The “Mike Tyson Mysteries” was my favorite trailer coming out of the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con. The show has the look of “Scooby-doo, Where Are You” with the modern comedic spin of shows like “The Venture Bros.”, “Archer”, and “Sea Lab 2021” . The cast of characters consists of a ghost named The Marquess of Queensberry played by Jim Rash, a young Asian girl played by Rachel Ramras, a foul mouthed alcoholic pigeon played by Norm MacDonald and of course Mike Tyson played by himself. During the trailer I knew I was hooked when Marquess of Queensberry asks Mike Tyson why he is smiling:

Marquess of Queensberry, “Michael, why are you smiling?”
Mike Tyson, “Because now I know what I have to do. I’m going to use my fists, to beat the shit out of chupacabra. The only thing I haven’t never beaten the shit out of yet.” 

For the full effect of Mike Tyson’s fist pounding comedic timing, check out the trailer below. “Mike Tyson Mysteries” will premiere this fall on Cartoon Network’s [Adult Swim]. Don’t forget to let us know what you think in the comments or on Twitter @Bigshinyrobot & @MarkAvo.

Cartoon Networks late night animation block Adult Swim, and its Anime programming block Toonami, have started airing one hour earlier then its previous time slot now beginning at 8:00 pm, rather then 9:00 pm. This has earned the easily provoked ire of the Parents Television Council, who had this to say…

“Parents beware: not all cartoons are created equal. And what’s particularly dangerous about Cartoon Network and ‘Adult Swim’ is that the content changes from being kid-friendly to adult-oriented not with the click of a remote but with the tick of the clock,” said PTC President Tim Winter.

“Cartoon Network’s ‘Adult Swim’ has a long history of marketing explicit animation to children. The network’s announcement that it is moving this programming block to an even earlier hour when children are more likely to be in the audience is disturbing on a number of levels. The network claims that they’re targeting adult males by moving ‘Adult Swim’ to an earlier hour, but in the process children are being thrown under the bus.”

 

“Cartoon Network’s ‘Adult Swim’ has a long history of marketing explicit animation to children” That’s a bold and slanderous claim… Almost all TV channels air different types of shows in different time slots to appeal to multiple audiences. Saying that Cartoon Network markets adult shows to children is an outrageous claim. Let’s analyze this sentence a little if we can, “Adult Swim” is clearly labeled as Adult programming, its in the name.

“Our own research on animated programming documents the troubling amount of sexual content airing on cartoons, and ‘Adult Swim’ in particular included some of the highest levels of explicit content.”

 

Animation is not solely a children’s medium. Believe it or not, not all animators spend more then half their lives perfecting their skills and dealing with one of the most fickle and difficult career paths available to them, to make shows for your brats.

Also what do they mean by “research” the last time I checked research had to be backed by facts and involved citing your sources, not making wild accusations.

“Also in our study, we found that Cartoon Network failed to use the TV ratings system to warn parents about sexual content, suggestive dialogue and explicit language 100 percent of the time.”

 

If they did even the most bare bones of “research” they would have found that Adult Swim has a bumper that comes before the programming block stating that it contains content that may be inappropriate for younger viewers. Maybe they should actually watch the shows rather then torturing small animals and listening to Toby Keith songs backwards to find the hidden demonic messages. Groundless accusations, you see I can make them too.

“Cartoon Network and ‘Adult Swim’ provide a powerful example of why the current cable model is broken and why it must be changed. Parents must be given the opportunity to unsubscribe from the Cartoon Network on their cable bills, instead of having to subsidize explicit content in order to receive the programming they do want coming into their homes. Bipartisan and bicameral legislation pending in the Congress that would give parents this much-needed right.”

 

You fucking twats, this is what you raised a big stink over? This is what has everyone in an uproar? You already have the power to block your kids from seeing Cartoon Network in one of three ways.

1. You use the parental controls built into your TV receiver; this is a function that all modern dish and cable box’s have.

