The Brak Show

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Brak Show
Cover of The Brak Show Volume 1 DVD
Genre	Animated series
Starring	Andy Merrill C. Martin Croker George Lowe Marsha Crenshaw (episodes 1-13) Joanna Daniel (episodes 14-28)
Country of origin	USA
No. of episodes	28 (plus 1 special)
Production
Running time	12 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	Cartoon Network
Original run	December 21, 2000 – December 31, 2003

The Brak Show is one of Cartoon Network's 15-minute animated series that airs during Adult Swim. It is a spin-off of Space Ghost: Coast to Coast featuring recurring characters from that show and Cartoon Planet, both of which used stock footage from the Hanna-Barbera cartoon Space Ghost and Dino-Boy. The protagonist is a Space Ghost villain named "Brak", voiced by Andy Merrill, who developed a quirky persona for the character.

The Brak Show is produced by Williams Street Studios, and is akin to Sealab 2021 and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. The show premiered in September, 2001.

The show is characterized by its crude animation, bizarre sense of humor, and a host with a voice that sounds like a "Muppet whose mother was a habitual crack user".^[1]

The Brak Show was preceded by the variety show Brak Presents The Brak Show Starring Brak, which spun two episodes. Both of the episodes aired in the US only once in 2000, although clips of the show could be caught after the Space Ghost Coast to Coast time slot on a few rare occasions (one episode aired in the UK on Bravo on 23 August 2006). But despite the similarities in the titles, the two Brak Shows have very little in common. Those who missed the first Brak Show can at least be tided over by Brak Presents the Brak Album Starring Brak, which features songs and segments from the original version.

Adult Swim announced in a bump on October 22, 2006 that, in order to please the show's loyal fan following, The Brak Show will soon return to production as a radio play via the internet on Adult Swim Fix, though it will continue to be cancelled from network television broadcast.

"What happens when two adults get together and have children? And what if those children grow up and go to school? That's the just-crazy-enough-to-work premise behind 'The Brak Show.' Also, Brak is in it." -Description of show from cover of the first The Brak Show DVD.

The show is about Brak's suburban life with his alien mother and Cuban father. It originally started off as a parody of situation comedies, but just like its sister show, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, the plot dissolved over time and became increasingly bizarre. The setting is suburbia with an extra-planetary hint. A Saturn-like planet appears in the background on occasion, and many of the extras are aliens.

Contents 1 Characters 2 Trivia 3 Episode Guide 3.1 Season 1: 2001 3.2 Season 2: 2002 3.3 Season 3: 2003 3.4 Season 4: 2007 4 DVD Boxsets 5 See also 6 Notes 7 External links

[edit] Characters

Brak (voiced by Andy Merrill) is some sort of anthropomorphic "space cat" (according to one episode) with an eccentric personality and a speaking lisp. He is quite unintelligent but with a very sweet and gentle personality (although very occasionally he displays a more aggressive or sinister side) and seems to be a pre-teen adolescent. He still has attachments to stuffed animals (such as "Hippo", who is actually a lobster plush-toy), yet nonetheless is starting to be attracted to girls (as in the episode "Poppy"). He often randomly breaks into (usually non-rhyming) song. The writers use a wide variety of musical styles for the songs--covering jazz, country, showtunes, rap, and rock and roll. He considers Zorak a close friend, although in return Zorak treats him with open contempt. He befriended Meatwad of Aqua Teen Hunger Force at the Adult Swim New Years Party.

Dad (voiced by George Lowe) is a small (about 4 feet tall, apparently due to a freak accident involving a shrink ray, perhaps involving the character Reducto from fellow Adult Swim cartoon Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law) human with a Cuban accent (likely an homage to Desi Arnaz), who is extremely self-centered, lazy and nonsensical. Unemployed, most of his time is spent sitting at the kitchen table and reading the newspaper, although it was revealed in an episode he was a secret agent. An episode seldom goes by without him delivering a moral to the story that is completely incoherent, has no relevance to the situation and typically ends in a non sequitur. Occasionally, he displays prominent womanizing and male-chauvinistic behavior, which is sometimes rebuked by Brak's mom. Brak's father is generally an extremely poor role model, although he does display a certain protectiveness towards his son and once told him, "I love you like a brother, man."

