Squidbillies

Squidbilliesis an Americanadultanimated sitcomcreated byJim FortierandDave WillisforCartoon Network's late nightprogramming blockAdult Swim.An unofficial pilot for the series aired on April 1, 2005. The series later made its official debut on October 16, 2005, and ended on December 12, 2021, with a total of132 episodesover the course of 13 seasons.

Squidbillies
The Cuyler family. From the left: Rusty, Granny, Early and Lily.
Genre	Adult animation Animated sitcom Satire Surreal humour Black comedy
Created by	Jim Fortier Dave Willis
Voices of	Stuart Daniel Baker(2005–19) Tracy Morgan(2021) Daniel McDevitt Dana Snyder Patricia French Charles Napier(uncredited; 2005–06) Bobby Ellerbee (2006–21) Todd Hanson Scott Hilley (2005–14) Pete Smith
Narrated by	Dave Willis (select episodes)
Music by	Billy Joe Shaver various artists
Composers	David Lee Powell Shawn Coleman
Country of origin	United States
No.of seasons	13
No.of episodes	132(list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Keith Crofford Mike Lazzo
Producers	Jim Fortier Dave Willis Ned Hastings Phil Samson Alan Steadman Melissa Warrenburg
Running time	11 minutes 22 minutes (episode 60)
Production companies	Williams Street Radical Axis(2005–2011) Awesome Inc(2012–2021)
Original release
Network	Adult Swim
Release	October 16, 2005(2005-10-16)– December 12, 2021(2021-12-12)
Related
Anime Talk Show Carl's Stone Cold Lock Of The Century Of The Week

The series is about the Cuyler family, an impoverished family ofanthropomorphichillbillymudsquidsliving in theGeorgiaregion of theBlue Ridge Mountains.The series revolves around the exploits of an alcoholic father (Early), who is often abusive in a comedic way towards his family. His son, Rusty, is desperate for his approval; his mother and grandmother, known in the show as Granny, is often the center of his aggression; and Lily, Early's sister, is mostly unconscious in a pool of her own vomit.

The series also airs insyndicationin other countries and has been released on variousDVD setsand other forms of home media.

Setting and premise

Squidbilliesfollows the exploits of the Cuyler family and their interactions with the local populace, which usually results in a fair amount of destruction, mutilation, and death. The Cuylers are essentially given free rein and protected from the consequences of their actions whenever possible by their crudely-drawn friend, the Sheriff (whose name is "Sharif" ), as they are said to be the last twisted remnants of a federally protectedendangered species,the "Appalachian Mud Squid". They live in the southernAppalachian Mountainslocated in theNorth Georgia mountains.At the epicentre of this rural paradise is Dougal County, home tocrippling gambling addictions,a murderous corporation, sexual deviants, and the authentic Southern mountain squid.The show often satirizes thehistoryand culture of theAmerican South,including theLost Cause,slavery,religious fundamentalism,segregation,political conservatism,bigotry,racismandpoverty.In the words ofThe New York Times,the show takes "backwoods stereotypes" and turns them into "a cudgel with which to pound maniacally on all manner of topical subjects."

Production

Squidbilliesis produced byWilliams Street Productions;it is written byDave Willis,co-creator ofAqua Teen Hunger Force,and Jim Fortier, previously ofThe Brak Show,both of whom worked on theAdult SwimseriesSpace Ghost Coast to Coast.The show is animated by Radical Axis until 2012, withAwesome Inctaking on animation duties until the show’s conclusion.

Concept and development

Dave Willis

Jim Fortier

The series has its origins in 2003 whenMike Lazzo,former vice president ofAdult Swim,asked to develop a project around the titleSquidbilly's,which he speculated about during a conversation with his colleagues aboutHanna-Barbera'sSquiddly Diddlycharacter. In July of the same year,Matt Maiellaroand Pete Smith produced the first script of the pilot episode; however it was scrapped and over 35 scripts were written by Maiellaro, Smith,Dave Willis,Jim Fortier,Matt HarriganandMike Lazzoover the course of a year. Later, Lazzo approved and commissioned a screenplay byDave Willisand Jim Fortier, who decided to base the plot and related characters on the stories of the two creators who both grew up inConyers,Georgia.According to vice presidentKeith Crofforddevelopment of the first season was delayed due to a lack of ideas, revealing that the pilot episode was scheduled to air in December 2004. The original budget of the pilot episode was about 1100 dollars.

