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Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law

Title
Format Animated series
Run time 11-12 minutes
Creator Michael Ouweleen
Erik Richter
Starring Gary Cole
Stephen Colbert
Thomas Allen
Country USA
Network Cartoon Network
Original run December 30, 2000 – present
No. of episodes 30(as of September 25, 2005)
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Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law is a comedic television animated series that airs on Cartoon Network during its Adult Swim late night programming block. The series' pilot first aired in 2000, followed by an episodic series in 2001. The show revolves around the day-to-day activities of a law firm staffed mainly by superheroes and other cartoon characters featured in 1960s-era cartoons produced by Hanna-Barbera, particularly Birdman and the Galaxy Trio. This is a screenshot of a copyrighted website, video game graphic, computer program graphic, television broadcast, or film. ... An animated series or cartoon series is a television series produced by means of animation. ... Gary Cole as Bob Russell. ... Jump to: navigation, search Colbert in his role as Senior Washington Correspondent on The Daily Show Stephen Colbert (), born on May 13, 1964) is an American deadpan comedian, currently working as a correspondent and writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. ... The list below includes the aldermen of Chicago in order by ward. ... Jump to: navigation, search The current Cartoon Network logo, was used in North America since June 14, 2004, in Latin America since January 1st, 2005, and in Europe since April 11, 2005. ... Jump to: navigation, search December 30 is the 364th day of the year (365th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 1 day remaining. ... Jump to: navigation, search This article is about the year 2000. ... Jump to: navigation, search September 25 is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years). ... Jump to: navigation, search 2005(MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links i would like to see some quotations by or about goebbels. ... Wikiquote logo Wikiquote is a sister project of Wikipedia, using the same MediaWiki software. ... An animated series or cartoon series is a television series produced by means of animation. ... Jump to: navigation, search The current Cartoon Network logo, was used in North America since June 14, 2004, in Latin America since January 1st, 2005, and in Europe since April 11, 2005. ... Jump to: navigation, search Adult Swim logo. ... Jump to: navigation, search This article is about the year 2000. ... Jump to: navigation, search 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. ... Jump to: navigation, search Superman (left) and Batman, two of the most recognizable and influential superheroes. ... A cartoon is any of several forms of art, with varied meanings that evolved from one to another. ... Jump to: navigation, search The 1960s in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1960 and 1969, but the expression has taken on a wider meaning over the past twenty years. ... Cartoon Network Studios, formerly known as Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. ... Birdman and the Galaxy Trio was a science fiction animated series created by Alex Toth for Hanna-Barbera which had its debut on NBC in 1967. ...


The show itself is currently produced by Cartoon Network and Turner Studios. The newest season aired on Adult Swim on July 24, 2005. July 24 is the 205th day (206th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 160 days remaining. ... Jump to: navigation, search 2005(MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Contents


Premise

The show features ex-superhero Harvey Birdman as an attorney working for a prestigious law firm, along with other cartoon stars such as Blue Falcon and Peter Potamus. Although he is most often portrayed as a defense attorney, Harvey also serves as a civil litigator, depending on the plot of a particular episode. Jump to: navigation, search Superman (left) and Batman, two of the most recognizable and influential superheroes. ... An attorney is someone who represents someone else in the transaction of business: For attorney-at-law, see lawyer, solicitor, barrister or civil law notary. ... Dynomutt, Dog Wonder is a Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning cartoon about a Batman-esque super hero, The Blue Falcon and his assistant, a bumbling mechanical robot-dog named Dynomutt. ... Jump to: navigation, search Peter Potamus Peter Potamus and his Magic Flying Balloon was a show created by Hanna-Barbera during the early 1960s, featuring Peter Potamus the hippopotamus and his sidekick, So-So the monkey. ...


