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The Oblongs

The Oblongs

Just one more toxic family.

2001–2002Ended2 seasons13 episodes~284 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

The Oblongs are not so much dysfunctional as slightly nonfunctional. Living next to a polluted swamp has left them with the occasional missing limb or mysterious growth, but through it all, this close-knit family sticks together. Sometimes literally.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Oblongs?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Oblongs to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about The Oblongs?

The Oblongs earns 1 badge: Before they were famous.

Reception

Is The Oblongs worth watching?

The Oblongs' Midcredits score is the 55th percentile of all shows, from 10K ratings across 2 sources. 71% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

55th percentile

Better received than 55% of shows

63rd percentile among Animation48th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)59th
Approval (how many liked it)51st

Acclaim

Mixed: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

73 /100

59th percentile of all shows

64th percentile among Animation51st percentile among 2000s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.2 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

71% liked it

51st percentile of all shows

60th percentile among Animation45th percentile among 2000s
71% rated it 7–1029% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

81st percentile

10K ratings across platforms

79th percentile among Animation74th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 11% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both fans and detractors agree the show is a politically incorrect adult animated sitcom centered on a deformed family living in a toxic waste dump, using their physical oddities for humor.

Fans praised

  • sharp, witty dialogue with bizarre wordplay
  • genuine heart and family warmth beneath grotesque designs
  • dark satire of class divide and suburban hypocrisy

Detractors panned

  • predictable sitcom plots and tired formulas
  • watered-down adaptation that abandoned the macabre source material
  • grotesque character designs without consistent comedic payoff

What stands out

OriginalityDivisive80

unique deformed family concept; some call it derivative of The Simpsons

Acting75

Will Ferrell and Jean Smart praised; cast considered strong overall

HumorDivisive70

clever non-PC jokes vs. unfunny gross-out gags

CharactersDivisive70

lovable misfits vs. grotesque and annoying designs

DialogueDivisive70

sharp, witty lines vs. below-average exchanges

AtmosphereDivisive65

grimy toxic valley world with dark comic tone

Emotional impactDivisive55

genuine family warmth undercut by maudlin lessons

Plot and storyDivisive45

repetitive sitcom formulas with social satire

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 7 points apart
  • US vs non-US 2 points apart

Episodes

2 seasons

Season 2 · 2002 · 5 episodes

  • S2E1

    Pickles' Little Amazons

    Aug 25, 200222 min
  • S2E2

    Get Off My Back

    Sep 8, 200222 min
  • S2E3

    Please Be Genital

    Sep 15, 200222 min
  • S2E4

    My Name is Robbie

    Oct 6, 200222 min
  • S2E5

    Father of the Bribe

    Oct 20, 200222 minFinale

Watch experience

What is The Oblongs like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Ironic, light and intense — an even-paced watch that leaves you feeling good.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
AbsurdWarmManic
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Satirical · 5% of showsWarm
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Resets each episode · 10% of showsStatus quo each season
ToneThe show holds its material at a satirical distance, mocking social norms while maintaining affection for its characters.
The rideThe show maintains a consistently high-energy, cartoonish absurdity while grounding the family's dynamic in genuine care, creating a balance of laughter and heart.
StructureEach episode follows a standard sitcom structure with setup, conflict, and resolution.
Episode formatEach episode presents a self-contained comedic problem that is resolved by the end, restoring the status quo.
Season formatThe seasons are interchangeable batches of episodes; any episode serves as an entry point due to the reset format.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Feel-goodFun
Why it leaves you this wayThe show leaves you entertained and charmed by the family's resilience.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Comedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12% (this title): Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2% (this title)
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Comedy of manners: Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).

12% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe typical episode follows the Oblong family's misadventures, satirizing suburban life and class divisions.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% (this title) · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% (this title) · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsIdentityClass · 4% of shows
Satirizes its theme: Attacks its theme through ridicule.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe show centers on the Oblong family's unwavering support for one another despite their physical deformities and societal mockery, exploring how their love and loyalty define them more than their appearances.
StanceThe show satirizes the idealized American suburb by mocking corporate irresponsibility and social conformity, all through the lens of a deformed but loving family.

The world

ContemporarySuburbanDomesticStylized realism
ExperimentalOrchestral modernSupportive music · original score · David Michael Frank
SettingThe fictional, polluted town of Pickles' Valley, a satirical take on suburban America

Content guide

Is The Oblongs okay for kids?

TV-14

The Oblongs is rated TV-14. As of August 29, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (50/100), sexual content at moderate (56/100), language at moderate (43/100), drug and alcohol content at intense (63/100) and frightening material at mild (33/100). Its violence and language have too few votes to rank. Overall it is heavier than 62% of TV-14 shows.

Ratings in 3 other countries
  • UK15
  • Brazil14
  • Spain13
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 48% of all showsHeavier than 62% of TV-14 shows
Violence & Gore
Moderate
too few votes to rank (8 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 86%
Profanity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (7 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 90%
Frightening / Intense
Mild
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 29%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is drug and alcohol content.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does The Oblongs have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Oblongs?

Cast

At least 2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

Pamela Adlon
as Milo Oblong
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Will Ferrell
as Bob Oblong
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
Jean Smart
as Pickles Oblong
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Randy Sklar
as Biff Oblong
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Jason Sklar
as Chip Oblong
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Jeannie Elias
as Beth Oblong
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Billy West
as George Klimer
Lea DeLaria
as Helga Phugly
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Becky Thyre
as Debbie Klimer
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Laraine Newman
as Mrs. Hubbard

Crew

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What are shows like The Oblongs?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like The Oblongs include The Great North (2021), Speechless (2016) and Sealab 2021 (2000).

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