"The Tick" (2001) TV series 2001-2002

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Writer:

Randolph Heard (writer)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

1 November 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The Big Blue Bug Of Justice Is Here!

Plot:

The story of superhero The Tick, based on the popular comic book.

Plot Keywords:

Superhero Spoof

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Patrick Warburton	...	The Tick (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
David Burke	...	Arthur (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
Liz Vassey	...	Captain Liberty / ... (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
Nestor Carbonell	...	Batmanuel (9 episodes, 2001-2003)

Runtime:

30 min (9 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:PG | Singapore:PG

Company:

Columbia TriStar Television

Trivia:

Destroyo's costume was modified from the Red Scare's armor for budgetary reasons.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the episode "Arthur Interrupted", a can of drain cleaner held by The Tick moves from his left hand to his right hand and back again between shots.

Quotes:

Batmanuel: [after watching a ninja assassin plummet out the window] Another urban legend dispelled. Ninjas don't bounce.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Men in Black II (2002)

Prepare to face... "The Tick"!

I don't think any other actor than the towering, deadpan Patrick Warburton could pull of the role of the blue-clad buffoon The Tick. The Tick may be dim-witted, prone to making long-winded, nonsensical soliloquies and may be the most unintentionally destructive hero since Sledge Hammer, but he also has a heart of gold and is willing to stand up to any challenge. Whether it's stopping petty crooks or throttling an uncooperative coffee machine, the Tick is just the hero The City needs... whether they like it or not! Joining the Tick in his quest for justice are loyal but nebbish moth man Arthur (David Burke), tough cookie Captain Liberty (Liz Vassey), and blasé ladies' man Bat Manuel.

Like many TV shows, the live action version of "The Tick" suffered an early death on the Fox network, but it has thankfully become a cult classic. I actually found this one to be funnier than the animated series. Not that I'm diminishing the legacy of the great cartoon, but to see flesh-and-blood adult actors dressed in these ridiculous costumes, uttering ludicrous lines ("Abso-doodle!") and fighting comical villains (Apocolypse Cow, Destroyo), makes "The Tick" so literal and so rewardingly hilarious.