Title: Harvey Birdman: Attorney
At Law
Featuring The Voice Of: Gary
Cole
Created By Michael Ouweleeen and
Erik Richter
Based On Characters Created By:
William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
Media: Cartoon Network Adult
Swim Original Animated Series (NTSC DVD Screener)
Season Premiere Sunday, April
18, 2004, at 11pm (ET/PT)
Network: Cartoon Network (Check
your local cable/satellite listings for channel)
TV Rating: Not Available At Time
Of Review
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
I remember watching a lot of
Hannah Barbera cartoons when I was growing up. Too many to list here, but I do
remember “Birdman.” As many animation fans already know, the Cartoon Network
has a block of late night programming aimed directly at adults called “Adult
Swim.” “Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law” is one of the original series
Cartoon Network airs along with reruns of such popular shows like “Futurama”
and “Family Guy.”
When I first
read the premise of this show, I have to admit, I was not expecting anything
good. I couldn’t imagine “Birdman” as a buffoon attorney let alone imagine
an animated comedy series where he represents other Hannah Barbera characters in
various humorous cases, but boy was I wrong. “Harvey Birdman: Attorney At
Law” is hilarious. The humor is mostly borderline sophomoric, but it is so
ridiculous that one can’t help but laugh at it at least inside. There are lots
of innuendo jokes and cameo appearances by so many former Saturday morning
cartoon characters, especially some real obscure ones, that the show should
match well with those who grew up on the characters in the 60s and 70s as well
as the college crowd looking for something different.
Between the
new season premiere date on April 18, 2004 through to the season finale on June
13, 2004, viewers will get to see Harvey Birdman face 9 new legal challenges
that will include guest appearances by members of the Flintstones, the Jetsons,
Grape Ape, Speed Buggy, and the father/son combo Doggie Daddy and Augie Doggie.
I screened three episodes from the new season, which feature a spoof on the
American With Disabilities Act when Harvey defends Inch-High Private Eye for
wrongful termination of his employment. Another episode has Harvey defend washed
up daredevil Ernie Devlin. The funniest has Birdman become addicted to
self-tanning crème while representing former cartoon star Ding-a-Ling in a case
involving the illegal use of Ding-a-Ling’s name to host an adult entertainment
website.
The artwork is
a bit stiff, but not too bad considering the nature of the series. I was
pleasantly surprised by this funny and original take on the classic Hannah
Barbera animated universe of characters. Don’t miss “Harvey Birdman:
Attorney At Law” when the new season premieres on the Cartoon Network on
Sunday, April 18, 2004 at 11pm (ET/PT) as a part of Adult Swim.
© Copyright
2004 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.