Adult Swim Announces SAMURAI JACK Revival, ROBOT CHICKEN: THE WALKING DEAD Special, and More
Some really cool news has come out of the Cartoon Network camp today. Variety announced that Cartoon Network's Adult Swim has some pretty awesome plans to ensure that their current, future, and past fan bases will all be entertained. One of the steps they are taking is to bring us new episodes of Samurai Jack. Earlier this year, Adult Swim announced the series revival would be coming, but this solidifies their plans, and there are a ton of other new announcements that CN has revealed:
The Time Warner-owned cable programmer that tilts toward millennial viewers and younger generations with animated fare shown in primetime and overnights, said it would release more original programming via streaming video for daytime viewing as part of an effort to spur its audience to increase consumption of its oddball but cult-favorite content.
The outlet "simply knows its audience," said Christina Miller, president and general manager, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang, in a prepared statement.
As part of its slate of programs, expected to be cited next week during a presentation by Time Warner’s Turner unit, Adult Swim will unveil its revival of “Samurai Jack,” the former Cartoon Network series that has not produced an original episode since 2004. Original creator and executive producer Genndy Tartakovsky will continue the epic story of a young prince from feudal Japan vies with a shape-shifting demon named Aku in the far-flung future. The series will be produced by Cartoon Network Studios.
Other returning series include: Black Jesus, Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule, The Eric Andre Show, Infomercials, Mike Tyson Mysteries, Mr. Pickles, Neon Joe Werewolf Hunter, Robot Chicken, Rick and Morty, Squidbillies, Tim & Eric’s Bedtime Stories, The Venture Bros. and Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell.
With a majority of my friends cutting off cable/satellite companies and going completely streaming, this is a great way for CN to get in front of the wave and provide original content for those who have cut the cord.
Variety also included a list of specials and new shows that are slated to show up at the CN. Because I am not a jerk, here is the list. Enjoy!
Adult Swim’s new original series and specials include:
Robot Chicken: The Walking Dead Special: The team behind “Robot Chicken” joins with the creators of “The Walking Dead” to create a half-hour special satirizing the zombie apocalypse. Stoopid Buddy Stoodios produces in tandem with “Walking Dead” creator/executive producer Robert Kirkman and showrunner/executive producer/writer Scott M. Gimple.
Montana James: Explorer Montana James hunts for the coveted Holy Grail Cup, while trying to thwart the Order of the Red Arm Band in this half-hour live-action special. Created by Nick Corirossi and Charles Ingram, and produced by Funny Or Die.
Mr. Neighbor’s House: A half-hour special hosted by Brian Huskey, who plays a kids’ TV host barely able to contain boiling rage by throwing to “educational” vignettes: puppets, animation, stop motion, spoken word and mixed medium elements. “Mr. Neighbor’s House” was created by Huskey, Jason Mantzoukas and Jesse Falcon, who also serve as executive producers with Rob Corddry.
Brett Gelman’s Dinner in America: Brett Gelman and director Jason Woliner explore the issue of race in a half-hour special featuring a roundtable discussion with four actors: Loretta Devine, Shareeka Epps, Joe Morton and Mack Wilds that does not go the way it was originally planned. Created and written by Gelman and Woliner and produced by Abso Lutely Productions.
Dream Corp, LLC: An absurd workplace comedy set in a neglected dream therapy facility features a rotating cast of desperate patients who 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 and executive-produced by John Krasinski and Stephen Merchant, as well as Krasinski’s Sunday Night partner Allyson Seeger.
Million Dollar Extreme Presents: World Peace: This quarter-hour live-action comedy series features sketch comedy troupe Million Dollar Extreme. Starring Sam Hyde, Nick Rochefort, Charls Carroll, and directed by Andrew Ruse.
Brad Neely’s Harg Nallin’ Sclopio Peepio: A new quarter-hour animated sketch show created by Brad Neely, the series features a collection of frenetic one-off bits, shorts and songs, all filtered through Neely’s signature visual style. Neely and Daniel Weidenfeld serve as executive producers, with Dave Newberg as co-executive producer and Titmouse, Inc. producing.
Decker: Unclassified: This series follows Agent Jack Decker and master code breaker Agent Jonathan Kington 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: Adult Swim and legendary animation studio Production I.G are creating two new six-episode seasons to continue a series created in 2000, which will premiere in Adult Swim’s Toonami block. Series creator Kazuya Tsurumaki, serves as supervisor with director Hideto Iwai.
Pilots
Art Prison: Talented convicts vie for one last shot at success inside a Prison for the Performing Arts in this half-hour live-action pilot. Created by Tom Kauffman and Paul Isakson, who serve as executive producers with Dan Harmon. Produced by Starburns Industries.
Lazor Wulf: This quarter-hour animated pilot follows a wolf who carries a laser on his back. Ccreated by Henry Bonsu and written/executive-produced by Bonsu and Daniel Weidenfeld.
Chuck Deuce: A half-hour animated pilot about a surfer whose memory is wiped out by a giant wave and who suffers from hallucinations as a result. Executive produced by creator Chioke ‘Stretch’ McCoy and Matt Iles, with Jenn Tolman serving as producer.
AdultSwim.com Streaming Shows
Stupid Morning Bull—t: Hosts field calls and break down current events in pop culture while occasionally setting things on fire in an otherwise relaxed, morning show environment. Weekdays at 11 a.m. ET
Williams Street Swap Shop: A live, daily community swap meet. Weekdays at 1 p.m.
Crosswords: Novices and experts alike are encouraged to call in to help solve a variety of challenging daily puzzles, including the esteemed New York Times crossword. Weekdays at 2 p.m.
FishCenter: Fourteen enchanting and colorful fish are the stars of this live, daily interactive comedy and game show based around the Adult Swim aquarium. Weekdays at 4 p.m.
Call of Karaoke: Call in and sing along with hosts who are happy to take requests while playing shoot-em-up games. Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m.
Daytime Fighting League: Sixteen amateur fighter compete in ridiculous battles. Thursdays at 5 p.m.
Sports Bitches: Alpha males confront each other in various sports-themed video games while debating callers and showing clips of the biggest national sports stories of the week. Thursdays at 6 p.m.
Development Meeting: Adult Swim fans call in and pitch their ideas to actual Adult Swim development execs, who also provide sneak peeks at new and never before seen clips. Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.
Game Humpers: Call in live to impress the experts with your best tips and tricks for a variety of games and challenges. Fridays at 5:30 p.m.
Toonami Pre-Flight: A deep dive into all things Toonami, including an in-depth look at shows and an interactive Facebook Question of the Week. Fridays at 6:30 p.m. (ET)