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The Most “Wicked Boss” Cartoon on TV
I haven't had this much fun since Jonny and Hadji strapped on their jet packs.

My favorite animated adventure series is Jonny Quest; that 1964 prime-time series did more to spark this boomer's love of animated action and adventure than anything else on TV in that decade. The Venture Bros., however, manages to trump my nostalgic enthusiasm by revisiting and revamping the concept: Both series feature a single-dad scientist travelling the world with a no-nonsense bodyguard and a pair of teenage boys, but the new show found a way to make it work for an adult sensibility: It's screamingly funny. And the new series goes places the Quest Team could never have imagined, like subletting their lab space to a over-the-hill mystic and his teenaged Goth daughter. The Venture Bros. also adds a layer of goofy superheroics, like some demented version of the Marvel Universe, to the mix.

The Venture Bros. stretches its low budget to great lengths not just with inventive visuals, but some of the most densely-plotted, richly-appointed and downright-hilarious writing anywhere on TV. Every episode pays new benefits on repeat viewings, with both verbal asides too quick to catch the first time around and insights and commentary on the genre that sailed over the head of pre-teen viewers in decades past. If you think a walking Robot Eye or hordes of evil henchmen dressed as flying butterflies are simultaneously ridiculous and, well, wicked boss, this is the show for you. I haven't had this much fun since Jonny and Hadji strapped on their jet packs. But now I'm laughing so hard I'm crying!

Both seasons are now on DVD.

Name droppin' bonus: My brother Rob's old roommate James Urbaniak brilliantly voices the self-satisfied Dr. Rusty Venture (top left) and my good buddy Ralph is a friend of Chris McCullogh---whom is also very tight with series creator Jackson Publick---so in my delusional moments I feel personally connected to the show. (May 2007)

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	Sik picks a few of his favorite things.
creative people	The Most “Wicked Boss” Cartoon on TV I haven't had this much fun since Jonny and Hadji strapped on their jet packs. My favorite animated adventure series is Jonny Quest; that 1964 prime-time series did more to spark this boomer's love of animated action and adventure than anything else on TV in that decade. The Venture Bros., however, manages to trump my nostalgic enthusiasm by revisiting and revamping the concept: Both series feature a single-dad scientist travelling the world with a no-nonsense bodyguard and a pair of teenage boys, but the new show found a way to make it work for an adult sensibility: It's screamingly funny. And the new series goes places the Quest Team could never have imagined, like subletting their lab space to a over-the-hill mystic and his teenaged Goth daughter. The Venture Bros. also adds a layer of goofy superheroics, like some demented version of the Marvel Universe, to the mix. The Venture Bros. stretches its low budget to great lengths not just with inventive visuals, but some of the most densely-plotted, richly-appointed and downright-hilarious writing anywhere on TV. Every episode pays new benefits on repeat viewings, with both verbal asides too quick to catch the first time around and insights and commentary on the genre that sailed over the head of pre-teen viewers in decades past. If you think a walking Robot Eye or hordes of evil henchmen dressed as flying butterflies are simultaneously ridiculous and, well, wicked boss, this is the show for you. I haven't had this much fun since Jonny and Hadji strapped on their jet packs. But now I'm laughing so hard I'm crying! Both seasons are now on DVD. Name droppin' bonus: My brother Rob's old roommate James Urbaniak brilliantly voices the self-satisfied Dr. Rusty Venture (top left) and my good buddy Ralph is a friend of Chris McCullogh---whom is also very tight with series creator Jackson Publick---so in my delusional moments I feel personally connected to the show. (May 2007) Five by Five in Sound and Picture Five favorite soundtracks that got a lot of play in 2006. Inside Man by Terence Blanchard Lee and Blanchard remind me of Hitchcock and Herrmann; like that earlier duo, the director enjoys giving a few scenes in his films to his composer, in order to make a big statement purely with music and picture. *Mission: lmpossible 3* by Michael Giacchino (and Lalo Schifrin) While the star of this series keeps ignoring the premise of the original series, the composer tips his hat respectfully to its score. That theme can resuscitate even generic action scoring (which this is not). X-Men: Last Stand by John Powell Here's a case in point: the weaker the film, the greater the need for a strong score. While this is easily the silliest and sloppiest entry in the series, Powell delivers the most thematic, exciting, even catchy music. *The Departed* by Howard Shore Good original music for a Scorsese film—that's a rare enough combo to warrent a spot on the list. Shore's inspired choice to write for a guitar ensemble makes the score flow seamlessly with the pop songs. *The Queen* by Alexander Desplat An excellent score for one of the year's best films. The music is a model for subtle underscoring, commenting on the action without calling undue attention to itself, yet still having a unique flavor. Desplat is my composer of the year. (January 2007)
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