Harvey's clients are primarily composed of characters taken from Hanna-Barbera cartoon series of the 1960s and '70s; this roster includes some of the studio's most popular stars, including Fred Flintstone, the Super Friends, and Scooby-Doo, as well as lesser-known characters such as Ding-a-Ling (sidekick of Hokey Wolf) and daredevil Ernie Devlin (from the short-lived series Devlin). Ironically, many of Birdman's nemeses featured in his former cartoon series have also become attorneys, and often represent the opposing side of a given case. Cartoon Network Studios, formerly known as Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. ... Jump to: navigation, search The 1960s in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1960 and 1969, but the expression has taken on a wider meaning over the past twenty years. ... Jump to: navigation, search The 1970s in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1970 and 1979. ... Fred Flintstone Frederick Flintstone (usually called Fred) is a fictional character who originated in the popular television animated series The Flintstones. ... Super Friends is an animated series about a team of superheroes which ran from 1973 to 1985. ... Scooby-doo is also British naval divers slang for civilian sport scuba diver. Scooby-Doo is an important character in animation up to this day Scooby-Doo is a long-running animated series produced for television by Hanna-Barbera Productions from 1969 to 1986, 1988 to 1991, and from 2002... Hokey Wolf is a Hanna-Barbera cartoon that was played on The Huckleberry Hound Show in 1960, filling the slot left by Yogi Bear. ...


While the series remains faithful to its premise, it also uses an absurdist style of comedy, featuring characters, objects, and jokes that are briefly introduced and rarely (if ever) referenced thereafter. Also, because the series also relies heavily on pop culture references to classic television animation, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law constantly delves into parody, even featuring clips of these series, or specially-created scenes which mimic the distinctive style of the animation being referenced. Jump to: navigation, search Absurdism is a philosophy stating that the efforts of man to find meaning in the universe will ultimately fail because no such meaning exists (at least in relation to man). ... Popular culture, or pop culture, is the vernacular (peoples) culture that prevails in a modern society. ... Jump to: navigation, search In contemporary usage, parody is a form of satire that imitates another work of art in order to ridicule it. ...


Because of this approach, continuity is largely disregarded, though occasionally hinted: it is strongly implied that Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law serves as a sequel to Birdman and the Galaxy Trio (this antecedent is expressly acknowledged in the third season episode Turner Classic Birdman). Instead of rigid plot structure, much of the humor is derived from the fact that superheroes and supervillains are given more realistic and human qualities; for example, Birdman's former nemesis Reducto, a mad scientist who carries a shrink ray, becomes "Myron Reducto," an obsessive-compulsive and paranoid attorney who carries a shrink ray. In fiction, continuity is consistency of the characteristics of persons, objects, places and events seen by the reader or viewer. ... A sequel is a work of fiction in literature, film, and other creative works that is produced after a completed work, and is set in the same universe but at a later time. ... Birdman and the Galaxy Trio was a science fiction animated series created by Alex Toth for Hanna-Barbera which had its debut on NBC in 1967. ... Jump to: navigation, search Superman (left) and Batman, two of the most recognizable and influential superheroes. ... Jump to: navigation, search Doctor Doom, one of the most archetypical supervillains. ... They LAUGHED at my theories at the institute! Fools! Ill destroy them all! A mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, either villainous, or benign and scatterbrained. ... For other things named OCD, see OCD (disambiguation). ... Paranoid redirects here. ...


It is interesting to note that although the first season was animated using traditional cel animation, starting with the second season, the show is currently produced using Macromedia Flash. The reason for the switch was because the Korean animation studio was having a hard time getting the fast pace of the show correct, and thus the production of episodes slowed down due to constant re-takes. By animating the series in the U.S. with Flash, not only are problems corrected faster, but production costs are much lower. Traditional animation, sometimes also called cel animation or hand-drawn animation, is the oldest and historically the most popular form of animation. ... Jump to: navigation, search Using Macromedia Flash 8 (bundled in Studio 8) in Windows XP. Macromedia Flash, or simply Flash, refers to both a multimedia authoring program and the Macromedia Flash Player, written and distributed by Macromedia (recently targeted for acquisition by Adobe Systems), that utilizes vector and raster graphics...


