Why the hate for the Oblongs?

[PaQ]

Hmm.. Seems like I'm in the minority here. Yes, I like the Oblongs..

I don't see why people seem to have such dislike for the series, sure it can get pretty stupid sometimes but what show doesnt?

I didn't like the series when it first came on the WB, but that was because I didn't give it a chance, I just saw the weird looking characters and called it crap and changed the channel. Seeing it get played lately on AS made me decide to watch it and give it a chance, and you know what? I liked it, I thought it takes a weird subject and made it somewhat funny.

Ok the little girl freaks me out and I really don't like that Helga character but everything else about the show I like. If it's just because it's been on so long with so few episodes causing people to experience rerun hell, then I see your point. But to me these episodes are new and just as good. Seeing Oblongs and deciding to like it might just make me give Home Movies a chance to see if I'd enjoy it. I'm not a big Will Ferrell fan but I just couldn't picture someone else doing the voice of the dad.

So I ask for you guys to shed some insight for me on to what made you dislike the Oblongs so that I can understand where you're coming from. :p

[Misato Tanaka]

probably the hate is due to the fact that it stinks of rancud beer battered john cena orphas

[RogueMartian]

Can't help you dude, I love the Oblongs. I think it's pretty hilarious.

..Oh, and Misato, would you care to elaborate? Saying something stinks without backing it up, that's kinda juvenile, don't you think?

[shogunthethird]

I liked it the first few times i saw it, but now I'm just sick to death of re-runs, same thing with mission hill

[The Drizzle]

I don't hate it, but it isn't exactly the best thing on the air either. :shrug:

[ClockStomper]

Why?

"Your mama. Now shut up and drag me to work!"

[Discloner]

Can't help yah out either....I like it as well. :)

[ZJP]

I enjoy Oblongs on occasion. It's kinda like Baby Blues. Neitehr of them were the WORST cartoon ever made, but they weren't really the best ever, either. They average out to having SOME good points. This week's Oblongs was pretty decent.

[Ben]

It's in really poor taste. The last thing our culture needs is more making fun of retarded and disabled people. The jokes just make me cringe. It reminds me of Bamboozled!, and the TV executive who wants to make a show about the adventures homeless people get into. Oblongs was written by people who aren't in a position to really face the issues of disabilities. If the show had any compassion at all for its subjects I would give it a chance. As it stands it disgusts me.

[DianaGohan]

I've watched the entire series about twice and can saftley say outside of one or two chuckles, it just wasn't that funny for me. I never really liked any of the characters that much, and while the plotlines were okay, none of them were really worth watching the entire episode for. I wouldn't say I completley say I hate the Oblongs though. I just don't like it and wonder why it gets the highest ratings on Sunday most of the time.

[Fata Morgana]

I don't find myself offended by it, just not amused by it. It's simply not that funny. I can watch a whole episode and maybe only chuckle once. The only times I've ever actually hated the show was when it was taking the slot of some other show that I like.

Fata Morgana

[The Landstander]

A lot of people point to the "darkness" or "bad taste" of the series. For me, that isn't the problem at all. In fact, that's the good part; I would be very interested to see what the show would've become had Angus Oblong had full creative control.

For me, the problem is the show is a generic TV sitcom. The only original factor is the "mutations" thing, and that got old within a few episodes. In a TV block marked by originality (the WS shows are pretty much the only of their kind on television; while HM and Mission Hill are similar in their subtle brands of humor), Oblongs is, to put it in a word, boring.

That's just me, though. I don't flat out hate the show, though next to Ripping Friends it's by far my least favorite on ASC.

Quick Edit: Also (just being honest), the fact that this show beats out the (IMO) much more enjoyable and fun Williams Street shows and ended up being shown in place of HM Season 4 (even if the reasons for postponing the season had nothing to do with the show) have kind of left a sour taste in my mouth for this show.

[Anime Guy]

I've seen most of the episodes so many times that they just get boring. Last Sunday's was good, though. "Let's do stuff to him!" "Yeah, stuff!"

[Corrado]

"probably the hate is due to the fact that it stinks of rancud beer battered john cena orphas."

I hope that wasn't a diss at John Cena.

"Word Life" ************.

As for "The Oblongs":

Ferrell is cool.

But the show isn't.

[Nin-Nin69]

Oblongs is funny. I'm only bored of the show because it's not that wild and crazy like ATHF or other ASC shows. That and all of the reruns. Oblongs should've got new episodes.

[Swordfish_II]

I enjoyed it the first time. But after seeing each episode 3 times, I don't really give a crap.

[saladdays]

probably the hate is due to the fact that it stinks of rancud beer battered john cena orphas

Now, say that 10 times really fast....

[saladdays]

It's in really poor taste. The last thing our culture needs is more making fun of retarded and disabled people. The jokes just make me cringe. It reminds me of Bamboozled!, and the TV executive who wants to make a show about the adventures homeless people get into. Oblongs was written by people who aren't in a position to really face the issues of disabilities. If the show had any compassion at all for its subjects I would give it a chance. As it stands it disgusts me.

I can see your point, but, if you really haven't given the show a chance, then how do you know that it doesn't show any compassion at all?

[Ben]

I can see your point, but, if you really haven't given the show a chance, then how do you know that it doesn't show any compassion at all?

Hey, good point. I guess that wasn't really what I meant. If it was physically possible for me to do that I would. Every time I start watching it I have a visceral reaction to turn it off. I really can't bring myself to watch more than five minutes of it. It's embarassing to even watch by myself.

[saladdays]

Hey, good point. I guess that wasn't really what I meant. If it was physically possible for me to do that I would. Every time I start watching it I have a visceral reaction to turn it off. I really can't bring myself to watch more than five minutes of it. It's embarassing to even watch by myself.

