Originally written 28 January 2017
As promised in the 2005 discussion of "My Fair Mandy." This is that "later article."
Camp Lazlo
Cartoon Network
8 July 2005-27 March 2008
If you have never seen "Camp Lazlo" before and I told you it was created by Joe Murray (also created "Rocko's Modern Life"), what might you think? One might think, "A Joe Murray show, oh boy! Watching this will have the same feel as a 'Rocko' episode." Hold on there! Let's think things through here. Very early in the series I asked my compadres on what they thought of Murray's latest work. Most said they were disappointed that this was nothing like "Rocko." To me, comparing "Rocko" and "Lazlo" is like comparing apples to oranges; they are from different networks (Nickelodeon vs Cartoon Network), different eras ('90s vs '00s), different settings ("modern life" vs camp life), as well as different feels (for lack of a better term) (the feel of a classic Nicktoon vs the feel of a post-Cartoon Cartoon era series). However, some of "Rocko"'s old crew worked on "Lazlo" (Mark O' Hare, Martin Olsen...) and Rocko and Lazlo were voiced by the same voice actor (Carlos Alazraqui). When watching, just don't pay attention to the credits, have an opened mind and see what you think.
Honestly, I have not seen every single episode but from the various episodes I have watched from various seasons, the quality stayed consistent throughout the 5 seasons, dropping slightly around seasons 4-5. If you're interested (and I know you are), there are more sexual innuendos in later seasons (the writers knew it was about time). One of my favorite episodes is from season 1, "Nothing Club." I liked how the characters used their imaginations to make an imaginary club seem like a club I want to join; imagination at best! I've watched Lazlo since day 1 but dropped off around season 2. I couldn't keep up. I'm most fond of the season 1 episodes. I had to re-watch various episodes to write this review.
Thoughts on music and humor
Often great original music, especially the country-sounding music. Sometimes stock music was used and some of that is good too. For humor, I smile, make some "tee-hee-hee-hee"'s when appropriate, and when really appropriate I bellow out some huge "Hahahaha!"'s when needed.
Recommended to...
For those who want to remember days when they went to summer camp and those who want to picture how summer camp would be like had they gone. It doesn't matter what time of the year it is. Just find yourself an episode, let loose, and relax. Enjoy an episode from any season. Enjoy the story, humor, and kooky characters. If you allow it, prepare to laugh your buns off 😆.
As promised in the 2005 discussion of "My Fair Mandy." This is that "later article."
Camp Lazlo
Cartoon Network
8 July 2005-27 March 2008
If you have never seen "Camp Lazlo" before and I told you it was created by Joe Murray (also created "Rocko's Modern Life"), what might you think? One might think, "A Joe Murray show, oh boy! Watching this will have the same feel as a 'Rocko' episode." Hold on there! Let's think things through here. Very early in the series I asked my compadres on what they thought of Murray's latest work. Most said they were disappointed that this was nothing like "Rocko." To me, comparing "Rocko" and "Lazlo" is like comparing apples to oranges; they are from different networks (Nickelodeon vs Cartoon Network), different eras ('90s vs '00s), different settings ("modern life" vs camp life), as well as different feels (for lack of a better term) (the feel of a classic Nicktoon vs the feel of a post-Cartoon Cartoon era series). However, some of "Rocko"'s old crew worked on "Lazlo" (Mark O' Hare, Martin Olsen...) and Rocko and Lazlo were voiced by the same voice actor (Carlos Alazraqui). When watching, just don't pay attention to the credits, have an opened mind and see what you think.
Honestly, I have not seen every single episode but from the various episodes I have watched from various seasons, the quality stayed consistent throughout the 5 seasons, dropping slightly around seasons 4-5. If you're interested (and I know you are), there are more sexual innuendos in later seasons (the writers knew it was about time). One of my favorite episodes is from season 1, "Nothing Club." I liked how the characters used their imaginations to make an imaginary club seem like a club I want to join; imagination at best! I've watched Lazlo since day 1 but dropped off around season 2. I couldn't keep up. I'm most fond of the season 1 episodes. I had to re-watch various episodes to write this review.
Thoughts on music and humor
Often great original music, especially the country-sounding music. Sometimes stock music was used and some of that is good too. For humor, I smile, make some "tee-hee-hee-hee"'s when appropriate, and when really appropriate I bellow out some huge "Hahahaha!"'s when needed.
Recommended to...
For those who want to remember days when they went to summer camp and those who want to picture how summer camp would be like had they gone. It doesn't matter what time of the year it is. Just find yourself an episode, let loose, and relax. Enjoy an episode from any season. Enjoy the story, humor, and kooky characters. If you allow it, prepare to laugh your buns off 😆.
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