Stroker and Hoop (2004) TV series

Creators: Chris 'Casper' Kelly, Jeffrey G. Olsen

Directors: Robert Marianetti, David Wachtenheim

Writers: Chris 'Casper' Kelly, Jeffrey G. Olsen

Composer: Michael Kohler

Starring: Jon Glaser, Timothy 'Speed' Levitch, Paul Christie, Mary Birdsong, Curtis Armstrong, Darryl Kurylo, Gary Anthony Williams, Eli Wallach

More info: IMDb

Tagline: Call Stroker & Hoop the best detectvies in town

Plot:  "Stroker and Hoop" is an animated satire of '70s cop shows like "Starsky & Hutch." Though it takes place currently (mid-2000s, when it first aired), the title characters act and dress in 1970s style and are detectives in Los Angeles. Stroker Strockmeyer, a former mattress salesman, likes his PI work because he gets to shoot people. But his partner, Hoop Schwartz, loves the job and never fires a gun intending to hit a target. The two use talking auto CARR, which is 20 years past state of the art. Being mediocre, they take jobs offered by those who can't afford competence.

My rating: 8/10

Will I watch it again?  Yes.

The only episode I remember seeing in 2005 was the Santa Claus one and it was hilarious.  That was enough to keep watching it.  I was horrified to discover it was cancelled and the last episode aired later that month.  This show had 13 hilarious episodes and it's just one more example of how many shows that cater to my sense of humor and get the axe far too prematurely.  I really dig the characters (especially Stroker voiced by Glaser) and the 70s vibe.  I had a blast revisiting the series.  I'd forgotten nearly all of it but I had such a great time that I'm not going to wait another twelve years to watch it again.  I don't know why this Adult Swim half hour program didn't make it when other, lesser shows do but I do wish they would offer on demand DVDs of their shows like Warner Bros. does for shows and movies that don't justify the expense of a proper release but are easy moneymakers on a smaller scale.  There is no proper home video release for this so I'll just have to be content with what I recorded way back when.