While Cartoon Network’s daytime selection is oriented toward younger viewers, when the kids go to sleep at night, Adult Swim takes over the channel. Adult Swim features selections of comedic ventures geared toward adults, and many of the shows are pretty far out there. Adult Swim is a mix of original programming and syndicated series, and it has become a platform for experimental voices in humor.
Original animated series like Ricky and Morty, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and Space Ghost Coast to Coast have helped to set the tone for Adult Swim, yet many of the block’s most absurd offerings are live-action. This list brings together the 10 most deranged, offbeat, and hilarious non-animated series on Adult Swim.
The Eric Andre Show (2012 - )
A parody of public access television talk shows, The Eric Andre Show stars comedian Eric Andre as a moody and idiosyncratic host who is backed up by fellow comedian Hannibal Buress. The series will return for a 5th season later in 2020.
Each episode begins with Andre destroying the set and then giving a self-deprecating, bizarre opening monologue. The show features real celebrity guests, on-the-street skits, and editing techniques that amplify the show’s awkwardness. Andre has hosted people like Dolph Lundgren, Seth Rogen, and Sinbad, as well as numerous well-known musicians. Andre is known for introducing famous guests who are then played by impersonators.
NTSF:SD:SUV:: (2011 - 2013)
Short for National Terrorism Strike Force: San Diego: Sport Utility Vehicle::, this series parodies all the police procedurals clogging up the airwaves. Paul Scheer, known for The League and Human Giant, is the show’s creator and star.
As protagonist Trent Hauser, Sheer deals with one problem after the next, including poisonous alcoholic energy drinks, dolphin serial killers, and virtual reality pedicab-racing circuits. Each episode features well-known guest stars, as well as a recurring cast including Rebecca Romijn and Martin Starr.
Tim & Eric’s Bedtime Stories (2013 - 2017)
Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim forged a new path in comedy with their phantasmagoric, hallucinogenic blend of humor and dread. This follow-up to their well-received series Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! is formatted like an anthology series, each episode telling a uniquely absurd story influenced by the style of The Twilight Zone.
The show contains performances from Tim and Eric’s frequent collaborators Bob Odenkirk, Zach Galifianakis, and John C. Reilly, as well as cameos from the likes of Jason Schwartzman, Rhea Perlman, and Laurie Metcalf.
Delocated (2009 - 2013)
From the brilliant mind of comedian Jon Glaser comes Delocated, a series about a New York City family in the Witness Protection Program. Glaser stars Jon, a former architect who always wears a ski mask and disguises his voice in order to protect his identity. Jon exploits his circumstances by agreeing to star in a reality TV show about his life, putting his ex-wife and son through the wringer in the process.
Eugene Mirman co-stars as a Russian mobster hired to kill Jon. He’s also a stand-up comedian who likes to tell jokes about vodka.
Loiter Squad (2012 - 2014)
Los Angeles hip-hop group Odd Future developed their own sketch comedy show, and it aired on Adult Swim for two years. The ridiculous tone of the series is influenced by everything from Jackass to The Chapelle Show. In fact, multiple stars of Jackass make guest appearances.
Tyler, the Creator, and his crew use bathroom humor, sex, video game culture, and classic television to frame their comedic enterprises. Loiter Squad lasted 3 seasons before Odd Future decided to move on to new creative opportunities.
Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule (2010 - )
John C. Reilly’s spoof of an incompetent local public access host has its origins in Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Dr. Steve Brule became so popular and iconic that he eventually landed his own spin-off. Brule’s show explores different facets of life, and Reilly interviews real people with his character’s signature awkwardness.
In order to give the show the look of a series from the 1980s, the videos are played through a VCR in post-production. Through its parody lens, the series offers up some very compelling insights about culture.
Childrens Hospital (2010 - 2016)
Functioning like an over-the-top soap opera that focuses its attention on the staff at a major hospital, Childrens Hospital revels in absurdity. Rob Corddry, once a correspondent on The Daily Show, created the show and stars as Dr. Blake Downs, a parody of Patch Adams who looks more like John Wayne Gacy when donning his clown make-up.
This ensemble melodrama also stars Megan Mullaly, Ken Marino, Nick Offerman, Rob Huebel, and Henry Winkler. Childrens Hospital pokes fun at popular medical shows by playing up the melodramatic aspects of these series.
Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2007 - 2010; 2017)
Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim perfected cringe comedy with this sketch series that combines music, horror, and bizarre special effects into a sensationalized take on the classic variety shows. Tim and Eric even go as far as including parodies of commercials in each episode, which often make hilarious statements about consumer culture.
Each episode is focused on a different topic, like Dads, Jazz, or Presidents. The show is also known for its rotating cast of celebrity collaborators, as well as cameos from the likes of Ted Danson, Jeff Goldblum, Paul Rudd, and Ben Stiller. The unique characters, storylines, and companies developed over the show’s 5 seasons have become archetypal examples of surreal humor at its best.
Infomercials (2009 - )
Less a unified series and more a label for specials airing over the years on Adult Swim, Infomercials are 10 to 15-minute bits that reimagine paid programming and advertising. There is no continuity between each special, and they are all stand-alone featurettes made by and starring different people.
They range in theme, style, and subject matter, but many of them parody the public access television that is often revisited on Adult Swim shows for comedic purposes. A few of the most popular Infomercials include Too Many Cooks, Unedited Footage of a Bear, and Goth Fitness. In total, there have been 39 Infomercials since 2009.
Dream Corp, LLC (2016 - )
Technically a combination of live-action and animation, Dream Corps, LLC is a workplace comedy about employees at a dilapidated and questionable dream therapy facility. Jon Gries plays the man in charge, Dr. Roberts, who guides his inept staff through the dreams of clients.
The dream sequences are animated using rotoscoping, which involves drawing over live footage, and the show involves the consumption of copious amounts of psychedelic drugs.