2. You tell your kids that they are not allowed to watch Cartoon Network and monitor what they watch. (novel idea I know)

3. Don’t pay for a Cable subscription.

I am bitterly enraged by the last paragraph, not only in that it’s ignorant garbage or that this group is trying to force their will on others including a business industry that they know little to nothing about. It’s that they said “would give parents this much-needed right.”

Lets think about that shall we? Watching TV, is a pass time. A hobby. Something you ‘choose’ to do in your spare time. Don’t throw around the word “Right” when a Cable subscription is something you actively choose to pay for! If TV. was something their children were forced to view I would perhaps sympathize with this organization, but TV. is a luxury item. Believe it or not you can go on with life not using an elective television service designed only for your entertainment and to waste your time. It is not your “Right” to watch TV. You choose to watch it! May I remind everyone that this is in response to a TV. Block airing one hour earlier then it used to on a privately owned channel. This is Ridiculous!

Let’s get down to why this press release blew up and why so many people, myself included, are upset about it. Part of what this group wants to do sensor is Toonami, something a community of dedicated fans and Cartoon Network employees worked incredibly hard to get back on the air. Something that was a big part of a lot of our childhood’s and has been re-adapted to be part of our adult lives. We as a community do not want to see anything happen to Toonami, many of us are almost militant in its defense especially on the topic of censorship.

But there is a solution and a shockingly simple one at that. For once we are the vocal majority, nice change from the norm isn’t it? The events from the last two years have proven that Cartoon Network is willing to listen to its fans and adapt its content to what we want to see. The Parents Television Council is an annoyance but they are a blip on the radar compared to how loud a voice we as a community have become via Twitter, Facebook and other social media outlets, not to mention we are voting with our time and our wallets. For once it looks like we are the dominant presence and we will not stand for unfair censorship of our favorite shows. So more or less the Parents Television Council can deal with us and what we want to see this time, and not the other way around. But if your as personally offended by this as I am then don’t forget to tell Cartoon Network; this time they’re listening.

TOM’s Speech about parenting from 2001, because I like adding a little salt to the wound.

Toonami, Cartoon Network’s late night Anime TV block, that worked its way back onto the air mostly through social media and long term fan support, is creating a new weekly mini series that fits in between airing Anime episodes and commercial breaks coming in 2015.

This is the sequel to the original mini series that aired in 2000, “The Intruder”, that was part of a unique yearly event called the “Total Immersion Event” where T.O.M. and Sara, the robot hosts of Toonami, fought an unknown alien intruder that came aboard their spaceship. The event later let fans help redesign the then damaged ship by using an 800 number or voting on the Toonami website where they could also enter to win a free trip to Japan.

The new mini series seems similar to the one that came before it but there is a bit of a twist this time. Toonami is asking viewers this weekend to use Twitter, Facebook and any social media platform they have available to them to post about the event, or Toonami in general with the hashtag #intruder2, most likely to try and get more funding for the project.

SPECIAL TOONAMI ANNOUNCEMENT!

On September 8th, 2000, TOM encountered a creature that changed the face of Toonami. In 2015 (date tbd), TOM and Sara will face that creature again.

Toonami is happy to announce THE INTRUDER: PART 2! Why are we telling you about this so early? Simple! WE NEED YOUR HELP. This weekend, we need every Toonami faithful to Tweet, FB post, Instagram, etc  the hashtag, “#intruder2.” The level of interest you guys show will determine how BIG the story we get to tell is. This adventure is in YOUR HANDS. Let us know if you’re excited for THE INTRUDER: PART 2 by posting about it, talking about it, and making your excitement known to the world! TOM and Sara are about to have their greatest adventure yet… and we promise, Toonami will not be the same.

DUN DUNNNNNN

Love, The Toonami Crew.

 

This at first seemed like a self promotion gimmick, but with the recent history behind Toonami’s TV renewal this most likely is not the case.