Characters

Sebben and Sebben

  • Harvey T. Birdman starred in the Hanna-Barbera show Birdman and the Galaxy Trio in the sixties. He gets strength and power from sunlight, and grows weak if kept away from the sun for too long. His superpowers include flight, the ability to create a solid light shield, and the ability to shoot energy beams from his hands. He has since retired from his superhero job and is now working for the law firm of Sebben and Sebben. Harvey is six and a half feet tall, and has large wings growing out of his back. He wears a suit and his old superhero mask. His clients consist of other Hanna-Barbera characters of the past and present.
  • Avenger is Harvey's old avian sidekick, now serving as his legal secretary. Avenger sits on a perch on Harvey's desk, and sleeps in a canary cage in the office at night. Avenger's tasks usually involve taking dictation or filing. Avenger is badly hindered by his inability to speak, even though it is clear that he can understand, or a least perceive, the meaning in the speech of other characters. He's often seen carrying Scrappy Doo in his mouth and, while he obviously intends to eat the pup, mostly just seems to enjoy keeping the dead dog around to play with rather than snack on.
  • Peanut looks exactly like Birdman's old sometime-sidekick Birdboy, only with a pink vest on. Unlike Birdman, Peanut's powers are not natural. His wings are metal or wooden, and it's strongly implied that he got them to get hired by Birdman, and his shield and energy beams come from "power bands" on his wrists. Harvey hired Peanut as a legal clerk. He is often working behind the scenes to uncertain or explicitly seedy ends. Often spouting nonsense and off in his own world. Has an ongoing rivalry with Aveger. Speaks Japanese.
  • Phil Ken Sebben is the president and founder of the law firm Sebben and Sebben. Cofounded the firm with twin brother Bill. Back when Birdman was a superhero, Phil was Harvey's boss. His code name, "Falcon Seven," sounds like his real name, "Phil Ken Sebben." Phil is a blonde man with an eyepatch (which may or may not be responsible for his constant vision problems) and a dark suit. He has a habit of laughing randomly whenever he says a double entendre or a non sequitur. He grew his mustache to cover up a scar.
  • Peter Potamus works at the law firm of Sebben and Sebben as a fellow lawyer. The former star of Peter Potamus and His Magic Flying Balloon, he has taken the role of annoying co-worker. He is also portrayed as a ladies man, who is always sleeping with women, or is seen with items such as blow-up dolls and pornography. More often than not, his sole line is an insinuating, "Did you get that thing I sent ya?" May not have ever actually sent Harvey anything; He's never gotten "that thing" from Peter.
  • Azul Falcone is a Spanish lawyer who is very charming and popular. Formerly the superhero Blue Falcon, Falcone was made partner in the Sebben & Sebben firm. Falcone often relies on his sidekick Dyno-Mutt. Known to throw parties at the drop of a hat. Also interested in "beautiful and expensive silk panty garments". He has since been demoted to being a men's room attendant in the Sebben & Sebben building.
  • Judy Sebben is Phil's daughter, who seems to be very interested in Harvey's work as a lawyer. After earning a law degree by taking a three-hour course, she joins the firm as an associate and takes on the alter ego of Birdgirl. In her Birdgirl identity, she is frequently the victim of sexual harassment from her father, who doesn't recognize her and thinks she's a new intern.

