Upfronts 2013: Adult Swim Steps Up Original Slate

(UPDATED) Adult Swim will look to build on its most watched year among key adult audience demos with a lineup of 30 new and returning series, pilot and specials, the network announced Friday in advance of its May15 upfront presentation.

 Adult Swim, which airs during a nine-hour block beginning at 9 p.m. on Cartoon Network, is coming off a strong 2012 in which the network drew more adult 18-49 and adult 18-34 viewers than any other ad-supported network in 2012, according to Nielsen.

“Adult Swim has emerged as a leading entertainment network in key sales demos and should be part of every advertiser’s consideration set during the Upfront,” said Donna Speciale, president of Turner Entertainment and Young Adults Ad Sales. “The network has a distinct relationship with its loyal and engaged audience and targeted reach across television, events, digital and promotions, all of which advertisers have the opportunity to benefit through a wide variety of creative activations.”

Among the new shows slated for Adult Swim include animated series Mike Tyson Mysteries, featuring the former heavyweight champion solving urban mysteries with the help of a pigeon sidekick; Rick and Morty, from Dan Harmon (Community) and Justin Roiland, about a genius inventor grandfather and his less than genius grandson; Mr. Pickles, in which an urban-based family moves to a small town with their satanic pet dog; and King Star King, which follows the exploits of a punk rock, modern day he-man who falls from the realm of the gods to land as a fry cook in a slummy waffle joint.

Also on the docket include Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell, a live action series about an associate demon (see above) as he attempts to capture souls on earth in order climb the corporate latter of the underworld; and Hot Package, a live-action fictional entertainment news program in vein of Entertainment Tonight or E! News. Adult Swim will also produce a sequel to its Robot Chicken DC Comics Special as well as a Metalocalypse: The Doom Star Requiem special.

Returning series include Aqua TV Show Show, Black Dynamite, The Boondocks, Children’s Hospital, NTSF:SD:SUV::, Robot Chicken, Squidbillies and The Venture Bros.

The network is also developing pilot projects from The Boondocks creator Aaron McGruder, Space Ghost Coast to Coast’s Matt Harrigan, and the creators of Robot Chicken.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.