If I had to take a guess as to the current state of Toonami, it’s likely that the C.N./Adult Swim, executives are a little confused as to why an Anime block from the 90’s that reentered TV mostly by showing reruns and recycled 3D animations is doing so well in a 11:00 pm. time slot. This must be a little odd for them to say the least… I’m willing to bet this is their way of testing the waters and seeing just how much money they’re willing to invest in future projects involving Toonami over the next year or so.

With that said, I’ve never been more excited to see a Toonami event in my life, and like most childhood fans of the programming block I’ve seen most of them! It should be interesting to see just what they come up with this time now that the Toonami has more of an “Adult” focus, as opposed to its more child friendly roots.

Original Intruder (2000)

Gax-  Toonami faithful, and apparently sometimes Toonami historian… my job is weird.

Rejoice, fans of great animation and uncomfortable, incisive racial humor. [adult swim] confirmed via one of their bumps earlier this week that Aaron Macgruder’s “The Boondocks” will return April 21 with its Season 4 premiere. Watch it below:

For the uninitiated, “The Boondocks” is the story of 10 year old Huey Freeman, a burgeoning revolutionary social justice activist, and his 8 year old  brother Riley, a wanna-be gangsta, who move from Chicago to the suburbs to live with Grandad Freeman. Their neighbors include a racially mixed couple and their daughter, a rapper named Thugnificent, and a racist black man named Uncle Ruckus who hates all other black people.

Macgruder famously took a several year hiatus from “The Boondocks” several years ago, leaving us wanting more after 3 seasons (and many years in the newspaper) when the last episode aired in 2010. Last year he teased fans with a Kickstarter campaign to do a live-action film of Uncle Ruckus, but that appears to have fizzled with the failure of the Kickstarter. With his sabbatical over and oh-so-much fodder for his wit, (Thanks Obama!) I have high expectations for this new season. 

And, because it’s a holiday, I have to leave you with the awesomeness that was the best episode of Season 3:

See you April 21.

“Since Man first looked up at the stars, he has dreamed of faraway worlds, imagined encountering alien beings, and then capturing them for money.” 

Toonami is bringing another heavy hitter to their lineup after what many would say has been a bit of a slow Fall Season for anime fans. Space Dandy, coming to us from the creators of Cowboy Bebop and Fullmetal Alchemist (including director Shinichiro Watanabe himself), promises to be an eclectic jump around the galaxies as our anti-hero hunts exotic, alien monsters. 

Dandy is accompanied by a less-than-intelligent cat alien named “Meow” and what will clearly be a character-crippling weakness around a pursuit for…”boobies.” *Sigh* I have no idea what to think other than maybe they’re finally taking a stab at making fan service into satire? One can only hope. It might be nice to see traditional fan service concepts get poked and prodded for once. That peculiar obsession aside, I’m actually looking forward to the show quite a bit and am especially looking forward to the high-octane, music-infused action that is sure to be a staple of the series given Watanabe’s involvement. 

 I highly recommend checking Space Dandy out on your local Cartoon Network channel (and I’ll be sure to check back in with my thoughts after I’ve had a chance to digest an episode or two). The first episode is set to air tonight at 11:30 PM (EST/PST). 

Those of you who have updated to iOS 7 in the past week have no doubt noticed a flurry of app updates. So it was with curiousity as I noticed [adult swim] sent out an update to their iOS app, renaming it to Watch [adult swim].

Then we get news today that as of immediately, Adult Swim will be live streaming their programming from adultswim.com and their mobile apps. The only catch? You have to verify your cable subscription to get all the goodies. While this move is not unprecedented (several other networks offer similar services: HBO Go, ESPN, Disney Channel, etc) this is a big deal for many of us who are [as] afficianados.

And not to worry– those of us who used [adult swim] to play games like Robot Unicorn Attack, 5 Minutes to Kill [Yourself], or my new current favorite, Giant Boulder of Death can still access those. In fact, Adult Swim will be continuing to provide online-exclusive content from the comedy geniuses most likely to give you a seizure Tim and Eric, but also folks from The Onion and elsewhere.

