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The Joy of Sets: May the Force Be with Family Guy!
Family Guy courtesy FOX
I feel like I should be ashamed to admit this, but I freakin' love Family Guy. Oh. My. God. What is wrong with those people?! They get away with more jaw-on-the-floor "did they really just say that?" shizz than any cartoon and every live-action network series that I can recall, and yet, every time — every time, people! — I'm stunned. While not laughing me arse off, of course.
My theory is that Guy flies, much like the Millennium Falcon, under the radar. Fox doesn't promote it too much, it never became huge-huge-huge and nobody in the cast has gone to rehab for press purposes. Hence, the freedom to have a walker-bound septuagenarian pedophile, a greased-up naked deaf guy and a veritable parade of equal-opportunity slurs against every special interest group known to man, woman and Wookiee. It universally flips the bird to Standards and Practices!
Which is why I greet this week's "Blue Harvest" release with such glee. Not only is it a smashing production, but I am perilously close to wearing out my copies of the five Family Guy sets already on the market. Originally aired as an hour-long episode on Fox back in September as the show's sixth-season opener, creator Seth MacFarlane and crew hit warped speed with "Blue," their almost obsessive, hilarious retelling of Star Wars. Or as Peter (and like a generation of closet dorks) calls it, "the greatest story ever told."
Just think: Brian as Chewie. Stewie as Darth. Peter as Han, and Lois as Leia? You can almost see the brilliance from a galaxy far, far away. MacFarlane told me last summer that after five seasons of dropping barely approved Star Wars references into the show, Fox basically said, please just get the official approval from Lucas and do your thang.
And boy did they. If you haven't seen it yet, well, I don't really know what that's about. Like 10 million folks tuned in to see it on TV, with another gazillion finding it on the Web. Even my boss saw it — and howled — and he's not that much of a fan. (More of a Simpsons guy... and that's OK, too.)
The only thing about this lovefest is that it stirs up some longings for cartoons yet to make their way to DVD. Blessedly, The Smurfs show up next month, but where are The Bionic Six? Or Filmation's The Brady Kids from the '70s? And don't even get me started on the painful absence of Ralph Bakshi's Mighty Heroes from my shelves. Diaper Man rocked!
What are your missing faves, kids? I know some of you mentioned Spider-Man and X-Men last week, but are there any Daria fans out there? Jem? Snorks? Talk to me, children!
Next week: Thunderbirds are finally a go!
Until then, don’t hog the remote.— Damian Holbrook
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Jan 17, 2008 11:00 AM
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There was a cartoon version of the brady bunch?! I had no idea. That's crazy.
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Jan 17, 2008 12:05 PM
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The Snorks. Oh my goodness. I forgot about the Snorks!
There are a few other cartoons from the early or mid-'80s that I'd love to see on DVD (if they're not already... I better check that out): Heathcliff, The Shirt Tales, and The Get-Along Gang. "The Get-Along Gang, Get-Along Gang. Each one is special in his own way..."
Thank you, Damian, for that blast from the past!
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Jan 17, 2008 1:15 PM
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 Don't be ashamed Damain, I freaking love this show also. They pick on everybody!!! They say the things that we are thinking, and wish we can say out loud!! I can't wait for the DVD release!!
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Jan 18, 2008 8:08 AM
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Daria is a must. I'd love it if they re-released Jem. I didn't get the dvds when they were out before because I wanted to get the whole collection and the never finished the set. Plus you can't find any of those dvds now.
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Jan 18, 2008 11:43 AM
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I saw Blue Harvest on TV, but I loved the episode enough to get the Deluxe Edition of the DVD (comes w/trading cards, 3D glasses, a t-shirt, and an artbook)!
While some of the jokes fall flat (a Dirty Dancing reference that went far too long, IMO), this was one of the best Star Wars homages/parodies I've seen. I can't wait until May 20th, when the Robot Chicken SW parody drops on DVD as well.
And yes, sign me up for a Bionic Six DVD set as well!
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Jan 18, 2008 12:17 PM
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MIA:
Rocky and Bullwinkle Season 4
Rocky and Bullwinkle Season 5
Space Angel
The Mighty Hercules
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Jan 19, 2008 10:11 AM
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Spider-Woman, a childhood obsession. All I have is the Showbeam and some comics including her first appearance. No more underoos, sleepingbags and no DVD of this wonderful cartoon.
Silver Surfer, I want the 90's X-Men and Spiderman as well but I liked this one too.
Ripping Friends, complete. I have a single volume DVD though.
QuickDraw McGraw, the music rights issue here seems wrong to me, I stil don't understand how Huck could be releasable but not it.
Huckleberry Hound Volume 2, completing the series.
Spider-man and His Amazing Friends, love Firestar too.
Rocky & Bullwinkle's completion, come on now.
Hoppity Hooper, from Jay Ward.
Calvin and the Colonel animated animal take on the Amos and Andy scenario.
Compete Underdog, this series was never treated well on DVD. Also complete Total TV cartoons including King Leonardo & his Short Subjects, Tennessee Tuxedo an the Beagles.
The Bionic 6, I remember that as well.
The Amazing Chan and Chan Clan and Clue Club, I liked these, sorry.
Saturday Supercade, apparently animated series based on video games are popular, so why no this? It has animated versions of Frogger, Donkey Kong (with Mario), Q*bert, Donkey Kong Jr., Pitfall Harry,Space Ace, and Kangaroo. Also they should release PacMan and Rubik's Cube.
I am a glutton for punishment, I like cartoons based on live action TV shows. I want animated Gilligan's Island, Gilligan's Planet, The Brady Kids, Fonz & the Happy Days Gang, Laverne & Shirley in the Army and its sequel Laverne & Shirley in the Army with the Fonz, Mork & Mindy, That Girl (one shot special), Jeanie, The Professor and the Nanny (one shot special, the live action one is needed as well), Carlton Your Doorman (Rhoda spinoff primetime special), Bewitched hasd an animated special with Tabitha, I can't recall the name, Gidget, and any others I forget.
ABC Weekend's special aired a few adaptations of Miss Switch, I would love this on DVD. Some would like Bunjie.
VEI releasing Dinky Dog and Drak Pack made me investigate what the company they licensed from controlled and I think Bunjie was one of them but I might be mistaken. Also they potentially could release Arthur! and the Square Knights of the Round Table.
The Complete The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat
The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse
I am so glad Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors are coming to DVD.
I would like the complete Tex Avery at MGM, Happy Harmonies, Betty Boop, Mighty Mouse, and Heckle & Jeckle for theatrical animated shorts once commonly seen on Saturday morning. Also, it would be nice to have an actual complete collection of Harveytoons. I have what is advertised as complete but there are a couple of discs more worth of material plus most of those shorts have titles and endings cut off and there are censors, and some shorts are only on there as clips.
Capital Critters, Fish Police and The PJs for primetime animation and while I am near it, the puppetry, non animation, political and social satire of Spitting Image.
The recently made animated Doctor Who of which I have heard no news of a US release for but is on DVD in the UK.
Biker Mice From Mars grew on me, there is a new series of it, continuing the story, never aired in the US made in 2006.
I'd like an affordable Star Blazers collection.
Heathcliff & the Catillac Cats is on DVD from Shout Factory but did poorly in sales, the same goes for Cops. If you like these shows, buy them and tell people about them being on DVD in hopes of convincing completion and release of similar material.
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Jan 20, 2008 11:25 AM
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