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The Oblongs

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The Oblongs is an American adult animated sitcom created by Angus Oblong and Jace Richdale. It was Mohawk Productions' first venture into animation. The series premiered on April 1, 2001, on The WB, and cancelled due to low ratings on May 20, leaving the last five episodes unaired.[1] The remaining episodes were later aired on Cartoon Network's late-night programming block Adult Swim in August 2002, with the series premiering on the network in production order. The series is loosely based on a series of characters introduced in a picture book entitled Creepy Susie and 13 Other Tragic Tales for Troubled Children.[2]

The Oblongs
The Oblongs title card
Genre
Created by
Based onCreepy Susie and 13 Other Tragic Tales for Troubled Children
by Angus Oblong
Voices of
Opening theme"Oblongs" by They Might Be Giants
Composers
  • David Michael Frank
  • David Schwartz
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producers
Running time22 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkThe WB
ReleaseApril 1 (2001-04-01) –
May 20, 2001 (2001-05-20)
NetworkAdult Swim
ReleaseAugust 25 (2002-08-25) –
October 20, 2002 (2002-10-20)

Three networks had a bidding war to win the rights to turn Angus Oblong's characters into a series: Fox, the WB, and ABC. Warner Bros. won the bidding to turn Oblong's characters into a series; and thus, the series was submitted to the WB. The show was produced by Film Roman, Oblong Productions, Jobsite Productions and Mohawk Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, and the theme song for the series was composed and performed by They Might Be Giants. This was the only animated series to date to have been produced by Bruce Helford under Mohawk.

A total of 13 episodes were produced. All thirteen episodes of The Oblongs were released on DVD on October 4, 2005.

Setting and premise

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The series focuses on the antics of a mutant family who live in a poor valley community. As a result of pollution and radiation exposure, they are all either disabled, deformed, or mutated. The pollution is the direct result of the lavish lifestyle of the rich community known as "The Hills", whose residents exploit and harm the valley residents with absolutely no regard for their safety or well-being.

Many reviewers and fans see the series as a commentary on social stratification.[3]

Characters

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The Oblong family

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  • Bob Oblong (voiced by Will Ferrell) – Born with no arms or legs, Bob works at a poison factory called Globocide. Despite his deformities, he is very chipper and has a happy-go-lucky attitude. He is married to Pickles and is the father of Biff, Chip, Milo, and Beth. He mostly uses his mouth for tasking and moving his torso in ways that can help him get around.
  • Marie Kay "Pickles" Oblong (voiced by Jean Smart) is a chain smoking alcoholic who was originally a Hill resident but moved to the valley after marrying Bob. Due to the hazardous atmosphere of The Valley, all of her hair has since fallen out (something which is usually hidden by an extremely tall blonde beehive wig), and she is now regarded as an outcast by her former Hill friends. While not bitter about losing her privileged life, she often expresses disdain towards her self-centered former neighbors in the Hills. She is the mother of Biff, Chip, Milo, and Beth, whom she loves dearly as much as she does her husband.
  • Biff Oblong and Chip Oblong (voiced by Randy and Jason Sklar respectively) are 15-year-old conjoined twins who are attached at the waist and share a middle leg. Biff is a hard worker obsessed with sports while Chip is more laid back. It is frequently implied that Biff is gay and attracted to their unnamed gym teacher.[4]
  • Milo Oblong (voiced by Pamela Adlon) is the youngest son who is afflicted with numerous mental and social disorders. Despite his afflictions, he is a very forthright and benevolent boy, though he envies the Hill lifestyle and wishes to rise above his economic status. He has a single hair sticking up on his head, a squint in one eye, and wears a shirt that says "NO".
  • Beth Oblong (voiced by Jeannie Elias) is the youngest child and only daughter, she has a warty, elongated growth growing out of her head. Despite her appendage, she is shown to be better adjusted than the rest of her family.

Recurring characters

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  • Helga Phugly (voiced by Lea DeLaria) is an overweight, toad-like girl who holds the delusional belief that she is pretty and popular.
  • Creepy Susie (voiced by Jeannie Elias) is a melancholic goth girl who speaks with a deadpan French accent and appears to float instead of walk as her legs are never shown.
  • Peggy Weggy (voiced by Becky Thyre) is a girl who has one breast and lacks a lower jaw, causing her to spit and talk with a lisp. Despite her deformities, Peggy is cheerful and upbeat.
  • Mikey Butts (voiced by Jeannie Elias) is a boy saddled with a dangling, doubled posterior.

