I hope you’re all ready for Sunday’s premiere of The Venture Bros. Season 5 on Cartoon Network, or if you are among the lucky few to see it in theaters on Tuesday around the country, you’re in for an even greater treat.
I got a chance to talk with the minds and talent behind Venture Bros, “Jackson Publick” and “Doc Hammer” (best nom de plumes ever, btw) to find out what they have in store for us.
First, I brought up the fact that we had talked last at Comic-Con in summer of 2011, and since then we have had only the behind the music special and the Halloween special, so I asked them, rather pointedly, what they’d been up to. I may have insinuated that they call up George RR Martin and talk about how much they love keeping their rabid fans in suspense, to which I was told, “I don’t like your tone, sir!!!”
“If you think we’ve been spending our time on vacation or doing cocaine off a whore’s ass, you’re wrong.” They told me they’d been super busy and that, indeed, every day has been spent doing something Venture related. So why did it take so long to get a season completed?
“We’re not that clever.” So it did just take that long to birth this much quality on to the screen. Also they make the show “on napkins with tiny little golf pencils.” Seems legit.
This is what me talking to Jackson and Doc looks like. Kinda.
But seriously, part of the delay was they rebuilt the show’s production from the ground up. After working with Cartoon Network/Adult Swim/Williams Street to increase the show’s budget for the new season, they went looking for ways to improve the production. And, in my opinion, if you’ve seen the new episodes (such as last fall’s Halloween special) you’ll notice the animation has become a little richer, a little more “HD-friendly” (my words, not theirs). (It’s hard to say the show looks better or sounds better, as that would imply the previous seasons were somehow in need of improvement. Nothing could be further from the truth.) So this transition has caused some delays while they’ve been figuring everything out, but the results are worth it.
Oh yes. Hi definition Dr. Girlfriend, er. . . Dr. Mrs. The Monarch
So, what can we expect? First, they swore me off spoilers. They don’t want to tell me or anyone because they want people to come in unspoiled. So while trying to stay out of plot details, this is what we know:
This season begins right after Season 4’s finale, “Operation PROM” ends. “We don’t really let anything drop.” All of the plot points, the major reveals, the questions about where the show goes from there– all continue. Brock, Henchman 21, Hank, Dean. . . they’ve all had major life-changing experiences. And as of the Halloween episode, Dean knows he’s a clone.
I’ve been told this picture may be a minor spoiler. IGNORE ME!!!!
Anything else we can find out ? “It’s a geeky season,” submitted Hammer and Publick, “It’s a lot like The Venture Bros.”
While I was repeatedly warned off spoilers, I did ask about some of the voice talent they’d brought in for Season 5. We get to have both Aziz Ansari and Wyatt Cenac in unspecified roles, but which sound excellent (no spoilers!). We also have Kat McKinnon returning and Bill Hader, including Hader as the previously teased character “Flying Squid.”
I have no idea what is going on in this picture, didn’t ask, but here’s one thing I know: it looks awesome.
And while they were incredibly tight-lipped about plot spoilers, I did manage to pry out of them that those of us who saw the magic-heavy Halloween special that this is pretty much the only appearance have by the members of the Order of the Triad or the rest of Orpheus’s family, and that people hoping for a reunion with Triana? Don’t be expecting her.
Anything else to describe what we can expect? “We’re super proud of it. It almost makes us giddy.” As I pressed them for even more details, they let the following very important item slip: “Free Kool Aid” for the premiere. “What? Is this like a Jonestown thing?” No, they went on to explain that there is a super-secret premiere party happening at Williams Street in Atlanta at midnight for the premiere and there will be free Kool Aid and brownies for all. People should email Williams Street Executive Senior Vice President Mike Lazzo with all nut allergy information. You want to get in line soon, as people are already lined up outside carrying lightsabers for some inexplicable reason. So, yes, midnight, Williams Street, and, “Everyone gets free iPads. Oh, and Brock dies at the end.”
Geez guys, spoiler alert! I’m sure our Atlanta-based robot Scarlett Robotica will be attending to cover this event. Or not, because, in case you couldn’t tell, they’re totally messing with you. (Did I have to say that? I feel like I do. . . )
In any case, for those of you in Austin, I’ll see you at the Slaughter Lane Alamo Drafthouse Tue at 7:30. I’ll have a review of episode 1 not long after. Everyone else, get your DVRs set for a new season of Venture Bros and we’ll see you in science!!!
PS – Want to join the Season 5 Shirt Club? Just announced on the official Venture Bros blog– get more details here.