SingerUnknown Hinsonvoiced lead character Early Cuyler until his firing in 2020

On March 25, 2004, it was revealed that the series was in production with a first season consisting of seven episodes planned.Adult Swimlater showed short clips from the first episode duringSan Diego Comic-ConandDragon Conin 2004. It was also announced that the series, originating from the creators ofSpace Ghost Coast to CoastandAqua Teen Hunger Force,was in development with as many as 96 episodes, that the pilot episode would air on November 7, 2004, and that the official broadcast would take place in January 2005. On November 4, 2004, three days before the pilot episode was scheduled to air, the animated specialAnime Talk Showaired, featuring futureSquidbilliesstar Early Cuyler, along with Meatwad fromAqua Teen Hunger Forceand Sharko fromSealab 2021who are interviewed bySpace Ghost.The special was later placed as a bonus feature on the first DVD volume ofSquidbillies.The pilot episode was heavily promoted to air on November 7, 2004. On that date, however,Adult Swimdecided to air the first episode ofPerfect Hair Foreverunannounced due to the incompleteness of theSquidbilliesepisode.

In March 2005,Adult Swimannounced that a six-episode first season would air from September of that year alongside12 oz. MouseandPerfect Hair Forever.An unfinished version of the pilot episode aired on April Fool's Day, later revealed via a bumper that it would be completed in five weeks. On October 16, 2005, after being posted on the official website two days earlier, the episode aired alongside the rest of the season.

Writing

Matt Maiellarocontributed to the development of the pilot episode of Squidbillies, occasionally writing for the series

The series is written primarily and entirely by Jim Fortier andDave Willis,who are sometimes aided by other writers such asCasper Kellyand Will Shepard, who send their scripts to the creators. Other producers or animators occasionally take part and write additional story elements, includingMatt Harrigan,Matt Maiellaro,Pete Smith, and Lear Bunda.

The delay in production of the pilot episode was partly the result of a lack of ideas on the part of the writers who had subjected it to multiple rewrites between the commission of the series and its actual scheduled debut. Over 35 screenplays were written by Maiellaro, Smith, Willis, Fortier, Harrigan andMike Lazzoin the course of a year. Originally the names of the protagonists Early and Rusty were to be Arvee and Donny respectively; however they were changed by Smith and Fortier in an attempt to renew the creators' original ideas.

During the development ofSquidbillies,the creators also working on the development ofPerfect Hair Foreverinserted and moved some concepts and characters between the two animated series.

Animation

Radical Axisprovided animation for the series through season six

Awesome Incanimated the series from season seven to thirteen

The series' animation, described by Willis asBeavis and Butt-Headstyle, is based onAdobe Flashand takes a week to complete. The main software adopted for the series's animation isMacromedia Shockwave Flash,which allowed in later seasons to more easily change the resolution format to render the broadcast in high definition. An average episode takes approximately 700 working hours to complete.

Up until the sixth season, the task of animating the various scripts and characters is entrusted toRadical Axis,while from the seventh onwards toAwesome Inc.The reason why the characters are drawn so crudely is not due to the budget, which is still substantial compared to that of their previous workSpace Ghost Coast to Coast,but is by design; in fact, according to Jim Fortier, if the series had been drawn differently, therefore cleaner and sharper, it would not have been fun.

Production times for animation and various changes made to episodes can take up to eight weeks. Unlike traditional series, no storyboards or particular animations are produced and the pre-production product is not sent abroad to be further modified; in fact the production takes place exclusively inAtlantaand there are between five and seven animators. According to animator Alex Barrella, by the twelfth season, animations and episode designs are generally completed in a few weeks to a maximum of a month, before being revisited and saved. After being animated, the episodes are edited withAdobe After Effectsfor the final composition. Regarding subsequent seasons, Barrella stated that he wanted to resume the style of "the first three seasons ofAqua Teen Hunger Force",to increase the irreverent tone of the series.

Wallpapers

The series' backgrounds and colors were created by artist Ben Prisk at Primal Screen inAtlanta.According toMike Lazzo,who supervises Prisk's works, he wanted to base his backgrounds onfolk art.Together with Fortier and Willis, Prisk worked about a year and a half to develop the animation style of the backgrounds, trying to adapt them to the previously designed characters according to line widths, layers and texture complexity. The backgrounds are characterized by the lack of right angles and confusing perspectives. Prisk's works are created in acrylic, revisited with gouache and spray paint and finally composed onAdobe Photoshop.Each wallpaper takes approximately 12–15 hours to process and complete.

