he Cartoon Network has finally started courting the 18-34-year-old crowd that makes up one-third of its audience by offering a lineup of late-night shows that might appeal to those who don't have a bedtime. Adult Swim is a mixed bag of half-hour animated shows that feature everything from a third-grader who likes to make movies to a certain popular space ghost.
Home Movies, created by Loren Bouchard and Brendon Small, anchors the rotating lineup and introduces an awkward eight-year-old named Brendon, who writes, directs and acts in home movies featuring his friends. In the opening episode, Brendon goes on a school camping trip with his friends and finds out a girl, like, likes him. His divorced mom advises him to actually talk to the girl at school. But is, like, liking a girl enough when her boyfriend from last week is still hanging around?
The Brak Show is written and produced by Jim Fortier and Pete Smith, the producers of Space Ghost Coast to Coast. Brak is a demented space pirate who is struggling through his teen-age years, while his best friend, Zorak, stirs up trouble. In the opening episode, Zorak coughs up his voice, and suddenly he sings like an angel. But can Zorak get his voice back before he becomes a singing sensation?
Michael Ouweleen and Erik Richter are the creators of Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, about the token superhero at a prestigious law firm. Unlucky Harvey gets to do all the cartoon litigation. First up—Race Bannon takes Benton Quest to court to get custody of Jonny and Hadji. Will Quest
keep custody of his beloved children? Will he remember their names? And what the heck went on between Race and Quest before the big breakup?
In Aqua Teen Hunger Force, three human-sized food product detectives try to solve mysteries in New Jersey when they aren't enjoying their neighbor's pool. Master Shake, Frylock and Meatwad set off to investigate who killed their neighbor's car, which has been squashed flat as a pancake.
Will the three detectives set off to solve the mystery or will they see if they can get a nice tan first?
Space Ghost Coast to Coast is back with all-new episodes featuring that testy talk show cartoon superhero, Space Ghost, and his archenemies Moltar and Zorak. First up is an interview with Dave Thomas. Getting no respect from his behind-the-scenes crew or his guest, Space Ghost takes off. But he'd better not be gone too long. Dave Thomas wouldn't mind taking a crack at his job.
"Re-purposing" Sealab 2020, executive producers Adam Reed and Matt Thompson have created Sealab 2021, about a crew of incompetent idiots who run a high-tech underwater facility. In the opener, white Debbie decides it's time to have a baby. Right now. But will any of her inept crewmates
make a good father?
Animated agony and ecstasy
In the uneven tradition of NBC's "Must-See TV," the Cartoon Network has put together a lineup that mixes the terrific with the terrible. Home Movies; Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law; and the returning Space Ghost are funny and entertaining, and adult enough to earn their slot
in the Adult Swim lineup. However, The Brak Show, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and the tasteless Sealab 2021 vary between just not being funny (Brak, Aqua) to being downright offensive (Sealab).
Undoubtedly, it's difficult to put together a brand-new lineup and expect that every series is going to be a winner. And indeed, both Home Movies and Harvey Birdman are outstanding new shows for the channel. Home Movies is a sweet-natured, Wonder Years-type comedy about a
little boy's life. Harvey Birdman pulls few punches as it takes shots at well-loved cartoon shows. Along with the biting sarcasm of Space Ghost, the three shows are laugh-out-loud funny.
The Cartoon Network can be forgiven for misses like Brak (which has a following) and Aqua (which probably sounded funny on paper), but there is little excuse for Sealab. While the politically incorrect subject matter is certainly ripe for the skewing, Sealab is a terrible, unfunny and objectionable show. Harvey Birdman does a great job at gently skewing politically incorrect material, so it certainly can be done. It's one thing to offer "adult" shows. It's another to offer shows that would even offend adults.
Adult Swim is a great idea, and its time has certainly come. The C+ score above works out this way: Home Movies: A-, Brak: D+, Harvey Birdman: A, Aqua: D, Space Ghost: A- and Sealab: F.
