The Life & Times of Tim, oh, and Dr. Katz.

Early Prediction: The term most frequently used when describing this new HBO series will be “quirky.”

Starting September 28th there’s going to be a new animated series on HBO called The Life & Times of Tim. If you liked the series Dr. Katz Professional Therapist, that ran on Comedy Central from 1995-1999, then you’ll really enjoy this show.

Comparisons between the two series will be undeniable, so let’s be gracious and say that creator, Steve Dildarian, was clearly also a big fan of Dr. Katz.

But let’s focus on how the two shows differ and what will make Tim our new favorite primitively drawn hero.

The “shakymation” is gone. In this case the animation looks like it was done by your brother, and his best friend (back in high school, after a round of D&D in the “rec room”). In fact light blue college rules in the background and some Trig. notes in the margins would not seem at all out of place.

But that, combined with the stuttering dialogue and awkward silences, is what will make you love this series. The way you did Dr. Katz Professional Therapist a decade ago.

Take this scene were Tim is asked by a hooker if her outfit makes her butt look big.

Did you recognize the voices?

No?

Well, there is another area in which the two shows differ. Dr. Katz had a parade of famous and up-and-coming-now-famous comedians voicing their animated selves as patients. Dave Chapelle, Jim Gaffigan, and Sarah Silverman to name a few.

The Life & Times of Tim does not have any famous names lending their voices. Well, Cheri Oteri does voice a character named “Blobsnark” if that counts.

It is Steve Dildarian, the show’s creator, who is voice of Tim (a cross between Ray Romano and Demitri Martin) along with a cast of hilarious unknowns.

In “real life” Steve was an ad biz legend having won a bazillion awards including Clios for the famous Budweiser Lizards campaign and the “talking donkey spot” (also voiced by Steve) that ran during the 2004 Superbowl.

I’m not sure whether or not this is “appointment” television, but it will certainly do while I wait for my next disk of Dr. Katz episodes to arrive on Netflix.