Adult Swim is aiming at its millennial audience with the development of new original series that serve both linear TV and digital platform viewers, the network said Thursday in advance of its May 18 upfront presentation.
Adult Swim has greenlit several new on-air shows, including a new Robot Chicken special -- Robot Chicken: The Walking Dead Special -- as well asMillion Dollar Extreme: World Peace, a live action series that follows the exploits of sketch comedy troupe Million Dollar Extreme; Brad Belman’s Dinner in America, which follows comedian Belman as he explores race relations across the country; a new pilot project from Dan Harmon dubbed Art Prison; and the return of classic Cartoon Network series Samurai Jack, network officials said
On the digital side, Adult Swim will launch several weekday shows including Stupid Morning Bullshit, Williams Street Swap Shop, Call of Karaoke and Development Meeting, the network said.
“Adult Swim is a one of a kind destination that simply knows its audience,” said Christina Miller, president and general manager, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang in a statement. “Mike Lazzo and his team have always found new and interesting ways to produce and distribute content that can’t be found anywhere else.”
A list of original series and specials include:
Montana James
In this half-hour live-action special, adventure has one name, Montana James. Follow our feathered-cap-wearing explorer on another one of his rip-roaring syndicated television odysseys. This time Montana is on the hunt for the coveted Holy Grail Cup, but watch out Montana, the Order of the Red Arm Band is on your tail again! Created by Nick Corirossi and Charles Ingram, and produced by Funny Or Die.
Mr. Neighbor's House
Mr. Neighbor's House is a half-hour, live-action children's show hosted by Brian Huskey (Childrens Hospital, Veep). He's like any other host of kids programming, except that he is barely able to contain the suppressed rage boiling underneath his quiet demeanor. From the safe confines of his home, he throws to various "educational" vignettes: puppets, animation, stop motion, spoken word and mixed medium elements that all blend together into one half-hour special… that is NOT for kids. Mr. Neighbor's House was created by Huskey, Jason Mantzoukas (Childrens Hospital, The League), and Jesse Falcon, who also serve as executive producers with Rob Corddry (Childrens Hospital, Hot Tub Time Machine).
Dream Corp, LLC
Dream Corp, LLC is an absurd workplace comedy set in a neglected dream therapy facility. Each week, viewers will watch as a rotating cast of desperate patients have their dreams recorded and analyzed by Dream Corp's absent-minded professor, Dr. Roberts (Jon Gries), and his team of unremarkable scientists. Dream Corp, LLC is created by Daniel Stessen (The Gold Sparrow) and executive-produced by alums of both American and British versions of The Office, John Krasinski and Stephen Merchant, as well as Krasinski's Sunday Night partner Allyson Seeger.
Brad Neely's Harg Nallin' Sclopio Peepio
A new quarter-hour animated sketch show created by Brad Neely (China, IL), Harg Nallin' Sclopio Peepio features a collection of frenetic one-off bits, shorts and songs, all filtered through Neely's signature visual style. Beware however, as this show hates you. Neely and Daniel Weidenfeld serve as executive producers, with Dave Newberg as co-executive producer and Titmouse, Inc. producing.
Decker: Unclassified
A successful web series and an action-packed powerhouse, Decker: Unclassified follows Agent Jack Decker as he subverts terrorist plots against his beloved America. Joined by ally and master code breaker Agent Jonathan Kington, the two navigate evils both foreign and domestic threatening a once great nation. The series was created by and stars Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington, and is produced by Abso Lutely Productions.
FLCL
Created in 2000, FLCL told the tale of Naota, a 12-year-old boy who met a woman that would forever change his life…whether he liked it or not. Sixteen years later, Adult Swim and legendary animation studio Production I.G (Ghost in the Shell) are creating two new six-episode seasons to continue the tale, which will premiere in Adult Swim's Toonami block. In the new season of FLCL, many years have passed since Naota and Haruhara Haruko shared their adventure together. Meanwhile, the war between the two entities known as Medical Mechanica and Fraternity rages across the galaxy. Enter Hidomi, a young teenaged girl who believes there is nothing amazing to expect from her average life, until one day a new teacher named Haruko arrives at her school. Soon enough, Medical Mechanica is attacking her town and Hidomi discovers a secret within her that could save everyone, a secret that only Haruko can unlock. Back for the new season is FLCL series creator Kazuya Tsurumaki, serving as supervisor with director Hideto Iwai (Last Dinner).
Adult Swim pilots in development include:
Lazor Wulf
This quarter-hour animated pilot follows a wolf who carries a laser on his back and believes that love has no limit, that wearing do-rags gives you power and that Gawd is a lie. It was created by Henry Bonsu and written/executive-produced by Bonsu and Daniel Weidenfeld (China, IL).
Chuck Deuce
A half-hour animated masterpiece written by Lars Kensethk, Chuck Deuce is about a Northern California slacktivist/surfer who paddles out to carve mavericks, when a giant wave crushes him. Three weeks later, he walks ashore with no idea where he's been, how he survived, or why his brain is now ravaged by hallucinations – everything from conjoined CIA agents, talking sex dolls, and sock puppet headed freaks. Like his herpes, Chuck ignores it and returns to his daily grind of violating nudity bans, protesting decency laws and skirting home-yak-milking statutes in his native Santa Cruz. But the question persists, what happened to Chuck out there... and is it really over? Chuck Deuce is executive produced by creator Chioke 'Stretch' McCoy and Matt Iles, with Jenn Tolman serving as producer.
