Wednesday
October 4, 2006
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ARTS

5A


'Freak Show' takes a
shot at center stage
By Michael Passman Benjamin), a bearded clam-woman though, the show isn't necessarily
Daily Arts Writer (Janeane Garofalo, "Dogma"), The dumb. It's particular comedic style is
World's Tallest Nebraskan (Brian in fact largely satirical - although
It's no secret that on a daily basis Stack, "TV Funhouse"), a prema- it won't be confused with a Chris-
the Pentagon carries out a variety of ture baby (Cross) and, of course, a topher Guest film. There's generous
high-priority operations even Ger- gay Republican (Jon Glaser, "Late amounts of physical comedy, too,
aldo isn't privy Night with Conan O'Brien"), the which should be no surprise con-
to. So natu- *** ' Freak Squad is a sideshow attrac- sidering that the show is based on a
rally, the gen- Freak Show tion by day doubling as a sideshow gang of freak superheroes
eral public has attraction that fails to complete Fans of Cross's previous work
always longed Wednesdays at menial tasks by night. will likely appreciate this particu-
to know "who 10:30 p.m. While the Freak Squad's super- lar brand of absurd comedy, but
gets the presi- Comedy Central powers may be limited to projectile it's really more of a niche program
dent ice when vomiting and transforming from than anything else. With its sub-
the supply at his cocktail party is an upstanding Log Cabin Republi- dued animation and slightly off
running low?" Well, Rumsfeld and can into a gay dominatrix of sorts sense of humor, Adult Swim on
Condi aren't qualified for that sort of known as the "Burly Bear," the Cartoon Network would be a more
thing, and Mehlman and Rove have squad does possess an almost Cap- logical fit than Comedy Central
global domination on the mind, tain Planet-like ability to combine - especially when compared to
so there's only one team fit for the into one super freak. Whether it's a the original material the network
job: the disfigured six of Comedy giant male model or Princess Diana, usually airs.
Central's latest post-"South Park" the super freak has the power to "Freak Show" may not suit an
cartoon, "Freak Show." wreak havoc upon evildoers and audience accustomed to following
Birthed from the eccentric minds eventually accomplish yet another "South Park," but all indications
of David Cross ("Arrested Develop- faux mission. point to this being for the better.
ment") and H. Jon Benjamin ("Dr. And ifthe premise ofhandicapped With the exception of the shameful
Katz, Professional Therapist"), superheroes and trivial government waste of time that is "Drawn Togeth-
"Freak Show" follows the gov- operations wasn't evidence of David er," the network has failed to find a
ernment's most useless top-secret Cross's influence on the show, then show with any staying power to air
resource, the Freak Squad. Consist- it will likely be apparent minutes in, after "South Park" - but maybe a
ing of Siamese twins with the super as the humor regresses into a lot of vomiting premature baby was just
power of separating (Cross and stupid people doing stupid things, what they needed all along.
The freaks' turn to speak

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If the televised version is too much, peep the online comic. It'll still be too much, just a smaller dose.