Hey, guy!
That's right, folks.
Welcome to my quick brief review of Undergrads.
This animated series on MTV focuses on four young men - Nitz, Rock, Cal and Gimpy - navigating through the ups and downs, highs and lows, climaxes and tribulations of their first year in college. Created by Pete Williams (whom also voices all of the fearsome foursome. No seriously, I mean hot damn), it aired for one season from April 22 to July 13, 2001.
I haven't gone to college (at least yet), but from watching the whole thing, I can take this series at it's word spinning the college experience (at least all of it aside from the academic facet [cause we don't see them in class]). Each episode features at least one facet or -- of college life as seen through the POV of the main characters. Frat life, alcohol, wild and crazy traditions, sex, roommates, money, work, making friends, finding yourself, piecing together your future - you name it, they've made a hilarious, borderline case-study on it.
The main four characters are life-long best friends and men you definitely would find someone in college:
- Parker Walsh aka Nitz is the shy and dull yet sane, normal, focused, sensible and all-together everyman who goes to generic and totally in-the-middle-of-nowhere State University
- Rocko is the loud, muscle-bound, overly-crazy wannabe frat boy (whom doesn't even go to the the college that features the frat. He goes to community college) with an excruciatingly personal relationship with sex and alcohol and equally-so hatred of...
- Calvin Evans aka Cal, Nitz's State U roommate and the sweet and friendly but painfully-dimwitted pretty boy who succeeds more in getting in the pants of every sexy chick who sees him than on the books (and avoiding Rocko). And finally...
Justin Taylor aka Gimpy, a super-duper-nerdy tech genius able to talk to and help our his friends from the comfort of his own dorm (which he almost never attempts to leave) at Tekerson Tech.
All four features the well-known cliches of college students but otherwise represnt them nicely. Also major credit to Williams for voicing all four perfectly and giving them their own voices to match their personalities.
Other characters include:
- Jessie, a smart, level-headed and frankly badass friend (and later crush) of Nitz. She has a spunky and lightly fierce personality that I love and many of the moments from the series I love involved her. It's no wonder the producers based much of her on her VA, Jene Yeo. Plus, Nitz doesn't deserve her, but I want her to be with him to see her be happy. I wish I were friends with someone like her.
- Kimmy Burton, Nitz's since-high-school crush who leaves him speaking gibberish whenever they cross paths. Not only is she completely unaware of Nitz's infatuation of her, she's also a bit ditzy, self-centered and so involved in every other student activity at State U - probably for no other reason than to advance her own standings at the college and in life. As much as I originally wanted Nitz and Kimmy to get together, there's nothing about her that gravitated to me or even like. Except her crushing on a guy she doesn't know is gay.
- Mump, Gimpy's minion and a fellow student at Tekerson Tech. He does things for Gimpy from fetching items from the web to emptying his bedpan (gak). He adores Gimpy (platonically) and sees his "relationship" with the latter as if it's a friendship (which Gimpy to give credit does genuinely appreciate). I like Mump; he is one of the most noble and unselfish characters in the show (except that one time when he couldn't handle Gimpy spending time with Cal and Rocko to make money from other slightly-irreputable services) and his sweet, gung-ho attitude lifts my spirits. Every time he appears makes me happy and anticipate the jokes and gags that come with him.
- The Dougler, the Rooming Assistant of Chilton Hall (Nitz and Cal's dormitory) who acts like he's in the 1960s - a decade he obviously wasn't born in. Despite bis tries, his avoidence from social activities make the other students only barely acknowledge his existence. His mellow and quirky personality are like a pot hit - short, sweet, mind-altering and nonsensical to explain afterwards. Also his frustration after being told to go to hell is funny as hell.
- Rita, the RA of Gimpy's dorm at Tekerson Tech. She runs the place with an iron fist and takes no crap from anyone - especially Gimpy. Her actions make me laugh (and intimate me a bit) and thanks to Gimpy's childish and one-upy antics, make me sympathize with her. There was no love when Gimpy tricked her into Cal's arms (and junk) to run the dorm to a wasteland - making him realize rules are rules for a reason.
- Jessie's boys
-- Rob Brodie, an overhyped loudmouth who makes something out of nothing.
-- Kruger, a foul-mouthed pessimist with no (****) to give about anyone, and
-- Dan... He laughs. He's like... the non-talking pet in a Hanna-Barbera cartoon. Seriously, he just laughs and he doesn't talk ever. It's like he's a human hyena nothing else.
Honesly, I really like these three more than the main four. They just seem more pleasant to be around during their short appearances on-screen. I must mention, as funny as they are, Nitz, Rocko, Cal and Gimpy seem like people I really wouldn't want to be around. Ever. Their actions (while funny) are the catalyst to me avoid all of them at all costs. Well, maybe Nitz I'd like to hang with... as long as he doesn't flake on me to try and fail to get under Kimmy.
- Mark, a drama major at State U. Kimmy crushes on him hars, but she doesn't know he's gay. He even has a boyfriend named Lance.
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These characters complement the main four incredibly well and well-represent more cliches of college life.
The Writing is really good. Each episode follows a certain aspect of college and college life -- see above. I like they take a piece of college life, expand a bit on it and twist the plot to near absurd levels for laughs amd ties it up with a great conclusion and clever joke to end things (too bad the same can't be said about the finale). One detail I adore is the character development of Jessie in regards to her feelings for Nitz. As she grows more fond of him - and makes it more obvious, he still isn't getting it and still wants Kimmy, whom becomes the bane of Jessie's existence. This causes her to outright spell it out for him, but its too late.
The Amination is great for the time. The smooth designs of the characters and cracked exteriors of the buildings are well endearing.
In conclusion, this series is a funny and enjoyable watch for anyone who loved college life, are going to college, are in college or would love TV shows or movies that male fun of college life.
This show deserved more than one season, despite being on MTV and not being named Daria and Beavis & Butthead. Fortunately for the fans (which now includes me) - whom made a very passionate pleasure for its return, there will be more to come. Over 15 years of copyright and ownership issues led up to a silver lining. In 2018, creator Pete Williams announced that he has picked up ownership of Undergrads and, later in September, started a crowdfunding venture towards a film adaptation of his creation. The goal was $115,000. It was met late the following month. here's videos of the progress.
Congrats to the crew and cast (yes, there's more than just Pirate Pete) and especially the fans on the success of reviving the show and here's to a successful project. If you still wanna help out or at least pique your interestin updates on the project, here's the link. Even a dollar can help, and it's definitely worth the contribution.
As for the show itself, it's on YouTube. It's a quick binge and *slurp* totally worth your time, guy.
Thanks for checking in, and I'll see you again soon.
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