Adult Swim a Mis-name? [Archive]

View Full Version : Adult Swim a Mis-name?

AgentMaxX

01-13-2002, 03:09 AM

Alright, this is how I see it.
1a)Chances are less than 40% of adults watch cartoons of their own free will.
1b)The commercials are hardly ever played during prime time when this small percentage of adults might be watching cartoons.
2a)All shows are rated TV-PG or TV-14(last time i checked at least)
2b)Adult content is always marked with TV-M(like South Park)
3a)All the video segments of Adult Swim depict people who look 70 or older.
3b)Although I'm sure old people can have a good laugh, I'm sure this is not Cartoon Network's target audience

So in conclusion, does Adult Swim really deserve it's title, or is it just a catchy way of saying, kids either shouldn't see this because of violence and language or because they won't get the jokes anyway? I'll let you be the judge of that.
Note: I didn't steal this from anyone, it's all completely original material

Calhoun07

01-13-2002, 03:38 AM

I can take the old people at the pool (even Betty, but her instructor is getting on my last nerve) and I can take the fact that kids watch the block as well (it's not Cartoon Networks' job to worry about that, I say let them put out the best programming they can and don't worry about it) but I just don't quite understand the warning each show gets, saying it's adult in nature and blah blah blah. I've yet to see anything on AS that truly warrants the need for that warning.

Ben

01-13-2002, 08:37 AM

"I've yet to see anything on AS that truly warrants the need for that warning."

How about the innuendos on Harvey Birdman? Or the dry humping on Sealab? Or the gay hookers and bloody fight scenes on CB?

Whatever you're watching, it's not Adult Swim.

Naraht

01-13-2002, 08:42 AM

Calhoun07

01-13-2002, 09:14 AM

Originally posted by Twage
"I've yet to see anything on AS that truly warrants the need for that warning."

How about the innuendos on Harvey Birdman? Or the dry humping on Sealab? Or the gay hookers and bloody fight scenes on CB?

Whatever you're watching, it's not Adult Swim.

Cowboy Bebop is TV-14, which is equivalent to PG-13 at the theater. I don't think it requires this strong warning and the no kids under 17 allowed.

As for innuendo...speaking as somebody who was a kid myself, I know there is alot of that which goes over a kid's head, and things like that get thrown into cartoons quite often. Heck, I've seen just as much innuendo in some classic Looney Tunes cartoons. Of course, many of those old Looney Tunes cartoons were made with an ADULT audience in mind, so I guess not much has changed in trying to make animation for adults: kids will still watch.

Joe Tully

01-13-2002, 09:29 AM

I agree about the disclaimers, while the content of some of the shows is definitely not for kids, 18+ is pushing it. Basically, it's just CN covering their butts, we all know how PC they are.

CN has said that adults are their target audience for Adult Swim. The last results that we heard about showed that, however, tweens and teens make up a lot of the audience, and kids made up most of the audience from the first hour. Ratings results (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13358&highlight=adult+swim)

Calhoun07

01-13-2002, 09:56 AM

I do believe the more recent ratings results show that more adults are tuning into the show than the 6-11 crowd. I can't quite recall where I read that, but the one showing the large number of 6-11 is out of date.

Naraht

01-13-2002, 09:58 AM

Originally posted by calhoun07
I do believe the more recent ratings results show that more adults are tuning into the show than the 6-11 crowd. I can't quite recall where I read that, but the one showing the large number of 6-11 is out of date.

the 6-11 crowd is for home movies acording to the news article here @ toonzone...

I think the point was on the "tweens" 6-14...

btw...what about people 14-18...I didn't see a list for them...

Calhoun07

01-13-2002, 10:20 AM

Originally posted by naraht

the 6-11 crowd is for home movies acording to the news article here @ toonzone...

I think the point was on the "tweens" 6-14...

btw...what about people 14-18...I didn't see a list for them...

I know. That article, however, is from November. I think there actually has been a change in the numbers since then, is all I'm saying.

Naraht

01-13-2002, 10:21 AM

Originally posted by calhoun07

I know. That article, however, is from November. I think there actually has been a change in the numbers since then, is all I'm saying.

Ah..ok, my bad! =D

Still doesn't explain what happened to the Teens (14-18).

Maybe Aliens got em...

VinceA

01-13-2002, 10:24 AM

I just get the impression that Cartoon Network is going to try to slowly "up-age" Adult Swim to skew older. At least that's my hope. I think that if they came out of the chute with TV-M material there would have been a "big" public backlash (big being a relative term since one person with a big mouth can give the impression of being "big" - it not unknown of for one wacko to get letterhead with an organization name on the top of it to send a complaint)

Sheamon

01-13-2002, 11:47 AM

Its ridiculous to use disclaimers of that nature and call the show 'Adult Swim' while still being a block that mostly targets teenagers. I'm still waiting for Adult Swim to actually start thinking about targeting their shows towards anyone older than 15 or 16.