Court

  • Judge Mentok the Mindtaker was a former enemy of Birdman. He has various psychic powers including the ability to teleport, read minds, hypnotize, see the future, and move things with telekenesis - all referred to as "mind taking". He has been given the personality of a flamboyant stage magician; because of this, he often predicts the outcome of the cases he presides over before they have even started. He has a flair for the dramatic and often makes a grand entrance, such as appearing in a cloud of smoke or from a bolt of lightning. He also has a habit of imitating a theremin when carrying on with great vanity about his powers. Judge Mentok was apparently sent to Earth as an infant in a scene based on the 1978 Superman movie. As his rocket took off, Momtok, his mother, told him not to go into law.
  • Judge Hiram Mightor was a Hanna-Barbera super-hero of the sixties known as the Mighty Mightor, one who lived in prehistoric times with a beautiful wife and a 10-year-old son, and got his powers from a magic club. He uses such a club as a gavel of sorts and speaks with a southern accent (as opposed to the cartoon from which he is derived). He dresses in traditional judge's robes and wig, the effect of which is slightly marred by the large horns that protrude from the top of his mask. He also seems to have a problem remembering people's names.
  • Myron Reducto is an attorney at a rival law firm, and is one of Harvey's most common courtroom opponents. He is a small man with green tinged skin, who brandishes a shrink-ray. He and Birdman were bitter enemies back during the old days, but seem to have put aside their differences, clashing only on a professional level. They often eat lunch together. Reducto, unlike most of the former hero/villain characters, seems to have a great deal of trouble letting go of his past. He is also obsessed with Booty as well as things that are smaller than him, like Inch High, Private Eye. Works at Freezoid, Zarog and Skon.
  • Vulturo is another of Harvey's rival lawyers. He was a villain in Birdman's old show. His primary set-back is a speech impediment that he seems entirely unaware of. He starts out talking in a normal voice, but soon trails off into incomprehensible gibberish. This seems to have little effect on his success rate as a lawyer.
  • Evelyn Spyro Threakmorton is another villain/lawyer with Shakesperean tendencies. He acts very theatrically and stages plays in the courtroom as arguments. Got beat up a lot at school.
  • Stan Freezoid is another villain/lawyer with freezing ability. He gets most of his clients when they slip and fall on the ice that he carelessly creates while walking down the street. Seems like a nice guy, but he has an explosive temper when ignored, often threatening, "I'll freeze your ass!"
  • Francis X. Shado is another lawyer who looks like a leprechaun and is also a known brain thief, he is known for his persuasive power over juries. Works at Freezoid, Zarog and Skon. He is in an ongoing rivalry with Judge Mentok.

Others

X the Eliminator
X the Eliminator
  • X the Eliminator is a former villain of Birdman's who is far more pathetic than threatening. He was commissioned by the organization F.E.A.R. to obtain the crest on Birdman's helmet for the sum of one million dollars. Thirty years later, he has yet to complete the task. He still obsesses over Birdman, to the point of stalking him, and continues to plot Birdman's death. However, X's tool of choice is an ungainly silver death console that uses obsolete technology (vacuum tubes), requiring an inconveniently long time to recharge. X is never seen outside his hooded costume, and still lives with his mother.
  • Bear is a recurring pantomime character who appears randomly throughout each episode, often at the end and joining in with the laughter of the rest of the cast.
  • Gigi is a recurring character, first appearing in the second season episode Trio's Company. She is a flighty, easily distracted woman who has been married seven times (and counting), and whose wanton philandering is available to everyone except Birdman.
  • Dvd is Sebben and Sebben's efficiency expert. Formerly named David, he eliminated the vowels from his own name to save time. Dvd briefly instituted a battery of oppressive office efficiency measures, including replacing Birdman's secretary Debbie with a PDA, replacing the office elevator with an energy-saving firepole, and imposing a maximum usage of one sheet of bathroom tissue per restroom visit.
  • Debbie is Birdman's secretary and receptionist. Most often her appearances are only as an impatient, annoyed voice over the intercom.

This work is copyrighted. ... This work is copyrighted. ... Jump to: navigation, search In mathematics, stalk usually refers to the idea of the stalk of a sheaf. ... Pantomime may refer to two different types of performing arts. ... Jump to: navigation, search Palm IIIxe PDA Personal digital assistants (PDAs or palmtops) are handheld devices that were originally designed as personal organizers, but became much more versatile over the years. ...

