Network: ABC
Episodes: 13 (half-hour)
Seasons: One
TV show dates: May 27, 2009 — August 7, 2009
Series status: Cancelled/ended
Performers include: Nancy Carell, David Herman, Mike Judge, Linda Cardellini, Dee Bradley Baker, Brian Doyle Murray, and Gary Anthony Williams.
TV show description:
An animated series from Mike Judge (Beavis and Butt-head, King of the Hill) about a liberal family trying their hardest to be politically correct at all times.
Living in Greenville, Illinois, the Goode Family struggles to always be socially and environmentally responsible. They shop at a natural food store and put great effort into being PC when referring to ethnic groups. They want to raise their kids the right way and even have a vegan dog.
The father of the Goode clan, Gerald (Mike Judge), comes from “a long line of over-educated academic liberals” and is an administrator at a community college. He rides a bicycle to get around and usually wears a cycling uniform. He becomes appalled easily and is very particular.
His wife, Helen (Nancy Carell), has daddy issues and does not like people who wear U.S. flag pins on their lapels. A local activist, she’s concerned about her status among the other eco-conscious people and wants to impress the wife of Gerald’s boss.
The Goode’s adopted son, Ubuntu (David Herman), is named after a concept from African philosophy. He was adopted while the Goodes were seeking to promote racial tolerance in Greenville but, because the couple didn’t fill out the paperwork properly, they were given a white South African baby instead. Ubuntu rebels by going against his parents’ lifestyle, and is accomplished in sports and machinery. He’s 16, yet sleeps in footed-pajamas.
The Goodes’ biological daughter, Bliss (Linda Cardellini), disagrees with her parents, mocks them, and seems to be better-informed. When she does agree with them, Bliss is very effective in helping her parents achieve common goals.
Named after the socialist/communist military Che Guevara, Che (Dee Bradley Baker) is the family dog. His vegan lifestyle is forced upon him, and he takes out his frustrations and cravings by eating neighborhood animals. Because of him, “Missing” posters are peppered throughout the community.
Helen’s father, Charlie (Brian Doyle-Murray), often makes fun of Gerald and Helen’s lifestyle, and gets along well with Bliss and Ubuntu.
Episode 13 — A Goode Man is Hard to Find
Gerald thinks Trish and Mo (guest stars Julia Sweeney and Laraine Newman) want him as the sperm donor for their next child. Meanwhile, Ubuntu starts sprouting his first facial hair so Charlie decides it’s time to take his grandson under his wing and teach him how to be a man — much to Gerald and Helen’s dismay.
First aired: August 7, 2009.
The producers have said that they intend to continue the show but there hasn’t been any other news.
“Goode Family” should return for a second season with a prime spot, solid episode line-up, and fan integration (if this helps, look at what Pete Holmes did with You Make It Weird on nerdist.com with social media), because it reinvents the family comedy for the 21st century in an accessible way with amazing talent (writers, voice talent, animation, editing, music). I like that you made a show about slumming it in the liberal world (very me, very thankful). It’s not a version you usually see. Very funny. You also poke fun at all the other sides, too, and that tickles… Read more »