Seen on and produced for The Comedy Network, a cable specialty channel, and once available on iTunes,[1] Adult Swim and MuchMusic in Latin America, 2x2 in Russia,[2] Hulu in the United States,[3][4] and MusiquePlus in French-speaking Canada.

The show was originally developed as a web-based cartoon and based on an early short the creators made called "The Seen",[7][8] which released in 1997, but quickly moved to cable television distribution.

[11] On July 14, 2006 in an email to subscribers, Smiley Guy Studios announced FreeJack, an initiative under which they have started releasing the master files of every character, prop, and background from every episode for the upcoming season under a non-commercial share-friendly license.

[17][18][19][20] The eponymous character, Jack Ryder, graduates from university with a degree in sociology and becomes a temporary employee at an agency called Odd Jobs which specializes in filling difficult and unusual positions.

Celebrities in the first season were Dave Foley, Troy Hurtubise, Gary Farmer, the Barenaked Ladies, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, John O'Hurley, Megan Follows, Christopher Plummer, Rick Mercer, Kenny Hotz, Catherine O'Hara and Don Knotts.

"[32] Andrew Ryan for The Globe and Mail noted of the season three premiere that "Odd Job Jack is still sharply written and crudely animated, which is part of its appeal.