3 stars out of 4 by Mark A. Perigard – Boston Herald

“America, let’s rise up against our celebrities and make fun of them” -Disclaimer on the first “Clerks” episode.

Dante (Brian O’Halloran) is a 20-something Quick Stop clerk who has to belife’s hack sack. Randal (Jeff Anderson) is his nitwit bud who occasionally works at the next-door video store and who, we learn in a later episode, is flattered that all his ex-girlfriends have become lesbians.Tonight, Randal says he can handle Dante’s job – and promptly fails. “I opened up and everything was fine. Then people started coming and buying things and it was horrible” he moans.

After perpetual loiter Jay (Jason Mewes) takes a fall, Dante is hauled into court for “the trial of the century” with Randal as his defense attorney.The presiding judge? Actor Judge Reinhold. The jury? The NBA All-Star team.

Is this not making sense to you? Aw, go watch “Diagnosis Murder” if you are worried about plot consistency.

Kevin Smith’s animated “Clerks” is pure looniness with a crunchy layer of sweetness at its heart. The stars of the original 1994 indie film are all here, including Smith as Silent Bob. The animation is crisp and the facial expressions alone can be hysterical.

Smith isn’t afraid to make fun of his celebrity buddies – both Matt Damon and Ben Affleck take it on the chin during this limited six-episode run.Celebrity voice cameos include Gwyneth Paltrow, Charles Barkley and Gilbert Gottfried. Alec Baldwin snarls through the role of evil billionaire Leonardo Leonardo.

Sure, some of the topical references seem a bit dated, but ABC did hold the Miramax/Touchstone show at least three months longer than it should have.ABC might not run all the episodes, which would be a shame. Worse, the network is not showing the episodes in order, which ruins at least one running gag, and shows a supporting character before he is properly introduced.

Smith and the audience deserve better.