- Oh, what a difference a year makes. The crew ofic 1972 series Sealab 2020 has been replaced with a gang of misfits unfit for public service. Their mission: to investigate underwater colonization. They are doing a very bad job.Running Time: 145 min. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR Age: 053939686821 UPC: 053939686821 Manufacturer No: T6868
Description
Oh, what a difference a year makes. The crew of classic 1972 series Sealab 2020 has been replaced with a gang of misfits unfit for public service. Their mission: to investigate underwater colonization. They are doing a very bad job.Amazon.com
The second season of Sealab 2021, the Cartoon Network’s certifiably bizarre reworking of Hanna-Barbera’s earnest 1972 animated series Sealab 2020, surfaces in a two-disc set that includes an unaired episode and supplementa… More >>
#1 by bandagedspirit on April 25, 2010 - 1:29 pm
sweet, this is when the show hits its stride in style… probably the best adult swim show (aside from family guy or futurama)
Rating: 4 / 5
#2 by Harry Johnson on April 25, 2010 - 3:02 pm
No point in writting a long review;just wanted to say that I have all of these episodes taped.Can’t wait to have them on dvd.I have no idea why we have to wait so long for just season 2 to come out,when ATHF is already releasing it’s third seaon on dvd this november.In my opinion,Sealab 2021 is the funniest of all the original shows on Adult Swim.
Owning more Sealab dvds will be the best,because the majority of us(who are over 21)will no longer have to endure adult swim’s obsession with anime crap just to watch the funny shows.
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by LVX on April 25, 2010 - 5:04 pm
Let’s face it: Sealab 2021 isn’t for everyone. Either you “get” this brand of bizarre, off-the-wall comedy or you don’t. The series’ style of humor tends to be juvenile, but fortunately without routinely stooping to body humor or bathroom jokes. Most episodes are peppered with hilarious cultural references. In fact, in its own way “Sealab” is really smart TV– one of those shows that you can watch over and over, and continually pick up on things that you missed in previous viewings.
While some of the best individual episodes of “Sealab 2021″ are included in Season Two, unfortunately this collection also contains a couple of throw-aways. That’s not to say that Season Two isn’t worth owning– far from it!– let’s just say that I routinely skip past a few of the titles included in this compilation CD.
My thoughts on each episode:
DER DIEB- There’s a thief on Sealab! To restore order, Captain Murphy declares “Martian Law.” Hilarity, and wanton violence, ensue. (A+)
THE POLICY- Captain Murphy has some unpaid credit card debts, and Sparks has an idea to raise some extra cash. Time for another suicide mission! Conveniently, it seems that Sparks has also taken out life insurance policies on the entire team. (B)
7211- Ever wonder what the original 1970’s “Sealab” was like? Here’s your chance to find out. In fact, there aren’t any jokes at all in this episode until the final credits– the cast plays this one deadly straight, with typical Seventies campy gusto. Oddly, this is one of the funnier episodes in Season Two. (B+)
HAIL SQUISHFACE- A parody of the classic Star Trek episode, “The Trouble with Tribbles,” with references to several other films and TV series. There’s a serious nod to the movie, “Gremlins,” and an entire sequence is ripped right out of “Aliens.” (A+)
BIZARRO- Sealab is taken over by ’shadow’ counterparts from a parallel universe. Funny concept, maybe, but the execution is awful. Not only is “Bizarro” not funny, but it’s also painful to sit through. I’m always amazed at how many other Sealab fans seem to have enjoyed this clunker. (F)
LEGEND OF BAGGY PANTS- Captain Murphy is out of golf balls, but can’t seem to find Sealab’s pro shop. His quest takes him to pod six, his least-favorite section of Sealab. (A+)
TINFINS- The first Sealab movie, ‘Tinfins,’ is being released, and the show’s producers have the Hollywood hype machine running at full throttle! (A)
FEATS OF ALVIS- Religion sweeps Sealab, as the crew puts together a festival commemorating the virgin birth of Alvis in a frontier setting. Features some mildly funny moments, but not one of the better Season Two episodes. (D+)
BRAINSWITCH- An ‘accident’ leaves Quinn in a coma, and Stormy says something that isn’t completely idiotic. This leads Captain Murphy to conclude that the two have somehow switched personalities. (B+)
VACATION- Quinn’s vacation has been canceled. This odd episode features several lengthy montages of people saying “Uh-oh!” for no apparant reason… and that’s about it. Really. (A-)
FUSE BOX- I’ll bet the show’s writers were cracking up when they planned this episode. It mostly consists of a single long, continuous view of Sealab’s exterior, with character voice-overs telling you what’s happening inside. Unfortunately, not much is going on inside– Sealab’s power is off, and nobody has any flashlights. You wind up praying for the episode to be over. Another funny idea that totally failed to deliver. (D-)
ARTICLE 4- Article four of Sealab’s charter was intended to promote diversity. As a result, everybody on Sealab is promoted to the rank of captain. Everyone, that is, except Dr. Quinn– the station’s only male African-American. (B-)
RETURN TO OBLIVION- A “behind the scenes” episode, following the same formula from Season One’s “SWIMMING TO OBLIVION.” This episode is essentially a re-hash, and not surprisingly, the concept isn’t quite as funny the second time around. (C)
Rating: 4 / 5
#4 by John S. Milas on April 25, 2010 - 7:00 pm
If you were dissapointed or even distraut at Season 1’s waste of disk space like I was than you will be relieved to know that each episode has a commentary (I haven’t watched any yet) and has some more features. If you haven’t seen the episode Bizarro than you’ll realize why the whole Season theme is designed around it: it’s great. All the menus have the same music from the menus on Season 1, except the music is “Bizarro” and played backwards including the theme song at the main menu.
It seems that Season 1 was an experimental stage for the team who created the show, and Season 2 they are starting to discover what fans want, and what is succesful. The tribute to Harry Goz is probably the best extra, a series of interviews with the cast and crew about the voice of Captain Murphy: Harry Goz, who passed away in Sep 03. This is a very worthy entry into the Adult Swim DVD series and gets me itching for Season 3.
Rating: 4 / 5
#5 by Shotgun Method on April 25, 2010 - 7:38 pm
Sealab 2021 died with Harry Goz. Stick with Seasons 1 & 2. ‘Nuff said.
… and now I’m gonna say more. “Der Dieb,” “Vacation,” “Tinfins,” and “Hail Squishface” (a hilarious parody of Star Trek’s “Trouble With Triffles”) are equal to Season 1’s “Happycake,” “All That Jazz,” and “Simutacs.” Oh, and must insert the obligatory reference:
“BIZARRO! I LOVE YOU! BIZARRO!”
Included on the DVD is a tribute to Goz, along with some decent commentaries and interviews with the cast. You love truly gonzo, insane cartoon humor? GET IT.
Rating: 4 / 5