Has Adult Swim ran its course?

[savedbythebell]

I used to love Adult Swim for their great mix of action cartoons and absurd humour. But ever since they figured out they could air 20 episodes of Family Guy back to back and get amazing ratings, I feel like their programming took a massive nose dive. And now Adult Swim is just an empty shell of its former self.

They have completely given up on action and the new action shows they do have are no where near being mature. And most of thier newer comedies just try too hard to be obscene or random, completely lacking everything that made their old originals great. The worst part of all though is the endless reruns. Whens the last time they didnt show Family Guy 50 times a week?

Theres no reason to watch anymore, its all reruns and yeah I know its been that way for years. Thats why I stopped watching a few years ago. I guess I'm just surprised no one else has.

[Paradox295]

Absolutely.

Again, even though I'm British and don't get US CN and therefore can't watch Adult Swim, so I'm just going by the online schedule.

On weeknights, Family Guy/American Dad needs to be there. It's pretty much the spine of the whole block.

Saturdays are pretty good, but Family Guy Season 1 doesn't need to be there.

Sundays are the main problem. Personally I'd replace ATHF and Squids with Birdman and Sealab since ATHF's already on during the week >_<

[Daikun]

As much as I'd hate to admit it, I think Adult Swim definitely has run its course. The unnecessary expansions, total genre imbalance, and overuse of reruns have tarnished its quality. Brotherhood is the only show I'm watching on it right now. I tried giving the other shows a chance, but they either didn't hold my interest, or they weren't terrible, but I just didn't feel the drive to watch more.

[droosan]

Venture Brothers is still fantastic (when it actually airs). And I'm kinda diggin' Mongo Wrestling Alliance on Sunday nights. Last year's Freaknik: The Musical was kinda fun. And I also loves me some Drinky Crow (again -- when it actually airs)

But yeh .. I'll flip the channel whenever a Family Guy or King of the Hill re-run pops up.

-------------------------------------

Run it's course..? Nah.

Adult Swim may not now be what it was, a few years ago (in its 'hey-day' of Sealab 2021 & Harvey Birdman) .. but the block's potential is still there, IMO.

[Toon Master]

Yes, Adult Swim has ran its course.

They seem to constantly air reruns of FOX shows (I can recite almost every Family Guy episode they air in my sleep).

The running time of the block is ridiculous. 9PM - 6AM....really? What the heck did they need that time for....oh of course....more King of the Hill reruns (Oblongs and Baby Blues on Sundays) and half of the block is a repeat of what has already aired in the previous hours.

They could end Adult Swim at 2AM and let CN fill that time with some classic cartoons. Yeah I know....it's not going to happen, but a guy can dream.

One last thing....

STOP AIRING ALL WEEK!!!! Go back to the old Sunday and Thursday routine. It really wouldn't hurt. The entire week is just reruns of American Dad, Family Guy, and King of the Hill with some Robot Chicken and Aqua Teen Hunger Force thrown in.

[DarthGonzo]

Since I don't care at all about CN's main channel anymore and I really enjoy King of the Hill, American Dad and Family Guy, three hours straight of those shows ensures that - at least during the week - my TV is turned to Adult Swim from 9am to 12 midnight.

So no, what AS is airing now doesn't bother me and no, I don't think it's run it's course.

[Paradox295]

Yes, Adult Swim has ran its course.

They seem to constantly air reruns of FOX shows (I can recite almost every Family Guy episode they air in my sleep).

The running time of the block is ridiculous. 9PM - 6AM....really? What the heck did they need that time for....oh of course....more King of the Hill reruns (Oblongs and Baby Blues on Sundays) and half of the block is a repeat of what has already aired in the previous hours.

They could end Adult Swim at 2AM and let CN fill that time with some classic cartoons. Yeah I know....it's not going to happen, but a guy can dream.

One last thing....

STOP AIRING ALL WEEK!!!! Go back to the old Sunday and Thursday routine. It really wouldn't hurt. The entire week is just reruns of American Dad, Family Guy, and King of the Hill with some Robot Chicken and Aqua Teen Hunger Force thrown in.

Oblongs and Baby Blues are there because of Animation Domination being on Fox at the same time. Which defeats the whole point, really.

Family Guy and American Dad are never gonna leave Adult Swim. Not until atleast they get cancelled. But, the only reason they get renewed... is because they do so well in syndication! It's like an endless loop !!

As I said, Family Guy is the backbone of the block. Maybe even the whole network.
These are the ratings for one week back in December: http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/201...mily-guy/76003

The most terrifying thing about this is that the season finale of The Venture Bros. only got a third of the ratings a rerun of Family Guy got.

And, finally, the worst thing, Family Guy is renewed in syndication until 2015, so the endless loop will keep going for another 4 years.

[FFmax]

Adult Swim is slowly becoming a second Fox network. Just watch, they'll start picking up live action shows from Fox and rerun them to death too. Saturdays is the only time I really watch this network, but I do leave it on week nights when I'm preoccupied with something else, like when I'm on the computer.

[DarthGonzo]

Family Guy and American Dad are never gonna leave Adult Swim. Not until atleast they get cancelled. But, the only reason they get renewed...

...is, in Family Guy's case, because now it's generally FOX's highest rated Sunday night show.

[OnePark]

I have no problem with modern Adult Swim. There isn't that much variety, but I like that. Most nights I can watch every show that comes on (KotH-AD-FG-ATHF/RC) before I go to sleep. They may not be new episodes, but I'm okay with that.

I love Adult Swim, always have. In the seeable future I see myself watching every night.