The only downside is if you are like many people who are Netflix and Hulu only, you can’t access every episode of The Venture Brothers at your fingertips or watch new episodes of NTSF:SD:SUV as they premiere. Time to talk to grandma who has cable but no idea what an iPad is, eh?

But we can only hope this takes us further down the inexorable path to being able to choose cable content a la carte and not necessarily tied to a cable company or set top box, but simply access to an app you run through your Smart TV at home or tablet on the go. But don’t get your hopes up– remember that [adult swim[ is still owned by Time Warner, one of whose most profitable companies is Time Warner Cable.

But a boy can dream.

Look! A press release! Read the official technical stuff straight from the horse’s mouth.

 

For Release: September 25, 2013

Adult Swim Announces Live Streaming Across All Platforms
New Watch [adult swim] Initiative Expands TV Everywhere Strategy

Adult Swim, basic cable television’s #1 network in Total Day for the past eight consecutive years among adults 18-34, 18-49 & 18-24 and men 18-34, 18-49 and 18-24, today launched live streaming functionality on AdultSwim.com and via the Watch [adult swim] app on iOS and Android devices. The launch marks yet another step in Adult Swim’s expansion across multiple platforms as it continues to be one of the industry’s most innovative comedy brands.

TV subscribers may now enjoy Adult Swim programming such as the Emmy Award-winning series Childrens Hospital and Robot Chicken in real time wherever they like on any device, adding value to the official site, which ranks among the top five video sites in the humor category, and the popular Watch [adult swim] app which has nearly four million downloads to date.  To watch the live streams, viewers will be required to log in using their TV-provider account information.

Live streaming is the newest addition to Adult Swim’s digital portfolio, joining AdultSwim.com’s original and exclusive online comedy content (which includes work from Tim Heidecker & Eric Wareheim and some of the original creative members from The Onion), their top-performing mobile games business that has had 22 iOS apps reaching the App Store’s top 10, a growing slate of independent games published on Steam, and more than 130 free online games.

This is the latest phase in the rollout of TV Everywhere, the industry-wide initiative that gives subscribers to cable, satellite and telco video services access to more of their favorite shows across a wide range of digital platforms.

Adult Swim Digital oversees the management and production of content for the channel’s official site, AdultSwim.com, and digital extensions. A top industry website, AdultSwim.com averages 3.6 million unique users each month in the United States and features more than 130 free-to-play original online games, including top titles such as Robot Unicorn Attack and Amateur Surgeon. Adult Swim has launched 36 apps in the iTunes store, which have ranked in the Top Free Apps, Top 5 Paid Apps and Top 5 Paid Games categories.

Adult Swim (AdultSwim.com), launched in 2001, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s network offering original and acquired animated and live-action series for young adults.  Airing nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET/PT), Adult Swim is basic cable’s #1 network with persons 18-34 and 18-49, and is seen in 99 million U.S. homes.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

Go Team Venture!

It’s been two and a half years since the airing of Operation P.R.O.M., the season finale of Season 4. In the meantime, the creative forces behind the Venture Bros have been hard at work bringing us a new, amazing season. (For more insight on the delay and what this season will hold, please see my interview with Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick here.)

And so Tuesday night in the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin an a dozen other lucky theaters around the country, we were treated to the season premiere, “What color is your cleansuit?”

In a stroke of genius, we were also treated to the uncensored, not safe for TV version of Operation P.R.O.M., which I highly recommend everyone watch this week for two reasons: 1) The uncensored discussion of what a “Rusty Venture” is (perhaps the most vile discussion I’ve ever heard in my life. . .and so hilarious) and 2) When Jackson and Doc told me that Season 5 picks up right where Season 4 left off, they weren’t kidding. It was almost seamless.

For those of you who can’t watch the season finale, or who are wondering to yourself right now, “What the f@#$ is a Venture Brother?” please to enjoy this awesome infographic of all of the characters of the Venture Bros. universe and this 8 minute recap of four seasons:

“>httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CHVLSY_Hrk

So without giving away any spoilers, this is what I can tell you about “What color is your cleansuit?”

