"The Tick" (2001) TV series 2001-2002

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Writer:

Randolph Heard (writer)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

1 November 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The Big Blue Bug Of Justice Is Here!

Plot:

The story of superhero The Tick, based on the popular comic book.

Plot Keywords:

Superhero Spoof

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Patrick Warburton	...	The Tick (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
David Burke	...	Arthur (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
Liz Vassey	...	Captain Liberty / ... (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
Nestor Carbonell	...	Batmanuel (9 episodes, 2001-2003)

(more)

Series Directed by
Bo Welch		(2 episodes, 2001)

Series Writing credits
Ben Edlund		(3 episodes, 2001-2003)
Larry Charles		(2 episodes, 2001-2002)
Randolph Heard		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Ben Edlund	....	executive producer (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
Barry Josephson	....	executive producer (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
Barry Sonnenfeld	....	executive producer (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
Flody Suarez	....	producer (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
Larry Charles	....	executive producer (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Tim Christenson	....	associate producer (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Lon Diamond	....	co-executive producer (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Vahan Moosekian	....	supervising producer (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
David Sacks	....	executive producer (8 episodes, 2001-2003)

Series Original Music by
Ian Dye		(8 episodes, 2001-2003)

Series Cinematography by
Paul Maibaum		(6 episodes, 2001-2002)
Sharone Meir		(2 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Film Editing by
Mark Scheib		(4 episodes, 2001-2003)
Steven Sprung		(4 episodes, 2001-2002)

Series Casting by
Eric Dawson		(8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Carol Kritzer		(8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Robert J. Ulrich		(8 episodes, 2001-2003)

Series Production Design by
Michael Wylie		(7 episodes, 2001-2002)

Series Art Direction by
Suzette Ervin		(6 episodes, 2001-2002)
William J. Durrell Jr.		(2 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Set Decoration by
Elizabeth M. Burhop		(6 episodes, 2001-2002)
Melissa M. Levander		(2 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Costume Design by
Victoria J. Auth		(8 episodes, 2001-2003)

Series Makeup Department
James MacKinnon	....	prosthetic and makeup effects designer (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
Debbie Zoller	....	key makeup artist (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
Steven R. Soussanna	....	key hair stylist (4 episodes, 2001)
Cass McClure	....	prosthetics technician: GCFX / shop supervisor: GCFX (2 episodes, 2001-2003)
Brad Scott	....	key hair stylist (2 episodes, 2001-2002)
Barbara Lorenz	....	key hair stylist (2 episodes, 2002-2003)
David Syner	....	key makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Gabriela Vázquez	....	production manager / unit production manager (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
David Jacobson	....	post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Andy Spilkoman	....	second assistant director (6 episodes, 2001-2002)
Scott Printz	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 2001-2003)
Brad Michaelson	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 2001-2002)
Steve Day	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Art Department
Julie Witherington	....	on-set dresser (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
William Shaw	....	property master (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Amber Haley	....	set decoration buyer (6 episodes, 2001-2002)
Tiffany Cowsill	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)
Scott Getzinger	....	assistant property master (unknown episodes)
Scott MacLachlan	....	construction foreman (unknown episodes)
Melody Miller	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)
Sean O'Connell	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)
Paul S. Power	....	storyboard artist (unknown episodes)
Ernest M. Sanchez	....	lead man (unknown episodes)
Erik Thomson	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)
Lee Thomson	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Steve Bowerman	....	sound mixer (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
Jonathan Golodner	....	sound designer (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Tim Stithem	....	supervising sound editor (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Robert Crozier	....	sound editor (6 episodes, 2001-2002)
Alan Decker	....	sound re-recording mixer (4 episodes, 2001-2003)
Tim Philben	....	sound re-recording mixer (4 episodes, 2001-2003)
William Freesh	....	sound re-recording mixer (4 episodes, 2001-2002)
R. Russell Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer (4 episodes, 2001-2002)
Bob Arons	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Scott Getzinger	....	sound (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Damian Fisher	....	special effects technician (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
Paul Salamoff	....	special effects makeup (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
Mark R. Byers	....	special effects coordinator (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Dave Barkovitz	....	special effects makeup (unknown episodes)
Eddie Ros	....	special effects crew (unknown episodes)
Douglas J. Stewart	....	special character costume effects (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Elan Soltes	....	visual effects supervisor (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Steward Burris	....	senior animator (unknown episodes)
Wayne A. Shepherd	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
David Wald	....	stunts (1 episode, 2003)
John Branagan	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Joe Bucaro III	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Christie Hayes	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Myke Schwartz	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Paul E. Short	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Donna Vega	....	gaffer (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Duane Journey	....	key grip (6 episodes, 2001-2002)
Charles Simons	....	dolly grip (6 episodes, 2001-2002)
Andrew B. Horton	....	lighting technician (5 episodes, 2001-2002)
Joseph Dianda	....	key grip (2 episodes, 2002-2003)
Michael Avallon	....	generator operator (unknown episodes)
Max Gerson	....	best boy grip (unknown episodes)
Ryan Huston	....	set electrician (unknown episodes)
Jeff Journey	....	dolly grip (unknown episodes)
Wayne Kosky	....	best boy grip (unknown episodes)
Robert Stillman	....	grip (unknown episodes)
John Waldo	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Ronna Kress	....	original casting (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Sandi Logan	....	casting associate (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Deborah Leipzig	....	casting assistant (unknown episodes)
Howard Meltzer	....	casting: New York (unknown episodes)
Matthew Skrobalak	....	casting assistant / casting associate (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Carolyn Berger	....	costume supervisor (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
Susan Saldutti	....	set costumer (7 episodes, 2001-2002)
Tony Gardner	....	specialty wardrobe (unknown episodes)
Tony Swatton	....	wardrobe supplier (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
David Jacobson	....	post-production coordinator (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Thomas M. Bolger	....	assistant editor (4 episodes, 2001-2003)
Brett S. McCarthy	....	assistant editor (4 episodes, 2001-2002)
Jennifer Books	....	post-production assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Ian Dye	....	composer: theme music (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
Don Sanders	....	music editor (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Billy Gottlieb	....	music supervisor (8 episodes, 2001-2002)
Tod Holcomb	....	music editor (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Tom Gilhooley	....	transportation coordinator (8 episodes, 2001-2003)

