Filed under: t.v. shite
After a few days of total multimedia overload and a sudden case of writer’s blockage, i have SO many things to talk about and only SO little attention span to write about all of it..
So therefore, this post will be directed towards the televisor, and the shite i allow myself to be spoon-fed from it…
Starting with the BAD shit, the 2008 MTV MOVIE AWARDS aired sunday night on the product-placement-ridden channel formally known as MTV..
Now, for the past 17 years, i have enjoyed this awards show just like i enjoy the Golden Globes: as a more categorically divided competition than that of the prestigious OSCARS®.. There are categories for BEST MOVIE, MALE and FEMALE PERFORMANCE.. But the cool categories include BEST FIGHT, VILLAIN, KISS, ONSCREEN COUPLE, COMEDIC PERFORMANCE, BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE, etc..
This show had been so much freakin’ fun in the past (examples: here, here, and especially here..), but this year was nothing but a shameless advertising orgy of all the major corporations involved.. BLEECH!!!!..
The ONLY high point was the surprise appearance of a one Johnny Depp to accept his awards for BEST COMEDIC PERFORMANCE for PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END (2007, Gore Verbinski) and BEST VILLAIN for SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET (2007, Tim Burton)…
And, Hot Damn, did he look fuckin’ good or what?!..
On the other side of the TV spectrum, there are quite a few shows coming back in the next few weeks that are among the unsung best!.. (Meaning you should not only save on your DVR, but also rent the DVDs of the shows’ first seasons to catch up on it..)
One of them is THE VENTURE BROS. (2003-present, Christopher McCulloch)..
Other than THE BOONDOCKS (2005-present, Aaron McGruder), this show is the GREATEST show that has thus far come from the [adult swim] family..
Now, on the surface, this show looks like a basic, somewhat twisted spoof of JONNY QUEST (1964-1965, Doug Wildey).. But it is soo much more than that. It is an entire parallel universe of characters from the pop-culture of the past 40 years viewed through a reality-tinged funhouse mirror..
The characters are either re-imaginings of the JONNY QUEST characters or of other famous figures from popular culture.
Hank (voiced by McCulloch) and Dean Venture (voiced by Michael Sinterniklaas) are the titular twin brothers of the show. Both boys have identifiable characteristics, with Hank being the more adventurous (dressed like Fred ‘Freddy’ Jones from SCOOBY DOO) and Dean being the more “effeminate” and bookish of the two (dressed like Richard ‘Richie’ Cunningham from HAPPY DAYS)..
Dr. Thaddeus “Rusty” Venture (voiced by the great James Urbaniak) currently runs Venture Industries. He assumes the occupation of a “super-scientist”, although his knowledge and credentials in the field are painfully questionable.
Brock Samson (voiced by ULTRA-HOT Patrick Warburton) is the blond-mulleted, massively-muscled and hyper-masculine bodyguard to the Venture family. He is an Office of Secret Intelligence agent with a license to kill.
Dr. Venture’s deceased father, Dr. Jonas Venture, developed a loyal and rather emotional robot named H.E.L.P.eR. (voiced by Soul-Bot) that accompanies and assists the Ventures through their many (mis)adventures..
Throughout the whole series, Dr. Venture has had a shitload of recurring antagonists.
Many of them are current or former members of The Guild of Calamitous Intent, a group that bears an unmistakable resemblance to the Legion of Doom. Run by the mysterious leader known as the “Sovereign”, who is revealed to be none other than David Bowie in episode #26 (Showdown at Cremation Creek: Part 2), The Guild Of Calamitous Intent’s agents, called “Strangers”, seem inspired by the antagonists of the DARK CITY (1998, Alex Proyas). Also the “Strangers” wear headpieces similar to those of the Cyclops from THE CITY OF LOST CHILDREN (1995, Marc Caro & Jean-Pierre Jeunet). The pernicious but ineffective Monarch (voiced by McCulloch), the masculine-voiced Dr. Girlfriend (voiced by Doc Hammer), and their numerous henchmen are some of the Venture family’s main villains.
Baron Werner Ünderbheit (voiced by T. Ryder Smith) is a former dictator of the duchy of Ünderland and bears a grudge against Venture who he blames for the loss of his jaw in college, citing “One is always supposed to look out for one’s lab partner!” It was revealed in the season three premiere that the Monarch was responsible for the explosion in an attempt on the life of Dr. Venture.
Phantom Limb is a ruthless killer, villain insurance agent, and high-ranking Guild member; also, he is a former lover of Dr. Girlfriend (before she left him to become The Monarch’s companion). He seems at least as intent upon persecuting The Monarch, as he is in pursuing the Guild’s villainous agenda. Phantom Limb and Brock Samson have a strong respect for one another, and have teamed up in at least one episode of the show..
The Ventures also have acquaintances that are used to help progress stories and add to the crazy atmosphere of the show. The expert necromancer Dr. Byron Orpheus (voiced by Steven Rattazzi) and his apathetic, teenage goth daughter Triana Orpheus (voiced by Lisa Hammer) rent out a portion of the Venture Compound. The albino computer scientist Pete White (voiced by McCulloch) is a former college friend of Dr. Venture’s, and usually appears in the company of hydrocephalic ”boy genius“ Master Billy Quizboy (voiced by Doc Hammer). The surviving members of the original Team Venture, a group of extraordinary people assembled by Dr. Jonas Venture, have also appeared in a few episodes..
So as you can plainly see, this show is a pop-culture reference wet dream.. And i’m so fucking glad it is back for a third season..
Well, kiddies.. My bottle of Jameson‘s is almost empty and i think the sun is about to come up..
’til next time.. end of line, my pets..
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