Dan Vebber Movies
- 2005
Created by Seth MacFarlane of Family Guy fame, the weekly Fox animated sitcom American Dad! peered into the home life of a dedicated but thickheaded secret agent. Jut-jawed protagonist Stan Smith was a troubleshooter for the CIA who, by his own declaration, would "stop at nothing" to protect his country -- and in proving this he invariably brought down a great deal of pain and embarrassment to his family. In an all too typical example, Stan had a cute habit of shooting first and asking questions later, which wreaked havoc on faulty household appliances and the like. The Smith family included wife Francine, who had a tough time hiding her drug-addicted past from her straight-arrow husband; daughter Hayley, a community-college coed who'd gone over to extreme left-wing liberalism just to spite her dad; and dorky son Steve, who went to great and pathetic lengths to "be cool." Also members of the household were Roger, a squid-like, Paul Lynde-sounding space alien who'd been hiding out in the family's home ever since Steve rescued him from Area 51; and Klaus the goldfish, who as a result of a misfired mutation experiment spoke in a sinister Peter Lorre-ish German accent. The first cartoon series to truly reflect the singular paranoia of the post-9/11 era, American Dad! premiered February 6, 2005, right after Fox's telecast of the Super Bowl (the same route previously traveled by MacFarlane's Family Guy). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and the Fashion Club run afoul of two very different areas of the art world in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Jane's troubles begin when the gazebo in her parents' backyard collapses while she's filming a Mystik Spiral video in it. She and Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez) decide they'd better fix it before their parents return home. To fund the construction, Jane tries to sell some of her paintings at a local art fair, but her disturbing imagery doesn't do much business. An irreverent Van Gogh knockoff, however, catches the eye of local gallery owner Gary, who hires her to make copies of various masterpieces on commission. Soon, Jane's copies are selling like hotcakes and she becomes addicted to the lucre. The trouble is, she's so tired from her work for Gary that she has no time to craft her own pieces. It's only when Jane realizes that the audience for her copies consists of people like Brittany's nouveau riche dad that she remembers how much her own artwork means to her. As for the Fashion Club, they're obviously unaware that caricatures aren't supposed to be flattering. When they commission one at Lawndale's art fair, they're so incensed by the results that they try to hire Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) to sue the artists -- or to find somebody who will break his fingers! Sandi (voice of Janie Mertz), Tiffany (voice of Ashley Albert), and Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) are even more horrified when they realize that the offending artwork has gone missing. They don't know that it now adorns the bedroom of Stacy (voice of Sarah Drew), who is delighted to be the only Fashion Club member portrayed in a favorable artistic light. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tracy Grandstaff, Wendy Hoopes, (more)
- 2000
A parade provides an unexpected opportunity for Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) to bond with Tom (voice of Russell Hankin), her best friend's beau, in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. When Daria's bathroom-stranded dad (voice of Julian Rebolledo) sends her to the drugstore to pick up some toilet paper, she unexpectedly finds herself in the middle of the Lawndale High homecoming parade. Desperate to escape, she instead finds herself trapped by the crowds, by the safety-obsessed Ms. Li (voice of Nora Laudani), and by Mr. O'Neill (voice of Marc Thompson), who's running around in an animal costume accosting people. Eventually, Daria runs into Tom, who's looking for Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes), and they both assist a lost little boy in locating his parents. Although Daria and Tom's relationship up to this point has ranged from cool to hostile, they slowly begin to "get" one another's personality and sense of humor. After a run-in with the Fashion Club, they finally locate Jane just in time for Daria to get splashed with paint -- blue and yellow, the school's colors. Daria goes home to clean up and the happy couple head off on their date, but a long, longing glance from Tom to Daria suggests something strange is brewing. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tracy Grandstaff, Wendy Hoopes, (more)
- 1999
An occult group, the Sisterhood of Jhe, is attempting to open the Hellmouth and bring about the end of the world -- so what else is new? Xander (Nicholas Brendon) recieves a good wolloping in a fight with the Sisterhood and the rest of Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) gang suggests he opt out of future rumbles. Feeling like a big loser, Xander begins attempting to be cool. This includes driving a 1950's Chevy Bel Aire and hanging out with Jack O'Toole (Channon Roe), a school bully. Soon, Xander's new cool group of friends even includes Jack's old gang buddies -- raised from the dead. Apparently, Jack is also one of the walking dead and now he and his gang are going to blow up Sunnydale High. Scared and unsure of what to do, Xander runs into Faith (Eliza Dushku) by running his Chevy over a Sister of Jhe she is fighting. Later, in her hotel room, Faith repays Xander by taking his virginity. A reinvigorated and confident Xander returns to Sunnydale High to stop Jack and the other dead boys from bombing the school. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1999
Death and DJs intrude into the titular teen's life in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. When Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) falls face-first into a bowl of guacamole, it's time to call 911 -- Dad has had a heart attack. For Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff), this family emergency falls right in the middle of an exceptionally annoying week during which irritating radio disc jockeys have descended on Lawndale High for their daily broadcasts. So while coping with the arrival of her bossy, old-fashioned grandmother at home, Daria must endure taunts and jibes from professional jackasses at school. She responds with typical deadpan wit, but it all gets to be a bit much -- especially with grandma criticizing Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) at every turn and Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) trying to kick start a pre-Med curriculum so she can become a doctor before her father has his next heart attack. Eventually, Jake's near-death experience allows him to confront his mother about his horrible childhood at the hands of his sadistic and neglectful father, "Mad Dog" Morgendorffer. As for Daria, she channels her own existential angst into a truly classic on-air diatribe against the DJs. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Everyone in Sunnydale seems to have relationship problems. Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) cannot be with Angel (David Boreanaz) or he'll go evil. Willow (Alyson Hannigan) wants to cast a spell to stop the attraction between her and Xander (Nicholas Brendon). Even Spike (James Marsters) is moping around, still pining over losing Drusilla (Juliet Landau). Spike soon kidnaps Willow and Xander with the diabolical plan of forcing Willow to perform a spell to bring Drusilla back to him -- or they both die. Later, Spike lures Buffy and Angel into his plan by hanging out with Joyce (Kristine Sutherland). Buffy is ready to stake him until he informs her of his hostages. Oz (Seth Green) and Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) are also told of Spike's plan and go to rescue their respective mates, only to find them kissing. Meanwhile, the Mayor (Harry Groener) sends some vampires out to kill Spike. Buffy, Angel, and Spike team up to fight them off. The thrill of the battle enlives Spike, who decides to go to Brazil and torture Drusilla until she loves him again. Needless to say, Willow and Xander's now-uncovered relationship spells an uncertain future for the friendship of Buffy's group. ~ All Movie Guide
