Home Movies (1999)

6.4	Listal rating
9	IMDB rating

Release date : 26 April 1999

Animation (2), 1990s (1), Legendary (1), Melissa Robbins (1), First-class (1), Awesome (1), Mind-blowing (1), Coach John McGuirk (1), Out-of-sight (1), Greatest (1), Incredible (1), Paula Small (1), Out-of-this-world (1), Favorites (1), Magnificent (1), Erik Robbins (1), Primo (1), Comedy (1), Superb (1), Grand (1)

Description

The story of Home Movies begins in February of 1999. UPN was sure it had a hit in bringing “Dilbert”, the office satire cartoon strip, to a TV show. As part of the event, they decided a companion show would help. Looking for a family show, they headed to Soup2Nuts. Loren Bouchard invisioned an idea of an improvised character show, originally fo The story of Home Movies begins in February of 1999. UPN was sure it had a hit in bringing “Dilbert”, the office satire cartoon strip, to a TV show. As part of the event, they decided a companion show would help. Looking for a family show, they headed to Soup2Nuts. Loren Bouchard invisioned an idea of an improvised character show, originally focusing on a single mother from the viewpoint of her 8-year old son.

Bouchard gradually got the crew of the show on-board. Soup2Nuts mainstays H. Jon Benjamin (best known as Ben from "Dr. Katz") and comedian Paula Poundstone were brought on early. After seeing comedian Brendon Small's act, Bouchard got him on-board (and Small soon became very much at the center of the show). Most interesting is the character of Melissa. The idea for a young female character had already existed, and while a situable voice actress was being found, Creative Consultant Melissa Bardin Galsky was used in some early sessions. Her chemistry was Small and Benjamin was good enough that she ended up with the role herself.

Home Movies uses Retroscripting, basically another term for improvisation. Benjamin and Small went into the booth having only met each other a day before, and having only a vague idea of who their characters were. They began improving dialogue, slowly developing an idea for a scene and their own character personalities along the way. This dialogue was then trimmed and reused as to turn the improv into a coherent scene. The show gradually got more scripted as it went from season to season, but even in season 4 much of the show remained done in this fashion.

The pilot episode, "Get Away From My Mom", aired on Monday, April 26th, 1999, to a lukewarm at best audience. "Dilbert" didn't turn out to be the hit it was anticipated, and by episode 5, UPN found little reason to renew the show. Amusingly, UPN's official cancellation reason was a lack of male viewers.

For most shows, this is where the story would end. However...

In 2001, Cartoon Network was undergoing an experiment. Trying to bring in adult viewers, the station created a section of shows specifically intended for adults. "Adult Swim" would be the name. Executive Khaki Jones had caught the show's short-lived UPN's existance, and was a huge fan. Jones and AS executive Mike Lazzo would give the show another chance, ordering 8 episodes to finish out the first season. The Adult Swim/Home Movies premiere was on September 2nd, 2001, at 10:00 PM with the episode “Director’s Cut”.

In it's early days, Adult Swim wasn't exactly a ratings juggernaut. However it managed to find enough of an audience to justify its own existence, and HM was at the top of that audience. A second season was ordered fairly quickly.

Beginning January 6th, 2002, Home Movies would have its second season. In many ways the season differed from the first; Squigglevision was dropped in favor of Flash animation, new character arcs were attempted, and some new characters showed up. The ratings were, once again, not very high but enough to justify a third season. August 4th, 2002 premiered “Shore Leave”, the third season's first episode. Oddly enough, a jump of time took place from the second last season 3 episode "Stow-A-Way" and the season 3 finale, "Coffins and Cradles". Nonetheless, the show would be picked up again for a fourth (and ultimately final) season.

The fourth season were originally scheduled to premiere in November 2003; however, a slump of low ratings inspired Adult Swim to push back the date of the new episodes to January. To fufill a contract, Adult Swim aired the season 4 premiere "Everyone's Entitled To My Opinion" in November...unannounced, at 3 AM.

Finally, in January 2004, season four began with "Camp". An odd thing about season 4 is how it divides the HM fanbase; some consider it the best season by far, others think the show had lost the feel of the first season in favor of becoming a generic sitcom. Though I think most are in the middle. The fourth season did not receive good ratings; while perhaps acceptable by Adult Swim 2001 standards, HM didn't exaclty grow in popularity. In comparison to the new Adult Swim standards (raised highly by Family Guy and Futurama), Home Movies was a poor performer. A mix of these ratings, combined with a Cartoon Network rule of "52 episodes and you're done", resulted in the show's cancellation. Luckily, Lazzo more or less confirmed with Brendon Small halfway through the season that the show would not be coming back. The final episode, "Focus Grill", aired April 4th, 2004, and managed to be a satisfying concluding episode. Despite the usual rush of internet petitions and letter campaigns, Home Movies was finished. Adult Swim, who as far as this writer can tell are geunine fans of the show, still find a spot for it as of this writing (August 2006). You can usually find it at the back end of the Sunday block, or rarely on a weekday run.

