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Comment Thread

by Aquezio
(unregistered id: CD64D62624)
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Man, I loved this one. I enjoy trying to figure out whether Doc or Jackson wrote a new episode as I watch it, and this one was even harder to guess than usual because...
IT WAS WRITTEN BY BEN EDLUND, CREATOR OF THE TICK! I've been looking forward to seeing what he would do with VB writing on his own, and this did not disapoint! The original comic series for the Tick was both hilarious and VERY dark in spots. I am a fan of both TV incarnations of the Tick, but most of that creepy darkness was lost in the translation. This ep is just about the creepiest and craziest VB ever, it's nice to see Ben writing without concern for a younger audience again.
Dolphin fucking
Psychedelic drug puking
"Earn a shower"
Real murderers
Men are like abortions.
So many lines were crossed, holy shit!
The best part has to be Brock's conscience bothering him, forcing him to examine who and what he is, and getting a peek inside his mind. That angle alone makes this one a great among greats!
I know there's been a million POV shots in movies, but a friend of mine mentioned a particular episode of MASH where the whole thing was the POV of a wounded soldier, he seemed pretty sure the beginning of this ep was a reference to that.
I love every fucking episode that Jackson and Doc have written. This show is thiers, and without them it would go to pot.
That being said...
Are there any other writers the rest of you guys would like to see take a crack at VB? Ben did a great job, I would like to see what EVAN DORKIN could do.
I think other people writing is unlikely since Jackson, Doc and Ben go way back. Still, I'd like to hear your ideas.

Oct. 1, 2006, 1:44pm

by WorstServedCold
(unregistered id: 9C9A58C61F)
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I hadn't even realized that this wasn't written by our beloved creators. The entire episode seemed hugely creative and fresh for some reason, more so than the usual hugely creative and fresh ones. While too many writers is always a bad thing, I vote that they keep this guy around in case he gets any more flashes of brilliance, maybe get him involved in some hot 3-way action.
I remember loving The Tick the animated show too, never caught the live-action one but always intended to. The Venture Brothers does sorta take a page out of that book, in that it's got heroes and villains, but they arn't always the best-paying gigs. I think it was the first episode, where The Tick demonstrated to Arthur that pulling the string on the lamp would slide away a wall to reveal the secret Tick headquarters... someday... that I fell in love.
Money trouble lends a feeling of credibility to any show, I always wonder why so many go the "Friends" rout and just tell you to accept that everyone's rich and no one has to work much.
Again, while this wasn't my absolute favorite episode of the Venture Brothers, it really was a great one, and knowing it's not from the original guys yet still managed to be this good gives me hope for the future of humanity.
Well, not really, but if I was still capable of "hope", I think this woulda caused it.

Oct. 1, 2006, 3:46pm

by Mistress Mattress
(unregistered id: BC5FAE92CA)
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"Hot 3-way action"? I would agree with you if Ben Edlund didn't have a Story By credit for two of the the worst VB episodes ever - Careers in Science and State Dinner. I say leave the writing to Doc and Jackson. Look, I love the Tick too, but I don't need to have that kind of writing in VB. I say "Bring back the Tick on Adult Swim!" Then I get both!

Oct. 4, 2006, 5:41am

by Doctor SnOZdream the Mephitic
(unregistered id: 33B2545072)
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Yea.. I was "stoked" to see Ben wrote that ep. I figured he would have more of a hand in this season than last. I was a huge fan of the animated series. I LOVE THE TICK! Season 1 is out on DVD now, but I'm too broke to buy it. One day...one day. I loved the live action series as well, but I only got to see the first two episdoes. I hate Fox for not giving that show a chance. They put it in a time slot where it had no chance to develop. Fox also bought all the rights to the Tick, so I guess that there is no chance for a Venture-Tick cross over, but HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE! I only wish I got to read some of the Tick comics. I had no idea it was a comic before a cartoon. I am assuming it had a large underground following.
As for new writers, I would like to see E.L.Doctorow do an ep. It is HIGHLY unlikely, but a boy can dream, right? Or what about Chuck Palahnuik? ah...it tickles the English major in me. Too bad I don't read comics, or I would have a better idea of who would be an actual real good candidate for writing a venture ep...
hell...
...I like to write...
...maybe...
me?
...
...a boy can dream, right?

Oct. 1, 2006, 6:05pm

by Aquezio
(unregistered id: CD64D62624)
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The Tick live action series is available on DVD too, it's awesome. Jackson Publick (then known as Chris McCulloch) was a writer for both that and the animated series. In the first season of the animated series he only wrote one episode, and it was omited from the DVD for legal reasons.
As far as the comics go, everyone should check out the trade paperback collections of the original Tick series (written and drawn by Ben), and the first couple collections of "Tick: Karma Tornado" which were written by Chris McCulloch as well.
Getting some "legitimate" writers to work on the show would be wild! Maybe they'll farm out some episodes eventually to interested parties.

Oct. 2, 2006, 12:14am

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