Voice cast

• Stuart Daniel Baker(2005–2019) andTracy Morgan(2021) as Early Cuyler
• Daniel McDevitt as Rusty Cuyler
• Dana Snyderas Granny
• Patricia French as Aunt Lily
• Charles Napier(2005–2006) and Bobby Ellerbee (2006–2021) as Sheriff
• Todd Hansonas Dan Halen
• Scott Hilley (2005–2014) as Reverend
• Elizabeth Cook(2011–2014; 2017–2021) and Faye Otto (2016) as Tammi
• Jason Isbellas Reverend Nubbins
• Dave Willisas Deputy Denny and Glenn
• Pete Smith (2005–2016) as Boyd

Dismissal of Stuart Baker

Tracy Morganvoiced Early during season thirteen

On August 16, 2020, Stuart Baker was fired from the series for controversial comments towards theBlack Lives Mattermovement and country singerDolly Parton.A response was posted onFacebookby Baker claiming that being fired fromSquidbilliesruined his life. The response was later deleted.

The thirteenth and final season ofSquidbilliespremiered on November 7, 2021, with Baker being replaced by comedianTracy Morgan.

Episodes

Main article:List of Squidbillies episodes

Series overview

Season	Episodes		Originally released
			First released	Last released
1	6		October 16, 2005(2005-10-16)	November 20, 2005(2005-11-20)
2	14		September 17, 2006(2006-09-17)	December 24, 2006(2006-12-24)
3	20		January 20, 2008(2008-01-20)	June 8, 2008(2008-06-08)
4	10		May 17, 2009(2009-05-17)	July 19, 2009(2009-07-19)
5	10		May 16, 2010(2010-05-16)	July 18, 2010(2010-07-18)
6	10		September 11, 2011(2011-09-11)	November 13, 2011(2011-11-13)
7	6		July 22, 2012(2012-07-22)	August 26, 2012(2012-08-26)
8	9		August 11, 2013(2013-08-11)	October 13, 2013(2013-10-13)
9	10		September 21, 2014(2014-09-21)	November 30, 2014(2014-11-30)
10	9		July 10, 2016(2016-07-10)	November 20, 2016(2016-11-20)
11	10		October 15, 2017(2017-10-15)	December 17, 2017(2017-12-17)
12	9		August 11, 2019(2019-08-11)	September 15, 2019(2019-09-15)
13	9		November 7, 2021(2021-11-07)	December 12, 2021(2021-12-12)

International broadcast

InCanada,Squidbilliespreviously aired onTeletoon'sTeletoon at Nightblockand laterG4'sAdult Digital Distractionblock.The series currently airs on theCanadian version of Adult Swim.