Mom (voiced by Marsha Crenshaw for the first 13 episodes, and Joanna Daniel for the remainder of the series) is a creature of the same "species" as Brak, with the fashions of a housewife character on a 1950s sitcom. She is largely the only (semi-)sane character on the show. She displays little romantic or sexual interest in Brak's Dad, and often does not tolerate him. It has been established, however, that when she gets drunk she finds him suddenly irresistible. As voiced by Crenshaw, she is most often an homage to June Cleaver and similar motherly characters, with occasional hints of discontent with her husband's laziness and sexism. When Daniel took over the role, Brak's Mom inexplicably acquired a British accent, and became far more open in her discontent with domestic life and her annoyance with and disdain for Brak's Dad. Her change in accent has been commented upon several times on the show.

Zorak Jones (voiced by C. Martin Croker) is another character from Space Ghost: Coast to Coast, a human-sized mantis. On this show, he plays the role of an Eddie Haskell character, who's also a sociopathic, sadistic, morally-bankrupt misanthrope. He often hangs out with Brak, but usually only as a way to force him into doing something for his own benefit. Zorak considers himself "above" Brak and his entire family, and is constantly criticizing and insulting them. Zorak also enjoys bullying Clarence, the neighborhood nerd. Typical Zorak quote: "Why are you all still alive? Oh wait, it's only Tuesday." Brak's mom sometimes calls him Arthur, which may be a reference to Happy Days or Night of the Twisters.

He often gets killed off in the show, in the same way he did in Space Ghost: Coast to Coast. Despite his usual grating voice, he occasionally exhibits a "beautiful man-voice" ("Psychoklahoma", "War Next Door").

Sisto was Brak's identical but smaller and red suited brother who made cameo appearances on the show in which all he did was walk across the screen and flatulate, until he was killed off in season two by having cannibalistic aliens eat him.

Thundercleese (voiced by Carey Means) is Brak's next-door-neighbor, a militant Killbot (with the visual appearance of a Gundam or a similar anime-style robot) who also is passionate about his lawn and garden. A short-lived shtick on the show involved Thundercleese blasting Zorak often (inherited from Space Ghost Coast to Coast, see above). He is very aggressive and warlike, always speaking in a loud, robotic monotone. When Brak is troubled, no matter what the problem is, Thundercleese invariably suggests swift and brutal retaliation. Thundercleese's social skills are rather lacking, and before social get-togethers he will study very bad "party jokes" in preparation. On the Adult Swim New Year's party it was shown that Frylock of Aqua Teen Hunger Force created Thundercleese, which is why they sound alike (both characters were voiced by Means).

Clarence (also voiced by Andy Merrill) is a chubby purple alien and schoolmate of Brak's at Learnmore High School (home of the Lowly Worms). He was a supporting character on the show who made more regular appearances towards the end of the series. Clarence is very socially awkward, but idolizes Brak. His constant talking often annoys those around him, and when faced with an extremely stressful situation he will wear his mother's sundress and bonnet for comfort. Many of his appearances end with him being maimed, usually by Zorak.

Marlon the Magician was the original inventor of the double-beer hat and the golden showerhead (see time machine episode). He was also called upon in a later episode to revive a slain Zorak (or at least the parts that Brak's family hadn't already eaten). He is a decrepit old wizard who seems much more interested in partying than the dark arts. He is also an excellent rapper.

Don Tickles, Notary Public is the reclusive identical twin of Thundercleese's beloved pet fish, Mr. Tickles. He lived in One Fish Lake at one point. Some say he grew a beard and still lives there, although the current occupant, who very closely resembles Mr. Tickles wearing a beard, denies this and states that he just did not bother to change the name on the mailbox.

