Adult Swim has hosted an array of zany, creative, and hilarious programs since its inception nearly two decades ago. Cartoon Network's edgy late-night block has long been a go-to for teens and adults for cartoons, anime, and live-action romps. Its diverse, robust lineup includes hits like Family Guy, Rick and Morty, and Robot Chicken. Yet over the years, this block has seen a number of shows come and go - sometimes in the course of just a year or two. Many of these programs found themselves lost in the shuffle and replaced with something new, despite the laughs, creativity, and intrigue some of them offered.
So come join us as we take a trip through Adult Swim history, highlighting the 10 greatest forgotten shows that can do for a comeback in the vein of 12 oz. Mouse and Harvey Birdman.
Xavier: Renegade Angel
Remember the early days of CGI, which hinged on a largely unrealized tech that produced crude, awkward, and occasionally buggy visuals? Well, creators Vermon Chatman and John Lee sure seem to - as they capture the wonky style of early 3D video games with Xavier.
This bizarre animation stars an oblivious, oddly-designed shaman wanderer named Xavier, whose quest for wisdom leads him to various trippy situations and insanity, along with self-imposed blunders. Renegade Angel's bombardment of weirdness and shoddy visuals is laced with surprisingly clever, humorous moments and spiritual satire.
You're Whole
It only lasted 8 episodes, but this humorous live-action show brought tons of laughs with its clever, over-the-top satire of infomercials. You're Whole was hosted by the "totally blind" Randall Tyree Mandersohn, played by comedian Michael Ian Black, who nails the nuances and mannerisms of informercial hosts. Along with director Michael Showalter, Black stands as the creator (and writer) of the show - and his brand of subdued, awkward humor is prominent throughout.
The episodes featured guests showcasing a range of weird objects and acts. Given the ongoing source of comedy fodder that infomercials still hold today, You're Whole seemingly holds a huge amount of untapped potential.
Home Movies
Though it doesn't quite hold the clout of animated sitcoms like Family Guy or Rick and Morty, this low-key comedy offers plenty of funny and endearing moments throughout the course of its early 2000s run.
The premise is simple on the one hand - involving a young aspiring filmmaker and a zany coach. Yet, Home Movies stands out with its colorful characters and a unique style of animation reminiscent of Dr, Katz "Squigglevision." The show's use of improvised dialogue gives it a laidback feel and zany randomness others would imitate in the future. Given the success of shows like Bob's Burgers, created by Home Movies' Loren Bouchard, this would seem ripe for a comeback.
Cartoon Planet
In an era where action-packed animation dominated, Cartoon Planet helped establish the notion that a cartoon could stand on the strength of little more than funny dialogue for entertainment value.
Though it hosts Hanna-Barbera supervillain outcasts, this 90s show relies on humorous exchanges and character chemistry over action. The ramblings of Space Ghost, Zorak, Moltar, and the goofy Brak offered plenty of laughs despite basic visuals and static sets. It was akin to an off-the-wall cartoon version of SNL, with rapid-fire sketches and songs featuring just a few characters. Given that this classic animation already saw a revival in 2012 - it can surely do for another.
Moral Orel
Satire often makes for the best comedy; a notion reinforced by this spoof of the claymation show Davey and Goliath. The show takes a page out of the South Park playbook with its dark, edgy humor beneath a cute, innocent exterior. Like that Comedy Centra hit, Moral Orel typically excels in poking fun at traditional American values, religious fundamentalism, and societal norms.
Given Moral Orel's unique visual charm and nuanced comedy, this show deserved more time in the sun than the handful of years it received.
Minoriteam
This zany, action-packed cartoon lasted just one year and a grand total of 19 episodes. Nonetheless, Minoriteam made an impression with a cast of distinct, memorable characters getting into various shenanigans.
The show largely satirizes Marvel-style superhero romps but bases its band of heroes on blatant racial and ethnic stereotypes. With its fun, imaginative premise, social commentary, and edgy sense of humor, Minoriteam would make for a great comeback. It'd likely be a draw to some of the millions of Marvel and DC fans looking for a comedic take on their favorite franchises.
Metalocalypse
The bombastic, overtly-serious genre of heavy metal is one that seems rife for parody potential. Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha give merit to this notion with their achingly funny animation, Metalocalypse.
Featuring a band of tough but dimwitted musicians, this show hones in on the hijinx and happenings of the death metal band, Dethklok. This romp takes a Spinal Tap approach in its satire of heavy rock but laces it with dark imagery and a twisted sense of humor to boot. Since its abrupt end in 2012, Adult Swim has been missing this musical parody and the crazy antics of Nathan Explosion and company.
Sealab 2021
Though it may seem a bit primitive now, this Adult Swim oldie was largely ahead of its time with its adult humor and trippy goofiness. Sealab's knack for stressing amusing ramblings over visual flair helped set the foundation for many adult cartoons going forward. Using little more than recycled footage of an obscure Hanna-Barbera cartoon from the '70s, Sealab proved that substance reigns over style.
It'd be great to see Adult Swim come full circle and return to its underwater roots with a reboot.
Space Ghost: Coast To Coast
Talk shows will always be a timeless form of media - at least as long as there's an entertainment industry full of famous figures to host. Thus, a cartoon talk show should be equally universal; especially one with the zany, entertaining Space Ghost at the helm.
Like our previous entry, this show helped establish a formula in adult animation with its goofy non-sequiturs and clever, often edgy humor. Given that Space Ghost hasn't seen the light of day since 2008, the potential for a great reboot with all-new celebrity guests is sky-high.
Frisky Dingo
Showrunners Adam Reed and Matt Thompson may have been a bit ahead of their time with this underrated cartoon; a notion they reinforced with their hit FX show, Archer.
Much like that show's knack for spoofing action flicks and Bond films, Frisky Dingo uses superhero movie cliches to inspire its premise and zany cast. It features a cheeky supervillain named Killface and a billionaire hero named Awesome X who are often at odds. As the show lasted just 25 episodes, the thrilling escapades of these heroes seemed to hold much potential that wasn't quite given the justice it deserved. With Marvel's cultural popularity peaking, a Frisky Dingo reboot would seem quite appropriate.