Customer Reviews

Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, Vol. 1

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Harvey Birdman is an old HB character that Adult Swim (late nights on Cartoon Network)decided to give a face-lift to. Harvey didn't quite hack it as a superhero, but he knows enough about the law to be dangerous! Harvey tries cases of former/current HB characters including Fred Flintstone, Shaggy and Scooby, Dynomutt, and Speed Buggy. The episodes include:

BANNON CUSTODY BATTLE: Remember Jonny Quest? It seems his dad, Dr. Quest and his "partner" Race Bannon are involved in a grueling custody battle over Jonny and little Hadji. Prosecuting attorney Vulturo seems to be winning until Harvey discovers some evidence that may put him over the top.

VERY PERSONAL INJURY: Apache Chief has an embarassing incident with a large cup of very hot coffee from a local coffee chain . He hires Harvey as his attorney to sue Javalux, as he no longer can "grow large at will" after the accident. Prosecuting attorney Reducto has a scheme up his sleeve to help Chief get his teepee back and win the case.

SHAGGY BUSTED: In one of the funniest episodes, we see the Mystery Machine being pulled over via a camera from a cop car (much like "COPS"). Shaggy and Scooby need a good lawyer to beat the charges of smoking pot (always implied, never stated)and Harvey takes the case. Ex-Thespian Prosecuter Spyro not only tries the case, but performs in a stirring rendition of the events of the night in question.

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE: Yogi and Boo-Boo find themselves in a heap of trouble when the ATF swarm their cave and arrest Boo-Boo on charges that he is the terrorist known as "The Unabooboo". Obviously, they need a good lawyer, but Harvey Birdman will do.

SHOYU WEENIE: Jabberjaw and the Neptunes are being sued by a Japanese pop band called Shoyu Weenie for stealing their hit song. Harvey's paralegal Peanut takes the opportunity to hit on the band's female member and finds a way to save the day.

THE DABBA DON: This is my all-time favorite episode. Opening with the theme from "The Sopranos", Fred Flinstone seeks Harvey's advice to expand "a few small businesses". Everything seems to be on the up and up until a few details tie Fred in with the Mob. The episode features my favorite judge Mentok the Mind Taker.

DEADOMUTT, PARTS I and II: Blue Falcon joins the firm as a hot new attorney with his pal DynoMutt in tow. Harvey, crushed that Falcon swooped in and stole the open position of 'partner' from under him, doesn't even try to hide his jealousy and dislike for Falcon, and figures he'd be nothing without DynoMutt to do all his work for him. Now Harvey has a lot of explaining to do when DynoMutt is found mangled up in the copy machine. Harvey is arrested, tried and sentenced to be electrocuted. It's up to Peanut to come to the rescue armed with evidence and heavy sarcasm.

X, THE EXTERMINATOR: X the Eliminator has his memory jarred when he sees and ad with Harvey and his new law firm. Apparently, he was supposed to kill Harvey years ago but never finished him off. Now, he poses as X the Exterminator to get into Harvey's building and finish the job- if he can get over the fact that Harvey barely remembers him and keeps blowing him off for a coffee date.

SPF: After years of gaining power from the sun's rays, Harvey finds a suspicious "spot" on his skin (that oddly resembles Frida Kahlo). The dermatologist insists he stay out of the sun and use a strong SPF. But Harvey becomes listless and tired, not to mention pasty as the underside of a fish. Peanut introduces him to self-tanning cream, and Harvey quickly becomes addicted to the stuff. Peanut uses the opportunity to be his SPF "Candyman", demanding more and more valuables from Harvey in exchange for the goods. It's up to the rest of the firm to throw Harvey an "intervention party".

THE DEVLIN MADE ME DO IT: Daredevil Ernie Devlin is being sued by a kid that injured himself trying one of his famous jumps. Harvey decides the kid is faking it and attacks him- in the courtroom- in his wheelchair. When that severely backfires, Harvey has to do some fancy dancing to win the case.

TRIO'S COMPANY: Harvey represents Inch-High Private Eye when the tiny detective insists he's been fired because of his smaller stature. Meanwhile, Harvey has become smitten with the trainer at his healthclub. But everyone seems to be her "friend", except him.

HIGH SPEED BUGGY CHASE: In an O.J. inspired opener, Speed Buggy gets arrested for leading the cops on a high speed chase. Harvey is hired as defender, but loses a jealous Avenger (his legal eagle assistant) to rival attorney Vulturo. Harvey is forced to downsize to a legal finch.

The DVD also features a ficticious 'movie' trailer and a lot of behind the scenes stuff. There are also auditions for Harvey with Todd Barry and Stephen Colbert (the voice of Reducto). The "Tab" soda scene from "Shaggy Busted" is shown as a video, including lyrics. And finally, deleted scenes from the 2 part episode "DeadoMutt" are here. Of all the Adult Swim cartoons, "Harvey Birdman" is definitely may favorite ("Sealab 2021" and "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" are 2nd and 3rd, repsectively). Get a taste of delicious insanity today!

this show is very original and entertaining. Here are the specs from Adultswim.com

13 Episodes:
* Bannon Custody Battle
* Very Personal Injury
* Shaggy Busted
* Death by Chocolate
* Shoyu Weenie
* The Dabba Don
* Deadomutt Part 1
* Deadomutt Part 2
* X, The Eliminator
* SPF
* The Devlin Made Me Do It
* Trio's Company
* High Speed Buggy Chase

Special Features:
* Deleted Scenes: Deadomutt, Trio's Company
* Live Action Open
* Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law Movie Trailer
* Casting What If's: Stephen Colbert as Harvey; Todd Barry as Harvey
* Pencil Test and Final Animation: Shaggy Busted
* Tab Can Redux, with Lyrics
* The Wind Beneath His Wings (Birdman Crew Pictures)
* Commentaries: Very Personal Injury; The Dabba Don; SPF; The Devlin Made Me Do It (Producers Commentary; S&P/Legal Commentary); Trio's Company

