The Oblongs

The Oblongs are not so much dysfunctional as slightly nonfunctional. Living next to a polluted swamp has left them with the occasional missing limb or mysterious growth, but through it all, this close-knit family sticks together. Sometimes literally.

The Oblongs (2001-2002) is an American adult animated comedy series created by Angus Oblong and Jace Richdale for The WB and Adult Swim. The show follows the Oblong family, led by the blunt, scrappy matriarch Pickles Oblong (Jean Smart) and her hapless husband Bob Oblong (Will Ferrell), who live next to a polluted swamp that has left them with missing limbs, mysterious growths and other mutations. Their everyday struggle is simply staying afloat, keeping jobs, avoiding trouble and holding the household together, and each episode builds its humor from small domestic schemes and the grotesque side effects of living in a toxic neighborhood. Pamela Adlon voices several roles, including son Milo, and Billy West and Mark Hamill appear among the supporting voices. Its two seasons total thirteen half-hour episodes, a short run that ended with the series canceled. The tone is irreverent, crude and gleefully unpretentious, with a deadpan warmth underneath the gross-out gags. Fans of Home Movies and other offbeat animated family comedies will find the same blend of working-class satire and sincere affection for a misfit household.

Mixed audience reception, with viewers appreciating the grotesque family humor while finding the crude style uneven.

• Undeclareddark family comedy, grotesque suburban-fringe misfits, adult animated satire of class
• Disjointedadult animated satire, dysfunctional family comedy, irreverent sick humor
• Home Moviescrude adult animated satire of an odd working-class family

Created by

Angus Oblong, Jace Richdale

Release Date

2001-04-01

Episode runtime

30 min

Rating

7.1 / 10 (85)

What is The Oblongs about?

A slightly nonfunctional, close-knit family living beside a polluted swamp sticks together through missing limbs, growths and everyday hardship.

What is The Oblongs like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Oblongs as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.

Is The Oblongs violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Oblongs as mild.

What did critics think of The Oblongs?

Mixed audience reception, with viewers appreciating the grotesque family humor while finding the crude style uneven.

Which shows are like The Oblongs?

Shows with a similar feel include Undeclared, Disjointed, and Home Movies.

How long is The Oblongs?

The Oblongs: 2 seasons, 13 episodes.

Is The Oblongs still running?

No, The Oblongs was canceled.

Where can I watch The Oblongs?

In United States, The Oblongs is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies.