"2DTV" is a well intended satire on various celebrities, similar to the 1980s and 1990s puppet show Spitting Image. The caricatures and voice acting are top notch and just as great as Spitting Image was (also because a lot of former writers and actors of that show collaborated on "2DTV".) Yet, having watched all episodes of "2DTV", the comedy is rather weak, formulaic and childish. They're just broad swipes at one specific characteristic of a celebrity without much variation. For instance, all gags with politician John Prescott center around his obesity, nothing else. George Bush, Jr. is always depicted as an infantile dumbass and the jokes center more around stuff that you would see Homer Simpson be doing than satirical jabs at Bush's policies. Most of the time it seems as if these cartoons were made by a ten year old who doesn't understand anything about politics, left alone what all these celebrities actually do in real life? For instance, Bush has a general with a large moustache who acts as his advisor. Where did this come from?! Couldn't they have used the vice-president, the Secretary of State or the Minister of Foreign Affairs, like Spitting Image did with Ronald Reagan back then? At least that had some base in reality.
I understand that "Spitting Image" had the advantage that they could directly tie in with current events, because they were a puppet show, while 2DTV is a cartoon show and thus takes more time to make. But still "Spitting Image" felt more adult and sharp in its attacks. Yes, they too could deliver low blows by poking fun at someone's physical appearance, but this wasn't their only shtick. In its glory days "Spitting Image" was daring, outrageous and controversial, literally offending people and having celebrities complain about the way they were portrayed in the series. Rightfully so too, since the show attacked people and institutions with a rage and sarcasm that "2DTV" never had. Most of the time, "2DTV" doesn't award your knowledge about topical events or politics. It pokes you with a blunt knife, but it doesn't hurt, nor provokes you to think or get outraged about the stuff they satirize.
2DTV: a well intended but pale effort compared to "Spitting Image".
"2DTV" is a well intended satire on various celebrities, similar to the 1980s and 1990s puppet show Spitting Image. The caricatures and voice acting are top notch and just as great as Spitting Image was (also because a lot of former writers and actors of that show collaborated on "2DTV".) Yet, having watched all episodes of "2DTV", the comedy is rather weak, formulaic and childish. They're just broad swipes at one specific characteristic of a celebrity without much variation. For instance, all gags with politician John Prescott center around his obesity, nothing else. George Bush, Jr. is always depicted as an infantile dumbass and the jokes center more around stuff that you would see Homer Simpson be doing than satirical jabs at Bush's policies. Most of the time it seems as if these cartoons were made by a ten year old who doesn't understand anything about politics, left alone what all these celebrities actually do in real life? For instance, Bush has a general with a large moustache who acts as his advisor. Where did this come from?! Couldn't they have used the vice-president, the Secretary of State or the Minister of Foreign Affairs, like Spitting Image did with Ronald Reagan back then? At least that had some base in reality.
I understand that "Spitting Image" had the advantage that they could directly tie in with current events, because they were a puppet show, while 2DTV is a cartoon show and thus takes more time to make. But still "Spitting Image" felt more adult and sharp in its attacks. Yes, they too could deliver low blows by poking fun at someone's physical appearance, but this wasn't their only shtick. In its glory days "Spitting Image" was daring, outrageous and controversial, literally offending people and having celebrities complain about the way they were portrayed in the series. Rightfully so too, since the show attacked people and institutions with a rage and sarcasm that "2DTV" never had. Most of the time, "2DTV" doesn't award your knowledge about topical events or politics. It pokes you with a blunt knife, but it doesn't hurt, nor provokes you to think or get outraged about the stuff they satirize.