Why All The Oblong Hate?

[That Guy There]

Am I the only here that actually enjoys watching The Oblongs?

[Killtacular]

It was a good concept mangled. Poor execution. You don't just slap random sitcom writers on a show that's supposed to be offbeat, unconvential, twisted, insane. They kept the show way too grounded in reality and tried to put down the family at every single turn, which makes it hard to root for any of them. Maybe if Angus Oblong had actual control over the series, we would've seen a better cartoon. But even still.. it's the writers that were the problem. Bad bad writing.

[Discloner]

Nah, there are some people out there that like it.

I don't hate it, but I don't find it brilliant...just something to watch and entertain me for a half hour.

Normally people around these parts have a deep hatred for sitcoms, and the Oblongs is very much a sitcomesque show.

EDIT: Also, everything Wilson just said.

[Scythemantis]

I find it watchable to reasonably enjoyable, but it just didn't capture the feel of the original books/stories at all. They just took Angus's characters and thrust them into a much cleaner, tamer world than they were meant for.

[The Landstander]

I think Wilson got it. From Angus himself (via his website (http://www.angusoblong.net/)):
13 episodes of “The Oblongs” were made. Premiering in April of 2001, lasting for one (1.) season. The producers working on the show softened Oblong’s vision, making “The Oblongs” merely another lukewarm, prime time comedy about a family who does nothing all that unusual, then hugs at the end of every episode. “Gross.” Says Oblong.

I don't really like the show, but if Angus Oblong were to get a show with full creative control, I'd check it out.



edit: On a side note:
Beth is a fearless, adorable 4 year old who is Hello-Kitty-cute with an enormous, grotesque, wart covered, growth protruding from her head. It is not a penis.

Well that mystery is solved.

[Wally West]

*Grins*

Remember that episide where the kid is on his bike and riding towards the street and goes ,"Wheee" wouldn't it be a laugh had a speeding truck hit him?

[Speedy Boris]

Half of the series is good.

Bad Episodes: -Misfit Love
-Disfigured Debbie
-Please Be Genital
-Flush Flush Sweet Helga (aside from the best animation of the series, it stunk, no pun intended)
-Heroine Addict

Good Episodes: -The Golden Child
-Milo Interrupted
-Pickle's Little Amazons (probably my fave of the series)
-My Name is Robbie
-Narcoleptic Scottie
-Bucketheads
-Get off My Back
-Father of the Bribe (well actually, it's not GOOD, but average)

So it's a very mixed bag. When it's good, it's great (at times it achieves good comic timing and funny wordplay), but when it's bad, it bombs. Miserably. The first episode was almost a chore to sit through, it was so boring. And the dark comedy in some parts felt forced, like if it was gross enough it would eventually make you laugh. I did like the colorful art style of the show, even if it seemed obsessed with dark yellows a lot.

As far as Adult Swim imported comedies go (Family Guy and Futurama aside), Baby Blues and Mission Hill are far superior shows.

[Xfox]

No Oblong hate here. It's one of the few shows I could watch over and over again and still laugh just as hard as I did before. It has some of the best writing I've seen in an animated show. Truly underappreciated.

[Nik Jam]

I liked it the first time, but I thought it was boring the second time. :(

[Eddie G.]

Pickle's Little Amazons with its dark humor is what the series should have been. But with most of the series we had good social commentary and a great concept but nothing else. I liked the character designs a lot though.

[candy17]

Am I the only here that actually enjoys watching The Oblongs?
I like the show too...and I agree that if Angus Oblong had control over it, it would have been better. This show just suffered from being on the wrong channel and having the wrong people to do the job, kinda like Ren and Stimpy and Invader ZIM on Nickelodeon and Family Guy and Futurama on Fox.

[Zach Williams]

I like it somewhat, but it aint the best. If it was on during the summer, I'd watch it. But I aint gonna waste my time satying up late to watch it otherwise.

[anakin876]

I think part of the problem is that a lot of people didn't care for it that much, but then the 13 episodes kept getting replayed over and over again. Sometimes it seems like their should be a title for Adult swim that says somethign like "Adult Swim: SO late, you'll watch the same thing every week!"
I realize that AS doesn't have the budget to buy enough things to not replay, but when you see the same oblong episode every couple of weeks, coupled with other replays, it gets pretty tiring. I stopped watching for awhile because everything that was on I had already seen. I picked it up again for Futurama, but WHR was too late for me (had to get up for school the next day :sad: ) SO I think the replays hurt some people's view of the Oblongs. a "not this again!" reaction.

[Zig-Zag!]

Just the fact that They Might Be Giants do the theme song was enough for me to watch it.

[Prince Valmont]

Yeah...Oblong Hater here..
sorry, but it's just my solid opinion.

I enjoy AS, but the moment I hear that theme music... ::shudder:: ughhhh...

It's one of the seldom few things in this lifetime I cannot tolerate. It just doesn't go anywhere. I don't find it funny, and the comedy styles just don't match with the others on AS.

Whenever I hear the theme music, I either mute my television or turn it off.

I'm sorry Obl-overs, but I feel as though it just drops ratings. 13 episodes, and AS still continues to air it. I don't understand.

[bluedeucedodge]

If I'm at home, and not sleep, I'll watch it. It ain't that bad. It's better than watching stupid infomercials.

[Shnay]

I'm sorry Obl-overs, but I feel as though it just drops ratings. 13 episodes, and AS still continues to air it. I don't understand.
I think it pulled down some incredibly high ratings, which no one (including those at AS) could really figure out. I actually think that's part of the reason why the more devoted AS fans don't like it, since at one time it was being watched more than what they consider to be more deserving shows.