Jon Hamm Animated Sitcom ‘Grimsburg’ Is a Clever Crime Spoof That Struggles to Tell Its Own Story: TV Review

Voicing and co-producing Fox’s latest cartoon show, "Grimsburg," Jon Hamm portrays a character who is polar opposite of his typical debonair roles like "Mad Men’s" Don Draper or Paul Marks from "The Morning Show". Hamm gives life to Marvin Flute, a shabby, potbelly detective with questionable competence. Through the medium of animation, Hamm is able to reinvent his persona, imparting a distinct, unrefined voice to tarnish his smooth baritone.

"Grimsburg," designed by Catlan McClelland and Matthew Schlissel and brought to life by Chadd Gindin, is an absurdly whimsical series located in a village notorious for its high mortality rate. Set in a town teeming with criminals, the show is a satirical rendition of iconic crime dramas like "Murder, She Wrote," its humor deriving from the improbability of such events happening in a limited populace. "Grimsburg" exploits this implausibility, crafting absurd narratives involving murder mystery parties in a bizarre train mansion and crime scenes strewn with animal remains, sparking a flurry of bone-related innuendos.

Returning to Grimsburg after a mental breakdown, the lascivious Detective Flute is flanked by a tribe of quirky characters. His estranged wife Harmony, portrayed by Erinn Hayes, was raised in the wilderness by bears, while Dr. Pentos, played by Alan Tudyk, is a Hannibal Lecter-like character with a pervasive European accent and an iconic orange jumpsuit. The ensemble fosters humor bordering on farce, with Flute’s approval-seeking son Stan, played by Rachel Dratch, creating ample comedic opportunities, and his boss Chief Patsy exemplifying a mishmash of stereotypes, albeit inconsistently.

As an indulgent parody of a society that's infatuated with true crime, "Grimsburg" follows a joke-a-minute script, lampooning a variety of constructs from "Clue" to "Sleepaway Camp." Compounded with the murder motif and a clumsy investigative team, the animated series successfully invites humor out of an industry that has overstayed its welcome. Nevertheless, the series fails to provide meaningful emotional engagement, a crucial ingredient to ensure a show's longevity. The series premiere of "Grimsburg" is slated for Sunday, Jan. 7 at 8pm ET on Fox.