Adult Swim Picks Up 'Jesus,' 'Pickles,' 'Tyson'

Adult Swim has renewed three series for sophomore runs.

The network, which emanates from Cartoon Network and runs from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., has picked up animated skeins Mike Tyson Mysteries and Mr. Pickles, plus the live-action Black Jesus, which has raised concerns for its portrayal of less than holy lead character.

Black Jesus, created by Aaron McGruder and Mike Clattenburg, is built around a Compton, Calif., Jesus and his do-gooder followers. The show has drawn some protests, but ranked first in its time period in young adult and male demos. All told, Adult Swim sets the pace in cable among persons 18 to 34 and 18 to 49.

Mr. Pickles is set in the small, old-fashioned world of Old Town that is slowly being taken over by the modern world. The series centers on the lives of the Goodman family and their innocent six-year-old son Tommy, whose best friend is the family’s border collie, Mr. Pickles. Since its premiere, Mr. Pickles has averaged almost 1.5 million total viewers and registered double- and triple-digits wins over the competition with adults 18 to 34.

In Mike Tyson Mysteries, the animated version of the once baddest man on the planet takes the fight from the boxing ring to the streets … by solving mysteries!  Aided by the Mike Tyson Mystery Team — the Ghost of the Marquess of Queensberry, Mike's adopted Korean daughter Yung Hee, and a pigeon who was formerly a man — Tyson will answer any plea sent to him. 

Earlier this year, Adult Swim pushed up the start of its program day to 8 p.m. from 9 p.m.