The Venture Brothers: The Best Half-Hour On TV

[MadCapsule]

My local Best Buy was sold out, so I went to Borders and it actually turned out to be a couple bucks cheaper.

[raasnio]

I bought mine at Target last night...I do know that not all BB stores carry the same merchandise so that is what you may have run into

The one near my house has had problems in the past where the computer shows they have it in stock but they cannot find the item anywhere. They never have this problem with major titles, just the odd ones.

I went to Target and picked it up.

[Chairman Kaga]

I should grab this before DVDuesday.

[Keepcoolbutcare]

more quotes! (yes, I'm fucking obsessed with this show!)

Dean: "I dare you to make less sense!"

Dean: "Good thinking, bro'a'mine. And I thought I was supposed to be the smart one."
Hank: "Ma Venture didn't raise no fools..."
Dean: "W-We don't have a mom, Hank... "
[awkward silence]

The Monarch: "I wanted to thank you for finding Grover Cleveland's presidential time machine for me. I'll give him your regards."

Dr. Thaddeus Venture: "I pissed in God's eye - and He blinked."

Hank: "Wuss!"
Dean: "Knock it off!"
Hank: "Wuss!"
Dean: "Knock it off!"
Dr. Thaddeus Venture: "Boys! for the last time, stop! Brock is trying to drive."
Brock: [to boys] "I'm cool."
Hank / Dean: [at each other] "He started it!"
Dr. Thaddeus Venture: "No, I started it years ago in a moment of passion, and I'll end it the same way, right here, in front of Brock, H.E.L.P.eR., and God!"

[Chairman Kaga]

OK I picked up this DVD and I was wondering if anyone else noticed any audio problems with theirs. I noticed on only one epsiode for a very short time (like half a sentence) the audio simply disappears. Has anyone read anything about a faulty production with these like that BTTF realease a while ago with the wrong aspect ratio. Also is it infantile of me that I want the audio to be uncut instead of bleeped out swearing?

[Keepcoolbutcare]

Which episode?

No, it's not infantile of you to want the audio uncut.

To whinge about it here tho'...

[Chairman Kaga]

I'll have to rewatch them. It's on the first disk and it's while the Monarch is talking in his lair.....The audio just drops out of his sentence.

[Keepcoolbutcare]

so, after watching each episode 4-5 times already, the completist dork in me had to listen to a commentary track. Hardly verbatim, but here goes...

Doc - referring to Dr. Girlfriend - "I'm so hot, I'd do me!"

Publick - "What guy would you do?"

Doc - "You know, I want it on the record I haven't thought about this outside of right now. But, if I had to choose...Dean."

[Bean]

Oh I haven't watched it with commentary yet... I'll throw it in after work.

[Leckomaniac]

So Moriarty posted his review of the Venture Bros. Season 1 up on the main site. I posted his words below. He seems to share the same feelings as the rest of us.

Awesome.

This is one of those times where I ignored everyone’s recommendations to see this show. I tried to watch five minutes towards the end of an episode, and it just irritated me. I never gave it another chance until I got back from my trip recently and found this at the top of a fairly formidable stack of waiting DVDs. That cover... that great iconic skull image... finally tipped me over and I had to check it out. I told myself I’d watch one episode, start to finish, and see what I really thought of it. And that one episode... well, that’s all it took.

This show is crack. I could watch another five seasons of it tomorrow if the DVDs were available. I’ve actually watched the full 13 episode run twice now. Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer (great names for both of those guys, eh?) are the creators of this crazy, beautiful series. It looks like this was originally designed to be a parody of JONNY QUEST and little else, but sometimes, things take on a life of their own, and this show evolved over the course of that first season into something much richer than a simple goof on another series. It’s got a rhythm and a style all its own, and a cast of characters that are so fucking bizarre that I would watch them do pretty much anything.

The Venture Brothers are Hank and Dean, but they’re hardly the stars of the show. I’d say their father, Dr. Rusty Venture, is more important to the series than they are. He was raised by his world-famous scientist father, and he spends every day trying to live up to his father’s reputation. All the pills he pops probably don’t help, and he can barely stomach his own sons as a result of his self-loathing. He’s more richly written than most live-action characters, to be frank.

And it can’t help that he spends all his time with Brock Samson, his bodyguard, who is like the most hyper-masculine exaggeration of macho I’ve ever seen. Voiced by Patrick Warburton, Brock Samson is one of the greatest comic characters in recent memory. In fact, overall I’d say this is the best Adult Swim show since the creation of AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE, and I think it’s actually a bit better as a show. ATHF makes me laugh like a crazy person, but THE VENTURE BROS. works better as a show for me. I like the universe they’re creating, the characters that fill out the edges of the world. I think The Monarch is a great arch-enemy, and Dr. Girlfriend cracks me up. I love Baron Underbheit. I love the way the JONNY QUEST cross-over was handled. I love Dr. Orpheus and his Hot Topic-addicted daughter Triana. I think it’s brilliant the way they fold in pop culture to this show, subtle in a way that Seth McFarlane can only dream of. What other show on TV would have an episode in which The Six Million Dollar Man and Sasquatch are on the run together, Dumbledore lovers marked for destruction by a government that doesn’t understand their love?