Guest appearances

• Jason "Wee Man" Acuñavoiced himself in "The Guzzle Bumpkin" (Season 11, Episode 2)
• "Action Plan" Tim Andrews voiced the homicidal GPS in "Fatal Distraction" (Season 5, Episode 7)
• Fred Armisenvoiced Miguel in "Take This Job and Love It" (Season 1, Episode 2) and Office Politics Trouble "(Season 1, Episode 6), Jesus in" Giant Foam Dickhat Trouble "(Season 2, Episode 5) and Hippie Killed With Chainsaw in" Earth Worst "(Season 3, Episode 6).
• Don Barnes,Danny Chauncey,andLarry Junstromof38 Specialvoiced themselves, and their band's song "Caught Up in You"is featured in" Burned and Reburned Again "(Season 2, Episode 10)
• Todd Barryvoiced Glenn in "Office Politics Trouble" (Season 1, Episode 6) and Dr. Bug in "Family Trouble" (Season 1, Episode 5).
• Vernon Chatman(as Clarence Towelstein) voiced Shuckey the Corn Mascot in "Mud Days and Cornfused" (Season 3, Episode 18)
• David Allan Coeis uncredited for voicing himself in "Okaleechee Dam Jam" (Season 3, Episode 17)
• Elizabeth Cookperformed the theme song and voiced Tammi in "Keeping It In The Family Way" (Season 6).
• Cooliovoiced himself in "The Guzzle Bumpkin" (Season 11, Episode 2)
• Bradford Coxvoiced himself in "Granite Caverns" (Season 8, Episode 1)
• Lavell Crawfordvoiced Judge Jammer in "Stop. Jammertime!" (Season 8, Episode 6)
• Rachel Dratchvoiced a Hippie Woman in "Earth Worst" (Season 3, Episode 6)
• Eric "Butterbean" Eschvoiced himself and sang the national anthem in "Condition: Demolition" (Season 3, Episode 9)
• Mick Foleyis uncredited for voicing Thunder Clap in "Anabolic-holic" (Season 4, Episode 4)
• Kevin Gillespievoiced himself in "Asbestos I Can" (Season 6, Episode 1)
• Phil Hendrieguest-starred in "Lean Green Touchdown Makifying Machine" (Season 5, Episode 9)
• Jason Isbellperformed the theme song in "The Pharaoh's Wad" (Season 6, Episode 8) and voiced the new reverend Kyle Nubbins in "Greener Pastor" (Season 10, Episode 7), later going on to be his official V.A.
• David Jackson of the Japanese country group Western Crooners voiced a Japanese war veteran and a documentary narrator in "The Appalachian Mud Squid: Darwin's Dilemma" (Season 3, Episode 10)
• Jonathan Katzis uncredited for voicing The Rapist in "Government Brain Voodoo Trouble" (Season 2, Episode 1).
• George LowevoicedSpace Ghostin "Unofficial Pilot"(Season 1, fake pilot) and a TV wrestling-promo voice in" Anabolic-holic "(season 4, episode 4)
• Riley Martinvoiced the Horseman of Pestilence in "Armageddon It On!" (Season 3, Episode 13) and a voice inside Dan Halen's head in "Pile M For Murder" (Season 3, Episode 19)
• Ralphie May(as Sweet Dick May) voiced PNUT in "Thou Shale Not Drill" (Season 8, Episode 7). This was the second 30-minute episode in the series' history.
• JD McPhersonvoiced a prisoner in "Dove in an Iron Cage" (Season 11, Episode 1)
• The Mighty Ohba of the Western Crooners provided the Japanese voice dub of Early Cuyler in "Snow Daddy" (Season 6, Episode 6)
• Larry Munsonprovided the Voice of God on "Armageddon It On!" (Season 3, Episode 13)
• Amber Nashvoiced Prosperity in "Lipstick on a Squid" (Season 10, Episode 1)
• Chad Ochocincovoiced himself in "Lean Green Touchdown Makifying Machine" (Season 5, Episode 9)
• Tara Ochsguest-starred in "Lipstick on a Squid" (Season 10, Episode 1)
• Patton Oswalt(as Shecky Chucklestein) voiced the One-Eyed Giant Squid in "Survival of The Dumbest" (Season 2, Episode 12)
• Palefacevoiced a guy at a bar in "Green and Sober" (Season 7, Episode 4)
• Mike Schatzvoiced the Prosecutor in "Terminous Trouble" (Season 2) and the Scientist in "God's Bro" (Season 4).
• Billy Joe Shaverperformed the theme song in several episodes and voiced a customs agent and a TV announcer in "Trucked Up!" (Season 6, Episode 10)
• Brendon Smallwrote and played the "Rusty Shreds" metal pieces in "Mephistopheles Traveled Below to a Southern State Whose Motto Is 'Wisdom, Justice and Moderation'" (Season 3, Episode 5).He also voiced Dr. Jerry in "Family Trouble" but was listed in the credits as "Donald Cock".
• Todd Sniderperformed the main title in "Fatal Distraction" (Season 5, Episode 7) and as a rabbit in "America: Why I Love Her" (Season 5, Episode 10) and voiced a lobster in "Clowny Freaks" (Season 5, Episode 8)
• Paul Stanleyvoiced himself in "Fatal Distraction" (Season 5, Episode 6)
• Jared Swilleyvoiced himself in "Granite Caverns" (Season 8, Episode 1)
• T-Painvoiced himself in "Asbestos I Can" (Season 6, Episode 1) and performed the theme song in "Trucked Up!" (Season 6, Episode 10).
• Larry Wachsvoiced a clown in "Clowny Freaks" (Season 5, Episode 8)
• Jesco Whitevoiced Ga-Ga-Pee-Pap Cuyler in "Dead Squid Walking" (Season 5, Episode 3)
• Mamie White (Jesco's real-life sister) voiced Krystal's cousin in "The Many Loves of Early Cuyler" (Season 5, Episode 2)
• Widespread Panicperformed the main title theme and voiced themselves in "Need for Weed" (Season 5, Episode 1)
• Jon Wurster(as Roy Ziegler) voiced Dakota the Hippie in "Earth Worst" (Season 3, Episode 6) and Skyler The Blue Blood Sucking monster in "The Tiniest Princess" (Season 2, Episode 12).

