Many of my all time favourite TV shows haven't been the ones hyped to death, but the obscure ones that you "discover" for yourself. 'Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law' is a case in point. I don't know if it achieved any kind of audience in the US, but it suddenly appeared out of nowhere here in Australia and was shown at an odd time slot with little fanfare. A friend caught the Scooby Doo episode and when he described it to me, I knew this was a show I just HAD to see! So I managed to catch the "Unabooboo" episode, then the one where Jabbajaw and The Neptunes are accused of plagiarism, and last night I watched the Flintstones/Sopranos episode, which was pure genius! I am now hooked for life! For anybody who hasn't seen the show it features Birdman the 60s Hanna Barbera cartoon character reinvented as Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. Each episode he defends a cartoon client accused of some crime e.g. Shaggy and Scooby Doo for dope, Fred Flintstone for racketeering. Plus there are lots of strange gay in-jokes and surreal bits and pieces which make it one of the most demented things I've seen since vintage 'Ren and Stimpy'. My favourite characters are Reducto and Birdman's nutty eye-patch wearing boss. This is an utterly brilliant show and I can't wait to see more episodes!
39 Reviews
Hanna-Barbera For Adults
broadfoot19 April 2003
For some reason, I loved this show from the first episode I saw. It is so interesting to see how many old Hanna-Barbera characters are getting in trouble with the law, and they need Harvey Birdman to bail them out! I remember one episode where Shaggy and Scooby-Doo get arrested for driving under the influence of marijuana and Birdman represents them. Of course, Birdman and his clients win in the end. Scrappy-Doo then makes a brief appearance at the end, but is then lifted up and carried away by Birdman's falcon sidekick. I thought "Goodbye Scrappy...and good riddance!"
To close off, here's a message to the show's creators. How about some new episodes?
To close off, here's a message to the show's creators. How about some new episodes?
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law!
chthon28 July 2003
Another interesting late night cartoon short. I first saw the episode that was the dual Flinstones/Sopranos parody. Hanna Barbera keeps throwing out great material, and much of it, like this, will never have a wider audience. That's kind of sad, but at the same time, kind of good, too. It makes it more special, to know that only a small group of people are watching this.
Ludicrously radiant and eccentric; hilarious show!
dorlago14 July 2002
I am a big fan of the Adult Swim line up, and Harvey Birdman makes me laugh the most, which is what I look for on Sunday's Adult Swim. This attorney takes on the oddest cases involving prior famous cartoon stars, and they go to court, and is set up as a sort of spoof on a soap opera that is insane and makes no sense. These anecdotes are made of antics that are just for laughs, and it completes that task in such an impressive manner. If you are looking for a show that you want to take seriously, this isn't for you. And if you like Space Ghost, you will like this, and vice versa.
Along with Family Guy, one of the funniest shows
ilusionfactory10 August 2003
I was a huge fan of Space Ghost Coast to Coast when it was introduced back in 1994 (it has lost a lot since 2000). It was hilarious to see these 60's characters making references to their past incarnations (which were awful) and how they made fun of them. It was great to see Space Ghost believe he was greater than he actually was. I consider this aspect and the idea of the talk show with live action stars to be not only creative but also one of the most original and funny concepts ever.
Now we have Harvey Birdman, based on the same principle as Space Ghost C to C, but expanding on the "let's make fun of all the crappy Hanna Barbera animations of the 60's" concept, which is simply great.
The series were introduced in 2001 when Cartoon Network launched Adult Swim, but after a few episodes it disappeared. Thankfully, it wasn't because of low ratings but because they were making more episodes, and each one is even funnier than the one before.
The constant reference to old cartoons and characters is just amazingly funny and, contrary to what some people have posted here, I am well under thirty but I have seen all the re- runs from the original shows in CN, so I believe that it has a larger audience than some people give it credit for.
All the characters are great, starting with Birdman himself. I just finished watching one where the judge is Mentok. That character is hilarious. He is constantly trying to show how great his mental control powers are. It's crazy.
If somebody hasn't seen it yet, please give it a try. Cartoon Network has probably one of the funniest lineups with shows like this and Family Guy, all great and edgy animated sitcoms.
