I’m pretty sure without the brainchild of Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick, my living space would never have been clean at any time in the last decade. As it is, my living space was never very clean, but they had a lot to do with my limited success at domestic hygiene. It feels weird to admit it, but those two goofy voices, with their meandering anecdotes interrupted only occasionally by pertinent information and the sound of the odd cigarette being lit, kept me moving when I needed to pick up my laundry, or wash the dishes. They were (and are) good company.
Starting with Season 2, there were commentaries included on the DVDs (and later Blu Rays) for every episode. In the strictest sense, the commentaries are terrible. Most episodes just involve Doc and Jackson rambling on, going down the rabbit hole of their thoughts as the episode plays in the background. At best, the episode itself serves as a brief prompt to them before they just start talking about whatever happens to pop into their heads. Having said that, they are not the worst commentaries I’ve ever heard. That honor belongs to Arnold Schwarzenegger and Paul Verhoven for their “Total Recall” commentary. If you’re looking for engaging anecdotes about the creative process or production, the commentaries on “The Venture Bros” are not for you.
On the other hand, that is not to say Doc and Jackson wasted their time recording those commentaries. Quite the contrary, they are brilliant commentaries if you’re interested in the kind of people the creators of the show are when they were locked in their smokey studio in New York trying to make a hit cartoon out of their scattered thoughts. Their thoughts on working with Stephen Colbert and the legendary Kevin Conroy are particularly interesting.
The End Of A Very Long Era
In a way, it’s a miracle “The Venture Bros.” lasted as long as it did. It took forever to produce, with almost five years between seasons at times. It was hand drawn in an increasingly automated environment for TV animation. Even merchandising was minimal, with Doc once lamenting on a commentary that they loved their fans for buying these discs so they could get some kind of money out of merchandising.
Even so, I am still heartbroken. They lasted so long, but they could have gone on so much longer. Their handcrafted approach to the show, their willingness to be eccentric, overly-specific in their references, and their ability in spite of those things to be committed to real character development and continuity.
I hope they can find a way to continue the show – in any form. TV, comics, audio plays, anything at all would be fine. But in all likelihood, the time for “The Venture Bros.” has finally come to an end. We shall not see its like again. Unless you haven't seen it yet. In which case, go watch it. It's still the best dang thing on TV, with the possible exception of "Doctor Who" and "The Good Place." But those are stories for another time.
Good luck, godspeed and…Go Team Venture!
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