As a kid, I watched a lot of TV. I have an unusual amount of obscure knowledge of pop-culture trivia facts as a result of the viewing habits of my youth. These days, if you catch me watching TV, the channel will probably be on some sporting event or news show(or fake news like “The Daily Show” and “Colbert Report”). However, the biggest exception to this rule is “Adult Swim.” I have become quite the Adult Swim addict, so I am going to take this time out to rank my favorite (and least favorite) comedy shows on there. I can’t claim to have watched EVERY comedy show on Adult Swim, but of the ones I’ve watched more than once, here is my oh-so opinionated list, from most entertaining to least entertaining:
The Boondocks – What can I say? This show cracks me up mainly because it takes popular cultural stereotypes(ESPECIALLY those embraced by black folks themselves) and turns them on their heads. Plus, the vocal talent is hilarious. I rarely catch it these days due to it’s crappy time slot, but it’s the only Adult Swim show which I own the entire collection on DVD.
Squidbillies – This show came in a very close second to The Boondocks. Hell, if nothing else, I watch just to see what craziness is going to be on the front of the trucker hat from episode to episode! VERY funny stuff, indeed…especially since I grew up in Fredericksburg, VA and saw more than a few over-the-top rednecks with authority issues and attitude problems back in the day.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force – Not too many characters on television talk more sh*t than Master Shake. Maybe Stewie Griffin from Family Guy and Bill O’Reilly, but that’s about it as far as TV sh*t-talkers go.
King of the Hill/Family Guy/American Dad – The Sunday Fox shows that air on here are all proven commodities. I won’t spend much time on a critique of them.
Delocated – The entire premise of someone in the witness relocation program having a reality TV show is funny to me. The ski mask and distorted voice just makes it even funnier. The show has it’s less-than-stellar moments, but overall Delocated amuses the hell out of me. Especially the angle of the Russian hit man/aspiring stand-up comic simultaneously getting his own reality series as he tries to assassinate Delocated’s main character!
Look Around You – This show reminds me of those really old classroom videos that teachers used to show kids in elementary school on subjects like the metric system and the carbon dioxide. They always seem to find some way to fit in some off-kilter, yet hilarious detail in the fake educational documentaries. A prime example came at the end of a recent episode, where they said “Next week, we’ll turn our focus to dynamite.” As the credits rolled, you see a hand light a really long fuse. The fuse continued to burn as the credits were rolling, scrolling aross the screen and through the laboratory. Right after the last credit, you see the flaming fuse about to reach the sticks of dynamite, but a scientist is right there about 2 feet next to the dynamite with his head resting on the table, staring at it in amazement! Little details like that make the show hilarious to me, when I’m in a silly mood.
Robot Chicken – This show always makes me laugh, but the sketches are hit or miss. For every great one, there are two that aren’t nearly as inspired or interesting, in my opinion. Overall, it keeps me laughing enough to take the bad with the good.
Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law – This show is always funny to me, if for nothing else, the fact that they put traditional cartoon characters in utterly disturbing legal situations. I’m instantly getting flashbacks to the episode where Yogi Bear’s sidekick Boo-Boo was a sex-addicted murderer modeled after Sharon Stone’s “Basic Instint” character.
Superjail! – Very graphic violence and disgusting imagery, yet also holds my attention somehow. Another hit-or-miss type of show to me. My favorite aspect of the show is the theme song and custom intros for each episode.
The Drinky Crow Show – About as funny and interesting as a show about a suicidal alcoholic crow can get. It has it’s moments, but it’s not one of Adult Swim’s better programs.
Metalocalypse – Pretty funny sometimes, but to me, it’s all about William Murderface. If I ever end up with a dog that can’t defend himself or protect me from intruders, like a Yorkie or Jack Russel Terrier, I’m gonna name him William Murderface. That way, he’ll at least get SOME respect at the dog park! I can be like “My dog will MURDER you! Not only that, he will MURDER you, IN YOUR FACE!”
Moral Orel – This show is funny because the most f*cked up of scenarios always seem to unfold around Orel as he unknowingly fans the flames with his blindingly innocent belief system. Sometimes it takes things a little far in my opinion, but overall I laugh when it’s on.
The Venture Bros – This show is always pretty interesting. I’m not a huge fan of it, but I’ll watch it when it’s on. It’s much better than…
Xavier: Renegade Angel – Once again, Adult Swim unleashes an original idea with a visually intriguing style. Only problem is, the lead character is completely unlikeable and it’s just not that funny. The only things that have ever made me laugh on this show are flashback scenes showing something from Xavier’s past to illustrate why he’s so screwed up now. Also, I can’t stand his Native American Keanu Reeves-sounding voice.