Now we have Harvey Birdman, based on the same principle as Space Ghost C to C, but expanding on the "let's make fun of all the crappy Hanna Barbera animations of the 60's" concept, which is simply great.
The series were introduced in 2001 when Cartoon Network launched Adult Swim, but after a few episodes it disappeared. Thankfully, it wasn't because of low ratings but because they were making more episodes, and each one is even funnier than the one before.
The constant reference to old cartoons and characters is just amazingly funny and, contrary to what some people have posted here, I am well under thirty but I have seen all the re- runs from the original shows in CN, so I believe that it has a larger audience than some people give it credit for.
All the characters are great, starting with Birdman himself. I just finished watching one where the judge is Mentok. That character is hilarious. He is constantly trying to show how great his mental control powers are. It's crazy.
If somebody hasn't seen it yet, please give it a try. Cartoon Network has probably one of the funniest lineups with shows like this and Family Guy, all great and edgy animated sitcoms.
Can you file this under Phantom comma Funky?
starburstjellybabies8 November 2004
I'll admit not everything on adult swim tickles my fancy. I first stumbled upon it with friends on a Friday night in a hazy state of mind half way through an episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force. We believed to be a genuine cartoon and laughed hysterically. Needless to say the next week, stone cold sober, meatwad didn't quite have the same appeal. Harvey Birdman Attorney At Law, however, is downright hilarious. It has underhanded satire similar to a 'Family Guy' flashback. I believe this type of camp, sarcastic, pop humor only appeals to a limited audience, however if you don't find at least portions of this show amusing or clever then you're an empty cold shell of a human being.
The great appeal of the show is the cameo appearances of your favorite childhood cartoon stars. I guess I love to see Harvey Birdman ruin that childhood image. As I write this I picture the Jetsons overnight struggle to get to Harvey's desk without the aid of their futuristic travelators, half way through their plight Astro collapses and pleads with the rest of the family to go on without him. Besides, who doesn't want to see Shaggy and Scooby get busted? Hauled to jail because of the damning evidence in the Mystery Machine of empty pizza boxes and clips? Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law is definitely the best thing on adult swim, my only complaint is the episodes aren't long enough and it's not on DVD yet.
The great appeal of the show is the cameo appearances of your favorite childhood cartoon stars. I guess I love to see Harvey Birdman ruin that childhood image. As I write this I picture the Jetsons overnight struggle to get to Harvey's desk without the aid of their futuristic travelators, half way through their plight Astro collapses and pleads with the rest of the family to go on without him. Besides, who doesn't want to see Shaggy and Scooby get busted? Hauled to jail because of the damning evidence in the Mystery Machine of empty pizza boxes and clips? Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law is definitely the best thing on adult swim, my only complaint is the episodes aren't long enough and it's not on DVD yet.
As funny as it is weird
CuriosityKilledShawn15 August 2005
I first came across Birdman while on holiday in Majorca when I was 13. I remember vividly watching it with these 2 hot German twins and laughing whenever he shouted 'Bi-ii-irdMAN'. It was really, really corny. But this was back in the day when Cartoon Network didn't have much to show other than the really old-fashioned 1960's and 70's stuff. The last thing I ever imagined is that Birdman would come back in the 21st century to be re-invented as Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law at the Sebben and Sebben law firm.
He's a bit of a dunderhead. And a bighead and a sociophobe and rude but you can't help but love him. Avenger is still his sidekick (only cuter than he was previously) and his boss is Phil Ken Sebben, a one-eyed ladies man. Among the various, random people who work for the firm are Peanut (a Birdman wannabe), Peter Potamus, Reducto and a big cuddly bear who always seems to be smiling (and applauding all on his own at inappropriate moments). My fave character has to be Judge Mentok the Mindtaker (OOOOO-EEEEEE-OOOOOO-EEEEEE!!!!), he just really, really funny.
Harvey's typical cases involve him defending the likes of Shaggy and Scooby, Fred Flintstone, Boo-Boo and George Jetson. Getting in the way of cases going smoothly are and abundance of rapid-fire jokes that come at you from all angles and will probably disorientate you if you're not sure where they're coming from. Sometimes you might have to watch an episode twice as the the dialogue is usually delivered very quickly and you might lose your place among the cryptic references and wildly outlandish humor.
