Code Monkeys is an animated show that debuted on the G4 TV network last year. For those who do not know G4 is a niche cable channel that focuses mainly on tech and videogames. This show is an attempt to copy the same formula as Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim, because it is an “adult” comedic cartoon.
Code Monkeys may appear a bit esoteric at first; it is a show about Gameavision, a videogame developer in the early 80’s. The show is animated in blocky, 8-bit textures similar to the games of that period. There are many inside jokes. Every episode has a reference to old Atari or Nintendo games such as Pitfall or Donkey Kong. Guest stars such as David Jaffe (God of War creator) and John Romero (Doom designer) are probably not known outside of the hardcore gamer crowd.
What keeps the show from being too inside is sheer laziness. All the characters are common comedy stereotypes and each episode puts them in “wacky” situations. The stereotypical characters are the crazy Texan boss Larrity, Todd the creepy nerd, Mary the empowered woman, Clare the easy girl, Black Steve the angry black guy, and Clarence the flaming homosexual. They are very broadly drawn and a little offensive. The offensiveness is dulled a bit by the period setting and the show’s ridiculousness. The show’s main characters are Dave and Jerry. Jerry is the straight man to all the madness while Dave is the perpetually horny guy.
The show uses some typical sitcom plots such as a company takeover and a business trip to Vegas. But it also uses some truly outrageous ones such as trip to visit Hitler’s descendants and one in which Larrity gets a butt implant from an African-American woman. This causes his butt to shake uncontrollably anytime music is playing.
The problem is, despite everything the show is trying to do, not much sticks. The characters do outrageous things all the time and videogames are referenced constantly. There is nothing inherently funny about that. There are not any references to what normal life is like in the show. The audience gets the impression that the Code Monkeys world is just like that. There has to be some kind of context for insanity or it is just absurdity. Or the crazy characters have to do something relatable.
Two of the episodes do give us some context. In “IPO” Gameavision’s stock is put up for sale on the stock market. All the employees think they are rich from the stock trading and stop going to work. The audience gets to see another side of the characters. Black Steve starts a rap group. Clare opens an S & M club. Jerry spends all his money on strippers. Dave is the only one who is responsible with his money. This episode is funny not just because of the outrageous things the employees do with their riches; it is because what they do surprises us.
The other season highlight is “Just One of the Gamers” where Mary pretends to be her brother so she can be respected at Gameavision. This is funny because we see how the characters react to another influence. There is also some good parody of those 80’s gender switching comedies like Just One of the Guys. The bizarre shenanigans hit more in this episode than they do in most of the others.
Code Monkeys may be a novel concept but this first season is not that funny of a show. While the two mentioned highlights had some hilarious moments the rest of the season was decidedly average. The show has potential to become an animated comedy on par with on Adult Swim, but it is not there yet.
Gamers might want to check this show out, but only because it is a sitcom directly about videogames, not because it is a particularly good show. Everyone else can pass this one up.
Trailer
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