Musical guest performances

• Drive-By Truckersperformed in "America: Why I Love Her" (Season 5, Episode 10)
• Jackylperformed "Raised By Jackyl" in "America: Why I Love Her" (Season 5, Episode 10)
• Rhett Millerperformed as anal-Qaedarepresentative with a hook hand in "America: Why I Love Her" (Season 5, Episode 10)
• Soilent Greenperformed the main title theme on "Lerm" (Season 4, Episode 1)
• Split Lip Rayfieldwas credited in writing Rusty's bluegrass Hell Jams in "Mephistopheles Traveled Below to a Southern State Whose Motto Is 'Wisdom, Justice and Moderation'" (Season 3, Episode 5)
• Gillian Welch,David Rawlings,Lucinda Williams,Will Oldham,Jimmie Dale Gilmore,andHayes Carllperformed as various singing forest animals in "America: Why I Love Her" (Season 5, Episode 10). This was the first 30-minute episode in the series' history.

Artists who performed versions of the theme song

• Billy Joe Shaver
• Against Me!
• Alabama Shakes
• The Baseball Project
• The B-52's
• Black Lips
• Blackberry Smoke
• The Both
• Camper Van Beethoven
• Cannibal Corpse
• Clutch
• Hayes Carll
• Neko Case
• Centro-Matic
• Jimmy Cliff
• Elizabeth Cook
• Steve Earle
• Jimmie Dale Gilmore
• Jan Hammer
• Unknown Hinson
• In Search of Sight
• Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
• Jackyl
• The Jayhawks
• George Jones
• King Khan and the Shrines
• Matthew Kaminsky, organist for theAtlanta Braves
• Lambchop
• Chuck Leavell&Francine Reed
• Let's Active
• Lera Lynnfeaturing Joshua Grange
• Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Max Q
• The Milk Carton Kids
• Father John Misty
• Bob Mould
• Willie Nelson
• John Prine
• Pueblo Cafe
• Todd Rundgren
• Rebecca Schiffman
• Ty Segall
• Sturgill Simpson
• William Shatner
• Shovels & Rope
• Todd Snider
• Soilent Green
• T-Pain
• Trampled by Turtles
• Sharon Van Etten
• Kurt Vile
• Gillian Welch&David Rawlings
• Western Crooners
• Widespread Panic
• Lucinda Williams
• "Weird Al" Yankovic
• Yelawolf
• Dwight Yoakam
• ZZ Top
• Shawn Coleman

Merchandise

Soundtrack

In January 2012, a free 35-track soundtrack was released on the Adult Swim music site entitledThe Squidbillies Present: Music for Americans Only Made by Americans in China for Americans Only God Bless America, U.S.A.

Another album, entitledSquidbillies Double Platinum Gold,was released on vinyl in July 2019.

Home releases

Season			Episodes	Volume	Release date	Extras
					Region 1
	1	2005	6	1	October 16, 2007	"How I Make The Damn Show!" The Original Pilots Deleted Scenes Behind the Scenes Footage Audio commentaries Anime Talk Show
	2	2006	14
	3	2008	20	2	April 21, 2009	"Squidbillies Circle Jerk 2: Return Of The Self Congratulation" "Dragonbillies" "Funny Pete Stuff" "Art and Music" "Dragon Con 2008" Audio commentaries
	4	2009	10	3	July 6, 2010	"Art & Music" "This Ain't A Hat, It's A Rag-top for A Sex Convertible" "Funny Pete Stuff" "Dragon Con 2009"
	5	2010	10	4	June 21, 2011	Behind the Scenes of "America: Why I Love Her" Jesco White Voice Record Outtakes Dragon Con Squidbillies Panel XM Radio Squidbillies 4 July Special Squidbillies Tattoo Contest Video
	6	2011	10	5	August 7, 2012	Behind the Scenes Featurettes "Trucked Up II: Glenn's Revenge" bonus digital video episode Art+Music feature and more
	7	2012	6	6	March 17, 2015	None
	8	2013	9

The series is also available onHBO Maxsince September 1, 2020. However, seasons 1-12 were removed from the platform in 2023. These seasons are expected to return to the streaming service soon, with "Gimmicky Magazine Show Spoof Parody About Dan Halen" returning to its regular fit-to-screen format.

See also

• List ofSquidbilliesepisodes
• Pacific Northwest tree octopus

External links

• Official website
• SquidbilliesatIMDb
• Article atGelf Magazine