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Misfit Love"Vincent WallerJace RichdaleApril 1, 2001 (2001-04-01) (The WB)
August 4, 2002 (2002-08-04)
(Adult Swim)[5]		236-0012.16[6]
Milo Oblong gets transferred to public school after his father Bob is taken off his job's insurance for filing too many claims and falls for a beautiful, popular girl named Yvette who's really an alien. Meanwhile, Bob tries to find a second job to pay the medical bills.
2"Narcoleptic Scottie"Bob JaquesScott BuckApril 8, 2001 (2001-04-08) (The WB)
August 18, 2002 (2002-08-18)
(Adult Swim)[7]		236-0033.34[8]
In an attempt to calm his hyperactivity, Bob and Pickles let Milo care for an injured Scottish terrier, but when the dog proves to be a bad influence on Milo, he's forced to give the dog up for adoption.
3"Milo Interrupted"Kelly ArmstrongBen KullApril 15, 2001 (2001-04-15) (The WB)
September 29, 2002 (2002-09-29) (Adult Swim)[9]		236-0092.49[10]
After a Hill kid chucks a rock at the window of Mr. Bergstein's house, the mayor hires a Bible-thumping, gun nut named Mrs. Hubbard to investigate the Valley for dysfunctional families and juvenile delinquents when the Valley kids are accused of the incident. Meanwhile, Milo discovers that Helga's parents are missing and must care for her, making Bob suspect that Milo is abusing drugs.
4"Bucketheads"Joe HorneScott BuckApril 22, 2001 (2001-04-22) (The WB)
October 13, 2002 (2002-10-13)
(Adult Swim)[11]		236-0111.90[12]
Milo becomes an unlikely trendsetter for the Hill kids after Pickles sends him to school with a bucket on his head, but the fame goes to Milo's head when Milo sets out to create his own line of offbeat attire.
5"Heroine Addict"Monte YoungJoey Soloway and Scott BuckApril 29, 2001 (2001-04-29) (The WB)
October 27, 2002 (2002-10-27)
(Adult Swim)[13]		236-0132.16[14]
Pickles wins the chance at a shopping spree from a cigarette company, but when she passes out after smoking one too many cigarettes, Pickles decides to quit smoking (and drinking alcohol after inadvertently setting her finger on fire) and becomes a thrill-seeker after knocking out a woman during Tae-Bo class.
6"The Golden Child"Linda MillerLeonard DickMay 6, 2001 (2001-05-06) (The WB)
September 22, 2002 (2002-09-22) (Adult Swim)[15]		236-0082.71[16]
Bob Oblong becomes depressed after learning all his suggestions to make Globocide better have been used as kindling for the factory's furnace. Meanwhile, Milo creates an energy drink called "Manic", and is named "The Corporate Messiah" by the higher-ups at Globocide.
7"Flush, Flush, Sweet Helga"Monte YoungJace RichdaleMay 13, 2001 (2001-05-13) (The WB)
September 1, 2002 (2002-09-01)
(Adult Swim)[17]		236-0051.98[18]
When Milo and his friends get caught crashing a Debbie birthday party, Helga ends up losing Debbie's locket and goes in the sewers to retrieve it, only to be stuck in the Valley's sewer pipes, and the Hill people don't see it as a problem -- until a failed attempt to get Helga out results in the Hill people annexing The Oblongs' house (which isn't affected by Helga being stuck in the pipes) for water.
8"Disfigured Debbie"Joe HorneJoey SolowayMay 20, 2001 (2001-05-20) (The WB)
August 11, 2002 (2002-08-11)
(Adult Swim)[19]		236-0022.40[20]
Milo runs for class president, but loses to Debbie, who ends up an outcast after falling in a thresher.
Adult Swim
9"Pickles' Little Amazons"Skip JonesBen KullAugust 25, 2002 (2002-08-25)[21]236-004N/A
Pickles gets arrested for neglecting Beth after trying to rescue her from a giant Venus flytrap and is sentenced community service by working as a den mother for a vaguely lesbian Girl Scout-esque troop called "The Little Amazons."
10"Get Off My Back"Jack DyerEric FriedmanSeptember 8, 2002 (2002-09-08)[22]236-006N/A
An accident involving Insani-Glue and Milo getting chased by Biff and Chip results in Milo getting stuck to Biff and Chip's back, which cuts into their training for the two-man triathlon against Hill kids Jared and Blaine. Meanwhile, Beth feels left out and begins sticking herself to others.
11"Please Be Genital"Gary McCarverLeonard DickSeptember 15, 2002 (2002-09-15)[23]236-007N/A
Bob gets his genitals crushed by a stripper wearing clogs during his best friend's bachelor party. When he confesses to Pickles that they can't have sex for two weeks, Pickles begins wondering whether or not her marriage to Bob is real. Meanwhile, Milo becomes an insomniac when Pickles and Bob stop having sex.
12"My Name is Robbie"Vincent WallerJoey SolowayOctober 6, 2002 (2002-10-06)[24]236-010N/A
Bob gets his jaw injured at his company's theme park, and at the advice of company attorneys, is given a robotic body with the arms and legs he never had, which gives him the confidence to quit his job and become a lifeguard.
13"Father of the Bribe"Michael Kim and Bob JaquesEric FriedmanOctober 20, 2002 (2002-10-20)[25]236-012N/A
Biff and Chip get their driver's licenses and crash Bob's car during a drag race. Biff and Chip then buy Bob a new car at a police auction, and come across the Mayor's bribe money, which they spend on themselves, despite nightmarish harassment from city officials.

