Customer Reviews

Creature Comforts America - The Complete Season One

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Creature Comforts" comes from the same company that produces the wonderful claymation "Wallace & Gromit" shorts and movies like "Chicken Run." Episodes consisted of scenes of claymation animals speaking with the voices of regular people talking about their everyday lives.

A British version has become very popular in the UK but unfortunately the American version just didn't catch on. CBS pulled the series after only three weeks on the air due to low ratings.

Why? The show wasn't really intended for kids and I suspect many adults didn't watch it because they thought that it was for children. A producer on the series also shared with me that the length of the show (30 minutes) might have been a problem. The UK episodes are about 10 minutes long which may be the ideal length for something like this.

The project took months and months to complete so it's nice that the fans and general public will now have a chance to see all seven episodes.

One evening while surfing the channels on my television, I stumbled on an episode of this show of "Creature Comforts America". Being an extreme fan of the British version of this program, I came to a stop ending my channel surfing for a time. As a previous reviewer on this board so succinctly wrote, these are NOT really cartoons for the kids; however, they are very funny Claymation cartoons really for GROWNUPS! In this American version, the creatures have wonderfully varying American accents that are hysterical plus they are being asked questions that could be considered more relevant to our country or more particularly "American" questions--some being taken from the news in the USA. I particularly love the Claymation character of the snake that has just swallowed the cat along with the horny panda bears--all are hysterical. I am just so very glad that they have released season one on DVD and I am also so very sad that there won't be anymore releases due to the show's cancellation because it is indeed so very funny.

I came to this American version already a fan of the original Nick Park short and the BBC series, so I knew pretty much what to expect. What surprised me, though, was just how much funnier this American series seemed to me than the BBC version! I'm a long-time fan of British comedy (everything from Fawlty Towers to Monty Python to Spaced to Mr. Bean to The Office), but for some reason this American edition just kept me laughing the entire time, whereas the British version had more spaced out laughs.

Intact in this version are the hilarious sight-gags in the background, the delightful design of the animals, and the hilarious juxtaposition of human responses coupled with non-human settings.

I watched both of the episodes as they aired, and was so disappointed to hear that the series had been canceled immediately thereafter. I was very surprised, actually, because a lot of my friends had watched the show on their own and loved it just as much as I had. I don't know if they didn't advertise it enough or what, but everyone I showed it too later thought it was great, so I wish they'd given it more of a chance. Oh well.

I'm glad they at least put the whole season out on DVD. This will make a good present for many family members and friends this year for Christmas.

This show was run for 3 weeks by CBS before being cancelled. The problem was that CBS didn't explain how the show worked. The show interviews ordinary people about ordinary topics. The show then put their ordinary words into the mouths of animated animals in funny situations. Unless you understand that, you think it is just bad professional writing. Example: A wife says that her husband eats too fast and never talks during meals. The video shows two boa constrictors, one saying the words and the other with a rat half in his mouth, snake-gorging style. That's the humor. Their web page is still open if you want a taste.

I saw the (too few) episodes that CBS aired and immediately was hooked on this brilliant production. Normal, everyday Americans were interviewed on a variety of topics (yes, mostly adult subject matter) and the audio from those interviews were then used to build the claymation around using animals. The end result = brilliance!

Unfortunately, the majority of Americans just did not get it... at least that what CBS thought, so they cancelled the show with at least four other completed episodes to air.

Thank goodness for this DVD. All seven episodes are there.

From the creative, intelligent minds of Aardman that brought you Wallace & Gromit; Chicken Run, and the Chevron TV ads is this artistic and comedic jewel.

Well worth every penny.

I totally agree with Griffin on this one. This show is so great! It is too bad that the American public is so interested in "reality" shows and garbage of that nature, that they didn't give a show like this a chance. This is REAL reality! People talking about real things! Plus, all done up in an awesome animation style as well. I highly recommend getting this DVD as well as the British versions of this show. There are just so many good moments in these shows, funny ones as well as tender. My most favorite moment is the first scene when two guys are heard talking about "wine" but then cut to the animation and... well, I won't tell you. You will just have to BUY THIS DVD!!!!!

I absoulutely loved this show! Too bad the American public didn't give it a chance. It was a very smartly done show with so much humor! That is the way with so many great comedies. If it isn't about sex it just doesn't sell--and I am NOT a prude. But I do like to be able to watch a show with my 75 year old Mom and not be horrified by the content. Thanks for putting this on DVD.

This was a fantastic show, that just couldn't find an audience. Unique concepts like this don't always work, but this one did. Shame on CBS for not giving it more of a chance.

My rating of a 4 is because of the special features. Those included are fine, but there are many more that should have been added. Some can be viewed on Y**T***, and were available when Creature Comforts had a full website. Considering the show only lasted seven episodes, they should have made everything available on this disc set.

The feature most missed by me, were videos of the actual interviewees. To put human faces to the voices connected with horses, rats, and chickens, is a blast.

This show is sooooooo funny! My friends and I found it on Netflix one night and watched it a few times. I loved it so much I had to order it to add to my collection. The characters they put to these interviews are just ridiculous! So random and hilarious. I can't wait to share it with more people!

I like the Brithish version, which was the first to come out. However, the American version is much better and I can't wait for a second season.