Through much searching and a bit of luck, Small and Bouchard were able to land a DVD deal. The complete first season of Home Movies was released on DVD on November 16th, 2004, by the company Shout! Factory. A nice set of extras was included. The show has, very likely, found a bigger audience on DVD than it ever did on network TV. Though once again not on a Family Guy level (don't expect a DVD-inspired resurrection), the sales of the first season were pretty good. This pattern continued, and all of the seasons are now available on DVD.

A show like Home Movies is the type of thing a cult fanbase is made of; distinctly not for everyone, HM has found an audience who can tell exactly what its going for, and enjoy it. And that's an accomplishment. ... (more)

Starring (View all) :

Brendon Small

Brendon Small / ...

H. Jon Benjamin

Jason Penopolis / ...

Melissa Bardin Galsky

Melissa Robbins

Ronald Lynch

Paula Small

Fenton Mulley / ...

Various / ...

Erik Robbins / ...

Linda / ...

Cynthia / ...

Written by (View all) :

Loren Bouchard

Bill Braudis

Videos


	Home movies - Amy Lee Brendon, Jason, and Melissa shooting a movie quite... You wouldn't like me when I give a speech From the second episode of "Home Movies" entitled ... Home Movies- Victory From the Album. This was in the episode "History". Home Movies-"Timmy" by Brendon Small Music Video (Dec. 6, 2008) Home Movies-"Timmy" by Brendon Small Music Video (... Home Movies- The Wizard's Baker Rock Opera [Medley] From the episode "The Wizard's Baker". ___________... Home Movies- Welcome 2 Hell I wish they'd put this on the radio. From the ep... Home Movies- Don't Put Marbles In Your Nose From the Album. This was in the episode "Mortgages... Home Movies- Brendon's Camera From the episode "Focus Grill". This was also in ... Home Movies- Timmy! [Medley] From the episode "Temporary Blindness". __________... Home Movies- No Skin Off My Ass From the Album, From the episode "Improving your l... Home Movies - Insomnia McGuirk tells Melissa about his insomnia. Home Movies 203 - jazz fight Home Movies clip from season 2, episode 3 - "Hiatu... Home Movies - "Walter + Perry Wedding" A clip from "Home Movies" on Adult Swim. Walter an... Home Movies 313 - Halloween at the hospital Home Movies clip from season 3, episode 13 - "Coff... Mitch Hedberg - Home Movies - Mitch the Fifth-Grader Mitch on an episode of the Cartoon Network TV show... Home Movies - Cursing Coach McGuirk teaches Brendon a lesson about cursi... Home Movies 406 - tips Home Movies clip from season 4, episode 6 - "Psych... Home Movies - Coach McGuirk's Racecar Song Racecar backwards is racecar Mitch Hedberg - Home Movies - Insightful Hippie Pastor Mitch on Cartoon Network TV show Home Movies. Upli... Home Movies 202 - Walk-a-thon to the morgue Home Movies clip from season 2, episode 2 - "Ident... The best of coach McGuirk part 1 Best cartoon character ever The best of coach McGuirk part 2 Best cartoon character ever Home Movies- Bye Bye Greasy [Medley] From the episode "Bye Bye Greasy". _______________... Home Movies- The Ballad of King Arthur & Robin Hood From the album, and the episode "Renaissance". ___... Home Movies- Trust Yourself From the Album, from the episode "Broken Dreams". ... Home Movies- Duane's Big Solo This solo is much better than Jimmy's. ( From Gui... Home Movies- Septopus Theme From the episode "The Heart Smashers". ___________... Home Movies- Heart Smashers Theme From the episode "The Heart Smashers". Home Movies- Sunset Theme From the Album. This was in the episode "The Party... Home Movies- Coffins & Cradles Theme Beautiful guitarwork from Brendon Small. Home Movies- Mr. Pants From the Album. This was in the episode "History".... Home Movies- Don't Kill Children From the Album. This was from the episode "Law & B... Home Movies- Dog Training Montage From the episode "Honkey Magoo". Home Movies- Livin' Like a Bug Ain't Easy From the Album. This was in the episode "Director'... Home Movies- Seasons 2,3,4 Closing Theme From multiple episodes. Home Movies- I'm A Kid Again From the episode "The Wizard's Baker". Home Movies- Crazy Legs From the Album. This was in the episode "Hiatus". ... Home Movies- Duane Outro From the Album. This was in the episode "Pizza Clu... Home Movies Tribute to Jason A tribute to my favorite home movies character. Al... Home Movies- Duanetastic From the Album. This was in the episode "Pizza Clu... Home Movies- Franz Kafka! Intro From the Album. ________________________________ L... Home Movies - Gross Jason Moments Montage This is a montage clip I put together of all the d... Home Movies 110 - Jason attacks McGuirk Home Movies clip from season 1, episode 10 - "Scho... Home Movies - Brendan and Jason get fat Season 3, episode 3 Home Movies - Seize The Day & Asbestos Company The kids get a visitor to come in and talk to them... Fight Club (Home Movies) Trailer A recreation of the Fight Club trailer using foota...