Drawn Together is
an American
animated television series, which
ran on Comedy Central from October
27, 2004 to November 14, 2007. The series was created by
Dave Jeser and
Matt Silverstein, and uses a
sitcom format with a TV reality show
setting. Like that of
The Surreal
Life, the show's eight characters are a combination of
personalities that were recognizable prior to the series.
Drawn
Together, however, uses cartoon parodies of
stock characters. In addition, their
character traits parody personality types that are typically seen
in reality TV shows. The characters agreed to live in a house
together in a setup similar to that of
The Real World. Comedy Central
advertises it as the first animated
reality show, and in some episodes,
characters participate in challenges that are based on reality TV
challenges. Despite its generally offensive content, negative
criticism towards the series and eventual cancellation, the show
has gained a huge
cult
following.
History
Comedy Central's original
tagline for the
show was "Find out what happens when cartoon characters stop being
polite… and start making out in hot tubs," referring to Clara and
Foxy's kiss in the
pilot episode. The line is
a parody of
The Real World's tagline, "Find out what
happens when people stop being polite… and start getting real." The
aforementioned hot tub kiss is considered one of the show's
defining images; Comedy Central based nearly all of its
first-season promotional material for ''Drawn Together'' on
it.[http://scoobiedavis.blogspot.com/2004/12/exclusive-was-newsmaxs-hollywood-hero.html
Scoobie Davis Online] A total of three
seasons have been produced and completed to date. Season 3 began
airing on October 5, 2006, and took a mid-season break which
started on November 15, 2006. The second half of season three began
airing on October 4, 2007.{{cite press
release|url=http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2007/091807_drawntogether_new_eps.jhtml|title=The
Animated Housemates Are Back with All-New Episodes of ''Drawn
Together'' on Comedy Central|date=September 18,
2007|publisher=[[Comedy Central]]|accessdate=2009-11-16}} In March
2007, it was announced that creators Dave Jeser and Matt
Silverstein had left Comedy Central and signed a two-year contract
with [[20th Century Fox Television]] to create new series and/or
work on the studio's existing
shows.[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=7333 Breaking
News - Development Update: Friday, March 23 | TheFutonCritic.com]
The season three finale included multiple jokes about the show's
cancellation. TVGuide listed this episode as a series finale and
described the episode as follows: ''"The series wraps up with the
housemates participating in a singing competition as they look back
on their recent misadventures."'' In March 2008, Tara Strong
confirmed that the show had been cancelled,{{cite
web|url=http://theithacan.org/blogs/bigspoon/2008/03/20/big-spoon-exclusive-tara-strong-powerpuff-girl-mermaid-potty-mouth/|title=Big
Spoon Exclusive: Tara Strong - Powerpuff Girl, mermaid, potty
mouth|date=March 20, 2008|publisher=[[The Ithacan#Media and
publications|''The Ithacan'' online]]|accessdate=2009-11-16}} and
the back of the third season DVD's box refers to it as the "third
and final season". A few main reasons for the series' cancellation
include production costs, Comedy Central's impatience with the time
it took to produce each episode, and people taking offense to the
show's content.[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386180/trivia IMDb]
Since cancellation, the show has partial rotation late-nights.
Uncensored on Comedy Central's [[Secret Stash]] and on Comedy
Central sister channel [[Logo (TV channel)|Logo]]. ==Style==
[[Image:Dthouse.jpg|right|thumbnail|The ''Drawn Together'' house.]]
The show's visual style is that of [[traditional
animation|traditional ink and paint animation]], which is actually
a departure for Comedy Central, since they usually favor more
specialized approaches to animation. The style was chosen both for
the [[retro]] feel it gives the show and for the versatility it
allows the animators, providing an environment in which it is
possible to combine many different styles of animation. Another
unique aspect of the show is that, where most cartoons present
their characters, though animated, as real within the show's world,
the ''Drawn Together'' characters retain their identities as
cartoon characters even within their animated world, and
acknowledge their status as animations. The show also features many
[[cameo appearance]]s by famous characters (or in some cases,
copyright-avoiding clones) from all across the animated spectrum.
In keeping with the various animation styles that form for the
various characters, Wooldoor and Toot have four digits on each
hand, whereas Clara, Foxxy, Hero, and Xandir have five. In
promotional artwork for the show, Toot and Wooldoor are drawn with
the standard five fingers, but in the show itself they have four.
