Top 10 Adult Swim Shows

Script written by Jamie Leslie.

Top 10 Adult Swim Shows

Hail the kings of late-night entertainment for adult audiences. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 Adult Swim shows.

Every night at 8pm, Cartoon Network turns into Adult Swim – its darker, stranger, more risqué older brother. Originating as a block of programming on Cartoon Network in 2001, Adult Swim is now its own entity with its own crude humor, suggestive themes, and unconventional presentation. For this list, we’re looking at shows that were – at one time or another – produced for Adult Swim. However, that means we’re excluding shows like “Family Guy” and “King of the Hill,” which aired in syndication on the channel but were not created by it.

#10: “Childrens Hospital” (2008-)

Beginning as a web-series before making its way to the network, this irreverent and sometimes delightfully offensive live-action show serves as a parody of all the popular melodramatic hospital TV series you can think of. Created by and starring Rob Corddry, the series follows the internal struggles of a colorful ensemble cast, dealing with issues in their personal lives and relationships within the hospital setting and occasionally stopping to help patients. Oh, wait; did we mention that they sometimes break character to reveal that Childrens Hospital is actually a show-with-a-show? So meta.

#9: “Metalocalypse” (2006-)

For those who love metal and for those who love mocking it, this animated series follows the impossibly popular death metal band Dethklok. What do we mean “impossibly popular”? Well, they’re one of the world’s largest economies and their fans frequently put themselves in harm’s way just to see them perform. Fame and fortune allow Dethklok to regularly engage in dangerous or illegal activity, none of which results in negative repercussions – for them at least. But, it is does help give the show its black humor, with a heavy emphasis on violence and death.

#8: “Sealab 2021” (2001-05)

Premiering before the official launch of the Adult Swim programming block, this animated series is a loving parody of ‘70s cartoons – even going so far as to use footage from the short-lived Hanna-Barbera show “Sealab 2020.” Set a year after the events of that show, “Sealab 2021” sees the band of misfits – who just so happens to be the crew of this underwater research station – as they screw around, make jokes, and basically try to avoid work at all costs. But the outlandish shenanigans the crew frequently finds themselves in keep the show lighthearted and entertaining.

#7: “Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law” (2001-07)

Once crime-fighting superhero, now hardworking criminal defense attorney; he’s “Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law.” Whatever the platform, Harvey Birdman continues to serve some cold hard justice – but this time he’s doing it in the courtroom. Once the star of ‘60s-era Hanna-Barbera cartoon, the now-retired hero is currently employed at Sebben & Sebben, a law firm where he works with classic Hanna-Barbera characters, for classic Hanna-Barbera characters, and against classic Hanna-Barbera characters. The show’s comedic premise relies on Harvey Birdman’s incompetence as an attorney and strong references to pop culture.

#6: “Space Ghost Coast to Coast” (1994-2008)

Debuting years before Adult Swim took form; this series was the jewel in the Adult Swim crown between 2001-04, and it’s another Cartoon Network show centered on a ‘60s-era Hanna-Barbera character. Apparently the superhero occupation wasn’t panning out, ‘cause Space Ghost made the conscious decision to become a late-night talk show host. With his supporting team of Zorak, Moltar and Brak – the latter of whom even earned his own spinoff show – the superhero frequently converses with celebrities in painfully awkward interviews. Oh, did we say “painfully awkward”? We meant hilarious.

#5: “The Boondocks” (2005-14)

This show began as a humble comic strip before being picked up by the network for a full length animated series. In its anime-influenced visual style, “The Boondocks” follows the adventures and antics of two African-American brothers and their grandfather living in the suburbs of their new – predominantly white – town of Woodcrest. Known as one of those shows that “goes there,” Aaron McGruder’s series has never been afraid to tackle socio-political issues or the various plagues of cultural stereotypes. Controversial? Yes, but that’s part of what made this series so successful.

#4: “The Venture Bros.” (2003-)

There’s never a boring moment with “Team Venture” – between watching them face-off against their butterfly-styled arch-nemesis Monarch, to the various other life-threatening dangers they encounter, it’s always a blast. An homage to old-school cartoons like “Johnny Quest,” the show follows Doc, a former child genius/adventurer, and his happy-go-lucky twins, Hank and Dean. The family travels with their hired bodyguard, Brock, a virile OSI agent with a license to kill, who isn’t shy to use it. This series just gets better with age, as it builds on its intricate plot and character development.

#3: “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!” (2007-10)

You could describe this as the network’s forerunner in live-action sketch comedy. Featuring it all – from skits and songs to commercial parodies – this series draws its viewers in with a bizarre and, let’s call it, unorthodox presentation. Hosted by creators Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, and regularly featuring both non-reputable actors and celebrity guest stars like John C. Reilly, Zach Galifianakis and Will Ferrell, “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!” uses a deliberate low-budget look to produce what the creators call “the nightmare version of television.”

#2: “Robot Chicken” (2005-)

Created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, this show has become an Adult Swim staple because there’s simply nothing else like it on TV. With the use of stop-motion animation and fast-paced humor, this mock of a sketch comedy series presents a whole new method of entertainment, with action figures and toy models acting as the players in their skits, relaying their twisted view on American pop culture. With several Emmy Awards under its belt, this may be the most random show on TV – and that’s why we love it.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- “Home Movies” (1999-2004)
- “Moral Orel” (2005-08)
- “Squidbillies” (2005-)
- “Tom Goes to the Mayor” (2004-06)
- “Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule” (2010-)

#1: “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” (2001-)

Well it doesn’t get too much more “out of the ordinary” than a show about talking fast food items. The story of a life-sized milkshake, a hovering box of fries, and a shape-shifting meatball, all living under one roof only calls for the most unreal adventures, but the main characters are nothing compared to the weirdoes they interact with along the way. Being the longest running original Adult Swim program on the network today, and having spawned its own theatrical film in 2007, the “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” remains a force to be reckoned with.

Do you agree with our list? Which Adult Swim program kept you tuned in? For more awesome Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.