Any plot threads left hanging at the end of Season 4 are immediately picked up. There’s a reshuffling with OSI, SPHINX, etc that totaly makes sense and is organic to the story, but which also leaves open some fun and interesting possibilities. However, for the Venture family, things remain pretty much the same. Same with the Monarch. 21 really did quit, however, and that continues to play out, with some of the most entertaining bits of the episode.

The episode’s title refers to a new initiative on the Venture compound, bringing in teams of unpaid college interns (new economy, much?) each of which are divided into teams based on the color of their cleansuits. Hijinks ensue. During the episode, we get oblique and overt references to: Roots, several different Charlton Heston movies (with Sgt Hatred playing an awesome stand-in Heston), Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Return of the Jedi, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Rocky, the Protestant Reformation, Star Trek, Batman, Buck Rogers. . . and a ton more that I’m sure I’m missing. Aziz Ansari (Human Giant, Parks and Recreation), Wyatt Cenac (The Daily Show, King of the Hill), and Gillian Jacobs (Community) all appear in this episode as various interns, and they are amazing.

Furthermore, for fans of Billy Quizboy and Pete White, you get more. A lot more. And the introduction of my new favorite character as a foil for Billy and Pete, which I’m hoping we see a lot more of this season.  Let me put it this way without revealing spoilers: he’s that kind of nerd that I hate, some of whom troll our comments board and Facebook page. Be prepared.

For more Season 5 goodness, watch this, and until then, make sure you’re tuned in Sunday at midnight:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC8WMvxzRis

I hope you’re all ready for Sunday’s premiere of The Venture Bros.  Season 5 on Cartoon Network, or if you are among the lucky few to see it in theaters on Tuesday around the country, you’re in for an even greater treat.

I got a chance to talk with the minds and talent behind Venture Bros, “Jackson Publick” and “Doc Hammer” (best nom de plumes ever, btw) to find out what they have in store for us.

First, I brought up the fact that we had talked last at Comic-Con in summer of 2011, and since then we have had only the behind the music special and the Halloween special, so I asked them, rather pointedly, what they’d been up to. I may have insinuated that they call up George RR Martin and talk about how much they love keeping their rabid fans in suspense, to which I was told, “I don’t like your tone, sir!!!”

“If you think we’ve been spending our time on vacation or doing cocaine off a whore’s ass, you’re wrong.” They told me they’d been super busy and that, indeed, every day has been spent doing something Venture related. So why did it take so long to get a season completed?

“We’re not that clever.” So it did just take that long to birth this much quality on to the screen. Also they make the show “on napkins with tiny little golf pencils.”  Seems legit.

This is what me talking to Jackson and Doc looks like. Kinda.

But seriously, part of the delay was they rebuilt the show’s production from the ground up. After working with Cartoon Network/Adult Swim/Williams Street to increase the show’s budget for the new season, they went looking for ways to improve the production. And, in my opinion, if you’ve seen the new episodes (such as last fall’s Halloween special) you’ll notice the animation has become a little richer, a little more “HD-friendly” (my words, not theirs). (It’s hard to say the show looks better or sounds better, as that would imply the previous seasons were somehow in need of improvement. Nothing could be further from the truth.) So this transition has caused some delays while they’ve been figuring everything out, but the results are worth it.

Oh yes. Hi definition Dr. Girlfriend, er. . . Dr. Mrs. The Monarch

So, what can we expect? First, they swore me off spoilers. They don’t want to tell me or anyone because they want people to come in unspoiled. So while trying to stay out of plot details, this is what we know:

This season begins right after Season 4’s finale, “Operation PROM” ends. “We don’t really let anything drop.” All of the plot points, the major reveals, the questions about where the show goes from there– all continue. Brock, Henchman 21, Hank, Dean. . . they’ve all had major life-changing experiences. And as of the Halloween episode, Dean knows he’s a clone.

I’ve been told this picture may be a minor spoiler. IGNORE ME!!!!

Anything else we can find out ? “It’s a geeky season,” submitted Hammer and Publick, “It’s a lot like The Venture Bros.”