Also, whereas most of the characters are drawn with black outlines,
Clara and items belonging to her are drawn with soft edges, a
reference to [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]] animation
techniques, which involve "cleanup" of any black outlines. The show
was made by [[Rough Draft Studios]] in [[Glendale, California]],
with much of the animation done at the studio's facilities in
[[Korea]]. A gag in the finale is that they show a list of all the
korean children who died animating the show. ==Content== Drawn
Together is an animated comedy along the lines of [[South Park]]
and [[Family Guy]]. The show is adult-oriented and laden with
[[black comedy]], with plot lines revolving around such topics as
the fact that Princess Clara's [[vagina]] is a multi-tentacled
monster (a theme found in a number of [[hentai]] films). The humor
is largely [[satire|satirical]] in nature, its primary focus being
the mockery of [[stereotype]]s. Some episodes have heavy emphasis
on [[homosexuality]] and/or [[bisexuality]], with some episodes
(such as "[[Gay Bash (Drawn Together episode)|Gay Bash]]" or "[[A
Very Special Drawn Together Afterschool Special]]") solely devoted
to these topics. [[Kink (sexual)|Kinky sex]] is a common topic of
conversation; several of the characters have extremely perverse
sexual tastes, and the show makes frequent reference to
[[masturbation]], [[paraphilia]], and [[BDSM]]. Death and violence
are also constant themes. Nearly all episodes feature at least one
death, and several episodes feature characters going on [[spree
killer|killing sprees]] or perpetrating
[[Wiktionary:massacre|massacres]]; often they are horribly maimed
as well. Even the main cast die with great frequency only to return
alive and uninjured, often within the time frame of a single
episode (a satire of how cartoon violence never has any negative
consequences). The show also breaks the [[fourth wall]] regularly.
[[Image:Drawn together(1).jpg|thumb|175px|right|The hot tub kiss as
depicted in promotional posters.]] The show's content is
controversial, partially for its explicit [[dialogue
(fiction)|dialogue]] and [[graphic violence]], but primarily for
the casual attitude the show takes toward [[taboo]] subject matter.
A great deal of the show's humor revolves around making light of
difficult topics such as [[abortion]], [[rape]], [[incest]],
[[pedophilia]], [[same-sex marriage|gay marriage]], [[spousal
abuse]], [[racism]], [[homophobia]], [[antisemitism]],
[[necrophilia]] and [[terrorism]]. The extensive use of stereotypes
is another controversial aspect of the show, though the intent is
actually to make fun of [[bigotry]]. As [[Jess Harnell]] states in
the DVD commentary for "Hot Tub", "Most of the racism on the show
is coming from people who are so obviously stupid about it; it
really isn't that threatening." (Notably, one of the groups most
commonly mocked is [[Jew|Jewish people]], which includes both
creators and principal cast member Tara Strong.) Though the two
shows are stylistically dissimilar, the coarseness of the humor in
''Drawn Together'' has led to frequent comparison with ''[[South
Park]]'', the show that immediately precedes it on the network.
''South Park'' was thought to be extremely profane upon its
premiere seven years earlier. By 2004, the preceding cartoon had
dropped its [[television rating system|TV-MA]] warning bumper, and
almost immediately following, a TV-MA warning was shown before
episodes of ''Drawn Together''. Much like ''[[The Simpsons]]'',
''[[American Dad]]'', and ''[[Family Guy]]'', ''Drawn Together'' is
heavy with [[popular culture]] references. Animation is a major
source of material; as mentioned above, many characters from
[[comics]] and [[animated cartoon]]s make cameo appearances and
often are the subjects of [[parody]]. However, numerous [[live
action]] films, TV shows, and [[video game]]s are referenced as
well. [[Reality television|Reality shows]] are another prime
inspiration, not surprising given that ''Drawn Together'' is
presented as a reality show that takes place in a cartoon world.
