Gephyrophillia | Ask TXB #2

Originally Posted on 01/19/2007 by Jeff Harris

Howdy.

Last week, I introduced a brand new feature to the site, Ask TXB, where I'll answer a different question every week. Any question you have about the site and the articles I've written here over the years will be answered in this space. One question I haven't answered is why am I doing it on this section instead of the Watch This Space area. The next edition of Watch This Space is #149, and if you know the site, you know that the number 49 is significant to both the site and Toonami as a whole, so, you know when you can expect to see a new WTS article (it's a very important date in the history of Toonami, especially this year). As always, you can contact me via e-mail at nemalki at yahoo dot com.

By the way, the image on the left is my interpretation of what a Toonami cereal box would have looked like. Back in 2001, Cartoon Network and Kellogg's had a contest about which characters would you like to see have a cereal, and, as always, Toonami was not represented, so, in protest, I made this image. Just because Toonami's ignored by the network doesn't mean it shouldn't play in their reindeer games. Speaking of Toonami, the second letter I'm going to answer is this one from Carlos, another regular on the Toon Zone boards. He noticed that although I talk about Toonami on the site, I rarely spend time to talk about its sibling block Adult Swim, and, well, let him explain:

Hi, this is Carlos from the Toon Zone forums. I enjoy reading your site and your opinions on many different topics.

Anyway, it's been well-documented on how you feel about Cartoon Network and the direction it's taken in the past five years. However, how do you feel about Adult Swim? I've never really seen an article from you talking about the late-night block dedicated to adults. What was your reaction when you first heard about Adult Swim? Any likes or dislikes about the block? Did you agree with them splitting from CN for ratings purposes? Does the future look bright for Adult Swim?

I understand that this website covers Toonami, but Adult Swim once said in a card, "We acknowledge that Toonami is cooler than us." You have to say they have pretty good taste.

I've talked about Adult Swim numerous times on the site, though it seems like I complain when they muck with the action block (as I have done on WTS #132, #118, and #108) or the time they mistreated shows like Lupin III and Case Closed.

And every time I critiqued them, some Adult Swim fans felt that I was attacking Adult Swim, and I'm not. I'm probably as big a fan of Adult Swim as I am for Toonami.

Okay, that's not true, but I don't hate Adult Swim. I'm actually quite fond of the adult-skewing block. When I first heard about the block's formation in the summer of 2001, I figured, "Well, it's about time." Afterall, the people behind Space Ghost Coast To Coast were behind it, and they haven't disappointed me at all with their earlier productions, including Cartoon Planet, The Rudy and Gogo Cartoon Show, and, of course, a better cartoon show that we call Toonami.

The block's been on for over five years. Admittedly, the shows were, for the most part, good. It's not that often that a block is responsible for the resurgence of adult animation on a sketch comedy level. It's also that that often that a block is responsible for the resurrection of not one but four shows (Home Movies, Family Guy, The Big O, and Futurama). Shows like Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Sealab 2021, Harvey Birdman, Boondocks, The Venture Brothers, Robot Chicken, Stroker and Hoop, Squidbillies, Moral Orel, Metalocalypse, and Frisky Dingo are always fun to watch. Even the shows that many tend to find fault in, mainly Tom Goes To The Mayor and 12 Oz. Mouse have its subtle quirks. And their Japanese titles continue to impress. I'm think I'm one of the few guys that actually dig InuYasha (and yes, I love women).

My personal favorites (besides the Twentieth Television stuff) include ATHF, Boondocks, Robot Chicken, Metalocalypse, Frisky Dingo, Moral Orel, and especially The Venture Brothers. I'm a fan of the Jonny Quest franchise, and I think that Venture Bros. is not only a great parody of the standards of that show, but stands up as one of the greatest animated series of the decade, and I'm not kidding.