01-13-2002, 12:05 PM

The block doesn't target teenagers. On the Adult Swim: The Fansite I posted what the press release said...

On September 2nd, 2001, Cartoon Network launched a new block of animated programming aimed at adults 18-34.

Obviously CN isn't aiming for the audience its getting. The figures and opinions AgentManxX are not fact. What really is adult anyways? Does the show have to use foul language and have violence to be considered adult? Mature is a really vague word as well. You can't justify how manture someone is based on age alone.

Overall I think Adult Swim doesn't offer an extreme that would ONLY be considered adult content, but they do offer more adult minded programming that wouldn't exactly keep the kiddies attention.

The reason for the disclaimers are simple. When the reports for the demographics that were watching were released, a lot of younger viewers showed in numbers. What were they to do? Granted that nothing THAT OFFENSIVE, but consider this...

One concerned parent calls up. They lodge a complaint. That complaint is sent to the director of programming, public relations, and in some cases the big wigs. All of those people have to either resolve the issue and try to avoid it bleeding into the corporate overheads. In a nutshell, the disclaimers are just additional protection in case a complaint is made.

Joe Tully

01-13-2002, 12:32 PM

Also, remember that it took just one complaint to get the Monkey short "Barbequor" banned from Dexter's lab. CN is very sensitive about viewer reactions.

Eddy

01-13-2002, 12:56 PM

I think Adult Swim is a good anme for it. It's catchy and easy to remember, but I coudl do without the "Betty" thing before shows like Aqua Teen Hunger Force. I don't think they need to air those 18+ warnings before the shows, though... Oh, and Cartoon Network might not show TV-MA shows (i.e. South Park) anytime soon because they might be worried little kids will stay up late and watch TV. I would show TV-MA shows, but I don't think Cartoon Network will...

Shaggy

01-13-2002, 02:39 PM

I think it's a good idea that they run the disclaimers. Come on, Debbie Dupree shaking her... ahem... plots of land around, albiet blurred, is something that, while it won't phase a 15-18 year old, will shock the fecal matter out of his or her parents.

It's all CYA... Cover Your Ass. If you say that your programming is targeted towards adults, then someone can't complain that their 12 year old threw a hair dryer in the tub because "IT WAS COOL WHEN THE STORMY GUY DID IT!!!"

Joe Tully

01-13-2002, 02:50 PM

Originally posted by naraht

Ah..ok, my bad! =D

Still doesn't explain what happened to the Teens (14-18).

Maybe Aliens got em...

They are mentioned in the article, and you can see the stats in the AS chart.

I think that the stats probably have changed like Calhoun says, but I don't know what they are or where to find them. But last I heard, the demographics were quickly shifting towards adults.

IkeTheMachine

01-13-2002, 04:49 PM

Originally posted by Shaggy
It's all CYA... Cover Your Ass. If you say that your programming is targeted towards adults, then someone can't complain that their 12 year old threw a hair dryer in the tub because "IT WAS COOL WHEN THE STORMY GUY DID IT!!!" [/B]

This is so true. I hear complaints all the time about violence and sexual innuendo in cartoons. CN was very sure that they wouldn't have to deal with this. I am 16. I showed my dad all of the sealabs since he watched the original when he was kid and was interested in seeing the new ones. There were some parts of Chickmate and I,Robot that definatel can't be shown in an afterschool program. The dry humping, talkign about robot sex and hard nipples, hesh yelling for sex, and who can forget this dialogue.

Murphy (shirt half off): Would you like the moustache on.. or off?
Debbie in bed talking to murphy who is about to rock the casbah with her: Off please.
Murphy: Too Bad.

If you're 11 year old is smiling and giggling to this at 3:30 pm, it'll raise suspitions of foul play. Thus, the huge disclaimer and late night prescense as well as name "Adult Swim".

Calhoun07

01-13-2002, 06:29 PM

Originally posted by Joe Tully
Also, remember that it took just one complaint to get the Monkey short "Barbequor" banned from Dexter's lab. CN is very sensitive about viewer reactions.

Really? That's all it takes???? So if I call them up claiming how offensive I find Scrappy to be, they will permanantely remove Scrapppy from the air?!?!

AgentMaxX

01-13-2002, 06:43 PM

Originally posted by calhoun07

Really? That's all it takes???? So if I call them up claiming how offensive I find Scrappy to be, they will permanantely remove Scrapppy from the air?!?!
wow, i would be very grateful if that did happen. im sick of scooby doo.