Haha, You Clowns Season 1 Episodes 1-6 Review

Join Swimpedia as we review screeners of the brand new series Haha, You Clowns, and find out what this once Smalls short series now has to offer as a full on-air program!

[MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD]

Supporting up-and-coming, smaller, or internet creators has always been baked into the DNA of Adult Swim, from their on-air ID bumps and Infomercials series, to partnering with the makers of Smiling Friends and the contributors to Off the Air. Their Smalls program in particular, dating back to as early as 2018, has been crucial to this mission on YouTube, resulting in gems such as SHOP: A Pop Opera, Gassy’s Gas ‘n Stuff, Lil Daddy, and, of course, Haha You Clowns. This has proven to be an outstanding way to spotlight short-form creations, but also has the potential to serve as a pipeline for creators to move from YouTube to on-air. Now, with the upcoming premiere of Haha, You Clowns, we are witnessing the first Adult Swim Smalls series to make the jump from YouTube shorts to full on-air program. Centering on the Campbell boys and their father, there is potential for this show to be right at home with other wacky Adult Swim comedy series, while also bringing a lesser seen close-knit family vibe to the table.

Featuring all of the same characters, emotional beats, and overall visual design of the shorts, the on-air series is a natural extension of what was previously offered. Even the first short, “Movie Night,” is also the premiere episode of the new series. On top of that, it is the best example of what has changed, with the full episode giving the story, family members, and heart at the core of the show more breathing room. At two minutes and 16 seconds, the short has just enough time to introduce the movie night premise, tell a joke or two, and then wrap up with a focus on the wholesome nature of the short. However, as a full episode, “Movie Night” gives us more of everything: developing a fully realized world, granting more personality to the Campbell boys and their father, introducing new characters, presenting tons of silly jokes and moments, and building up to a touching scene between the sons and their dad by the end of the episode.

Turning our attention to the series itself, the first six episodes of Joe Cappa’s Haha, You Clowns, already showcase a program centered on positive family values. With other popular Adult Swim “family shows” like Rick and Morty or The Venture Bros. focused on the problems of dysfunctional, complicated families, Haha, You Clowns instead features a close-knit family that truly cares about one another right from the start. The Campbell boys and their father rely on each other to handle whatever problems come their way, and actively want to help every family member succeed. For example, the topics in these few episodes include the father missing his wife or fearing for the life of his sons, the older son Preston feeling like he’s taking on too much responsibility, the younger son Duncan keeping secrets from his brothers, the stress of international family travel, and more.

In general, the show isn’t about the family fighting one another or arguing about what’s happening, but instead, a refreshing look at how a loving family can come together to figure things out. The death of their mother looms over the series, and what we are left with is a family that loves each other and can work anything out, or continue on, as long as they have one another. The perfect viewer for this series is looking for their next comfort show, with the main selling point being the heart, slower pace, and calmness that Joe Cappa has cemented in his program. It feels like something that comes personally from him, that is then maintained by keeping a smaller cast and crew working on the series. However, don’t be surprised if the show ever gets you in your feels, with its fair share of touching or emotionally stressful moments.

That being said, Haha, You Clowns also manages to balance out this family focus with plenty of comedic elements, ranging from a parody of the movie Avatar to the endless funny faces made by characters throughout. It’s clear that Joe Cappa didn’t set out just to make a wholesome family drama, as he also injects his own humor into the mix, which is more of what the Adult Swim audience has come to expect from similar series. In this case, the comedy either stems from the surreal situations the family finds themselves in, such as visiting their dental hygienist in the hospital after she’s given birth, or from the actual style of the show, such as the manner in which characters speak and the references they make. Ultimately, the plots of the episodes and the presentation of the series itself, paired with the heartfelt family dynamics, make for a series that invites you to join in the humor of the awkward, yet loving, highs and lows of family life.

Altogether, Haha, You Clowns, is a new direction for Adult Swim–being the first set of Smalls shorts to transition into a full on-air series, and with the show having such a positive outlook on family life. Many are likely to latch onto the program’s wholesome nature, which welcomes you into the family like one of the Campbell boys. Others, on the other hand, may be drawn in by the quirky art design and unique comedy style that has made so many other low budget Adult Swim series into cult classics. Either way, consider checking out Haha, You Clowns and continue to support indie animation like many other Smalls!

The first episode of Haha, You Clowns premieres on Adult Swim tonight at 11:45 PM, and next day on HBO Max!