TV Jots

Television Has a New Cartoon

Today, June 7, is a pretty big day for TBS. At 10pm ET, the comedy-oriented basic-cable network will air “Sorfindesdrillsalgoho,” the debut episode of the new show Neighbors from Hell. And, yes, that title actually means something.

The first-ever original primetime animated series at TBS is a Fox TV Animation and MoonBoy production with Madagascar and South Park producer heritage, featuring the effective voice work of familiar TV faces like Patton Oswalt (The King of Queens), Will Sasso (MADtv), Molly Shannon (Saturday Night Live), and Kurtwood Smith (That ’70s Show). It revolves around the decidedly green and fang-y Hellman family — a name that reminds me of the condiment instead of their origins — who get sent on a mission by Satan to prevent humans from ruining the underworld with their pesky drills.

Of course, Hell natives who live among humans must fit in to avoid revealing their true intentions, which is a tad difficult to accomplish when your complexion is obviously off and you have noticeably long and pointy eye teeth. But the Hellmans do what they have to, and in the process, they notice something interesting about humans — they’re not all that heavenly.

The Hellman family consists of patriarch Balthazor (Sasso), his wife Tina (Shannon), their children Josh (David Soren) and Mandy (Tracey Fairaway), Uncle Vlaartark (Kyle McCulloch), and the family pooch Pazuzu (Patton). Smith voices Kilbride, Bathalzor’s very “direct” boss, and McCulloch also provides the vocals for Bathalzor’s Turkish colleague Chevdet.

I’m sure I won’t be the only viewer who repeatedly thinks about previous spooky-themed series like The Munsters and The Addams Family every time I watch Neighbors from Hell. So, let me just point out now that there are certain similarities, such as the huge size and affable personalities of Balthazor and Herman Munster, for example, and the prickly disposition of their respective wives Tina and Lily. Then there’s oddball Uncle Vlaartark, who could possibly outdo Uncle Fester in the creepy department.

Also make no mistake about the intended audience for the show, which explains its 10pm time slot. Although the series is animated and revolves around a family, some of the humor is very mature and clearly not intended for young’uns. I like what I saw during the first episode, however, including the creative look of the characters and settings, and I intend to watch for the rest of the season.

Learn more about Neighbors from Hell and the people responsible for it in the following behind-the-scenes featurette.