Freak Show (TV series)

infobox Television
show_name = Freak Show


caption = The Freak Squad: Primi the premature baby, Log Cabin Republican, Tuck and Benny, the World's Tallest Nebraskan, and the Bearded Clam
rating =
format = Animated Sitcom
runtime = approx. 0:22 per episode
creator = H. Jon Benjamin
David Cross
starring = H. Jon Benjamin
David Cross
Janeane Garofalo
Brian Stack
Jon Glaser
Will Arnett
country = USA
network = Comedy Central
first_aired = October 4, 2006
last_aired = November 16, 2006
num_seasons = 1
num_episodes = 7
list_episodes = List of Freak Show episodes
imdb_id =|

"Freak Show" was an animated television series on Comedy Central created and starring actors David Cross and H. Jon Benjamin.

The show chronicles a freak show, called the Freak Squad, which reluctantly moonlights as a group of second-rate superheroes employed by the US government.

The show's first season, which consisted of seven episodes, premiered on October 4, 2006, and ended on November 16 2006. Cross and Benjamin were executive producers in addition to voicing various characters.

Cast

The Freak Squad

Tuck and Benny (H. Jon Benjamin and David Cross respectively) - Conjoined twins, apparent leaders of the Squad. They are the only members of the squad to possess any semblance of responsibility and duty. They are also the only members of the squad to have actual names, as opposed to simply being referred to by their gimmick.

Super Power: The ability to separate for up to 47 years at a time.

The Bearded Clam (Janeane Garofalo) - A giant, anthropomorphic clam with a beard, resembling a morbidly obese, middle-aged woman. Raised by eco-terrorists, she possesses numerous left-wing radical political views, has an anarchist symbol in her shell, and is an adherent to radical feminism. She often puts on demonstrations and rallies, at which she is usually the only participant. It has been implied that she has somewhat of a sordid sexual past, revealing that she's engaged in intercourse in such unconventional locales as the cockpit of an F-16. At times she is displayed as a den mother of sorts to the group, counting among her talents the ability to cook three different ways on a wok. In the first season finale, she was cooked alive by a group of Orthodox Jews and fed to "The Jewish Messiah," a giant made up of circumcised foreskins.

Super Powers: Her mouth produces "Acidic Bitch Juice," an extremely potent form of saliva capable of eating through most kinds of metal. She also possesses the ability to transform herself into a liquid state, which can then absorb other super-powered individuals and draw upon their abilities to shape shift.

World's Tallest Nebraskan (Brian Stack) - An especially tall man from Nebraska. He is portrayed as the stereotypical "ignorant hick," though he is also the most sensitive member of the Freak Squad, often going out of his way to carefully select words so as to be completely inoffensive, even in situations where upsetting someone else would neither be inappropriate or even a reality.

Super Power: The ability to shrink six inches.

Primi the premature baby (David Cross) - A Jewish premature baby with the inexplicable ability to speak and operate a mechanical transport unit. He also inexplicably speaks in metaphors and dead tongues, which apparently only Bearded Clam can understand. He also has some sort of non-American accent, ostensibly Italian. At various points throughout the series, he has been depicted requiring the aid of some sort of incubation unit outfitted with wheels and mechanical gloves in order to be mobile. However, in the season finale, he left the unit and performed acrobatic stunts on his own.

Super Power: Pinpoint vomiting, the ability to vomit at will and direct its flow at any individual he chooses.

Log Cabin Republican (Jon Glaser) - A gay Republican. Usually dressed in a business suit; at times deals with others on behalf of the group.

Super Powers: The ability to transform into "Burly Bear". Burly Bear can run up to 60 mph, climb trees, and decapitate victims with one swipe of his immaculately manicured hands.

upporting characters

Bob and Helen Hartsdale (Cross and Benjamin respectively) - The kind, older couple who own a freakshow and the Squad. They are often shown as senile people.

Duncan Schiesst (Will Arnett) - Works for Freak-Mart. the world's largest general purpose retailer, trying to purchase Mr. and Mrs. Hartsdale's Freak Show.

Frank Meinkowitz (Todd Barry) - The creator of the Freak Squad who gives them their missions.

World's Smallest Something (Kristen Schaal) One of the Hartsdale's freaks. It is so small that no one knows its true gender or species. The worlds tallest Nebraskan accidentally stepped on it in the second episode.

Danny the Plumber Guy (Cross) A parody of Larry the Cable Guy. His catchphrase is "Git to gittn'." a parody of Larry's "Git r done." Creator David Cross is known for being critical of Daniel Whitney's character and routine. [Edwards, Gavin. [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/7277749/larry_the_cable_guy_bared/ Larry the Cable Guy Bared] . Rolling Stone. 2008-03-11. Accessed and [http://www.webcitation.org/5WEe8PIri archived] : 2008-03-11.] [ [http://www.bobanddavid.com/2007/10/an_open_letter_to_larry_the_ca.html An Open Letter to Larry The Cable Guy] — [http://www.bobanddavid.com/ Bob and David] , 2007-10-02 website accessed 11th March 2008]

Episodes

History of the Freak Squad

In 1972, Richard Nixon, Augusto Pinochet, Henry Kissinger, and Adolf Hitler met aboard Kissinger's yacht the "Wet Dream II". After a few 'Hi, How Are You's and several cocktails it became clear the galley was desperately out of ice. Frank Mankiewicz, a junior parking attendant at the Pentagon who was moonlighting on the yacht, suggested forming a top secret elite task force composed of members of a small freak show he had recently attended. As there was seriously little ice left, his plan was agreed to by all, and thus Mankiewicz’s Freak Squad was born. [ [http://www.heavy.com/heavy.php?channel=freakshow_channel Video of groups' origins] ]

On other shows

On Tuesday, October 31, 2006 the character the Log Cabin Republican appeared on an episode of "The Colbert Report". In the segment, the Log Cabin Republican was interviewed by Stephen Colbert".

External links

*imdb title | id=0854504 | title= Freak Show
* [http://www.metacritic.com/tv/shows/freakshow Freak Show Reviews] at Metacritic.com
* [http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/freak_show/index.jhtml "Freak Show" at Comedy Central]

References