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! – I have tried to watch this show sober, and in various states of inebriation, yet I’ve never found it entertaining. The best it’s ever gotten from me is an occasional chuckle or two. These guys are extremely creative, but the delivery of the matierial is so dry, and most of the characters are so unlikeable, that it comes across as more weird than funny. It’s almost a shame, because the potential for humor is there in the ideas, but they seem to only care about getting reactions from being unusual. Maybe I’m just not the target audience. I think this show is more geared towards strange suburban dwellers who laugh at the goofiest of sh*t. The one episode of Tom Goes To The Mayor that I’ve watched wasn’t too crappy, so I’ll give them extra credit since it appears to be produced by the same crew.
There you go…If you’ve made it this far, I commend you! Now that you see my unusual amount of Adult Swim expertise, please share it with the folks over at Williams Street so that they’ll take this into consideration when I pitch a few show ideas to them! Thanks in advance.
Oh yeah, let me know your opinions on this list. I’m all about feedback, people!
BOONDOCKS ALL DAY BABY, that is some funny ish right there….*sidenote, noticed someone trynna jack ma name, wats really hood?*
Aqua Teen Hunger Force has some hits and misses, some of the shi* i’m just like WTF?!
Later,
Your Fav Canadian
BELLA
how did “Drawn Together” not make the list?
@ milkmayun, it came on Comedy Central, not Cartoon Network. That’s why it’s not on the list.
LOVE BOONDOCKS I HAVE THE ENTIRE COLLECTION AS WELL AND FOPR “BELLA” I DIDNT JACK YOUR NAME LOOK CLOSELY AND YOU WILL SEE ITS NOT THE SAME! :)
^ FOR
Awww man where to start….first of all I have to be one of the biggest ATHF fans on the planet….I tried recently to get a friend into it and she just wasn’t feeling it….it was the first time I was truly disappointed in her….
I want to give a shout out to a couple shows you didn’t mention for whatever reason…
The Brak Show….if only for his hilarious father and Thundercleese….
Futurama…..before Family Guy got a second life there was Futurama!
Frisky Dingo…I wasn’t the BIGGEST fan but people love it…so…you know…
and of course the grandfather of them all….SPACE GHOST COAST TO COAST!! Without that there’d be no adult swim!
What about the show where they guy has a butt for a head? Isnt that on adult swim? Please tell me someone knows what im talking about. lol
@ SOUTHERN_BELLA, it aint even you ma, somebody straight up clld ‘emselves Bella and i was like, WTF!
Family guy….”gigidee gee gee”
Your Fav Canadian
@ Killa Cal, I haven’t seen Brak or Space Ghost Coast To Coast in years. I didn’t know they still aired them, so I didn’t list them. I’ve only seen Frisky Dingo once, but it was kind of funny. As far as Futurama, I forgot about it, since I wasn’t much of a big fan…lol
@ Leigh, that show is called “Assy McGee” or something like that. I’ve only seen commercials for it. Never actually watched it.
Adult Swim is one of the primary reasons I miss living in the U.S.
I dated a girl back in college on the strength that she liked ATHF as much as I did. Talk about common interest.
Can’t wait for the Cleveland Show.
doh…. somehow I knew that
Robot Chicken is hit or miss. Sometimes it’s just not funny, sometimes it’s hilarious. I LOVE to watch Family Guy so I feel you on not commenting, it’s like loving The Simpsons. ATHF I can get into sometimes when nothing else is on. Other than that I love Boondocks when I can catch it.
I LOVE Boondocks and Squidbillies. My favorite hat so far was the “Free Hat, Limit 1″ but it’s a close second behind his hat-shaped-resume that showed that he could skin a buck and run a trout like, and yes, all this rowdy friends are coming over tonight. It got him the job at Dan Halen, so enough said.
Tonight…YOU.
I don’t need to say anymore. ATHF wins.
Frisky Dingo..the best animated show in years
Squidbillies
Venture Bros
Fam Guy/American Dad/KoH
Tim and Eric Awesome Show
Superjail..Alice alone makes this show worth watching.
Stroker and Hoop
Home Movies
People just don’t understand Tim and Eric. The show is basically a satire/parody of cable television in its earliest stages. There was nothing on cable but crazy ass talk shows and fuzzy channels. The idea is very original.
The Boondocks was phenomenal in its first season but lately they have been trying too hard. Content has fallen off considerably.
I love Adult Swim too. My biggest complaint is just when I get in the routine of watching a particular show, they go and change the schedule around.
I enjoy Boondocks too, but my favorites are Robot Chicken, Harvey Birdman & ATHF. I also do like Squidbillies sometimes.
I love Family Guy, but usually catch that on Fox or the several other places that have it in syndication now (instead of on Adult Swim). I used to watch it on Adult Swim all the time when it was dropped by Fox for a while.
Fun post. Thanks!
I will do everything I can to get this show off the air. I’m going to form Moms against Adult Swim. I still can’t believe cable lets this show on. It is horrifing. A combination between a Steven King Horror Flick and Jerry Springer but on a level beyond comprehension.
Whatever horrible childhood you had get over it.