Warner Home Video has put a fair amount of extras on the disc, including some commentaries, deleted scenes, the original pilot, the Christmas special, and more. The reason to buy the disc, though, especially if you haven’t already seen the show, is for these episodes. Just check out the titles, which totally convey the pulpy feel of the show: DIA DE LOS DANGEROUS!, EENY, MEENY, MINEY... MAGIC!, RETURN TO SPIDER-SKULL ISLAND. Great stuff.

My one question is about the ending of the final episode from season one. Makes it hard to do a season two, doesn’t it? Still, we’re about a week away from the premiere of the second season, so I guess we’ll see how they handle it then.

[Hollywood_Bob]

personally, I still crack up every time I see the brothers in the aquaman and spiderman PJs...kills me

[RogueScribner]

I love this show, it's definitely the best thing on AS right now. I have to make do with watching it on TV for now though, since I'm not exactly swimming in dead presidents at the moment.

[Kilgore]

Season 2 started tonight - did not miss a beat.

No spoilers until some of you get to see it...suffice to say it was awesome - new title sequence and everything.

I couldn't tell for sure, but it looks like Brock lost his mullet, he's wearing hats the whole episode.

[Keepcoolbutcare]

Season 2 started tonight - did not miss a beat.

HA!

I watched it on Friday, 'cuz I loathe TV and, well, I had nothing better to do ...

it didn't measure up to my hopes, but what could? thought the intro was brilliant, but then it kinda dragged for a while, though the reason for King Gorillas incarceration was fucking hysterical. But then, just when the little lady said she wouldn't be watching if the boys didn't return, the utterly hysterical montage of their 14 previous demises, my faves being "gas, the silent killer" and the look of pure joy on Dean's face as he's running with the scissors.

Can't wait for next weeks "Hate Floats".

[Hollywood_Bob]

Friggin Hillarious....time to put them back in the oven....HA HA HA....so damn good....

[Roybertito]

Woot.

This is better than last season. If you didn't watch it, watch the rerun on Thursday, it was great.

[silentbobafett]

QUESTION: Over here in Blighty I have no idea what the fuck Venture Bros is! Well, I did some research. So its animation. Its comedy.

Is this some cartoon where is funny cos some guys beats people up alot and a couple of guys get into jams each week. Oooohhhh the adventure.

Or/and does it have quality, deep characters with decent written gags as well as visual ones. ala Simpsons (I know the basis is very different - but I'm talking with regards to the depth of comedy and charaters) I find it very hard to get into TV animated cartoons cos they are either shit (too many to mention) rip offs (Family Guy - and it really ain't that funny!) or just wish it was live action cos they aren't taking advantage of the medium!

Now Venture Bros sounds exciting, I almsot brought hte DVD from my DVD site - but htey were sold out! But someone said something above which scared me: "....before Brock laid some violence on them"....

I'm up for violence and slap stick etc but if that is the height of the gags on this thing... I'll skip it!

What say you? Convince me to buy! Or stop me... your are in control.... oohhh ahhhhh eeeeeeee

[Roybertito]

^No, there are some great gags in this. For example, in tonight's episode, the boys' "zombies" were walking around the lab and Dr. Venture, who is stuck in a predicament where half of his body is in a wall and half is stuck in the TV due to a malfunctioning teleporter which was made by his twin brother Jonas Venture Jr. who was stuck inside of Dr. Venture until Dr. Venture became pregnant with him, released him, and was attacked by him, tells his bodyguard Brock Sampson to "put them back in the oven," and Brock says, "I can't touch them, they feel like giant Stretch Armstrongs."

Just watch it.

[unikrunk]

Good lord that was fantastic; I love the flashbacks with the mechanic working on the teleporter.

Oh, and the flashbacks of all the other, um...Venture family deaths.

/Ready for more

[stereosforgeeks]

Man what a great episode.
I loved the monarch / king gorilla prison rape joke.

"Wait is this even my cell? Did you take me back to your place?"
"Yea... Ive got porn here. It helps"

[RogueScribner]

I missed it. Grrr.

[John-Locke]

I've watched all the episodes over the last few days, it's not always hysterical but it's got a lot to admire, it takes about 4 or 5 episodes to get going and establish the dynamic and then it's as good as any other adult animation out there, it's constantly building on the continuity of previous episodes and is all the stronger for it, the first episode of series 2 is probably the strongest because of this, seeing the henchmen out of costume, the Monarch still in prison etc just tickles my funny bone.