Cast

Gary Cole as Bob Russell. ... Jump to: navigation, search Colbert in his role as Senior Washington Correspondent on The Daily Show Stephen Colbert (), born on May 13, 1964) is an American deadpan comedian, currently working as a correspondent and writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. ... The list below includes the aldermen of Chicago in order by ward. ... John Michael Higgins is an American actor. ... Peter MacNicol Peter MacNicol (born April 10, 1954) is probably best known among younger TV viewers for his role as the eccentric attorney John Cage on the show Ally McBeal, but is remembered by previous generations for his similarly over-the-top performance in Ghostbusters II. He currently stars in... Joe Alaskey (born 26 May 1949) is credited as one of the successors (including Billy West) of the great Mel Blanc in impersonating the voices of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd and others from Warner Bros. ... Jump to: navigation, search Chris Edgerly gave his voice to Yuan,Magnius, and Kvar in this hit video game Tales of Symphonia, which everybody with a GameCube should buy! So buy Tales of Symphonia today! ... Jump to: navigation, search Maurice LaMarche (born March 30, 1958) is a Canadian voice actor, born in Toronto. ... Michael McKean Michael McKean (born October 17, 1947) is an American actor, comedian, composer and musician, best known for his portrayal of Leonard Lenny Kosnowski on the sitcom Laverne and Shirley. ... Phil LaMarr went to both Harvard. ... Jump to: navigation, search This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Paget Brewster (born March 10, 1969) is an actress who appeared in the short-lived comedy series Andy Richter Controls The Universe and currently appears as Beth Huffstodt in the Showtime original series Huff. ...

Guest Appearances

See also: List of Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law Episodes This is a List for episodes of the Animated Sitcom Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law. ...

  • Billy West as Dr. Zin (in "Bannon Custody Case")
  • Dee Bradley Baker as Jonny Quest (in "Bannon Custody Case")
  • Jack Angel as various voices (in "Very Personal Injury")
  • André Sogliuzzo as Dynomutt (in "Deadomutt Part 1")
  • Laraine Newman as Sybil Schussler (in "Very Personal Injury")
  • Michael Bell as Zan (in "Very Personal Injury")
  • Neil Ross as Dr. Benton Quest (in "Bannon Custody Case")
  • Thom Pinto as Race Bannon (in "Bannon Custody Case")
  • Wally Wingert as Hadji (in "Bannon Custody Case")
  • Tom Kenny as Boo-Boo Bear (in "Death By Chocolate")
  • Toby Huss as Ernie Devlin (in "The Devlin Made Me Do It"}
  • Lewis Black as The Deadly Duplicator (in "Sebben & Sebben Employee Orientation")

Billy West (born April 16, 1952 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American voice actor, best known for his roles in Ren and Stimpy and Futurama. ... Dee Bradley Baker Dee Bradley Baker (born 19??) is a voice actor for animated series like The Fairly OddParents and American Dad!, and video games like Halo 2 and Final Fantasy X-2. ... Jack Angel (born: October 24th 1930 in Modesto, California) is an American actor, director and costume designer. ... Laraine Newman (born March 2, 1952) is an American comedian and actress, from Los Angeles, California. ... // Date of birth 10 April 1938 Brooklyn, New York, USA Sometimes Credited As: Michael Patrick Bell Michael Neill Actor - filmography (2000s) (1990s) (1980s) (1970s) (1960s) (1950s) Advent Rising (2005) (VG) (voice) Madagascar (2005/II) (VG) .... Nick the Camel, Frog, Ostrich #1 Rise of the Kasai (2005) (VG) (voice) .... Maibisi Doom... Jump to: navigation, search Wally Wingert (born 6 May 1961 in Des Moines, Iowa) is an American actor and voice actor. ... Tom Kenny Tom Kenny (born October 2, 1962 in East Syracuse, New York) is a voice actor who is perhaps best known for his work in the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants, in which he is the voice of the title character, the narrator, Patchy the Pirate, and a number of... Toby Huss is a U.S. actor. ... Lewis Black Lewis Black (born August 30, 1948) is an American stand-up comedian, author, and playwright. ...