In truth, it's a show for Adults. Even though the jokes are only mildly suggestive there is no way a child could fully understand everything that is going on unless they are an uber-uber-geek. This is a show made for people who love stuff like Family Guy, not Spongebob Squarepants.
Oh, and I love that theme song. They must release some kind of soundtrack CD for this show. Why? Because Mentok WILLS it so!
He's a bit of a dunderhead. And a bighead and a sociophobe and rude but you can't help but love him. Avenger is still his sidekick (only cuter than he was previously) and his boss is Phil Ken Sebben, a one-eyed ladies man. Among the various, random people who work for the firm are Peanut (a Birdman wannabe), Peter Potamus, Reducto and a big cuddly bear who always seems to be smiling (and applauding all on his own at inappropriate moments). My fave character has to be Judge Mentok the Mindtaker (OOOOO-EEEEEE-OOOOOO-EEEEEE!!!!), he just really, really funny.
Harvey's typical cases involve him defending the likes of Shaggy and Scooby, Fred Flintstone, Boo-Boo and George Jetson. Getting in the way of cases going smoothly are and abundance of rapid-fire jokes that come at you from all angles and will probably disorientate you if you're not sure where they're coming from. Sometimes you might have to watch an episode twice as the the dialogue is usually delivered very quickly and you might lose your place among the cryptic references and wildly outlandish humor.
In truth, it's a show for Adults. Even though the jokes are only mildly suggestive there is no way a child could fully understand everything that is going on unless they are an uber-uber-geek. This is a show made for people who love stuff like Family Guy, not Spongebob Squarepants.
Oh, and I love that theme song. They must release some kind of soundtrack CD for this show. Why? Because Mentok WILLS it so!
Must see TV
Brett_Buck6 November 2002
This is my favorite 15 minutes of the week! Hapless, second-rate H-B superhero Birdman is now a hapless second-rate lawyer, defending various twisted former H-B stars like the cast of Jabberjaw and the now clearly homo-erotic Jonny Quest, etc. Race Bannon (well, sort of Race Bannon) suing Dr. Quest for custody of Jonny, Hadji, and Bandit after a, uh, lover's tiff? Hapless and hyper-paranoid former Birdman antagonist Dr. Reducto opining over the good old days ("Back when I was a kid, if a someone brandished a Shrink Ray, he'd get some respect!"), becoming smitten with a witness ("No one told me your feet would be so - tiny!"), and threatening everyone in the courtroom to "Back Off! I'll make you travel size!"?
Most people would be completely mystified as to why this would be funny. I thought about it for a while, and I think unless you had watched the old series' on which this show draws, you would have no idea whatsoever what the heck was going on. You pretty much have to be a male between 38-42 to truly appreciate it. That's a pretty small target audience.
Even if you do recognize the characters, it's so surreal that you will be amazed. Seeing a giant grab and the mechanical spider/eyeball monster testifying to Race Bannon's bond with the kids defies description.
One odd thing about this series is that the characters are much better defined than the originals. Back in the 60's, the writing was almost non-existent. Somebody must have written up one or two story outlines, and just randomly used them to generate every episode of Birdman, Space Ghost, The Herculoids, etc, by substituting characters. Could have done it with a computer. This show fairly well written and I think this is what ultimately makes it funny - these absurdly flat characters you remember have internal lives, and for some reason this makes it funny.
Most people would be completely mystified as to why this would be funny. I thought about it for a while, and I think unless you had watched the old series' on which this show draws, you would have no idea whatsoever what the heck was going on. You pretty much have to be a male between 38-42 to truly appreciate it. That's a pretty small target audience.
Even if you do recognize the characters, it's so surreal that you will be amazed. Seeing a giant grab and the mechanical spider/eyeball monster testifying to Race Bannon's bond with the kids defies description.
One odd thing about this series is that the characters are much better defined than the originals. Back in the 60's, the writing was almost non-existent. Somebody must have written up one or two story outlines, and just randomly used them to generate every episode of Birdman, Space Ghost, The Herculoids, etc, by substituting characters. Could have done it with a computer. This show fairly well written and I think this is what ultimately makes it funny - these absurdly flat characters you remember have internal lives, and for some reason this makes it funny.