However, although many of the first-season plots made extensive use
of the reality show scenario, this aspect of the show has largely
been de-emphasized in later episodes. The spoofing of film and
television [[cliché]]s is another common theme on the show; many
''Drawn Together'' stories are parodies of overused plots from TV
and movies. Although, figuratively speaking, the characters come
from different kinds of cartoon worlds with radically different
laws of nature and behavior (Princess Clara's [[fairy tale]]
kingdom, Xandir's video game reality, Captain Hero's universe of
super-heroics with set rules for hero/villain behavior, etc.), no
explanation for how these worlds co-exist is given. All seem aware
that they are in fact animated cartoons and that live action
creatures exist. Another hallmark of the show is its extremely
loose [[continuity (fiction)|continuity]]. Events in different
episodes contradict each other, as there is a very loose sense of
[[canon (fiction)|canon]], with humor serving as an ends unto
itself, and not as part of a consistent continuity. One such
example is in "[[The Other Cousin]]", in which Toot is pictured
with a penis, but whether or not she actually has one is debatable.
Another is Foxxy's various and contradictory stories about her son
Timmy (one involves selling him on the black market, another
involves her accidentally shooting him after believing him to be
rabid, when he was really just brushing his teeth). Often plotlines
exist that do not make any kind of internal sense, such as Foxxy,
who is in her twenties, having a teenaged grandson. According to
Executive Producer Bill Freiberger, "Very little on ''Drawn
Together'' can be considered canon. If you try to find continuity
on this show you'll drive yourself nuts. The only thing that's
consistent is we try to make the show as funny as possible. And
we'd never let a little thing like continuity get in the way of
that."[http://forums.toonzone.net/showpost.php?p=2308694&postcount=39
Toon Zone Forum - View Single Post - Drawn Together Episode 23 -
"Freaks and Greeks" (SEASON 3 PREMIERE!)
] Occasionally, episodes of ''Drawn
Together'' are shown with less editing for content during ''Secret
Stash'', a Comedy Central program aired on weekends at 1 A.M. that
showcases movies, comedy specials, and animated programs with
uncensored language. Though ''Secret Stash'' programs typically
have the nudity still censored, ''Drawn Together'' is an exception
to this. Some nudity not seen in the original broadcast is shown in
the ''Secret Stash'' version, while the nudity in other scenes is
censored with a caption reading "DVD only"; this is done as a way
of promoting the show's DVD releases. ==Reception== Initial
reception of the pilot episode, "Hot Tub", was given mediocre
reviews which focused mostly on its crudity. ''[[USA Today]]''
deemed ''Drawn Together'' "the smutty offspring of Real World and
Superfriends," stating that the pilot pushed the limits of taste,
being overpowered by violence, sex, and disgusting subject
matter.{{cite news |first=Ann |last=Oldenburg |title='Drawn':
Animated raunch meets reality TV
|url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-10-26-drawn-together-main_x.htm
|work=[[USA Today]] |date=October 26, 2004 |accessdate=17 December
2008}} According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', "Hot Tub", while it
had many good sight gags, did not go far enough in parodying
reality television.{{cite news |first=Virginia |last=Heffernan
|authorlink=Virginia Heffernan |title=Cartoon Goal: Parody of
Self-Parody
|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/27/arts/television/27heff.html
|work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 27, 2004 |accessdate=17
December 2008}} The domination of Clara's racism in the story was
criticized as being a weak attempt to "send up racism while still
showcasing its cruel excitement." Toot's cutting was praised as a
good parody of self-harm present on reality shows, but Spanky's
flatulence was considered more disgusting than humorous. Principal
cast member Tara Strong has stated that she deeply loves the show,
as it was such a departure from the family-friendly productions
that she was used to working on at the time; the only problems that
she had with it were a few jokes related to [[Anne Frank]].
==Cast== ''Drawn Together'' features a cast of voice actors, which
contains a mix of veteran voice actors ([[Tara Strong]], [[Cree
Summer]], [[Jess Harnell]], and [[James Arnold Taylor]]) and
newcomers to the field ([[Abbey McBride]] and [[Jack Plotnick]]).