Glad I finally got around to seing this show, Love it.

[The Garbage Man]

Season 2 started tonight - did not miss a beat.

HA!

I watched it on Friday, 'cuz I loathe TV and, well, I had nothing better to do ...

it didn't measure up to my hopes, but what could? thought the intro was brilliant, but then it kinda dragged for a while, though the reason for King Gorillas incarceration was fucking hysterical. But then, just when the little lady said she wouldn't be watching if the boys didn't return, the utterly hysterical montage of their 14 previous demises, my faves being "gas, the silent killer" and the look of pure joy on Dean's face as he's running with the scissors.

Can't wait for next weeks "Hate Floats".

Ditto. I finally got to watch the episode last night and was a little disappointed until the death montage. The changing hairstyles, the variety, the facial expressions, the casualness about the whole thing, it was just note-fucking-perfect.

With more fans, more money, and more support from the network methinks we're in for a treat this season.

Oh, and? Brendon Small doing voicework for the show! Here's hoping that wasn't just a one-time thing.

[Keepcoolbutcare]

I missed it. Grrr.

http://www.adultswim.com/adultswimfix/index.jsp

Adult Swim Fix is airing it all week...YAY!

Locke, glad to have you aboard.

[Kilgore]

I can't decide whether my favorite line was 'If you have an accident-prone kid, you make him wear a helmet...' or simply the Monarch screaming 'You Assholes!' when no-one showed to help him escape.

There is so much good here.

[Keepcoolbutcare]

I can't decide whether my favorite line was 'If you have an accident-prone kid, you make him wear a helmet...' or simply the Monarch screaming 'You Assholes!' when no-one showed to help him escape.

There is so much good here.

"You eviscerated and sodomized Vince Neal on national television!"
"Hey, I only sodomized half of him...they wanted the Surreal Life, KG GAVE THEM THE SURREAL LIFE!".

The Monarch had better bust KG out, if only so the big fella can assrape Phantom Limb...

[Kilgore]

The Monarch had better bust KG out, if only so the big fella can assrape Phantom Limb...

Agreed, I would also like to see more of 'White Noise'

[Chairman Kaga]

My local Best Buy was sold out, so I went to Borders and it actually turned out to be a couple bucks cheaper.

BTW MC I never thanked you for mentioning Borders in here. I originally checkd my local Best buy and Circuit City to no avail until I remembered what you posted and found it at Borders.

[raasnio]

The first ep of Season 2 was an excellent way to kick things off. This is still he best thing on Adult Swim. 8)

[mushookie]

Hillarious as hell, I loved the way they broguht them back!

I can't wait for those new episodes, Korgoth episodes, nor Pee-Wee's Playhouse

[Keepcoolbutcare]

Hate Floats is on the Fix right now, if anybody feels like watching...

[The Garbage Man]

I can never get the thing to play reliably, but let us know how it is if you watch it.

If anyone hasn't seen the new VB season 2 commercials, they reveal that Hank's Batman costume will return, which delights me to no end.

[raasnio]

Doesn't he say, 'I'll see you in heck!'

[The Garbage Man]

You're right, he does! That makes it even better.


Incidentally,

For those of you who bought the Venture Bros. Season One DVD, there is a "lost commentary" available for download at quickstopentertainment.com. We always knew there'd only be room for about four or five episode commentaries on the set, but we recorded a few extra ones as we worked out our various sound problems and tried to tried to acclimate ourselves to the idea of talking at our computer for 22 1/2 minutes. Also to give Adult Swim a variety to choose from. If you liked the commentaries on the DVDs, this is more of the same kind of fast and loose crap.

...

Just for giggles, below are the titles of all of this season's upcoming episodes, in roughly the order they're to air. Figured I'd beat adultswim.com to the punch for once (titles and running order subject to last minute change, as is our habit):

"Powerless in the Face of Death"
"Hate Floats"
"Assassinanny 911"
"Escape to the House of Mummies"
"20 Years to Midnight"
"Victor. Echo. November."
"Love-Bheits"
"Fallen Arches"
"Guess Who’s Coming to State Dinner?"
"I Know Why the Caged Bird Kills"
"¡Viva los Muertos!"
"Showdown at Cremation Creek"

[bastard_robo]

watched hate floats,

GOD I FUCKING LOVE THIS SHOW, but a little nit pick, you can tell the animation is being done by someone else, it jsut throws me off a bit.

[raasnio]

Hate Floats was hilarious. This season is going to be even better than the 1st.

[unikrunk]

I think Hate Floats is my new favorite episode, for so, so many reasons. The jump suit, Brock and Phantom Limb's strange respect for each other, the new henchmen...fuck, I could go on all day.

