Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law
Series, 2000, Launch night, Set in Hanna-Barbera court cases
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law is #5 of 16 in release order and #5 of 16 in chronological order in the Adult Swim Classics.
The story
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law features ex-superhero Harvey T. Birdman of Birdman and the Galaxy Trio as an attorney working for a law firm alongside other cartoon stars from 1960s and 1970s Hanna-Barbera cartoon series. Similarly, Harvey's clients are also primarily composed of characters taken from Hanna-Barbera cartoon series of the same era. Many of Birdman's nemeses featured in his former cartoon series also became attorneys, often representing the opposing side of a given case.
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law recap
Harvey Birdman, a 1960s Hanna-Barbera superhero, has become a lawyer at the firm of Sebben and Sebben, run by Phil Ken Sebben, a loud, inappropriate boss. Harvey defends other Hanna-Barbera characters in absurd court cases: Shaggy and Scooby-Doo on drug charges, Fred Flintstone as a mob boss, Race Bannon and Dr. Quest in a custody battle over Jonny Quest. He is anxious and often out of his depth. His colleagues include Peanut, his sarcastic young sidekick, Birdgirl, Phil's daughter, who also became a hero, and Avenger, his eagle. Opposing lawyers and judges are also old cartoon characters, including Reducto, who shrinks people, and Judge Mentok the Mindtaker, who reads minds. The show runs four seasons, from 2000 to 2007, with an irregular schedule and very short episodes, and the humour relies on knowing the originals and on long running gags.
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law ending explained
The two-part finale ends with "The Death of Harvey Birdman" (2007). A jury mix-up forces Harvey to retry all his old cases, and his first client, Nitron, attacks the city. Harvey defeats him and saves everyone, then is run over and killed by Phil Ken Sebben. He comes back in the 2018 special Harvey Birdman: Attorney General, in which he tries to have President Phil Ken Sebben removed from office.
Where to watch Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law is streaming on Hulu, YouTube TV, Adult Swim, Spectrum On Demand, and HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.0/10
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Brak Show, before Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
- Chronological order: after The Brak Show, before Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
Cast
- Thomas Allen as Peanut (voice)
- John Michael Higgins as Mentok the Mindtaker (voice)
- Chris Edgerly as Peter Potamus (voice)
- Gary Cole as Judge Hiram Mightor (voice)
- Stephen Colbert as FBI (voice; uncredited)
- Peter MacNicol as X the Eliminator (voice)
- Maurice LaMarche as Yogi Bear (voice)
- Paget Brewster as Birdgirl (voice)
- Phil LaMarr as FEAR #2 / Black Vulcan (voice)
- Neil Ross
- Grey DeLisle as Receptionist (voice)
- Erik Richter as Prisoner / Answering Machine (voice)
Created by Michael Ouweleen, Erik Richter.