Comedian [[Adam Carolla]] rounds out the cast. Members of the
show's voice cast have previously collaborated with each other on
numerous other projects prior to ''Drawn Together''. Taylor
(Wooldoor), Summer (Foxxy), and Strong (Clara and Toot) all
performed in the [[Square Co.]]/[[Square Enix]]-developed video
games ''[[Final Fantasy X]]'' and ''[[Final Fantasy X-2]]'' as
[[Tidus]]/Shuyin, Lady Belgemine/Young Tidus/Lenne (speaking
voice)/Calli, and Rikku, respectively. On a similar note, Taylor,
Strong, and Jess Harnell all performed in the video game
''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'' (also developed by Square Enix) as
[[Captain Jack Sparrow]]/[[Timon and Pumbaa|Timon]], [[Rikku]], and
[[Doctor Finklestein]]/Lock, respectively, while Taylor and Strong
both performed in [[Mark Hamill]]'s ''[[Comic Book: The Movie]]''
and the [[Insomniac Games|Insomniac]]-developed video games
''[[Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction]]'' and
''[[Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty]]''. Tara Strong
and Cree Summer have also worked together on several other
projects, most notably ''[[Rugrats]]'', ''[[All Grown Up!]]'',
''[[Danny Phantom]]'', ''[[Codename: Kids Next Door]]'', ''[[Hello
Kitty's Furry Tale Theater]]'', ''[[The Buzz on Maggie]]'' (which
also features Jess Harnell) and ''[[Transformers Animated]]''.
According to the DVD commentary for the episode "Hot Tub", the two
have known each other since childhood (both grew up in [[Toronto]],
[[Ontario]]). Three of the show's voice actors had previously
worked with creators Dave Jeser and Matt Silverstein on other
projects: Jack Plotnick on ''[[Action (TV series)|Action]]'', and
Adam Carolla and Abbey McBride on ''[[The Man Show]]''. Two of
''Drawn Together'''s guest stars also came from the casts of
earlier Jeser/Silverstein projects: "The Other Cousin" guest star
Sarah Silverman (from
Greg the Bunny), and Carolla's
Man
Show co-host
Jimmy Kimmel, who
guest-starred in "
Xandir and Tim, Sitting in a
Tree" and "
Alzheimer's
That Ends Well".
Originally, Xandir was to have been played by Nat Faxon, but the
network forced the creators to fire him following the first table
read, feeling his portrayal of the character was "too gay". They
would end up replacing him with Jack Plotnick.
In addition to their regular roles, the show's cast also provides
many of the guest voices on the series, Summer, Strong, Harnell,
and Taylor in particular. In the DVD commentary for "Hot Tub", Tara
Strong jokes that this is because the show doesn't have a lot of
money to pay guest stars.
Chris
Edgerly also appears in the majority of Season One and Two
episodes despite not having a regular role on the series.
Crew
- Executive producers: Dave Jeser and Matt
Silverstein
- Line producer: Mike Mendel
- Associate
producer: Mark Douglas
- Supervising
producer: Jordan Young
- Supervising director Peter
Avanzino
- Writers: Reed Agnew, Valerie Ahern, Elijah Aron, Jeffrey Bushell,
Reid Harrison, Jeff Kahn, Dave Lewman,
Joe Liss, Christian McLaughlin,
Matt Silverstein, Erik Sommers and
Jordan Young
Characters
- Toot Braunstein
(voiced by Tara Strong) - An overweight
alcoholic sex symbol from the 1920s reminiscent of Betty Boop. Toot demands to be the center of
attention, cuts herself with razor
blades when depressed, and often instigates conflict in the
house.
- Ling-Ling (voiced by
Abbey McBride) - A homicidal spoof of
Pikachu from the Pokémon franchise, who battles using various
supernatural powers/abilities (reminiscent of anime) and speaks in pseudo-Japanese gibberish (or
"Japorean", as Ling-Ling's voice Abbey McBride calls it) with
English subtitles.
