Hopeless Pictures

This clever if short-lived 2005 series (which aired on IFC) combines edgy animation with witty voiceover work, serving up a profile of Mel Wax as the quintessence of Hollywood self-involvement. No film is “too small or too depressing” for Hopeles Pictures, the struggling film studio headed up by Mel (the voice of Michael McKean). The studio's moniker is derived from the names of Wax's parents, Hope and Les, a duality also emblematic of the driving forces of Mel's psyche: utter cluelessness and a willingness to totally ignore social convention. Although the simple plotlines touch on all the clichés of Tinseltown satire, the slyly observant scripts and pitch-perfect performances inject a jittery freshness that makes the series infectiously addictive. Whether it's Mel's constant cheating on his wife (Lisa Kudrow) and her self-hating tolerance, or the virtual impossibility of getting any actual work out of the gaggle of sycophants that surround Mel—from his ineffectual producer-nephew (Bob Balaban, who also created, produced, and directed these nine episodes) to studio execs and spoiled actresses (the always hilarious Jennifer Coolidge in multiple roles)—this is a crafty take on the interpersonal politics of the rich and not-as-famous-as-they'd-like-to-be. Don't be fooled by the lack of a rating: the raw language and frankly sexual themes—and imagery!—make this one definitely for adults only. DVD extras include commentary from Balaban on select episodes, deleted scenes, and a storyboard gallery. Recommended. (M. Johanson)