[edit] Trivia

• In the original episodes of the show, the titles of the show appearing in the opening credits were different for each episode, derivatives of classic TV show titles such as Petticoat Brak, usually having nothing to do with the content of the episode nor with the actual name of the episode (given in the table below; as used in the DVD contents listing, for example). After about a dozen episodes, the title The Brak Show became standardized in the opening credits.
• In Episode 18 of The Brak Show Meatwad from Aqua Teen Hunger Force made 2 brief cameos riding a scooter in the street. His name is seen in the credits as a 'Special Guest". Meatwad is also seen as one of Brak's "Carrot-Catures" in Episode 11.
• In Episode 3 of The Brak Show we see a flashback of Zorak in Grandma Prison. His prisoner number is #655321, the same number Alexander DeLarge wears in the Stanley Kubrick film A Clockwork Orange.
• In episode 9, Brak's jaw is put back on at a wrong angle which makes his voice exactly like Meatwads from Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Aqua Teen hunger force co-creator Matt Malleiro's name is in the credits under waspoligist.
• In the episode Hippo, a postcard for 2 Stupid Dogs is seen on Brak's bullitein board
• In an episode of Space Ghost: Coast to Coast called Sweet For Brak, Brak leaves Space Ghost's show for his own sitcom. In this episode, Zorak says the same line he says in the first episode of The Brak Show.
• In the episode Cardburkey when Brak turned everyone into penguins, Joanna Daniel was talking to Marsha Crenshaw about that the family took her over Marsha.

[edit] Episode Guide

[edit] Season 1: 2001

Ep #	Designation	Title	Airdate	Description
1	2001	Mr. Bawk Ba Gawk	December 21, 2000	Zorak convinces Brak he will be more popular at school if he steals the mascot from rival Jerkwater High School.
2	2101	Goldfish	September 2, 2001	Brak promises to take care of Mr. Thundercleese's goldfish, Mr. Tickles, while he is away. Goldfish eat ham don't they?
3	2102	Time Machine	September 2, 2001	Brak and Zorak didn't finish their homework on time, so they use Thundercleese's time machine to go back in time to set things right.
4	2103	War Next Door	September 9, 2001	Zorak makes Brak jealous when he develops a wonderful singing voice after accidentally having a pink lump knocked out of his throat.
5	2104	Hippo	September 9, 2001	Brak is upset because Zorak made him get rid of his lobster doll, Hippo.
6	2105	Mobab	October 21, 2001	When an alien blob named Mobab falls in love with Mom and takes her away to his home planet, Dad realizes how much he needs her and he and Brak go into outer space to save her.
7	2106	Expiration Day	November 4, 2001	Thundercleese finds his powers have been deactivated by his creators Moroccobotix Inc., which is a bad thing as there is an asteroid heading for The Planet. Dad and Brak go on a mission to return his weapons, so he can save everyone.
8	2107	Psychoklahoma	December 2, 2001	Brak and company attempt to raise money to save Señor Science by putting on a musical (A merger of Psycho and Oklahoma!).
9	2108	The Eye	December 30, 2001	Brak's Father, retired staring-contest expert, is challenged by Brak, Zorak, and a mysterious guest. Father has no choice but to take them on.

[edit] Season 2: 2002

Ep #	Designation	Title	Airdate	Description
10	2201	Poppy	April 14, 2002	While watching his favorite cop show, 'Schnozzo', Brak tells Zorak that he wants to get some action. Brak asks Dad and Mom for some advice. They give Brak some help passed down from Brak's Grandfather, Poppy, which Brak puts to use.
11	2202	Bully	April 28, 2002	Zorak has set up a booth where children give him money to beat them up. Unfortunately, the business has been taken over by the new kid in town, Roy "Butchy" Toughington.
12	2203	Mother, Did You Move My Chair?	May 12, 2002	Brak tries to get out of going to school to avoid dissecting a clam in Biology class.
13	2204	President Dad	May 26, 2002	Dad decides to run for President of the neighborhood association. Unfortunately, he doesn't know that the incumbent Galrog, used to be a terrible planet-eating monster.
14	2209	Brakstreet: Men in the Band	November 3, 2002	With high hopes of winning a fabulous spa resort vacation, Brak enters a rap contest. Rapper Cee-Lo guest stars.
15	2207	Feud	November 10, 2002	Dad and Thundercleese are in the midst of a neighborhood feud. "Weird Al" Yankovic guest voices as "Petroleum Joe".
16	2208	Runaway	November 17, 2002	Brak gets grounded and decides to run away from home. Special guest Space Ghost arrives at the house to arrest Brak for crimes he has committed in the future.
17	2206	The New Brak	November 24, 2002	Brak has a devoted admirer which is initially quite flattering. But, when the admirer starts imitating him, Brak worries that he might be replaced.
18	2205	Pepper	December 1, 2002	Dad believes the mothership will take him away to be king of the alien world. Meanwhile, Zorak begins a relationship with an interesting alien named Pepper. Sisto joins the aliens on the mothership for dinner.
19	2210	Dinner Party	December 15, 2002	Brak, Mom, Dad and Thundercleese have been invited to a dinner party at the new neighbors' house. The neighbours include Franklin (A nervous dad, whose nose always seems to be growing), Rhonda From The Seventh Level of Yar (A mother who lives in a steel box, and keeps talking about everyone's judgement), and Winston (Their son, a large man that looks similar to an infant, and is incapicitated due to his size).
20	2211	We Ski in Peace	December 29, 2002	Brak wants to go to work with Father for "Go To Work with your Father Day". Brak's mom tells Brak the truth that Father doesn't work. Father shows mother a secret underground base, where he works for no money keeping Earth safe. Brak's mom forces him to get a real job at the local Ice Cream Shop. Meanwhile, Alien Ants from Outer Space attack while Father is away from his old job...