Broadcast

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The show premiered on April 1, 2001, on The WB but failed to find an audience. On May 20, 2001, The WB aired "Disfigured Debbie", the second episode produced, as the season finale, leaving five episodes unaired. Reruns of the first eight episodes, and the five remaining episodes, premiered on Cartoon Network's late-night programming block, Adult Swim, from August 4 to October 27, 2002. Reruns of the series continued to air on Adult Swim until December 26, 2015.

In Canada, the series aired on Teletoon as part of "Teletoon Unleashed". In Australia, the show premiered on the Nine Network on December 8, 2001,[26] however due to insufficient ratings, it was withdrawn after one episode,[27] but was eventually shown in a late-night/early morning time slot. The series aired from November 5, 2004, to September 29, 2006, on TBS's late-night programming block, Too Funny to Sleep, and aired on the channel again from April 15, 2013, to February 20, 2015.

Home media

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The entire series was released on two-disc DVD set in the United States on October 4, 2005.

DVD name Release date Ep # Features
The Complete Twisted Series October 4, 2005[28] 13 "It's an Oblong World" – The show's concept, characters and casting, "The Art of the Oblongs" Angus Oblong-guided tour of his original artwork for the series, and "An Oblong Picture Book" – Angus Oblong drawings gallery.[29]

Awards and nominations

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The Oblongs won the Artios award in 2001 for Best Casting for Animated Voiceover – Television Mary V. Buck Susan Edelman.[30]

References

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  1. ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Company. pp. 593–594. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  2. ^ Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 434. ISBN 978-1538103739.
  3. ^ Mink, Eric (March 30, 2001). "'The Oblongs' Shapes Up As a Toxic Treat". New York Daily News. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  4. ^ Howe, Nicholas (September 28, 2019). "10 Jokes from The Oblongs That Have Already Aged Poorly". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  5. ^ "The Oblongs - "Misfit Love" Adult Swim Premiere". The News-Press. 4 August 2002. p. 185. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (March 26-April 1)". Los Angeles Times. April 4, 2001. Archived from the original on May 15, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  7. ^ "The Oblongs - "Narcoleptic Scottie" Adult Swim Premiere". The Stuart News. 18 August 2002. p. 157. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (April 2–8)". Los Angeles Times. April 11, 2001. Archived from the original on May 15, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  9. ^ "The Oblongs - "Milo Interrupted" Adult Swim Premiere". The News-Press. 29 September 2002. p. 165. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (April 9–15)". Los Angeles Times. April 18, 2001. Archived from the original on May 14, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  11. ^ "The Oblongs - "Bucketheads" Adult Swim Premiere". Vincennes Sun-Commercial. 13 October 2002. p. 73. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (April 16–22)". Los Angeles Times. April 25, 2001. Retrieved May 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  13. ^ "The Oblongs - "Heroine Addict" Adult Swim Premiere". The Stuart News. 27 October 2002. p. 135. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (April 23–29)". Los Angeles Times. May 2, 2001. Archived from the original on May 14, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  15. ^ "The Oblongs - "The Golden Child" Adult Swim Premiere". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. 22 September 2002. p. 149. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (April 30-May 6)". Los Angeles Times. May 9, 2001. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  17. ^ "The Oblongs - "Flush, Flush, Sweet Helga" Adult Swim Premiere". Tulsa World. 1 September 2002. p. 131. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (May 7–13)". Los Angeles Times. May 16, 2001. Archived from the original on May 14, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  19. ^ "The Oblongs - "Disfigured Debbie" Adult Swim Premiere". The News-Press. 11 August 2002. p. 159. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (May 14–20)". Los Angeles Times. May 23, 2001. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. 
  21. ^ "The Oblongs - "Pickles Little Amazons" Television Premiere". The Manhattan Mercury. 25 August 2002. p. 32. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "The Oblongs - "Get Off My Back" Television Premiere". The Southern Illinoisan. 8 September 2002. p. 72. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "The Oblongs - "Please Be Genital" Television Premiere". The News-Press. 15 September 2002. p. 175. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "The Oblongs - "My Named is Robbie" Television Premiere". The Stuart News. 6 October 2002. p. 145. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "The Oblongs - "Father of the Bribe" Television Premiere". The Stuart News. 20 October 2002. p. 141. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Nine's Summer Programming Blitz". Encore Magazine. Retrieved December 2, 2009. [dead link‍]
  27. ^ "Off-Beat Cartoon Gets Chop.". The Mercury. Retrieved December 2, 2009. [dead link‍]
  28. ^ Kim, Mike (4 October 2005). "The Oblongs – The Complete Series (2001)". Amazon.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  29. ^ Lacey, Gord (May 12, 2005). "The Oblongs – Oblongs Back Shot and Specs". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  30. ^ "Artios Award Winners". Casting Society of America. Archived from the original on April 9, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
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