I tend to be a little hesitant about watching new shows because there’s no telling how long the shows will be on the air. Networks seem eager to pull a show the schedule the moment it under performs in the ratings. I decided to give Neighbors From Hell a shot because it’s a cable series. Cable series aren’t often pulled quite as quickly as shows on CBS, Fox, ABC, or NBC. After watching the first episode, I’m glad I didn’t skip over this new animated series.
The series comes from Pam Brady, who’s worked on South Park and Just Shoot Me. The series centers around an average family of demons in Hell who are reassigned to Earth. The husband, who has watched virtually every American family sitcom ever aired, is asked to destroy an oil company’s new drill which is said to be able to bore all the way to the center of Earth, thus causing problems for Satan and all those in Hell.
The humor kicks in right from the start with the family patriarch, Balthazor (voiced by Will Sasso), torturing someone with an iPod full of Britney Spears music. The meeting with Satan didn’t contain much in the way of funny lines, but the torturing of Balthazor made up for the lack of great one-liners.
The family’s trip to Earth seemed simple and quick, but none of them were prepared for Marjoe Saint Sparks (voiced by Dina Waters). Marjoe was a riot to watch. She’s over the top, hyper, willing to discuss anything, and quite judgmental. She makes for a great character on this cartoon. I didn’t really care for her suicidal pet, however. That wasn’t very original.
Balthazor’s first day of work had him conspiring to destroy the drill the oil company had been developing. His plan was to get the primary engineer fired, thus possibly forcing the company to either scrap or delay the drill’s use in the field. Balthazor proved to be a sap when he realized the engineer was just another good man trying to provide for his family. Balthazor couldn’t live with himself if he got the man fired.
I’m sure Satan won’t be very pleased with Balthazor’s lack of success, but I sure enjoyed some of the humor involved in this first episode. Sure, I didn’t care for the family dog to be so bright. Isn’t this getting a little too common for animated shows?
My favorite character on the show so far is Balthazor’s new boss on Earth. Don Killbride is the ruthless CEO of the most evil oil company in the world and he isn’t afraid to kill a bunch of people or even species if he can make a buck in the process. Kurtwood Smith did an outstanding join in the delivery of Don Killbride’s lines. They were flawless, hilarious, and I’m sure not a single word was politically correct.
Neighbors From Hell’s first episode was a lot of fun to watch. I recommend checking this new series out on TBS when you get a chance.
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