While I was repeatedly warned off spoilers, I did ask about some of the voice talent they’d brought in for Season 5. We get to have both Aziz Ansari and Wyatt Cenac in unspecified roles, but which sound excellent (no spoilers!). We also have Kat McKinnon returning and Bill Hader, including Hader as the previously teased character “Flying Squid.”

I have no idea what is going on in this picture, didn’t ask, but here’s one thing I know: it looks awesome.

And while they were incredibly tight-lipped about plot spoilers, I did manage to pry out of them that those of us who saw the magic-heavy Halloween special that this is pretty much the only appearance have by the members of the Order of the Triad or the rest of Orpheus’s family, and that people hoping for a reunion with Triana? Don’t be expecting her.

Anything else to describe what we can expect? “We’re super proud of it. It almost makes us giddy.” As I pressed them for even more details, they let the following very important item slip: “Free Kool Aid” for the premiere.  “What? Is this like a Jonestown thing?” No, they went on to explain that there is a super-secret premiere party happening at Williams Street in Atlanta at midnight for the premiere and there will be free Kool Aid and brownies for all. People should email Williams Street Executive Senior Vice President Mike Lazzo with all nut allergy information. You want to get in line soon, as people are already lined up outside carrying lightsabers for some inexplicable reason. So, yes, midnight, Williams Street, and, “Everyone gets free iPads. Oh, and Brock dies at the end.”

Geez guys, spoiler alert! I’m sure our Atlanta-based robot Scarlett Robotica will be attending to cover this event. Or not, because, in case you couldn’t tell, they’re totally messing with you. (Did I have to say that? I feel like I do. . . )

In any case, for those of you in Austin, I’ll see you at the Slaughter Lane Alamo Drafthouse Tue at 7:30. I’ll have a review of episode 1 not long after. Everyone else, get your DVRs set for a new season of Venture Bros and we’ll see you in science!!!

PS – Want to join the Season 5 Shirt Club? Just announced on the official Venture Bros blog– get more details here.

It’s time! Toonami returns tonight at midnight on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. I’m here to share tonight’s schedule, and you can be sure I’ll be tuning in tonight!

12:00 AM – Bleach – Long running and varied in style and story – this show brings a little something for everybody.

12:30 – Deadman Wonderland – A post-earthquake Japan meets sci-fi and fantasy in this gritty thriller about a boy named Ganta.

https://youtu.be/ICyghQBiog4

1:00 – Casshern Sins – A reebot of the classic series Casshern – this story mashes up cybernetics, robot wars, and a world where humanity faces the very serious possibility for extinction.

https://youtu.be/Pe5pfGcxUaw

1:30 – Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood – If you loved Fullmetal Alchemist you’ll love Brotherhood even more. This new series more closely follows the story of the manga and brings a lot of valuable depth to the characters we know and love like Edward and Alphonse Elric.

https://youtu.be/FaazgkzFg7k

2:00 – Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – Another classic series that aired on Toonami many years ago, Stand Alone Complex follows a group known as the Section 9 mobile police force as they attempt to track down the infamous terrorist “The Laughing Man.”

https://youtu.be/yz59RhWk-nA

2:30 – Cowboy Bebop – If  you haven’t watched Cowboy Beebop this is a must-see as it is one of the greatest anime series of all time.

Just a few hours ago, Cartoon Network released a splash page and tweeted to their followers: “Attention Toonami faithful: We heard you. On 5/26/12 Toonami is back bitches.”

Diablo 3 finally came out and now Toonami is coming back to Cartoon Network? This is a really good week! No news yet as to what shows will be coming to the programming block, but I’m willing to bet that after the long absence of Toonami we’ll be pleased with the selection. I’m also hoping that Steve Blum will be back to voice our favorite Toonami mascot, Tom (pictured at left).

Here are some of my favorite, classic Toonami promos to get you back in the mood for the upcoming night of awesomeness that will be May 26th!

Space is the Place:

Pardon our Dust:

What would YOU like to see featured on Toonami’s return?