One night about a year ago I turned on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim and encountered Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law. Not only was it energetic and entertaining but has actually comedy written into it, go figure. But the best part is it takes old Hanna Barbara characters and used them in the episodes. For example in Volume one we encounter Harvey representing Dr. Quest. Race Bannon has taken the boys because he feels like he is more their father then Dr. Quest. The boys,Johnnie and Haji, portray characters with irony and attitude. Other episode include Fred Flinstone, Scooby Doo, and characters you haven't seen in thirty years. I like Harvey's boss the most. I have no idea who he is but he is off the wall funny.
If you are between 35 and 65, love cartoons, like courtroom hi-jinx, then you've got to get Harvey Birdman. Send it the judge in your divorce proceedings, he'll love it.
This cartoon makes fun of EVERY possible cliche cartoon, movie and tv show to ever exist. It is possibly the most satirical show to ever grace the tv screen and it is not only clever but hilarious, for not all shows are both clever and laugh out loud funny. Most are just chuckle-worthy.
And do not be hestiant either because it is a cartoon. If you have ever heard of tv networks like Adult Swin played on the Cartoon Network late at night then you will realize that these are not any cartoons, they are for adults. They really are hilarious and this show alone features actors like Stephen Colbert from the Colbert Report and Dail Show, Lewis Black form COmedy Central standup as well as the Daily Show, Gary Coleman and so on. If you have ever even enjoyed Futurama, Family Guy or the Simpsons, then this show would be a welcomed joy in your life.
This show resurrects the mundane Birdman cartoon character from years ago, and revives him as a defense attorney with major issues. Assisted by his psychotic clerk, Peanut, and his own personal assist paralegal raptor, Avenger, Harvey Birdman defends the seemingly indefensible, all of whom happen to be other aging cartoon characters.
There are many episodes and extras on this set to recommend it, but I have three distinct favorites:
"Shoyu Weenie" is an episode where annoying shark Jabberjaw (and the Neptunes) gets sued for stealing a hit song from a Japanese group named Shoyu Weenie. Peanut experiences romance, and the ruling from the bench does not disappoint.
"Shaggy Gets Busted" is a "COPS" spoof of busting Shaggy and Scooby for possession. I never liked Scooby Doo, but this is a wonderful bit of comedy. This has the second best opening sequence in the show.
"The Dabba Don" is a satire of the Sopranos with the characters of the Flintstones. This will always stand as the single greatest episode of the series: the opening segment alone is sufficient justification to buy the set. Brilliant.
This is a great and offbeat show. It takes a bit of time to get to understand the characters, but once you have seen a couple of episodes, you will always want more. Highly recommended.
Most superheroes go from dullsville jobs to exciting planet-saving adventures. Harvey Birdman did the opposite.
Adult Swim's late night programming is full of weird stuff, so a winged lawyer is right up their alley -- as is a world full of superheroes, Hanna Barbera characters, and general goofiness from an earnest lawyer who has more wings than brains.
Harvey Birdman was once a superhero in "Birdman and the Galaxy Trio." But now he's retired from his superheroing, and works for the law firm of Sebben and Sebben, with his purple eagle Avenger as his legal secretary. There's also his clever, equally strange clerk Peanut, and his bizarre, obnoxious boss Phil. Also a bear.
And Harvey is not a terribly good lawyer, but he bumbles through the various cases that come before him. Shaggy and Scooby-doo are arrested for using pot, Boo-boo Bear is suspected of being a Unabomber-style killer, Fred Flintstone may be a mob boss, Race Bannon fights his gay partner Dr. Quest for custody of his two boys, and other strange cases centering on cartoon characters.
Birdman himself comes under suspicion when he's passed over for promotion, in favor of an inferior but more charming new lawyer. When Birdman is assigned a humiliating new office (in the men's room), the new guy's robot dog turns up dismembered in the xerox machine. And he's stalked by a fanboy assassin, gets addicted to bronzing cream, and has to find another bird-secretary when Avenger quits. ("No emus in my courtroom!")
"Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law" is one of those wonderful series that have absurd jokes, played with a straight face. As if the idea of a superhero law firm (and rival law firms) wasn't funny enough, the creators take the idea and run with it -- by having almost every episode feature a cartoon character in the courtroom.
The animation is pretty standard Adult Swim -- rather two-dimensional, flows nicely, and is full of visual gags, weird running jokes and courtroom scenes that always descend into chaos. It's not unusual for there to be giant spiked maces swinging through one of the offices at Sebben and Sebben.
But the dialogue is pure hilarity, whether it's terrible puns ("I'll be keeping my eyes on you." "Eye." "I didn't know you were Scottish!") or just strange ("It is considered customary in our culture, once a business deal is concluded, to blow something up").
And Harvey Birdman is the kind of lawyer you would NOT want working for you -- a nice guy, dedicated to his job, but it's basically a matter of chance whether he wins his cases or not (especially since the judges are all insane). He's backed up by an increasing number of giant Apaches, winged people, inch-tall detectives, hammy mind-readers, and paranoid little aliens with shrink guns.
"Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law" is a hilarious little comedy series, especially for anyone who likes to mock the judificial process -- and old cartoons. Very fun.
For those who don't know, Harvey Birdamn is based on a short-lived character from the golden age of Hanna-Barbara studios. It seems that Harvey wasn't able to make it as a regular superhero, and has launched himself a carrer in law.
From the first episode, "Bannon Custody Case", I was hooked. This show is truly one of Cartoon Networks most authentic gems. There are two episodes that simply must be played over and over; "The Dabba Don", where Fred Flintstone is an alledged mob boss, and his lifestyle seems to follow the Sopranos a little too closely, not to mention the references to classic mafia films, including The Godfather, and Goodfellas. The other is "Shaggy Busted", the live action bit with the cop-cam is priceless. "Death by Chocolate", in which we learn the real truth about Boo Boo Bear. "Very Personal Injury" resurrects another lesser-known character from the golden age of Hanna Barbara's stable, Apache Chief. Can anyone say "McDonalds"? I cannot possibly say enough about this show, and am pleased to see that Cartoon Network finally released it on DVD.
In the same way they deliciously lamponed Sealab 2020, Harvey Birdman is a twist of an old HB cartoon. The humor is actually on several levels - there is some sexual inuendo and bathroom humor, but there are many pop cultural references and legal satire as well.
The episodes are uneven - some are excellent, some are a little strained. Knowing some of the original characters helps the humor - certainly, Mentok, acting as a judge is WONDERFUL!!!!
So, if you can accept some of your childhood memories being skewed, and enjoy some well aimed satire of the legal system then get this!
Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law Vol. 1 was a smash hit!! The only thing that made me sad about this DVD set was knowing that there are no follow on DVD sets to go with it. The witty humor mixed with adult context made me laugh over and over again. I am so glad I bought the complete set. I tend to only buy DVD's that I can watch over and over and never get tired of watching them and Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law series is one of them! The Williams Street Productions, LLC did an OUTSTANDING job putting this together and I can only hope they find in themselves to sometime in the future maybe hammer on our funny bone with more Harvey Birdman! PLEASE!
What can say but this oure comedy at its best. It takes are old super hero and puts him in A law office where defends some of are old cartoon buddies. Like The Flinstones with a Sapranoes Spin or even better Johnny Quest with a Gay spin on it. They dig up all the greats from the past and put them in great court room situations. It just never ends whith all the great comedy that comes from every episode. I say it a must see and a must buy you will not be disapointed!
I love Harvey Birdman. I am glad these collections were sold as entire seasons instead of the cheap thing some shows are doing by only putting out 4 or 6 shows at a time. Thanks Adult_Swim!