Adult Swim Unloads New Slate at Upfront
Five Original Series to Debut in 2005, Joining Family Guy, Aqua Teen Hunger Force,
Robot Chicken and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law in Late Night Line-up
At its Upfront presentation in New York today, Adult Swim announced a number of new series, new seasons and greenlights of existing series, airdates for previously announced series and pilots in production. Following are the highlights:
New Series
* The Boondocks: This previously announced series, based on the award-winning comic strip from series executive producer Aaron McGruder, will premiere in October. Cartoon Network has ordered 15 half-hour episodes of the series, and, like the comic strip, The Boondocks is a provocative family-based comedy brimming with social relevance and satire. When Robert "Granddad" Freeman becomes legal guardian of his rambunctious grandkids, he moves from the south side of Chicago to the quiet and safety of "The Boondocks" (in this case, suburban Woodcrest), hoping that he can ignore them altogether and enjoy the fourth quarter of his life in peace. But Huey, a 10-year-old left-wing revolutionary, is determined not to enjoy the affluence of suburbia. This attitude is seconded by his 8-year-old brother, Riley, a proud product of contemporary rap culture who lives only to spread chaos and mayhem. Although they torture each other and provoke the neighborhood, they are no match for G!
randdad, who is eccentric even by "crazy-ass-old-black-man" standards.
* Stroker & Hoop: This new Williams St. series from creators Casper Kelly and Jeff Olsen will premiere in September. Stroker & Hoop makes its series debut with six new episodes following the misadventures of John Stroker, a private eye still mastering the art of lock-picking, car hood-sliding and keeping his gun from falling out of his waistband when he bends over at the grocery store. Together with his partner Hoop, a self-proclaimed master of disguise, and his disobedient talking hatchback named CARR, Stroker is willing to help anyone dumb enough to respond to his 1/8-page ad in the yellow pages. An additional six new episodes of Stroker & Hoop will air in November.
* American Dad: Stan Smith is an American patriot, vigilantly fighting the war on terror as a CIA agent. That war never ends for him, even at home. This causes problems for his doting but independent-thinking wife, Francine, liberal daughter, Hayley, and awkward son, Steve, not to mention the other family members, Roger, an alien rescued from Area 51, and the German-speaking goldfish, Klaus. American Dad will join Adult Swim in May.
* Squidbillies: This new series, from Aqua Teen Hunger Force co-creator Dave Willis and The Brak Show co-creator Jim Fortier, will premiere in September. In Squidbillies, a family of cephalopods stranded in the North Georgia mountains raise hell and anger local officials. Six episodes will air in 2005.
* 12oz Mouse: Fond of beer and caught in a world of espionage and love, 12oz Mouse unknowingly delights in odd jobs. Six episodes have been ordered. The series, from Aqua Teen Hunger Force co-creator Matt Maiellaro, will premiere in September.
* Perfect Hair Forever: This new series from Williams St. chronicles the adventures of a young, bald boy in a mystical land as he seeks perfect hair. Six episodes are currently in production. Perfect Hair Forever will premiere in September.
Greenlights of Existing Series
* The Venture Bros.: Doc Venture can barely stand his sons, twins Hank and Dean. But tolerate them, he must, as The Venture Bros., an animated action-comedy from creator Jackson Publick III, will return with 13 new episodes, currently slated for early 2006. Brock Samson, the cold-blooded killer and former government agent, serves as the family's bodyguard and alpha male.
* Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Adult Swim's first original hit series has been renewed for another season, taking it through episode 75.
New Pilots in Development
* Moral Orel - Important lessons are learned in this stop-motion series from Dino Stamotopolis, a writer on Mr. Show and TV Funhouse. The pilot will air in October.
* Saul of the Mole People - Saul is an American explorer who proudly plants his flag deep inside the earth's core. While there, he encounters the Mole People, who do not understand his ways. Created by Craig Lewis, who has written for such Cartoon Network original series as Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, the show features live actors and costumed characters in a style reminiscent of series like Land of the Lost and The Banana Splits. Saul of the Mole People will premiere in October.
* Lucy: Daughter of the Devil - Lucy is a young girl who just moved to San Francisco. Her father, who happens to be Satan, is understandably concerned, particularly after she starts dating a guy named Jesus (pronounced in the Spanish manner). Lucy: Daughter of the Devil, created using CGI animation and set for an October premiere, comes from Loren Bouchard, producer of Home Movies and Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist, and stars Jon Benjamin (the voice of Coach McGuirk on Home Movies) as the Devil.
* Minori-Team: A team of superheroes, composed exclusively of members of minority groups, joins forces to fight against discrimination. Jewcano, Fasto, Dr. Wang, El Jeffe and Quickstop use the power of racial stereotypes to right societal wrongs, one slur at a time. This pilot will air in October and was created by Alex de la Pena, Todd Peters and Peter Gerardi.
New Seasons of Returning Series
* Family Guy: New episodes of the Emmy-winning series from Seth McFarlane will return to Adult Swim in June under a unique agreement between Adult Swim and Fox Broadcasting Company. Fox will air new episodes of the once-canceled series in prime time; later that week, replays will appear during late night on Adult Swim. In Family Guy, the tightly wound Griffin family sticks together despite many challenges in this fast-moving animated comedy.
* Tom Goes to The Mayor: This Adult Swim original series, created by Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, will return with eight new episodes about provincial thinking and over-exuberant civic pride on Sunday, April 17. Tom brings his ludicrous proposals to The Mayor of the sleepy small town of Jefferton, who invariably endorses them. Then
things go badly. Bob Odenkirk serves as executive producer.
* Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law will return for a new season on July 24. Harvey, the only former superhero at a snazzy law firm, represents cartoon characters in legal limbo. His boss, Phil Ken Sebben, is probably insane. An old foe, X the Eliminator, is trying to assassinate him. On top of all that, his personal life is a mess. Still, he gets to wear the cowl. Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law premiered in 2001.
* Aqua Teen Hunger Force - Three life-size food products, Meatwad, Master Shake and Frylock, live together in a rental house in New Jersey. Weird things happen to them. A new season will begin in December.
Adult Swim (AdultSwim.com), launched in 2001, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s network dedicated to edgy animated comedy and action series, both original and acquired, airing Saturday-Thursday from 11 p.m-6 a.m. (ET, PT). Adult Swim shares channel space with Cartoon Network, home to the best in original, classic and acquired programming for children and families, and is seen in 87.6 million U.S. homes.
