Dave’s article! Burgled, plundered, purloined! Ha ha... loins. I’m raising the warning level to the cover of Rush's seminal album “Moving Pictures.
Yes everyone that understood any of the title or that caption, it’s time to talk about “Harvey Birdman…ATTORNEY AT LAW.” Thattheme song has been on my IPod since I got one. A bit of a personal aside, this show may be responsible for a lot of my entertainment choices. My old pal Garrett told me about something called “Adult Swim” and said I had to watch it. I thought it sounded dumb, but flipped to it one of those care free teenage nights over summer and saw this show. The colors, the noise, the chaos and the complete insanity drew me in immediately. I have never been interested in drugs, so I started watching this and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. That’s enough to get anyone a little high.
Unlike stupid Lil’ Wayne, Phil Ken Sebben has been making beds rock like Fred Flintstone since 2000. Phil is the eccentric boss of our beloved Harvey Birdman. This once mighty super hero has taken up law as a way to make ends meet. He is not really well liked in his firm, and often gets the short end of the stick in regards to benefits and pay. “Short end of the stick” and “make ends meet”, I’m really banging out the clichés in this baby.
I'll shrink you if you don't stop!
Okay! I’m sorry. No more. Let’s instead try to unravel this ridiculous show. Never has a show created so much comedy from awkward pauses, stares, grunts and positioning. It makes Family Guy look to have a focused plot at times and makes so many call backs you really need to pay attention, which is hard, because the show moves faster than Peanut with Fred Flintstone’s daughter.
I can have him taken out right now.
Okay…let’s go to the courtroom. It is what the show is built around. Harvey is the normal one, despite the giant wings. He is forced to litigate against some of the most bizarre and dangerous people in all of…this show. Above was prosecutor Myron Reducto, who is Harvey’s main court room opponent. He is also Harvey’s friend, but will not hesitate to shrink him and make him fun size. Stan Freezoid is another fierce prosecutor. He is normally level headed, but has been known to have fits of rage complete with freezing the innocent. Vulturo is another bird themed lawyer that seems to be a little Italian and a little incomprehensible. He stoops as low as to steal Harvey’s friend and partner in law Avenger. Last but not least is the elegant Evelyn Spyro Throckmorton, who has a penchant for acting. He often times acts out his prosecution, much to the delight of himself and maybe Peanut.
Sadly for poor Harv, he does not often have a competent and even tempered judge to help him out. He has to deal with the honorable Judge Hiram Mightor. He coughs a lot and cannot even say Harvey’s last name right. He is even been known to take bribes to keep fellow cavemen out of trouble. I’m sorry to keep talking about Fred Flintstone, but it’s my favorite episode guys. I think my favorite judge though is…
Mentok! The Mind Taker. OOOOWWWEEEOOOO!
How'd he know that?
MIND TAKING!
Ah
That’s all I’m saying about him since he butted in like that. Outside of the court room Harvey, of course, has to handle his idiotic coworkers and boss. His legal counsel consists of a Bird Man in training, young Peanut. He always seems to be scheming a way to help, or mainly hinder his boss. One of his closest work pals is Peter Potamus. He is a womanizer, and likes to send emails. I know I never got the thing he sent me. He is apparently a lawyer, but mainly he naps and hits on dames. Blue Falcon is another bird lawyer that steals a lot of Harvey’s thunder until it’s revealed his popularity was all a ploy to send Harvey to jail and surprise him on his birthday years later on the electric chair. Awesome, right? Phil Ken Sebben s Harvey’s boss and he’s crazy. He’s known to go off the deep end and try too hard to make his place the best. He has installed cameras in every corner of the building and forced employees to live in their offices to increase productivity. He is crazy, but very entertaining for everyone but the Birdman. Harvey is basically the straight man, paying homage to how boring the 1960 cartoon was.
The real sticking point for the show, as great as all the people above are, is the fact that this show really exploited the fact that they had Cartoon Network’s library at their disposal. This makes it possible for Harvey to defend a lot of your favorite characters. Ever wonder why they call him Scooby DOOBY? Well, Harvey will set you straight. Wondered if Speed Buggy ever got any tickets? Not on Harvey’s watch. Think the Jetson’s world was perfect? Harvey is about to sue us all to prove it isn’t. Want another example? Well, watch the show and see what favorite characters get into trouble and are saved by the great Harvey Birdman.
I watched the show because of peer pressure. You should to! Don’t listen to high school counselors; peer pressure is a good thing. If anything, watch it for the familiar faces doing awful things. It is worth checking out for those perverts to stare at Gigi and Birdgirl. It’s worth it to comedy fans, because it’s just joke after joke and nonstop fun. And I won’t spoil the end, but if you want heroics and drama, the series finale is worth your while. Forget all the Law and Order spin offs, this attorney is the best around. I mean, costume alone gets him 1st place in my book. You should check him out as soon as you can.
It put a smile on my face.