Yeah, I can kind of understand that. I have also had an adverse reaction to it at times, although I have watched a few episodes.

[Meh]

I don'tthink it's a bad show and when I see an episode that I missed, I'll watch it through the whole showing. But once I've seen it, I probably wouldn't watch it again. And funny factor it did have, like iwth other shows repeats, is gone.

[Jaguar]

The show isn't as bad as *veins pop out of head* THE RIPPING FRIENDS but after you see the same, what, 13 episodes, it gets very annoying.

[Eddie G.]

I've watched a couple of episodes, and it's... meh

I like the symbolism and message of the shows and Milo and the dad have their moments. But the show can get really annoying, and some of the characters are more disturbing than weird.

Anyway it's an okay show, wish it wouldn't have another run till atleast late next year, and that new episodes are never ordered....ever!

EDIT: Sorry Jag, Meh was above me when I was writing the post. Guess I should of checked it.

[tigerrunner]

I've just never thought of any of it as funny. It's a shame, being that The Oblongs was very original idea, that they really didn't do anything with funny or interesting it. Not only that, but some jokes were so deeply drilled into the ground, you could predict what was going to happen before it actually did (most notably with Helga. The fat jokes became trite before the first run ended). Not only that, but halfway through the run I got sick and tired of the kids (including Biff&Chip, the Debbies, etc.), but especially Milo and Helga. They just became annoying (the parents, however did not), to the point that I would change the channel when they came on.

[Jaguar]

I've watched a couple of episodes, and it's... well read the user name above me.

It's Jaguar?

*cries* THAT'S NOT TRUE! IF I COULD SPEND MORE TIME--

[Anime Guy]

It's Jaguar?

*cries* THAT'S NOT TRUE! IF I COULD SPEND MORE TIME--
I knew someone would say that.

[Bandit]

Question about the Oblongs.....

My friend said that he heard on a radio show that the bump on top of the little girl's head is a penis. I told him it's a mole.

Who is right??

[DemonKrowno]

i loved the Oblongs at first,but after seeing every episode a 100 times,it gets kinda....bad...and makes you not wanna watch anymore...just....you get this bad after taste of sorts,i guess...I dunno....new ones would be more then welcomed though.

[William C. Maune]

Question about the Oblongs.....

My friend said that he heard on a radio show that the bump on top of the little girl's head is a penis. I told him it's a mole.

Who is right??

I don't think they ever mention what it is actually, but it doesn't really look like either.

[bassist]

Benign Tumor!

[Turbo]

Oblongs and Ripping Friends ... these are two cartoons that not only have never made me chuckle, actually irritated me. Like I had CN on in the background, just as noise, and had to turn the channel because it's just annoying. I don't see it in poor taste, that's not it to me. Oblongs is just pretty stale, and not that original in its comedy. but that's me, and I'm wrong a lot.

T

[GTOnizuka]

i dont care for the oblongs. Some ppl do. so i come to the conclusion that there is a balance. some do, some dont. if u think about it it's just like the force, yin and yan, etc.

[Anime Guy]

I watch Oblongs, but only for the new cards, because I don't know when the commercial breaks are. Though I don't really pay attention it because I work on homework while I watch. Even if I'm on vacation.

[Scythemantis]

It's in really poor taste. The last thing our culture needs is more making fun of retarded and disabled people. The jokes just make me cringe. It reminds me of Bamboozled!, and the TV executive who wants to make a show about the adventures homeless people get into. Oblongs was written by people who aren't in a position to really face the issues of disabilities. If the show had any compassion at all for its subjects I would give it a chance. As it stands it disgusts me.

I just think oblongs is so-so, but... it's NOT "making fun of retarded and disabled people". They're just people mutated by chemical waste. What the hell do you mean no compassion? They are portrayed as good, intelligent people regardless of how they look who do care a lot about eachother (if you'de actually pay attention) while the normal, rich people responsible for the pollution are shallow and heartless. Way to miss the ENTIRE FREAKING POINT OF A SHOW.

But anyways, even if it were making fun of the less fortunate, your outlook would disgust me because there is nothing, NOTHING in this universe that can't be joked about. No aspect of life should be taken dead seriously, and as far as I'm concerned it is pointless, childish and idiotic to be offended by ANY work of fiction. That kind of sensitivity is a disease that has killed great works of art, burned books, set back science repeatedly and cancelled some of the most well-written shows in history. Sorry twage but I have zero respect for that sort of opinion. It just about infuriates me. Nothing offends me but the offendable.

[Youko Recca]

I don't think they ever mention what it is actually, but it doesn't really look like either.

which would you prefer?

[Jaguar]

which would you prefer?
That is officially the scariest question I've ever heard.

[Classic Speedy]

While I get some laughs from Oblongs, I certainly don't think it's as good as Home Movies, Harvey Birdman: AAL, Family Guy, Futurama, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. And there are only 13 episodes, so I've seen them all multiple times, which DOES get old. Personally, I found Baby Blues to be a funnier show (if less original).

[Sigma]

I dig The Oblongs. It isn't the best show, but it certiantly isn't the worst. I am getting stick of the same episodes over and over though. I wouldn't mind seeing new episodes sometime in the future.

[DianaGohan]

Personally, I found Baby Blues to be a funnier show (if less original).

Well, take away all the mutations from the characters and you would have your basic animated sitcom.... even if it was a bit dark and mean spirited. Besides, at least Baby Blues admitts to being unoriginal (why else would the theme song be "It's All Been Done" by the Barenaked Ladies?).

[Pimmelmann]

So I ask for you guys to shed some insight for me on to what made you dislike the Oblongs so that I can understand where you're coming from. :p
I hate it for the same reasons Angus Oblong hates it, enumerated on his web page.