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Parents' Guide to

The Oblongs

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Mature, in-toxic-atingly hilarious cartoon.

TV Cartoon Network , TBS Comedy 2001
The Oblongs Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 1 parent review

ALunarLight
ALunarLight Parent of 10 and 15-year-old
April 28, 2011
age 12+

Down in the valley where the chemical spill

Came from the people living up on the hill. It a division of the low class and the upper-class. a rift that just keeps getting bigger. if only one of the people up on the hill actual cared they could fix all the problems in the valley. It a them that also stands true in real life, to the wealthy don't seem to care about the poor. The exaggeration of these gaps is what makes the show comical going on even to the characters physical forms. It also up lifting that the characters some how seem to come off as a normal family "in there happy glowing home."
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Created by Angus Oblong, whose book Creepy Susie and 13 Other Tragic Tales for Troubled Children inspired the show's very unique characters, THE OBLONGS is the story of a deformed (and slightly dysfunctional) family living on land polluted by the careless lifestyle of the wealthy and snobbish residents up in The Hills. The Oblongs and all of the other unfortunate residents of The Valley are victims of various disabilities because of the toxic state of their resources. Bob Oblong (voiced by Will Ferrell) works at a poison factory and manages to navigate the world despite lacking both arms and legs. A lifelong resident of The Valley, Bob managed to catch the eye of beautiful Hills native Pickles (Jean Smart), and, in true forbidden-love fashion, the unlikely couple married. The Oblongs have four children -- conjoined twins Biff (Randy Sklar) and Chip (Jason Sklar); Milo (Pamela Adlon), who's riddled with mental and social issues and an unidentified eye affliction; and Beth (Jeannie Elias), who appears normal except for the phallus-shaped growth atop her head. Bob and Pickles trudge through familiar mid-life relationship issues like decreasing self-esteem and fear of losing a partner's affection, but their passion for each other is undeniable and is consistently renewed (often rather noisily) in each episode.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (12 ):

Although the show garnered lots of criticism when it debuted on the WB in 2001 for its extremely disabled characters, the overall mood is a positive one, and adults and mature teens who can put the humor in perspective are bound to enjoy the show. No character seems bothered by his or her limitations, and Bob in particular is never less than blissfully chipper. And, in the end, it's hard not to chuckle as he undresses himself with his teeth.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the daily challenges faced by real people with disabilities. What types of situations (driving, eating, working) pose the most difficulties for them? How do they find ways to deal with these challenges? Parents can also use the show to jump-start a discussion about the environment. How can we change our lifestyles to better maintain the health of the earth? What might the result be if we don't take care of it now?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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