Simply brilliant.

[John-Locke]

The bit at the beginning with the henchmen humming the dramatic music had me laughing like a giddy schoolgirl, one of the greatest episodes yet, this show just gets better and better.

[unikrunk]

@JL - Punching in the pass code on the non-existent keypad to 'gain entry' to his closet...oh fuck...I have a hard time breathing even thinking about it.

[Chairman Kaga]

The bit at the beginning with the henchmen humming the dramatic music had me laughing like a giddy schoolgirl, one of the greatest episodes yet, this show just gets better and better.

I loved that since it was Holst's Mars- Bringer of War from his ochestral suite The Planets which has been used alot in film. Great episode.

[Chairman Kaga]

What happened to Brock's mullet?

[Leckomaniac]

Ugh. I keep missing the new Venture Bros. I tend to fall asleep early on Sundays because of work. And I keep trying to remember to watch on Thursdays...but it slips my mind.

I need Tivo.

[raasnio]

Ugh. I keep missing the new Venture Bros. I tend to fall asleep early on Sundays because of work. And I keep trying to remember to watch on Thursdays...but it slips my mind.

I need Tivo.

You don't need Tivo. You aren't supposed to like Venture Bros. anyway. I love that show.

[unikrunk]

What happened to Brock's mullet?

>in Brock voice<

Burned off when I was chained to the car, last season.

You can tell I'm growing this beauty out again though...so..

[Keepcoolbutcare]

The bit at the beginning with the henchmen humming the dramatic music had me laughing like a giddy schoolgirl, one of the greatest episodes yet, this show just gets better and better.

I loved that since it was Holst's Mars- Bringer of War from his ochestral suite The Planets which has been used alot in film. Great episode.

Thank you! That was killing me. Can anyone name any of the films that's been used in?

Question about "Hate Floats"...doesn't Dr. Girlfriend claim she doesn't drive? But in the first scene of "Tag Sale--You're It" she's driving the #'s 21, 24 and the Monarch to the Venture compound.

Good ep, my fave bit was the sign "Henching - The Coolest Career Ever".

Yes, it's on now. No, I won't share my thoughts...

[The Garbage Man]

I believe she says, "I don't drive men." Good catch, kcbc. Don't know what that's about, other than that in the bonus audio commentary, Doc and Jackson admit to not coming up with a plan or really talking through characters, rather each just kind of does his own thing.

If you haven't checked it out, that audio track (linked above) is pretty good. They talk more about the show's origins and more behind-the-scenes stuff rather than just pointing out what's happening onscreen at the moment (something that irked me about the first commentary). Especially interesting is how The Monarch evolved - before The Venture Bros., they had written a script involving Aquaman and Black Manta as roommates, and their take on Manta lead to The Monarch.

[Keepcoolbutcare]

If you haven't checked it out, that audio track (linked above) is pretty good. They talk more about the show's origins and more behind-the-scenes stuff rather than just pointing out what's happening onscreen at the moment (something that irked me about the first commentary). Especially interesting is how The Monarch evolved - before The Venture Bros., they had written a script involving Aquaman and Black Manta as roommates, and their take on Manta lead to The Monarch.

yeah, I've been meaning to get over there and give that a look.

Assassinanny, even viewed on the Adult Swim site, has some of the best animation I've seen on the show yet.

"1/2 Swedish, 1/4 Polish, 1/4 Winnebago"

"Manaconda!"

Lots of Molotov, some great Brock backstory and a final act chock filled with so many popculture references it'll make your head spin.

[papalazeru]

Just witnesseed Series 2 episode 2. Am going back to watch the rest.

Has a hell of a lot of promise as a geek comedy show.

[Keepcoolbutcare]

Just witnesseed Series 2 episode 2. Am going back to watch the rest.
Has a hell of a lot of promise as a geek comedy show.

what's really neat is that for a seemingly non-sequitor filled, popculture referencing cartoon, they pay a lot of attention to continuity, to giving the season an arc. As the Garbage Man said, Publick and Hammer didn't really intend for things to go that way, but sometimes fiction takes on a life of it's own.

And as Locke said above, while it took him about 5 episodes from season 1 to get really into it (I was hooked from the get-go), it pays off big time.

So start at the beginning Papa, a lot of the self-referential jokes that you might've missed jumping in at season 2 will be explained.

And glad to have you on board as well.

GO TEAM VENTURE!

[Kilgore]

For the record, I kinda like that Brock's mullet is gone this season, it's a good change of pace - now he has a blonde Lee Majors/Robert Urich as Dan Tanna style going. Hopefully for season three he'll go with a 'stache and feather the hair, ala Lee Horsely as Matt Houston.