Game Over (2004– )

The story of your mild-mannered family in a not-so-normal video game world. Mom is a Lara Croft rip-off, dad is a Grand Prix racer, the neighbors are Kung Fu monks and the kids... well, they try to be cool.

Creators:

Marcy Carsey, David Sacks

Stars:

Elizabeth Daily, Rachel Dratch, Artie Lange

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Elizabeth Daily	...	Billy Smashenburn (voice) (as E.G. Daily)
Rachel Dratch	...	Alice Smashenburn (voice)
Artie Lange	...	Turbo (voice)
Lucy Liu	...	Raquel Smashenburn (voice)
Patrick Warburton	...	Ripley "Rip" Smashenburn (voice)
Marie Matiko	...	Dark Princess Chang (voice)
James Sie	...	Sam Chang (voice)
Marisa Tomei	...	Raquel Smashenburn (unaired pilot) (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Common	...	Common (voice)
Jennifer Coolidge	...	Ramona (voice)
Jessica Glassberg	...	Sylvie Glassberg (voice)
Barbara Heller	...	Cheerleader (2004) (voice)
John Michael Higgins	...	Sully (voice)
Jan Hooks	...	Nadine (voice)
Tom Kenny	...	Arthur (voice)

Storyline

As video game characters, Rip and Raquel Smashenburn face many challenges. Racecar driving (i.e. wrecking) and monster vanquishing are difficult enough, yet neither vocation compares to the struggles of raising two kids. 14-year-old Alice is discovering a new level of social conscience, while 13-year-old Billy hopes to develop social standing via an over-the-top hip-hop persona. Turbo is the Smashenburns' nondescript, 300-pound "pet," but obedience isn't one of his traits. And because no neighborhood would be complete without a family of Kung Fu fighting Shaolin Monks, the Changs live next door.

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Plot Keywords:

oddworld

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Taglines:

Did you ever wonder what happens after the game ends? Welcome to the other side.

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Genres:

Action | Animation | Comedy | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Details

Official Sites:

UPN

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 March 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Meet the Breaknecks

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carsey-Warner-Mandabach

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lowest rated show of the 2003-2004 TV season, #168 out of 168.

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Quotes

Billy Smashenburn: Suki moved back to Japan.
Ripley "Rip" Smashenburn: Oh.
Billy Smashenburn: The country.
Ripley "Rip" Smashenburn: *Oh.* I'm sorry kiddo. You'll meet other girls.
Billy Smashenburn: Will they shoot rainbows out of their butts?
Ripley "Rip" Smashenburn: [uncomfortable pause] You'll meet other girls.

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Connections

Spoofs TRON (1982)

User Reviews

Good idea, poor execution

I think what really shot this series down was this: the characters were too much of a stereotype. Dad was too stereotypical of a big, brawny meathead. Mom was too much of a stereotype of little Ms. perfect on the outside, but missing something on the inside. Daughter was stereotypical angry at everything riot grrrl. Son was just... well, son was the stereotype of the kid who couldn't figure out who he was. Very cool computer graphics dominated this show, but unfortunately, they spent way too much money on computerized images, and not really enough on writing.

You also get the feeling that the writers didn't know very much about gaming and gamers to really capture what they were like. Considering that the show's creators, David Sacks and Marcy Carsay are better known for shows like 3rd Rock from the Sun and The Cosby Show, respectively, you have to wonder why they were involved with it. There were also 7 executive producers, and you know what they say about too many chiefs and not enough braves in the tribe...

The show also proves you can take a good cast and still come up with a dud. Lucy Liu, Patrick Warburton, Rachel Dratch, Artie Lange, Marisa Tomei, and Jan Hooks aren't probably going to list this at the top of their resumes.

Still, I think that the series could be retooled and reintroduced someday. It'd take a lot of work and dedication to make it workable, but I think it can be done. You really need someone who knows the world of videogames and videogamers at the top of it all.