Anyone remember Birdman? Back in the late 60's/early 70's, Birdman was a lame Hanna Barberra produced cartoon, much like Space Ghost. And like Space Ghost before him, Birdman has been re-imagined under the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup as Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law. Birdman (voiced by the great Gary Cole) is a poor schmuck of a lawyer, working for his psychotic yet hilarious one eyed boss (voiced by the Daily Show's Stephen Colbert) and assisted by his winged assistant Peanut. In the course of these episodes, Birdman defends a host of assorted Hanna Barberra cartoon characters, including the Scooby Doo gang, and takes part in the custody battle of Johnny Quest. The most hilarious episode however, is entitled "The Dabba Don"; a Sopranos-style take on the Flintstones as Harvey defends Bedrock mob boss Fred Flintstone. With guest voices from Michael McKean, Peter MacNicol, and John Michael Higgins (as the hilarious Judge Mentok), Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law is off the wall hilarity at it's very best, and the sheer irreverance will leave you rolling on the floor.

If you're old enough to remember the Hanna-Barbera cartoons of the late 60s and 70s, you simply *must* see this show! However, my teenagers love it just on its own merits. There's an ep where Dr. Quest and Race Bannon were in a custody battle for the two boys, because Dr. Quest claimed Race was unfaithful and filed a palimony suit! Then there's the one where Scooby-Doo and Shaggy were pulled over in the Mystery Machine by the police. They even had footage that looked like a cop-cam. Just try imagining Fred Flinstone as a Soprano family member...I can't wait for this DVD set to come out! The producers of this show wisely used the original voice actors that were available, which made it a much more humorous spoof.

This show is brilliant, look I am a huge fan of animated series, I love John K's original series of Ren and Stimpy, The Simpsons (even have a Side Show Bob tattoo), Futurama, Spongebob and now Harvey. I saw a few episodes in Australia on SBS and took the plunge and bought the series and it is completely off the wall, the creators of this series deserve full credit for reworking the cartoons we grew up with. To see Scooby and Shaggy being arrested for being stoned out of their minds (perhaps they watch this show too) and other characters worked into each episode is a revelation, its very adult, very twisted and very bloody funny. Hurry up and order it already.

- REVIEW

When I think of lawsuits and the justice system, I think of "Boston Legal." When I think of random no-nonsense insanties, I think of "Adult_Swim." But when I think of two of those thoughts combined...I think of "Fox News"...but afterwards I think of "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law", probably the best Adult_Swim comedy show that doesn't have a talking milkshake, french fries, or a meatball in it. If FOX had a Judical show like this, they would've gotten a big hit on their hands...which they did on "Head Cases" and failed. Tough crap, FOX, there's always syndicated "Judge Joe Brown."

What does the law firm, a former superhero, a psychic judge, a peanut, a perverted hippo, and a bear have in common? NOTHING! But they all work in the pratice system...and whatever the pratice system is, it has to do with Hanna-Barbera characters doing something criminal, and is up to the attorney, Harvey Birdman, to take the case and prove their innocence...if they are. Throughout 13 episodes, he'll go on cases as bizarre as the Flinstone Mafia, drug smuggling by the Scooby-Doo gang (which, btw, got me to love Scooby-Doo for the first time), discrimination by a inch-high detective, and road rage from a dune buggy. Will he succeed in those cases? CAN he succeed? When will Warner Bros release "Vol. 2" of this show?

Every single one of these 12-minute episodes are hilarious, expect for the first two, but I'm busting a gut on each of every one of them. I just have a weakness for random, out-of-context humor that happens just suddenly...I laugh at the quick stuff. The characters are the best thing about this show, because each and every one of them are uniquely insane. Besides spic-and-shine Birdman, there's his boss, Ken Sebben, who controls his every whim as confusing as possible. There's also Birdman's rival, Reducto, who has a fixation to shrink things...and fear things that are smaller than him, and then there's the judge, MENTOK THE MINDTAKER, who can predicts what people are thinking just because he can. I could talk about Peanut, The Hippo, X the eliminator and the rest, but why spoil the surprise.

When it comes to my personal best episodes, I chose 'em by categories, 'cause some are the best in their own way. The funniest episode has to be 'TRIO'S COMPANY' , just because I gauk everytime Reducto run and screams like a girl. The best in story has to be 'DEADOMUTT PTS. 1+2', because of how the consequences between Birdman and the new employee build up so well. The best in theme has to be 'THE DABBA DON', because who doesn't like a glorified series of mafia movies spoofs in a comedy? Whatever episode I like, it doesn't hurt for each to have brillant writing and star-quality cast such as Gary "Office Space" Cole and Stephen Colbert. Sadly, Stephen Colbert is currenly doing his own "REPORT" on Comedy Central, so he might not have the time to play "Ken Sebben" in future HB episodes...sad preminition, really. (;_;)

The extras included on this DVD are good (the live-action movie trailer is awesome), but if you're gonna buying the volume set, buy it for the laughs, the quick fixes, and for justice...in the name of the proud American consumers who waste their lives on products they don't really need, but should for the heck of it. If by any chance you weren't covinced to buy "Harvey Birdman" on the last 15 reviews, let's face it, you're NEVER gonna be interested in a show as crazy as this. But for those who love their law shows law-less, and their serious shows too bizarre for any network, then FEEL THE POWER OF THE---ahh, too easy. <_<


This is Del Keyes, saying "It's recommended by the representatives of anonymous attorneys everywhere, sort of."

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!

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!

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.

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!