"Kevin Spencer" (1999) TV series 1999-2005

User Rating:

4.6/10   

Writer:

Rick Kaulbars (writer)

Seasons:

4 | 6 | 8 | unknown

Release Date:

17 January 1999 (Canada)

Genre:

Animation | Comedy

Plot:

Kevin Spencer is a sociopath addicted to cough syrup/booze and cigarettes. He is guided primarily by...

Plot Keywords:

Welfare | Sociopath | Juvenile Delinquent | Dysfunctional Marriage | Alcoholic Mother

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Greg Lawrence	...	Narrator / ... (3 episodes, 2002-2005)
Thomasin Langlands	...	Anastasia Spencer (3 episodes, 2002-2005)
Mike Wetmore	...	Allan the Magic Goose / ... (3 episodes, 2002-2005)
Dave Bigelow	...	Allan the Magic Goose (3 episodes, 2002-2005)
David Elver	...	Various Characters (3 episodes, 2005)
Stephanie Halin	...	Hooker / ... (2 episodes, 2005)
Matthew Stefiuk	...	Biker / ... (2 episodes, 2005)

Runtime:

30 min (113 episodes)

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Atomic Productions

Trivia:

At 113 completed half-hour episodes, it is the longest-running animated comedy in Canada. It is also the longest-running half-hour sitcom in Canadian television history, beating "King of Kensington" (1975) by two episodes.

Quotes:

Percy: Never mind about that. Where's the smokes I asked you to bring me? I had to pinch out all the butts in the ashtray to make rollies. Then I had to pinch out the rolly butts to make rollies out of the rollies. And then I smoked all the pepper. Had you not've come back sooner I might've been desperate.

Unique and Funny

What a hilarious show this is! Its easily one of the funniest cartoons on TV these days. Its obviously mature and the animation makes "South Park" look like Disney's "Tarzan", plus the main character never utters a word, but what I can say? Its a hoot.

The show basically breaks down like this. Kevin Spencer is a really screwed up teenager who's family is so dysfunctional, they make the Connors on "Roseanne" look like "The Brady Bunch". Many members of Kevin's family (Kevin included) have been in and out of prison more times than Martin and Charlie Sheen combined. In fact, that was the original point of the series. Kevin would tell stories (through flashbacks. He doesn't talk, remember?) to a prison psychiatrist while serving his life sentence that show just how demented he truly is. What's more, he abuses cough syrup, smokes like a chimney, and takes advice from a magic goose named Allen that lives inside his head. What's not to like?

What I like most about "Kevin Spencer" is how at first glance, it resembles a children's show, with its childish drawings and deadpan narrator. Of course nothing could be the further from the truth. This is NOT a children's cartoon. Its vulgar, violent, profane, and I love every minute of it. Even though Kevin got paroled after the first season, the show is still funny as he continues his reign of terror at home and on the streets. Another thing I like about the show; unlike other shows about family dysfunction such as "Titus", not once does "Kevin Spencer" try to come off as realistic. Kevin's family doesn't kiss and make up at the end of an episode. In fact, an episode is more likely to end in a police raid on the Spencer's house or with Percy (Kevin's dad) knocking over a liquor store just to buy smokes.

The show's first season has just been released on VHS and DVD ("WOW! Those ugly drawings are now digital!!!!") and if you ever see it at your local video store, I urge you to check it out. Unless you hate this kind of comedy (I call it South Park-esque), you will not be disappointed

Rating: 4 stars ****