There are also many things I don't like about Adult Swim as well. Call me crazy, but insulting the audience on a regular basis comes off as kind of pompus on their part. It's kind of grating and sadistic of them to continue to insult the loyal viewers. It's also kind of strange seeing some of the viewers take a masochistic pleasure out of their insults, which is a whole other category I don't want to think about. Adult Swim insults the audience on screen and through certain shows. Why in the world they made a show like Assy McGee, I'll never know. It's a one-joke show that wears thin after the first moments.

I'm also concerned that Adult Swim is too reliant on third-party shows. Sure, Futurama and Family Guy bring in the ratings, but what will they do come this fall and next winter? Family Guy's stripping to syndication five nights a week starting in fall 2007 (and most markets are airing them back to back in a late-night period) and Futurama's moving to Comedy Central in winter 2008. With no clear backup on hand, Adult Swim's biggest strengths are going to become a weakness if they're not careful.

However, that's not to say all third-party shows are bad. There are shows availiable right now that they could have on the block, but for the life of me, they're not interested. Duckman would be a fine addition to the Adult Swim block, as would any of the animated shows on The Detour, Teletoon's Canadian equivalent to Adult Swim (note I didn't say Canada's version of Adult Swim, because although they share many of the same shows, The Detour and Adult Swim are independent on each other . . . plus Canadian television is more mature than American television, so they can get away with a lot more). Sons of Butcher and Delta State would fit in just fine on this side of the border, as would a lot of shows from Canada. Speaking of Canada, they could even dedicate an O Canada-like shorts show on Adult Swim every week to showcase the best in Canadian animation (and dammit, why isn't Harold Rosenbaum seen in the US?). They just don't need to rely on them heavily as a backbone of the block

I'd actually would like to see Adult Swim and Cartoon Network Studios or Warner Bros. Animation actually get along together and develop new 30-minute animated series for the block. The company behind The Oblongs and Mission Hill could actually co-produce interesting shows. I'm still pissed that Welcome to Ettlingville and Kogarth didn't go beyond plot phase. They'd rather put in live-action fare like Strata, Saved By The Bell, Tim and Eric, or The Smoking Gun on the block than something truly animated. Hell, Adult Swim and Warner Bros. could make Vertigo-themed or Wildstorm animated series if they wanted to. The Endless and Crimson are just screaming to be animated.

I'd even like to see Sunday Pants on Adult Swim since it was one of the best experimental shows on Cartoon Network. It fits the demographic well and had many of the Adult Swim staffers on-board.

Notice I keep on using one word to describe Adult Swim. That word is "block." Despite Cartoon Network's management wanting to separate Adult Swim from them, I still see Adult Swim as a block on Cartoon Network. I still see Cartoon Network's bullying and mandates on Adult Swim, even though they're supposed to be so separate. Adult Swim, despite being a bit risky in certain aspects, is tame compared to, say, FX or Spike TV. I can't imagine Adult Swim airing a show like Afro Samurai. I still couldn't believe they aired Evangelion. The beeps were annoying and made you wonder "Why bother?" about their decision to air it. You're not going to hear anyone on Adult Swim say "shit" because they're still connected to Cartoon Network, though The Network doesn't want them to be.

Also, I'd like to hear a good reason why the only place I see advertisements for Adult Swim is on Adult Swim. Guess they abandoned that "Work like hell and advertise" mantra of Ted Turner after the coup took place in 2001 and the upper management of Time Warner ran him out of the place.

Despite my qualms and concerns about the block, I have nothing but love and high hopes for Adult Swim. I feel that if Cartoon Network actually loosen the strings they still hold on Adult Swim, then maybe we'd see a bolder, better, and slightly more mature block. If Time Warner actually showed love to Adult Swim, then maybe we'd see some innovative programming, including, perhaps, more home-grown animated comedy and action programming from some of the industry's greatest minds. Even if any of that doesn't happen, I think the people actually working on the shows (and not just figureheads who act as the voice of the block to the media ['sup Mike, I need a one-on-one chat with you one day; you know where to reach me]) are doing a hell of a job.

I like Adult Swim more than I like Cartoon Network. And I'm okay saying that.

*end transmission*

Jeff Harris,
Creator/Webmaster, The X Bridge.