[Shawn Hopkins]

I think it's certainly time to rebrand the block into something fresher and cooler. Adult Swim feels dated and past its time.

I always hated the "action" shows, though, so I hope whatever the rebrand is specifically prohibits their inclusion.

[chdr]

I do think AS has run its course. Not because of all the FOX shows (there's always been a lot of FOX content on AS), but because it seems like the originality and fun seems gone from Williams Street. Sure, they're still doing their "weird for the sake of weird" thing, but it doesn't seem like they are genuinely having fun doing AS anymore and are just doing what they do simply because of what others expected them to do. Really, the only thing on AS right now that feels really inspired is DVR Theater.

[Beat]

I think it's certainly time to rebrand the block into something fresher and cooler. Adult Swim feels dated and past its time.

I always hated the "action" shows, though, so I hope whatever the rebrand is specifically prohibits their inclusion.

This I agree with. Family Guy and the like are successful and continue to be so, but the idea of rebranding the block into something new and specifically excluding all the shounen (which never fit the block and still doesn't) this time around sounds like a great idea.

So keep the adult animation, but dump the old block formula and dump the low rated anime.

[Butterstar]

Um, yes. I actually enjoy their shonen (*holds rant shield up*), but their comedies have gone from funny (such as Space Ghost: Coast to Coast) to just wasted material (Mongo Wrestling Alliance). They need some new programming that's tasteful and you can't see on Fox.

[TheVileOne]

I wouldn't say that it has run its course but it's glory days are certainly over. I think Adult Swim peaked several years ago.

[Sgt.Frog]

Why would they take that hour away from CN? They really should return it, because Cartoon Network is in a mess right now. Before they were getting 2.0's, now they're getting 1.5's they're ratings are being twiddled away. At least let CN have that Friday Night back as collateral. Or return two hours to Friday Nights and Saturdays.

[Rud]

I disagree, its not perfect, but if it stayed as it is now forever i wouldnt have much of a problem with it.

Personally, i could watch reruns of King of the Hill, The Boondocks, new/old Venture Bros episodes and reruns of Cowboy Bebop/Ghost in the Shell/FLCL (on Saturdays) for the rest of my life. The block has yet to get old for me.

Why would they take that hour away from CN? They really should return it, because Cartoon Network is in a mess right now. Before they were getting 2.0's, now they're getting 1.5's they're ratings are being twiddled away. At least let CN have that Friday Night back as collateral. Or return two hours to Friday Nights and Saturdays.

Obviously they are giving that time to AS because ratings wise they do a better job with it.

[Paradox295]

...is, in Family Guy's case, because now it's generally FOX's highest rated Sunday night show.

Actually, The Simpsons still is.
Then Family Guy, followed closely by Cleveland, Burgers and American Dad.

As for rebrands... maybe. I don't think I could see AS without it's Black Background and White Text.
From what I have seen, the swimming pool bumps were good, but they don't really fit with the brand they have now.

[Butterstar]

Obviously they are giving that time to AS because ratings wise they do a better job with it.

Honestly, no, no they are not. CN's comedy block receives over two million viewers on average, which means of course they want more comedy. But kids are going to have to make a 5-days-a-week commitment if they want to see it all (you could easily squeeze in Problem Solverz, The Amazing World of Gumball, and Thundercats, three new shows, into the 9:00 hour). Adult Swim on average can only receive above a million viewers with the teen demographic that thinks they're too "cool" for Adventure Time.

Conclusion: The move to 9PM was a waste.

[Space Cadet]

Actually, The Simpsons still is.
Then Family Guy, followed closely by Cleveland, Burgers and American Dad.

As for rebrands... maybe. I don't think I could see AS without it's Black Background and White Text.
From what I have seen, the swimming pool bumps were good, but they don't really fit with the brand they have now.

No, Family Guy consistently beats out The Simpsons on FOX.

Honestly, no, no they are not. CN's comedy block receives over two million viewers on average, which means of course they want more comedy. But kids are going to have to make a 5-days-a-week commitment if they want to see it all (you could easily squeeze in Problem Solverz, The Amazing World of Gumball, and Thundercats, three new shows, into the 9:00 hour). Adult Swim on average can only receive above a million viewers with the teen demographic that thinks they're too "cool" for Adventure Time.

Conclusion: The move to 9PM was a waste.

But, AS doesn't target teens, so they don't care about that. Their audience is adults 18-34, which they excel in.


As for my opinion, no I don't think AS has ran its course. However, I do think some changes need to be made in order the freshen the block up.

I'm down for new packaging as long as they keep some of the black & white bumps(for ratings and info on shows). I also think they should develop more shows that are longer than 15 minutes, animation and live-action. They do need to utilize their time better. Start premiering some originals before 11 pm on weekdays(I know they have tried in the past, but keep trying still. One show will bound to stick). Air Bleach reruns on weekdays. The show has more than 200 episodes. More than enough to have decent reruns.

As for anime, I think its fine with its airing on Saturdays. The ratings have stabilized and for the first time in years, AS is actively promoting the shows. Every week. I haven't seen this since 2002-2005. If anime is gone, it'll be a huge blow to anime on TV. CN is only airing toyetic anime, Nicktoons airs DBZ Kai, Disney XD airs Shipuuden, The Hub airs Deltora Quest and you have Toonzai, which airs reruns of older shows. IFC got out of the game and Syfy seems to pick up an anime once every 8-10 months. Spike TV was airing Afro Samurai but there is no word that they'll do more stories. G4 seems to be testing it out with the Marvel anime. At least with AS, we have a dedicated night to anime.