2001’s The Tick delivered the perfect superhero parody, but it did not have the support of its network and disappeared all too quickly.
What Is It?
The Tick is a blue-clad superhero who is invulnerable, super strong, and also . . . completely clueless. He believes he is a superhero straight from the comics (and perhaps he is) which leads to difficulties while relating to the real world. Not that it stops him from gleefully fighting crime in his city, though, where he enlists the help of his sidekick/partner Arthur (aka the Moth) along with fellow crime-fighters Captain Liberty and Batmanuel to do battle against such villains as Red Scare, Destroyo, and The Terror.
Aired: FOX, 2001-02, One Season Totaling 9 Episodes
Cast: Patrick Warburton, David Burke, Nestor Carbonell, Liz Vassey
Crew: Ben Edlund (Creator/Executive Producer), Barry Sonnenfeld (Executive Producer)
Legacy:
This series only aired for a short time, but it offers the perfect superhero parody, highlighted by excellent performances from the cast and witty, well-written scripts, and it counts as a must-watch TV series.
A Closer Look:
The Tick is based on the Ben Edlund comic of the same name, and an animated series preceded the live-action version, running for three seasons as part of the Fox Kids block in the 90’s. The live-action version skewed a little more to adult audiences, though it still had broad appeal similar to the animated series. It delivered a superhero parody while at the same time showing plenty of affection for the four-color comics it lampooned. This show show gives us more than just a spoof, it is also a homage of sorts to the spirit of fun and adventure in the superhero tales that preceded it.
Of course, the casting is key to what made this a standout television entry. If ever there was an actor that was a perfect fit for a role, Patrick Warburton (best known as Putty from Seinfeld) as the Tick is it. His deadpan yet gleeful approach to the character was spot on and helped the show rise above the level of a one-joke spoof. And the supporting cast helped kick the show to the next level as well. Despite Warburton’s dominating presence, he doesn’t steal all the best lines as the other heroes (and the rotating villains) each manage to hold their own next to the central hero. Excellent writing (with Edlund penning several of the scripts) helped the show keep up its quality as well.
Sadly, though, The Tick was a TV series ahead of its time. The MCU movies and the Arrow-verse were still several years away, with the newly launched X-Men and Spider-Man films as the primary franchises trying to carry the flickering superhero torch at that time. Plus, the fact that the Batman movies had descended into self-parody may have made The Tick seem superfluous at the time it came out. Had this incarnation of The Tick appeared ten to fifteen years later, it might have found a larger audience and a television network that would support it better than FOX did.
However, this type of show can probably only stay fresh and relevant for a limited amount of time before descending into farce (parody is hard to stretch out), so it may have always been headed to a shortened run (as Amazon’s reboot may have proved, more on that below). But at least a couple more seasons from The Tick would have been appreciated. Still, the one and only season is definitely worth seeking out and it will not leave you hanging because it did not work in any story arcs. It will also leave you with a smile on your face, and you will find yourself wanting more.
Cancelled Too Soon?
Yes. Timing was an issue for this show as was scheduling. It debuted only two months after the 911 attacks, and its over-the-top comedy did not sit well with the dark mood that had settled across the country at that time. In addition, it was also scheduled opposite NBC’s juggernaut sitcom Friends, one of the worse slots it could land in. FOX did little to help as their promotion for the show was sparse, and many people just did not know that it was airing. This all led to low ratings and a quick cancellation after only nine episodes.
Should It Be Rebooted?
Whether or not is should be, it was by Amazon in 2016. Patrick Warburton was involved with that one as an executive producer, but sadly he did not return to the lead role. Peter Serafinowicz did a pretty darn good job with his interpretation, and the new series was well-received by fans. But Amazon cancelled it after only two seasons which totaled 22 episodes. Another reboot is probably not a good idea at this point, but if they could get Warburton to don the blue suit one more time, plenty of people would tune in for that.
Interesting Facts:
Batmanuel and Captain Liberty were created for the live-action series because the studio did not have the rights to all of the characters from the animated show. Batmanuel replaced Die Fledermaus while Captain Liberty stepped in for American Maid.
The suit that Patrick Warburton wore was recreated for each episode as they improved on its functionality and durability (and also made it easier for him to go to the bathroom). The antennae on the suit were remote controlled with a puppeteer on the set making them move.
Where Can You Watch It?
The entire series has been released on DVD and is currently available at a very economical price. It is not currently streaming on any of the major services, but you can purchase it VOD from Amazon and other sellers.