Series Other crew
Wendy Dallas	....	script supervisor (9 episodes, 2001-2003)
Jennifer Books	....	production staff (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
James Colligan	....	production staff (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Ari Eisner	....	production staff (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Gregory J. Favro	....	production staff (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Karin Gleason	....	production staff (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Michelle Greenspoon	....	production staff (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Jim Kukucka	....	production coordinator (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Caitlin Mauney	....	production staff (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Adam Warshofsky	....	production staff (8 episodes, 2001-2003)
Sparky Hawes	....	production assistant (7 episodes, 2001-2002)
Gary Kesell	....	location manager (5 episodes, 2001-2002)
Christopher Lee	....	assistant location manager (5 episodes, 2001)
Casey Hirshfield	....	production staff (4 episodes, 2001-2003)
David Kaufman	....	location manager (2 episodes, 2002-2003)
Paige Litz	....	production staff (2 episodes, 2002-2003)
Heather Elwell	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Monica Kenyon	....	key set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Christie Kwan	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Julian Ledger	....	suit fabricator: The Tick Suit (unknown episodes)
Robert Lepucki	....	location manager (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Columbia TriStar Television
• Sonnenfeld Josephson Worldwide Entertainment

Distributors

• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001-2002) (USA) (TV)
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-) (USA) (TV)
• Fox Network (2001-2002) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Special Effects

• Velocity Visuals

Runtime:

30 min (9 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG | Singapore:PG

Company:

Columbia TriStar Television

Trivia:

A new Tick suit was created for each episode, constantly improving on the quality and practicality.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the episode "Arthur Interrupted", a can of drain cleaner held by The Tick moves from his left hand to his right hand and back again between shots.

Quotes:

The Tick: [giving a eulogy] Death. The eternal blink. The capricious dance of Now Ya Stop Movin' Forever. Well contrary to popular belief, death isn't just for dead people. It can happen to anyone. I know, it's news to me too. And it's not just people either, it's all kinds of stuff. Horses, fiddler crabs. Did you know that even a potato... can die?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Guy: North by North Quahog (#4.1)" (2005)

Viva Batmanuel!

I'm still partial to the cartoon, but this was a scream! Yes, American Maid and Die Fledermaus had to be changed to Captain Liberty and Batmanuel, but dammit if this show wasn't just as screwy. So, of course, Fox cancels it and gives us high quality programming like Joe Millionaire. Somebody take Rupert Murdoch out to the woodshed and bring along the Fox executives, please!

The cast was great and were obviously having fun. Although I prefer Townsend Coleman's more excitable Tick, Patrick Warburton conveyed that loopy perspective that has always been the hallmark of the Tick. David Burke gives Arthur that repressed, but eager quality he had in the comics. Liz Vassey is sexy and funny as Captain Liberty, but I really would have loved to see her in that American Maid costume. But, it is Nestor Carbonell who steals the series. His look, attitude and delivery are all classic.

If ever a show deserved time to find its audience, this was the one. Monty Python ad Fawlty Towers weren't immediate hits and the Tick carried those sensibilities. Given an entire season, I think this would have caught on. Lord knows, it was better than Smallville or that aborted Birds of Prey show. The Tick has been great in every medium he has invaded, but he never quite gets a fair shot at glory. The only thing missing from this show was the cast of evildoers that the cartoon had. Oh well, at least this version is available on dvd; wish the cartoon was. Anyway, SPOON!!!!!!!!!!!!