Hey gang. Back again for Just Some
TV. This concept is to point out shows, concepts and ideas that did
not last due to poor ratings, bad time slots and no faith in the
source material. So today we are heading over to the View Askew
Productions. Now for those of you that don't know this production
company, LEAVE MY BLOG AND DIE!!! DIE LIKE A ROTTEN PIG CARCASS ON
THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OF LIFE!!!! Ahem, I could just tell you
though. Yeah, that might be better. View Askew Productions
is the brain trust of Kevin Smith and Scott Moser.
Yes the f**king Clerks guy. Anywho, today I wanted to gab about the
ABC cartoon creation that had to compete with CBS ever engrossing
series Survivor and the NBA Finals via NBC. This is Clerks; The
Animated Series.
Lemme guess, Randal said something offensive. |
Similar artwork and paneling like the
Critic, we join Randal (Jeff Anderson of Clerks, Dogma, Jay and
Silent Bob Strikes Back, Clerks II, Zach and Miri Make a Porno,
Randal's Monday, Stealing Time and Vulgar) a quippy, pop
culture enthused video store clerk, his buddy and butt of many of his
jokes, Dante (Brian O' Halloranof Clerks, Mallrats, How Do You
Know, Mr. Hush, Hooking Up, Pokemon, The Happening and Clerks II)
a directionless but intelligent guy that has no idea what he wants
out of life but it's definitely not work the convenience store Quik
Stop and our favorite drug peddling mischief makers Jay (Jason
Mewes of Clerks, Mallrats, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back,
Vigilante Diaries, Devil's Tower, The Night Crew, The Last House,
Clerks II and Yoga Hosers) and his hetro lifemate Silent Bob
(Writer/director Kevin Smith of Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy,
Dogma, Zach and Miri Make a Porno, Red State, Tusk, Yoga Hosers and
Holidays)
Kneel before Zod!! |
No we're are not in black & white
but glorious animated colors as our hapless heroes journey through
this crazy thing called life on adventures, excitement and really
cool things. Oh wait, no they don't. So being released on ABC, the
vulgarities are toned waaaaay down as we can't go warping the minds
of younguns with the "dirty words". So instead point out
that kids play doctor, hang out with NBA all-stars like Charles
Barkley and find entertainment on rainy days.
Jay and Silent Bob still smoke but
there is no weed peddling. More on the lines of Mexican fireworks,
slacking off and in general just looking for some fun. Dante and
Randal have to contend with the show's main antagonist, the crafty
and methodical Lex Luthor/Mr. Burns hybrid Leonardo Leonardo (Alec
Baldwin of Beetlejuice, Heaven's Prisoners, Miami Blues, The Shadow,
30 Rock, The Departed, SNL, Boss Baby and Rules Don't Apply)
and his manservant Plug (Producer Dan Etheridge of Veronica
Mars, Izombie, The Nines, The Carrie Diaries and The Good Doctor)
who may or may not be a robot/cyborg or cybernetic organism.
Kind of says it all, doesn't it? |
With veteran voice actors like Phil
LaMarr, Lauren Tom, Kevin Michael Richardson, Jeff Bennett, Tara
Strong and April
Winchell added to the shenanigans, we also have comedians, Dana Gould, Michael
McKean, Al Franken and Gilbert
Gottfried rounding out some
general PG-13 silly. Still love the addition of NBA all-stars
Charles Barkley,
Reggie Miller and
Grant Hill. So why
only six episodes?
Our stories link
up to past events from Clerks but again a bit neutered due to the
ratings board. ABC see didn't see the potential golden goose so they
killed it, cooked and ate it. I hear the executives stuffed their
pillows with its feathers. A better venue for this would have been
Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, HBO or even the Comedy Network. Again
not sure if they could ever regain a foot hold for mainstream but I
was thinking Netflix, HULU are always a good source right there.
In spite of having to keep it cleaner and more wholesome, the jokes
worked, the timing was digital and pop culture minutiae were secured.
Hell the gag after
the episode is similar to the Superfriends and G.I. Joe Learn as You
Go and Grow was celebrity voices added to it. Who knows? Maybe they
will pursue this further down the road.
Well will be accepting donations of Cthulu, our lord and master. |