Adult Swim
Cartoon Network

Starting in 1994, "Space Ghost Coast to Coast" proved that the Cartoon Network fare could reach an adult audience. Until recently, though, the cable network courted children first and adults second, with shows such as "Powerpuff Girls" and "Dexter's Laboratory," shows with humor, wit and the slight stigma that viewers would have to be comfortable with their immature sides.

But change is coming in full force, as Cartoon Network focuses on the 18-to-34 demographic — the new show "Samurai Jack" leaves irony in favor of pure epic drama and a recent midnight special devoted an hour to the animated music videos of Daft Punk and Gorillaz. Most notable is the network's new three-hour block on Sunday nights (and again on Thursdays) called "Adult Swim."

With the repeated warning of "some potential violence, some strong language coming up, and, uh, some adult situations," "Adult Swim" is recommended only for those viewers over 17. This warning, however, is also Cartoon Network's acknowledgement of its own stereotype as a children's network; none of the shows contain content that Fox or Comedy Central would have flagged. Instead, "Adult Swim's" shows have dry or absurd humor from the creators of "Dr. Katz" and "Space Ghost."

The block premiered with "Home Movies," a former UPN cancellation, now given at least two secure seasons on Cartoon Network. It revolves around the young, neurotic videomaker Brendon, his friends, his single mother and his soccer coach. Done in squigglevision by the creators of "Dr. Katz," "Home Movies" has that former show's sense of improvisation, relying heavily on awkward pauses rather than blatant jokes to elicit the biggest laughs.

Next came the much-anticipated "The Brak Show," starring Brak of Space Ghost fame. A one-shot variety show of the same name had mixed success, and the people behind Brak dumped that format for a spoof of classical 1950's family sitcoms.

Avoiding the pitfall that the one-trick-pony "That's My Bush" fell into, the non-self aware "Brak Show" doesn't break its own fourth wall. Instead, it fills all four walls with absurdity.

For instance, the first episode, "Leave it to Brak," has Brak taking care of his neighbor's goldfish, accidentally killing it and looking for a replacement. This is a standard storyline, except that Brak's neighbor is an armored war robot named Thundercleese; Brak kills the fish with a three-ham omelet; and the replacement fish is the original's twin brother. All the while, the hero says the dumbest things imaginable and thanks his own thought bubble for misinforming him.

While "The Brak Show" may be a refreshing break from the sarcasm and dark irony seemingly dominating American comedy, not all of "Adult Swim" is so innocent. The next two shows are twisted re-examinations of former Hanna-Barbera projects. But, "Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law" and "Sealab 2021" also have that same absurdity that makes "Brak" so fun.

Birdman, a cartoon hero in the 1960's, also appeared on "Space Ghost Coast to Coast" and now works awkwardly as an attorney in cases involving other former Hanna-Barbera characters. In his premier episode, Harvey Birdman defends Dr. Benton Quest against Race Bannon in a custody battle over Jonny Quest and Hadji.

The implications about Br. Benton and Race being "long-time partners" and "traveling companions" may be a kind of knowing social commentary, but the true jokes of the episode are sillier. Harvey Birdman asks his hawk sidekick, Avenger, how to make T's on his Palm Pilot. His enemy and opposing council, Vulturo, haughtily mumbles his way through questioning, pausing to voice his own dramatic sound effects by saying, "More decent than baseball? Dun dun dun!" Overall, it continues the laugh-out-loud humor that "The Brak Show" sets up.

Funnier still is "Sealab 2021." Set a year after the original series about saving the environment, this show's cast has apparently all gone insane. Marine biologist Debbie DuPree commences the first episode by waking to her own biologocal clock, screaming, "I've got to have a baby!" After running around the station and confusing a baby dolphin for her own, she decides to hold a screening process to see which of the crew members will father her child.

Meanwhile, crewman Stormy Waters launches into a twisted argument about why it is okay for him to refer to the other Debbie on the crew as "black Debbie." This show is the jewel in the crown of "Adult Swim;" clever and brash, it mixes wit and silliness with the greatest ease. It also provides the most extreme reasons for the content warning. After Dr. Quinn works Debbie into a rhythmic frenzy over his high I.Q., she sighs, "That was intense. Glad I'm wearing a wetsuit."

Following "Sealab 2021" comes a long-awaited new episode of "Space Ghost Coast to Coast." In it, Space Ghost's interview with the bemused Thom Yorke gets interrupted repeatedly by phone calls from Space Ghost's new wife, Björk. It's funny as ever, but the Björk parts come across as a half-hearted salvage attempt at a failed interview. A Space Ghost rerun follows, with his grandfather, voiced by Randy Savage, taking over some mediocre interviews with Rob Zombie and Raven Simone. Now that some of the funnier, more ludicrous elements have been highlighted in their own shows, "Space Ghost Coast to Coast" will have to work harder not to come across as a compromise.

Finally, "Adult Swim" veers severely off course with the anime show "Cowboy Bebop." While it is certainly a coup that Cartoon Network got the rights to air this popular Japanese series, grouping it with the other shows during "Adult Swim" seems awkward. "Cowboy Bebop" is a straight action show about a space bounty hunter. The first two episodes, "Asteroid Blues" and "Stray Dog Strut," fulfill the warning of potential violence and contain none of the humor that links the rest of "Adult Swim." Though well-produced and certainly more cohesive in narrative than most Cartoon Network anime, "Cowboy Bebop" might do better on its own than having to follow the hilarious block of cartoons preceding it.

All in all, the first two hours of "Adult Swim" are the kind of laugh-out-loud funny that causes stomach cramps. At a time when network comedies still find themselves cloning "Seinfeld" or "Friends," relying mostly on sarcasm and pop-culture references for their humor, it becomes cable's place to innovate. Comedy Central explores bold tastelessness with "South Park" and "TV Funhouse." MTV looked at self-mutilation and guerilla theater as humor, with the recently cancelled "Jackass." Now, Cartoon Network tries its hand at sheer foolishness with "Adult Swim," and succeeds tremendously. Hopefully, the rest of television will take note of this accomplishment.

— Andy Ross (apross@earthlink.net)