A mixture of Sophomoric and sophisticated humor
logic19865 June 2007
Harvey Birdman attorney at law is a mixture of sophomoric and sophisticated humor that is pure genius. I admit I was skeptical at first but once I watched the show I thought it was hilarious and I couldn't stop laughing. The idea to reincarnate Birdman and other second rate H-B characters is brilliant, its like they grew up and got real jobs. The writing is excellent, and so is the voice work, Stephen Colbert is at the top of his game playing the roll of Phil Ken Sebben and my personal favorite Myron Reducto. Another standout performance is given by John Michael Higgins as Mentok the Mindtaker. A mixture of Sophomoric and sophisticated humor may make a great show but it doesn't necessarily mean great ratings which is sad. It seems that, like its title character, Harvey Birdman attorney at law is destined to relative obscurity. But if like me you're a fan of shows like "The Critc" and "Duckman" you'll love this show.
Quirky, odd, funny
Marshall_DC18 March 2003
Another member of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, it features Harvey Birdman, former crime-fighter and now super hero lawyer; Avenger, his trusted falcon aid and typist; and Peanut, his multi-talented and borderline psychotic legal secretary.
Parodying many famous cartoon characters (Scooby Doo, the Superfriends, Fred Flintstone, among others) the humor is off-beat, hip and often surprisingly subtle.
Main-stream sitcom fans probably won't get it, but those with a taste for the eclectic or the campy will end up laughing out loud.
Parodying many famous cartoon characters (Scooby Doo, the Superfriends, Fred Flintstone, among others) the humor is off-beat, hip and often surprisingly subtle.
Main-stream sitcom fans probably won't get it, but those with a taste for the eclectic or the campy will end up laughing out loud.
Great series - very clever & if you are a fan of cartoons you will love it
Darkedge17 November 2002
An inspired piece of modern cartoon making that takes you back. A dimwitted but just Attorney Superhero defends cartoon criminals - Shaggy & Scooby for drugs offenses, fred flintstone for his mob connections. Dark, adult and very funny. If you like classic cartoons and some subtle or bizzare humor, you will love it
Hlarious ! This show is funny and clever .
Rectangular_businessman26 March 2007
"Harvey Birdman : Attorney at Law " is simply one of the best shows of Adult Swim . The show takes an adult perspective of the Hannah Barbera characters in the most unexpected and unpredictable ways . The stories are very well written and many parts of the show made me laugh a lot . The characters are very likable ,the voices are good and everything in this show is very funny and original . From the first episode "Bannon Custody Battle " the show catch me .
I love the weirdness of this show .I guess that is one of the best things of the show ,for it unusual style of comedy . This is one of my favorite cartoons with "Aqua Teen Hunger " ,"Sealab 2021 " and "Space Ghost Coast to Coast " .
I love the weirdness of this show .I guess that is one of the best things of the show ,for it unusual style of comedy . This is one of my favorite cartoons with "Aqua Teen Hunger " ,"Sealab 2021 " and "Space Ghost Coast to Coast " .
the second season killed the whole thing
mr-payton24 September 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Harvey Birdman started out with high hopes. Episodes like "Dabba Don", "Very Personal Injury" and "Deadomutt" (my personal favorite) were pure genius. Then, horrible things started to happen, which just ruined the whole show.
Somewhere in the middle of the second season, they forgot all about the "Attorney at Law" part, and the writers started throwing in tons of non-sequiturs between scenes, like characters popping in randomly for cheap laughs, the Bear doing dumb stuff for no reason, Peter Potamus's libido jokes, all kinds of lame one-shot gags.
It didn't bother me at first because the courtroom bits took a backseat to stuff that was actually FUNNY, like that one ep where Peanut starts to gain his superpowers and the adults treat the whole thing like puberty. But then that stupid Yakky Doodle episode with the efficiency guy comes along, and that's when I knew this show was officially done for.
Somewhere in the middle of the second season, they forgot all about the "Attorney at Law" part, and the writers started throwing in tons of non-sequiturs between scenes, like characters popping in randomly for cheap laughs, the Bear doing dumb stuff for no reason, Peter Potamus's libido jokes, all kinds of lame one-shot gags.