Crew

  • Michael Ouweleen, Erik Richter -- Creators/Writers
  • Evan W. Adler -- Producer
  • Richard Ferguson-Hull -- Director (Second and Third Seasons)
  • Ben Jones -- Director (First Season)
  • Vincent Waller -- Director (First Season)
  • JJ Sedelmaier -- Director (Pilot)
  • Kevin Desmarais -- Line Producer
  • Lisa Jones -- Associate Producer
  • Dan Sousa -- Storyboards, Animation
  • Sean Lattrell -- Storyboards
  • Les Harper -- Lead Animator (Episodes 10-22)
  • Steve Vitale -- Lead Animator (Episodes 23-32)
  • Brian DeTagyos -- Animator
  • Jon Henshaw -- Animator
  • Bryan Capik -- Animator
  • Adam Fuchs -- Animator
  • Mario Orlando -- Animator
  • Victor Beitzel -- Ink and Paint, Special Systems
  • Jeff Brody -- Composite

There are several notable men named Ben Jones: Ben Jones is a British actor in the soap opera Doctors Ben Jones (born 1941) is an American actor and politician; Ben Joseph Jones (1924-2005) was a Grenadian politician; Ben A. Jones (1882-1961), thoroughbred horse trainer. ...

Episodes

Season One

1. Bannon Custody Case
2. Very Personal Injury
3. Shaggy Busted
4. Death By Chocolate
5. Shoyu Weenie
6. The Dabba Don
7. Deadomutt, Part 1
8. Deadomutt, Part 2
9. X, The Exterminator


Season 2

10. SPF
11. The Devlin Made Me Do It
12. Trio's Company
13. High Speed Buggy Chase
14. Back To The Present
15. Blackwatch Plaid
16. Grape Juiced
17. Peanut Puberty
18. Gone Efficien...t
19. Droopy Botox


Season 3

20. Guitar Control
21. Booty Noir
22. Harvey's Civvy
23. X Gets The Crest
24. Birdgirl of Guantanamole
25. Turner Classic Birdman
26. Beyond the Valley of the Dinosaurs
27. Evolutionary War
28. Free Magilla
29. Return of Birdgirl
30. Mindless
31. Sebben & Sebben Employee Orientation
32. Identity Theft


Gallery

DVD Box Sets

Warner Home Video released "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, Vol. 1" on DVD on April 12, 2005, alongside the third boxset of Space Ghost Coast to Coast. The boxset contains the first 13 episodes of the show on 2 discs (presented in production order), along with commentaries on selected episodes, deleted scenes, and other special features. Jump to: navigation, search DVD is an optical disc storage media format that can be used for data storage, including movies with high video and sound quality. ... Jump to: navigation, search April 12 is the 102nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (103rd in leap years). ... Jump to: navigation, search 2005(MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Space Ghost at his desk Space Ghost Coast to Coast (often abbreviated as SGC2C) is a spoof talk show on the cable TV channel Cartoon Network. ...


See also

Jump to: navigation, search Adult Swim logo. ...

External links


  Results from FactBites:
 
Amazon.com: Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, Vol. 2: DVD: Steve Landesberg,Jack Angel,Paget Brewster,Vincent ... (1043 words)
Harvey Birdman is a failed superhero from a show in the 70s that has decided to pursue a law career (similar to Space Ghost Coast to Coast) representing other Hanna Barbera cartoons.
Harvey Birdman was one of the four first shows that Adult Swim debuted in 2001.
Birdman's antics during the show are the farthest thing from an actual lawyer but you would expect that from Adult Swim.
  More results at FactBites »

 

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