Episodes
DVD releases
Season releases
| DVD name |
Cover art |
Release date |
Discs |
Episodes |
Special features |
| Season One
Uncensored |
 |
October 4, 2005 |
2 |
7 |
- Uncensored and extended versions of every episode
- Commentary by Dave Jeser and Matt Silverstein (along with cast
and crew) on "Hot Tub", "Clara's Dirty Little Secret", "The Other
Cousin", and "The One Wherein There Is a Big Twist"
- Deleted scenes
- Karaoke/sing along versions of the show's songs
- Censored/Uncensored game
|
| Season Two
Uncensored |
 |
September 25, 2007 |
2 |
15 |
- Uncensored and extended versions of every episode
- Commentary by Dave Jeser and Matt Silverstein (along with cast
and crew) on "Clum Babies", "Super Nanny", "Terms of Endearment",
and "A Very Special Drawn Together Afterschool Special"
- Commentary on the commentary of "Terms of Endearment"
- Behind the scenes interviews with the cast and creators
- Karaoke/sing along versions of the show's songs
|
| Season Three
Uncensored |
 |
May 13, 2008 |
2 |
14 |
- Uncensored and extended versions of every episode
- Commentary by Dave Jeser and Matt Silverstein (along with cast
and crew) on "Freaks & Greeks", "Lost in Parking Space, Part
One", "Drawn Together Babies", and "Breakfast Food Killer"
- Original network promos from all three seasons
- Karaoke/sing along versions of the show's songs
|
|
| Complete Series:
Party In Your Box |
|
November 17, 2009 |
6 |
36 |
- All Three Season Sets
- Collectible Board Game
- Sneak Peek of the Upcoming Movie
|
|
The first season of
Drawn Together was released on
DVD by
Paramount Home
Entertainment on October 4, 2005. Its release was timed to
coincide with the premiere of Season Two on television. The set
includes all seven aired first season episodes. (By the time the
release was finalized, it had been determined that the unaired
"
Terms of
Endearment" would air during Season Two, so it was left off the
set and eventually released as part of the Season Two set). The
profanity and nudity are intact and uncensored. Some shows also
contain additional lines and scenes. Special features include audio
commentary on select episodes by creators Dave Jeser and Matt
Silverstein along with assorted cast and crew members, in addition
to deleted scenes and
karaoke/singalong
versions of the show's songs.
The set also contains a game called the
Censored/Uncensored game: A line is given, and the viewer
must decide if the line aired on television as given (uncensored),
or if it had to be altered significantly or deleted (censored).
Some of the censored lines appear intact in the extended DVD
version of the episode. Getting at least 11 of the 19 questions
correct unlocks a hidden feature, a prank phone call by Jeser and
Silverstein to their agent regarding the royalties they are to
receive for the DVD audio commentaries.
The song "
Time of My
Life" from "
Dirty Pranking
No. 2" had to be left off
the first season DVD because of copyright concerns. The show mocked
the situation in the lyrics of the replacement music.
Season Two Uncensored was released on September 25, 2007. Like the
Season One set, the set features audio commentaries by Jeser and
Silverstein along with assorted cast and crew members, as well as
karaoke/singalong versions of the show's songs. The set also
contains, in the words of the box art, "potentially annoying"
commentary on the commentary for "Terms of Endearment". The
behind-the-scenes interviews in the set are the same ones that
appear on Comedy Central's website, which feature each of the voice
actors talking about his or her character, along with a separate
interview with creators Jeser and Silverstein. Tara Strong does two
separate interviews, one for each of her characters (Princess Clara
and Toot Braunstein). The interview with Adam Carolla, the voice of
Spanky Ham, does not appear on the set for reasons unknown.
(However, it can still be accessed from the
website
The set also includes the controversial horse shot from "Terms of
Endearment", which was not allowed to air on television. (See
"
Terms
of Endearment" for more information.)
Season Three Uncensored was released on May 13, 2008. According to
commentary on the Season 3 DVD set, the creators of the series are
in talks with Comedy Central about trying to get the funds together
for a possible direct-to-DVD
Drawn Together movie.
According to tvshowsondvd.com, Drawn Together: The Complete Series:
Party In Your Box! will be released around November. It will
contain board games and a sneak peek of the upcoming movie.
On July 22, 2009, Comedy Central announced
The Drawn Together Movie:
The Movie! for a March 2010 release.
Previously on Drawn Together
An aborted first season feature of the show was the "last week"
segments showing possible outcomes of other episodes. This was a
parody of
serial
dramas, which typically begin with a
sensationalized recap of previous events. (In
the case of
Drawn Together, the events depicted did not
actually occur on the show.) Four were produced but not used, and
were included on the Season One DVD set.
I: In a parody of
Full Metal
Jacket, shown in night vision, the housemates gather
around a sleeping Toot, gag her, and then beat her with bars of
soap in socks because she keeps leaving empty milk cartons in the
fridge.
II: After a nuclear apocalypse, the housemates repopulate the Earth
with their kids, amalgams of themselves that include a Captain
Hero/Clara going out with a Foxxy/Captain Hero/Wooldoor.
III: Xandir tries to have a pillow fight with Spanky and Captain
Hero, who are less than pleased. So instead of fighting with their
pillows, they smother him.
IV: The housemates run for their lives as they are chased by a
giant Wooldoor who proceeds to eat them.
Notes and references
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