It didn't bother me at first because the courtroom bits took a backseat to stuff that was actually FUNNY, like that one ep where Peanut starts to gain his superpowers and the adults treat the whole thing like puberty. But then that stupid Yakky Doodle episode with the efficiency guy comes along, and that's when I knew this show was officially done for.
The best animated show I have ever seen
mista_mo23 December 2003
I watched this on teletoon and the first episode I saw was the one were race bannon and docter quest fight for custody of the quest kids. I was laughing through the entire episode. The best part was when the janitor plugged the race android back into the wall and it started to dance! simply put the best animated show on TV...family guy and simpsons aren't as good as this.
Possibly the most random and hilarious show on Television now
bludhaven783 July 2003
Half the time you don't know what the hell is going on, and every couple of minutes it shows a quick bit of sex. How can anyone not laugh at this? I watched an episode with another kid. I laughed hysterically and the other kid said it was stupid. And then of course he said his favorite show was "My Wife and Kids." The show is funny because Birdman was originally created as a second rate superhero, and it was supposed to be a serious cartoon in the 60s and 70s and now hes depicted as this lawyer, and it also makes fun of all the other villains and cartoons that were supposed to be serious. The same thing goes for Space Ghost: coast to coast.
Thank Christ there's something funny on TV!
riaja_h10 March 2005
Living in the comedic wasteland which is otherwise known as present-day Australia, I've only watched a couple of episodes of Harvey but already want to buy the DVD's when they become available. Haven't laughed so hard in long time. Trust SBS to put this on, they really must be commended for giving shows like this airtime. None of the other stations are screening any comedy at the moment, and when they do ie 'Arrested development', they put it on in as late a time slot as possible. Anyway, bring back (or start making) shows like 'Fast forward' and 'the Late show' I say! I want a HB T-shirt, where can I get one?! To think that Lumbergh could be so funny...
A fan of Hanna Barbera or Cartoon Network will enjoy this!
rasheedthomas-6830629 March 2017
Harvey Birdman is a great parody of Hanna Barbera classics! You know you are not a true Hanna Barbera fan if you didn't laugh at the jokes and wacky humor behind this series! The characters are all lovable! I can't say much about the series but that it's one of Adult Swim's finest cartoons ever! You need to at least give it a look!
If there's ever a way to make Hanna-Barbera better, it's this!
dhein0921 January 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Well, I just got into watching this show a few months ago after watching the episode with Top Cat being sued for bookmaking/illegal gambling. I was hooked after that. I'm watching the series on On Demand from Comcast, and the next episode for me to see is the final one. I know what happens, though (spoiler) - Harvey gets through all his cases again, and then gets run over by Phil Ken Sebben and dies. (spoiler ends here) After seeing the beginning of the Flinstones episode, I immediately began watching the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons again. I saw some Flinstones, a few Jetsons, some Quick Draw McGraw, some Magilla Gorilla, some Scooby-Doo and, my personal favorite, Tom and Jerry, who unexpectedly don't appear in the series. It would make perfect sense to have Jerry sue Tom for assault.
Anyway, there's some characters in there I have yet to see in the cartoons, like Ricohet Rabbit, Grape Ape, and Jabberjaw, to name a few.
If I had to choose between my favorite episode, it would have to be the one with Atom Ant. He gets sued for having high levels of radiation in his home. The verdict wasn't shown, though.
So yeah, if you happen to see this On Demand or anywhere else, I say watch it. It's a funny series, I'd recommend it to all the Hanna-Barbera fans.
Anyway, there's some characters in there I have yet to see in the cartoons, like Ricohet Rabbit, Grape Ape, and Jabberjaw, to name a few.
If I had to choose between my favorite episode, it would have to be the one with Atom Ant. He gets sued for having high levels of radiation in his home. The verdict wasn't shown, though.
So yeah, if you happen to see this On Demand or anywhere else, I say watch it. It's a funny series, I'd recommend it to all the Hanna-Barbera fans.
Funny in a really weird way best in small doses
bob the moo16 November 2005
Harvey Birdman has long since had his day as a superhero but has now taken up a job as a lawyer at the firm of Sebben and Sebben. The move offers him a welcome change of pace but he still finds himself surrounded by all the same strange characters and goings-on.
