‘The Goode Family,’ premiering Wednesday on ABC
REASON TO WATCH: A Mike Judge (”King of the Hill”) animated series arrives at ABC, which hasn’t had an animated series by anyone in a long, long time.
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: The Goodes are an ultraliberal family who want to have a zero carbon footprint, agonize over what to call ethnic minorities and constantly wonder, “What would Al Gore do?” The green lifestyle requires constant vigilance. While some actions may do little to save the planet, they do wonders for nagging guilt.
There are two children: Bliss (voiced by Linda Cardellini) is embarrassed by Mom, Helen (Nancy Carell, wife of Steve); brother Ubuntu (Dave Herman) was adopted from Africa, although he’s not black, but a white Afrikaner and progeny of racist parents. Dad Gerald (voiced by Judge himself) is an administrator at a local college. At home, he tends to be the voice of calming reason. When Helen gets upset about Bliss, he says soothingly, “‘The View’ is on and the pretty one is saying crazy stuff again.” When Ubuntu apologizes for drag racing _ “I’m sorry I used too much gas, Dad” _ Gerald counters: “It’s OK because you feel guilty about it.” They are, in fact, alternate universe “Simpsons,” although Lisa might feel comfortable in this clan.
BOTTOM LINE: TV satires that play a single note can get pretty monotonous after a while (like before the first commercial break) if the same exact note is dinged over and over again. Foolish greens who are conflicted … foolish greens who are conflicted … foolish … See what I mean? Instead, “The Goode Family” is a highly imaginative and often amusing variation on that one note.
The pilot bristles with so many jabs at so many sacred green cows that you’ll need a scorecard (made with recycled paper, please) to keep track. There’s even a joke _ a good one _ about two-ply toilet paper. The fireplace is boarded up, with a sign reading, “Don’t kill wood.” The digital message board at the local organic grocer doesn’t alert shoppers to sales but to what food’s organically correct or incorrect at any given moment _ though the poor confused thing can never seem to make up its mind.
“Goode” is never savage. There’s even some wisdom here. The characters? Green but never mean and all likable.
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THE GOODE FAMILY
9 p.m. EDT Wednesday
ABC
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