[edit] Season 3: 2003

Ep #	Designation	Title	Airdate	Description
21	2301	Braklet, Prince of Spaceland	October 5, 2003	The Brak Family Players present their take on the classic Hamlet story.
22	2302	Coma	October 12, 2003	Brak's father offers to help Thundercleese win the heart of his true love. Zorak burns things.
23	2303	Shadows of Heat	October 19, 2003	Brak's Father is playing a dangerous game, with George Martinez, Hector Riviera, and Rudolpho the butcher. Quickly, Father's 'dirty world of espionage and intrigue' drags in Brak's Mother, Brak, and even Zorak. All the while, The Shadows of Heat flicker and swirl.
24	2305	Splat	October 26, 2003	Mom and Dad are involved in an accident that must be kept secret.
25	2304	Enter the Hump	November 2, 2003	After being bitten by a radioactive camel, Dad is given super-powers.
26	2306	Sexy New Brak Show Go	November 9, 2003	Brak wins a cereal contest, giving him his own TV show. A man from Japan directs Family.
27	2307	All That I Desire You	November 16, 2003	The Brak Family Players present their take on a soap opera. Tragedy! Wealth! Passion! Betrayal! Incest! Doctors! The Photographs! Zorak!
28	2308	Cardburkey	December 31, 2003	In the series finale, Brak decides that living in a cardboard box will help him snare some women. Clarence loses his virginity to a vicious bloodcat who turns out to be a buxom blonde woman placed under spell.
29	Special	New Year's Eve Party at Brak's House	December 31, 2003	Brak's family throws a New Year's Eve bash. Includes additional characters from Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law, Sealab 2021, and Space Ghost: Coast to Coast.

[edit] Season 4: 2007

The Brak Show will return with new episodes to air exclusively on the Adult Swim Fix in 2007^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] DVD Boxsets

DVD Name	Cover	Release Date	Ep #	Additional Information
Volume One		February 1, 2005	14	This two-disc box set contains the first 14 episodes of The Brak Show (Mr. Bawk Ba Gawk through Pepper) in production order. Bonus features include commentaries on two episodes, a never produced pilot for a radio version of the show and an episode of Brak presents the Brak Show starring Brak, and a few very obvious Easter eggs.
Volume Two		August 8, 2006	14	This two-disc box set contains the final 14 episodes of The Brak Show (New Brak through Cardburkey) in production order. There are no bonus features. For this set, Cartoon Network abandoned their usual digipak packaging design in favor of a more traditional amaray style keep case

NOTES:

• The episode "Pepper" airs on Adult Swim with Joanna Daniel voicing Brak's Mom, but was originally recorded with Marsha Crenshaw in the role. This was Crenshaw's final appearance as Brak's Mom; The Brak Show: Volume One DVD features the original version of the episode.

[edit] See also

• Adult Swim
• Cult television

[edit] Notes

1. ^ "Cartoons for Big Kids", Newsweek, August 8, 2002

[edit] External links

• Official Brak Show Website
• AdultSwim.co.uk - The Brak Show on Adult Swim UK
• TV.com entry
• The Brak Show at the Internet Movie Database
• The Brak Show - a Titles & Air Dates Guide by Dan Pawlak