Product Details

• Actors: Gary Cole, Thomas Allen, Stephen Colbert, John Michael Higgins, Chris Edgerly
• Directors: Robert Renzetti
• Writers: Erik Richter, Adam Pava, Michael Ouweleen
• Producers: Keith Crofford, Khaki Jones, Linda Simensky, Michael Lazzo
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Turner Home Ent
• DVD Release Date: April 12, 2005
• Run Time: 154 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0007CILMA
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,343 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  #4 in	Movies & TV > Animation > Adult Swim > Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law
  #81 in	Movies & TV > Animation > Television

• For more information about "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, Vol. 1" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

• This is item 1 in The Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Of all the "re-imagining" wreaked upon the Hanna-Barbera animated catalog by Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programs, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law is probably their most deliriously creative effort. The series revives second-string '60s avian hero Birdman, and via a combination of old clips and new animation, recasts him as a crusading lawyer (voiced by Gary Cole) who defends the rights of other cartoon characters. That Harvey is pitted in the courtroom against old supervillain foes, who have followed his lead and become prosecutors and judges, is one problem--but even more challenging are the pickles his fellow Hanna-Barbera creations find themselves in: Harvey must clear Fred Flintstone of organized crime charges ("The Dabba Don," perhaps the first season's most clever episode); prove that Boo Boo is not the notorious bomber known as the "Unabooboo" ("Death by Chocolate"); and on a more personal note, contend with an addiction to self-tanning cream ("SPF"). Obviously, Harvey Birdman's humor isn't for every viewer, but for those with a taste for the offbeat, the frequently hilarious scripts (mostly by show creators Michael Ouweleen and Eric Richter) and terrific vocal performances by Cole, Stephen Colbert (as evil prosecutor Reducto) and John Michael Higgins's Judge Mentok the Mind-Taker (as well as guests like Michael McKean, Spongebob Squarepants' Tom Kenny, and Peter MacNicol) make the show a cracked delight.

Volume 1's two-disc set compiles all nine episodes of the first season and four from season 2 (the episodes are presented in order of production--"Blackwatch Plaid" is not included here); extras include deleted scenes, a faux movie trailer, and commentary by Ouweleen, Richter, and director Richard Ferguson-Hull on five episodes, with the option on "The Dabba Don" to also hear representatives from the network's legal and Standards and Practices departments comment on the validity of Harvey's legal decisions. --Paul Gaita

Product Description

Once a third-rate superhero, Harvey Birdman is now a third-rate lawyer trying like hell to get by in a fancy law firm. It's not clear whether Harvey actually went to law school, but he definitely knows the things to say to sound like a lawyer. And he has a suit now, that's for sure.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Other
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

105 of 109 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hanna-Barbara is flipped on it's head, April 15, 2005

By	Shaz "oi-you!" (Naples, FL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Mentok wills it so!!!", September 13, 2005

By	N. Durham "Big Evil" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

30 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great show, February 15, 2005

By	yister159 "yister159" (Wallingford, CT USA) - See all my reviews

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