I have seen this series advertised when in the US in the past but never bothered to stay up and watch it, however on my last visit I gave it a try. The show is hard to describe because it is just very weird. The characters and basic plots spoof the world of the square-jawed superheroes and supervillians by placing them in the office environment and making their characters even more exaggerated. Birdman himself is the most obvious example as he is now a bit of a fool despite his massive chest, although I also really enjoy the eye-patch sporting, womanising boss Sebben. It is all a bit too silly at times and some of it just occasionally feel like it is being weird just for the sake of it but, for me, the majority of the superhero spoof aspect carried it well enough.
The animation is true to the superhero genre and everything looks good with plenty of imaginative touches all round. The voice work is enjoyably silly with Gary Cole doing a great job in the lead role. Colbert is just as good as Phil, really getting into the feel of the character and the series. The support cast are generally good with some unusual guest voices in there.
Overall this is an acquired taste and naturally some will love it while other hate it. For me it was enjoyable enough to take in small doses too much at once would just get tiresome but in 15 minute bites it is weirdly funny and entertaining. Not for everyone but certainly worth a look if you get the chance.
I have seen this series advertised when in the US in the past but never bothered to stay up and watch it, however on my last visit I gave it a try. The show is hard to describe because it is just very weird. The characters and basic plots spoof the world of the square-jawed superheroes and supervillians by placing them in the office environment and making their characters even more exaggerated. Birdman himself is the most obvious example as he is now a bit of a fool despite his massive chest, although I also really enjoy the eye-patch sporting, womanising boss Sebben. It is all a bit too silly at times and some of it just occasionally feel like it is being weird just for the sake of it but, for me, the majority of the superhero spoof aspect carried it well enough.
The animation is true to the superhero genre and everything looks good with plenty of imaginative touches all round. The voice work is enjoyably silly with Gary Cole doing a great job in the lead role. Colbert is just as good as Phil, really getting into the feel of the character and the series. The support cast are generally good with some unusual guest voices in there.
Overall this is an acquired taste and naturally some will love it while other hate it. For me it was enjoyable enough to take in small doses too much at once would just get tiresome but in 15 minute bites it is weirdly funny and entertaining. Not for everyone but certainly worth a look if you get the chance.
Uhhhhhmmmm
kvnnagel20 July 2019
One of My Favorite Adult Swim Shows
Mara-Jade-Skywalker-2324 June 2019
Introduction:
No comedy is like "Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law". Taking advantage of old Hannah Barbara characters that everybody has forgotten about, and makes something memorable and hilarious. This show is a master at running gags and joke, as well as just good comedy.
The Comedy: The comedy of this show can be analyzed. There are so many running gags and hidden jokes, that these jokes often conflict and get tangled with other jokes. Either: inside jokes, hidden references, or long running gags. You can pause any frame of this show, and find something to laugh at. And even with the kind of comedy, it is still able to deal with serious issues, such as, gun control, terrorism, and even gay marriage: while still tackling it in a way that it is still hilarious to watch.
The Characters: The show is not just funny for the running gags and references, but also the great characters. The interactions between them are some of the funniest moments on television. Out of all of them, my favorite character was Phil. Just the way he was so oblivious to everything and not aware of any real danger, creates hilarious antics. And I give similar praises to all the other characters.
The Animation: The animation of the show does a very good job resembling old Hannah Barbara cartoons. Letting me forgive the low quality of animation, as it's like that by design.
Conclusion: "Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law" takes a crappy and forgettable cartoon from the 1960's, and creates a show that still in my mind, even a decade after it ended.
The Comedy: The comedy of this show can be analyzed. There are so many running gags and hidden jokes, that these jokes often conflict and get tangled with other jokes. Either: inside jokes, hidden references, or long running gags. You can pause any frame of this show, and find something to laugh at. And even with the kind of comedy, it is still able to deal with serious issues, such as, gun control, terrorism, and even gay marriage: while still tackling it in a way that it is still hilarious to watch.
The Characters: The show is not just funny for the running gags and references, but also the great characters. The interactions between them are some of the funniest moments on television. Out of all of them, my favorite character was Phil. Just the way he was so oblivious to everything and not aware of any real danger, creates hilarious antics. And I give similar praises to all the other characters.
