Gary & Mike UPN, Fridays, 8 p.m. E.T.

By James Poniewozik

The best animated satires--The Simpsons, South Park--are paeans to the power of stupidity. Gary and Mike are no Homer and Bart, but this Claymation-com is at least better than its premise. (Dweeb and slacker go on road trip; hilarity, rabbit squashing ensue.) The gross-out humor misses more than it hits, but the show can surprise you, as when the dim duo visit Washington and ruins the life-work of an earnest Senator, turning a pat setup on its head: the pol is betrayed by the people. It's worth seeing where this ride goes.

--By James Poniewozik