Mission Hill

(Animated Comedy series — The WB; Fri., Sept. 24, 9 p.m.)

By Laura Fries

Filmed by Bill Oakley/Josh Weinstein Prods. in association with Warner Bros. Television. Executive producers, Bill Oakley, Josh Weinstein; writers, Oakley, Weinstein, Aaron Ehasz, Andrew Kreisberg, Ben Kull

Andy French – Wallace Langham Kevin French – Scott Menville Jim Kuback – Brian Posehn Posey Tyler – Vicki Lewis Gus – Nick Jameson Wally – Tom Kenny Natalie Leibowitz-Hernandez – Vicki Lewis Carlos Hernandez-Leibowitz – Herbert Siguenza Gwen – Jane Wiedlin Mr. French – Nick Jameson Mrs. French – Tress MacNeille Stoogie – Nick Jameson Who says there isn’t ethnic diversity on television? “Mission Hill” is rife with cultural cross-references, alternative lifestyles and that most dreaded of all demographics, the urbanite. Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein’s spirited animated half-hour comedy is a hilarious send-up of everything Gen X, from MTV and alternative music to youth marketing. The beauty of this satire of America’s youth-obsessed culture is that it’s sure to attract the very audience it skewers. Catchy title song by Cake and a hip music score by Eric Speier serve as an entertaining but glaring reminder of WB’s targeted 12-34 audience.

Created by former scribes for “The Simpsons,” “Mission Hill” is the fictional metropolitan neighborhood home of Andy French, an aspiring cartoonist who makes his rent working at a Waterbed World, where he is dubbed the Spartacus of slave wages. When his parents decide to leave suburbia for the Wild West of direct mail marketing in Wyoming, they leave Andy’s younger, nerdy brother Kevin in his care.

Andy, naturally, resents the crimp in his lifestyle, while Kevin relishes the idea — if not the reality — of embracing new ideas and cultures. The sheltered Kevin, who’s only other foray into the city was a visit to an allergist, is repeatedly shocked by this world filled with occult bookstores and a lesbian bakery that sells non-phallic eclairs.

“Mission Hill’s” script is easily the funniest of the new season, with dialogue — not sight gags — ringing up the lion’s share of laughs.

Wallace Langham and Scott Menville, who provide the voices of Andy and Kevin, aren’t particularly distinctive or inspired, but Brian Posehn and Vicki Lewis as Andy’s roommates Jim and Posey are.

Grossly exaggerated sound effects by Joel Shryack and Norm Macleod and retina-burning colors give “Mission Hill” a distinct feel, even in the overpopulated world of TV animation. Not as pretty as “SpongeBob SquarePants” or as ugly as “South Park,” “Mission Hill” resides in its own aesthetic neighborhood where the animation is just a vehicle for clever writing.

Editors, Eric Gregory, Kurtis Kunsak; sound, Bobby Mackston; music, Eric Speier; casting, Brian Myers; Running time: 30 MIN.

Date in print: Mon., Sep. 20, 1999

—————————————————————————————————–

WB’s ‘Hill’ put on hold

11 episodes searching for new timeslot

By Josef Adalian

The WB is putting frosh ani laffer “Mission Hill” on hiatus after just two airings — but the Frog net says it’s not giving up on the toon.

“Hill,” from Castle Rock Entertainment, scored a meager 1.1 rating/2 share in its timeslot bow last Friday at 8 p.m., falling 33% below the WB’s previous week tally with “The Jamie Foxx Show.” A sneak preview earlier in the season also scored subpar numbers.

The poor ratings, combined with audience awareness tracking studies showing few viewers even knew “Hill” had debuted, prompted the WB’s decision.

“This is a series that we have high hopes for,” said WB Entertainment prexy Susanne Daniels. “In talking with (Castle Rock Television topper) Glenn Padnick, we mutually felt that the best plan for the show would be to hold on to the remaining 11 original episodes until we could find a compatible program to pair it with and the right timeslot.”

Padnick said the hiatus “was at our suggestion. … The first airing on Friday demonstrated to us that the program would be better served by relaunching it midseason.”

“Hill,” from exec producers Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein, focuses on an ensemble of characters living in a big city downtown neighborhood.