The Animation: The animation of the show does a very good job resembling old Hannah Barbara cartoons. Letting me forgive the low quality of animation, as it's like that by design.
Conclusion: "Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law" takes a crappy and forgettable cartoon from the 1960's, and creates a show that still in my mind, even a decade after it ended.
Ridiculous Fun, Very Bizarre,
lesleyharris3014 August 2018
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law is a great television series with well written episodes and a top notch voice cast. It is a really bizarre show that fans of both Adult Swim's content and Hanna Barbera cartoons will enjoy. The characters, most of whom are based off original HB characters, are terrific, with a lot of scope and personality put in to them in just 11 minute programmes, Harvey and Phil stand out in particular.
However, it does suffer from the same problem as most Adult Swim shows, in that it sometimes gets too convoluted for its own good. There are episodes that go to uncomfortable places that are not even humorous, more so just looking for a reaction.
The voice cast is all around tremendous, Gary Cole is top notch as Harvey, making his ridiculous dialogue always sound authentic, and Stephen Colbert knocks it out of the park in his various roles. There are also many great guest appearances throughout the forty episodes, a lot of whom reprise characters they voiced in the shows their from, such as Frank Welker as Fred Jones, Scott Innes as Shaggy & Scooby and Maurice LeMarche as Droopy, it was amazing to see how many people got behind this insanity.
Ridiculously weird and enjoyable. Strange from the get go, Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law certainly is not for everyone, but who it is for will love it.
A former superhero takes up a career in law to protect well known cartoon characters.
Best Episode: The Dabba Don / Worst Episode: Grodin
However, it does suffer from the same problem as most Adult Swim shows, in that it sometimes gets too convoluted for its own good. There are episodes that go to uncomfortable places that are not even humorous, more so just looking for a reaction.
The voice cast is all around tremendous, Gary Cole is top notch as Harvey, making his ridiculous dialogue always sound authentic, and Stephen Colbert knocks it out of the park in his various roles. There are also many great guest appearances throughout the forty episodes, a lot of whom reprise characters they voiced in the shows their from, such as Frank Welker as Fred Jones, Scott Innes as Shaggy & Scooby and Maurice LeMarche as Droopy, it was amazing to see how many people got behind this insanity.
Ridiculously weird and enjoyable. Strange from the get go, Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law certainly is not for everyone, but who it is for will love it.
A former superhero takes up a career in law to protect well known cartoon characters.
Best Episode: The Dabba Don / Worst Episode: Grodin
The Power... Of Attorney!!!
coffeemon17 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Out of all of the Adult Swim shows this one is one of the best. It follows Harvey Birdman, a superhero gone attorney who went to a 3-hour law school, works with a purple hippo, and whose boss can't wait to fire him. Some situations show Shaggy and Scooby-Doo smoking pot, Race Bannon fighting for custody, and Secret Squirrel flashing people. All of these situations are handled masterfully and couldn't have been done better. If you're looking for a fun Hanna Barbera attorney romp you're in the right place. My recommendations for episodes are The Dabba Don, Blackwatch Plaid, and Bannon Custody Battle.
lovely cult classic
anxte29 August 2016
This is a very funny show, the voices are great, I actually quite like the animation style and the humor is right up my alley. I'd call it masterpiece to be honest, the way it deals with both serious matters and just stupid, silly things, while making it all still fun and enjoyable. The show can organically move between topics like race, gender, sexuality, identity and a guy who likes to shrink things loving big butts.
I'd call this one of my favorite animated shows, sure it might not be the best or it might be forgotten, but it does hold a place in my heart as the show that showed me - a little, small, stupid child at the time, that it was completely OK to take cartoons seriously and really look at situations from all perspectives. That might not be what other people took away from it, but somehow it truly did affect me.
Also the humor is right up my alley.
I'd call this one of my favorite animated shows, sure it might not be the best or it might be forgotten, but it does hold a place in my heart as the show that showed me - a little, small, stupid child at the time, that it was completely OK to take cartoons seriously and really look at situations from all perspectives. That might not be what other people took away from it, but somehow it truly did affect me.
Also the humor is right up my alley.
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