episode is simple enough. But it’s where the show’s writers take it that puts Harvey Birdman ahead of the rest.
From Fred Flinstone on trial for being a Sopranos-esque Mob Boss, Magilla Gorilla being portrayed as someones “Feminine Bitch” in prison, Shaggy and Scooby Doo up on drug charges – or Yogi Bear’s lovable assistant Boo Boo being portrayed as a homosexual-bestiality victimized-terrorist who lives in a cave. Nothing is left unscathed. Classic characters from our childhood torn to shreds….and it’s brilliant!
While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea (most scenes are downright non-sensical and absurd) the jokes come thick and fast, there is aforementioned added novelty of the famous cartoons on trial (a highlight is an episode which finds Apache Chief, from “Super Friends”, lose his ability to “Grow” after spilling hot coffee in his crotch) and the show also features an array of celebrity voices including Garry Cole (“Office Space”) and Stephen Colbert (“The Colbert Report”, “The Daily Show”).
The DVD dishes up all the first episodes on two discs, and while the wackiness can get tiresome if you watch more than a few in a row, there are more than a few laughs to be had.
As always the Australian distributors for these cult show, Madman, certainly know how to look after the needs of their fans. “Harvey Birdman” is just one in a series of recent releases of the Adult [Swim] Cartoon Network back catalouge (including “Aqua Teen Hunger Force”, “Space Ghost” and “Robot Chicken”) – and they have really gone all out on these Season Box Sets.
I’ve always said I’m a sucker for a good cover (no iTunes for me!!) and this is one cool looking digi-packaged box. So, theres tick one!
There are several commentaries, including a bizzarely accurate Standards & Practices/Legal Commentary. So there’s tick two!
And of course, there’s a bounty of deleted and unseen footage, Casting What If’s (with Colbert as Birdman), movie trailers and some very cool Animation shorts. So there’s the third tick.
Extremely worthwhile and good looking package which will please even the most avid of fans.
Rating :
Reviewer : Sean Lynch
