Cast:
· Will Sasso
· Molly Shannon
· Patton Oswalt
· Kurtwood Smith
Grade: B
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Television Review: Neighbors from Hell, "snorfindesdrillsalgoho" (Pilot)
by R.J. Carter
Published: June 1, 2010
TBS introduces a new animated comedy this summer with the oddball Neighbors from Hell, a mix of irreverently black comedy that results in something that might be called Addams Family Guy. The show revolves around a family of demons sent to Earth to prevent an oil company from finishing a project that would allow them to drill all the way to the center of the Earth -- aka, Hell. The task is meant as a punishment for family patriarch Balthazor (voiced by Will Sasso), after he got caught enjoying something meant as torture for lost souls: reruns of Two and a Half Men.
The pilot episode, "snorfindesdrillsalgoho," (no, really!) opens with the scenario just described, as Balthazor, his wife Tina (Molly Shannon), their teenage children Mandy and Josh (Tracey Fairaway and David Soren) and cracked Uncle Vlaartark (Kyle McCulloch) make the relocation from outer darkness to the fresh new hell of suburbia. Balthazor quickly gets to work undermining the technical genius behind the creation of the drill, but finds himself undoing all his work as he develops an affinity for the poor fellow. Simultaneously, he finds himself shocked by the careless and capricious behavior of the company's CEO, Killbride (That 70s Show's Kurtwood Smith), who puts to shame even the most sadistic demons he's met. When it comes to torturing the human spirit, Balthazor quickly learns there's no better expert than other people.
Meet the Hellmans: Balthazor, Tina, Mandy, Josh, Pazuzu and
crazy Uncle Vlaartark. |
With Balthazor at work, Tina is left to become a "desperate housewife," contending with the overly perky (and potentially canine-loving) neighbor, Marjoe Champers (Dina Waters), a non-stop gossip and highly-caffeinated busybody. Fortunately for Tina, there's surcease to be found in a bottle of booze.
Accompanying the family on their journey is Pazuzu (Patton Oswalt), who -- loosely -- resembles an Earth dog, but is in fact the most intelligent member of the family, and who can be relied upon to fix the jams the family gets themselves into as they acclimate to humanity (which sometimes means he has to resurrect a cat).
Neighbors from Hell debuts Monday, June 7, 10|9c, on TBS.
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CD Giveaway - Paper Bird, "Rooms"
Ends May 28, 2013
Drifting ever so slightly away from traditional folk music, this Colorado band delivers harmony and energy aplenty. |
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