Genndy Tartakovsky says all animators are not good enough with their work like him. In a recent interview, Tartakovsky gave a few pointers on why animators end up coming nowhere near him in their animated projects. Coming from the Unicorn: Warriors Eternal creator, who has explored the field for nearly three decades, these pointers make for a great lesson in animation.
Genndy Tartakovsky at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival 2023 (credits: Boungawa | Wikimedia Commons)
After working uncredited on 45 episodes of Batman: The Animated Series from 1992 to 1993, Tartakovsky went on to make a name for himself in the animation industry. He worked on creating several iconic animated TV series for Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, including Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, and Star Wars: Clone Wars.
Genndy Tartakovsky Explains Why No One Does Animation Like Him
Genndy Tartakovsky’s Star Wars: Clone Wars shows how the animator understood projects like no one...
Genndy Tartakovsky at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival 2023 (credits: Boungawa | Wikimedia Commons)
After working uncredited on 45 episodes of Batman: The Animated Series from 1992 to 1993, Tartakovsky went on to make a name for himself in the animation industry. He worked on creating several iconic animated TV series for Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, including Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, and Star Wars: Clone Wars.
Genndy Tartakovsky Explains Why No One Does Animation Like Him
Genndy Tartakovsky’s Star Wars: Clone Wars shows how the animator understood projects like no one...
- 5/5/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
To quote Space Ghost himself, "I'll be dead long before you were born, and I'll be dead long before you'll be dead."
In 1994, producer Mike Lazzo donned a pith helmet, filled his arms with machetes, and trekked into the darkest corners of the bleak, terrifying Hanna-Barbera cartoon library. In the depths, he re-discovered a long-forgotten, one-season animated series from 1966 called "Space Ghost," a superhero show about a white-clad, cape-wearing starship captain who fought bud-like villains in the inky void of the cosmos. Space Ghost, voiced by Gary Owens, could pass through walls and oversaw a pair of sidekicks named Jan (Ginny Tyler) and Jace (Tim Matheson) as well as a chimp named Blip (Don Messick).
Like most of Hanna-Barbera's output, "Space Ghost" was strange and awful. 20 years later, reruns of shows like "Space Ghost" were increasingly enjoyed exclusively by college students under the influence of potent smokables. One would be...
In 1994, producer Mike Lazzo donned a pith helmet, filled his arms with machetes, and trekked into the darkest corners of the bleak, terrifying Hanna-Barbera cartoon library. In the depths, he re-discovered a long-forgotten, one-season animated series from 1966 called "Space Ghost," a superhero show about a white-clad, cape-wearing starship captain who fought bud-like villains in the inky void of the cosmos. Space Ghost, voiced by Gary Owens, could pass through walls and oversaw a pair of sidekicks named Jan (Ginny Tyler) and Jace (Tim Matheson) as well as a chimp named Blip (Don Messick).
Like most of Hanna-Barbera's output, "Space Ghost" was strange and awful. 20 years later, reruns of shows like "Space Ghost" were increasingly enjoyed exclusively by college students under the influence of potent smokables. One would be...
- 5/4/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Prior to the debut of "The Powerpuff Girls" in 1998, show creator Craig McCracken had directed a series of tasteless cartoon shorts starring a character named No-Neck Joe. No-Neck Joe appeared regularly at the celebrated annual Spike & Mike Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation, cementing McCracken's underground credentials. The Powerpuff Girls first came into McCracken's repertoire as early as 1992, back when they were called the Whoopass Girls. The juxtaposition between the characters' creepy, ultra-cute, Margaret Keane-like faces and their ultra-violent behavior was the stuff of comedy legend, and McCracken kept the Girls in his back pocket for years.
Throughout the 1990s, McCracken rose in the ranks of the animation world, landing gigs on shows like "2 Stupid Dogs," "Dumb and Dumber," and, most notably, Genndy Tartakovsky's seminal series 1996 "Dexter's Laboratory." McCracken directed many episodes of the show. "Dexter's Laboratory" was one of four new series launched by the Cartoon Network...
Throughout the 1990s, McCracken rose in the ranks of the animation world, landing gigs on shows like "2 Stupid Dogs," "Dumb and Dumber," and, most notably, Genndy Tartakovsky's seminal series 1996 "Dexter's Laboratory." McCracken directed many episodes of the show. "Dexter's Laboratory" was one of four new series launched by the Cartoon Network...
- 3/31/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
In the late 1990s, Bandai Entertainment and the Japanese animation studio Sunrise approached young director Shinichirō Watanabe to make a sci-fi action show (mostly so they could sell spaceship toys). Watanabe took that directive and led the creation of "Cowboy Bebop."
This 26-episode show followed down-on-their-luck bounty hunters in the year 2071, when mankind has colonized the solar system and left behind a ruined Earth. It brought Western and noir storytelling together into its sci-fi setting, fused with an existential mood and jazzy music composed by Yoko Kanno.
"Cowboy Bebop" first aired in Japan 25 years ago, from 1998 to 1999, and Bandai Entertainment soon imported it stateside, where it debuted on Cartoon Network block Adult Swim in 2001. If anything, it's become an even bigger (and more enduring) hit in the U.S. than in its homeland. A big reason for this popularity was because the English dub was excellent: The characters speaking the...
This 26-episode show followed down-on-their-luck bounty hunters in the year 2071, when mankind has colonized the solar system and left behind a ruined Earth. It brought Western and noir storytelling together into its sci-fi setting, fused with an existential mood and jazzy music composed by Yoko Kanno.
"Cowboy Bebop" first aired in Japan 25 years ago, from 1998 to 1999, and Bandai Entertainment soon imported it stateside, where it debuted on Cartoon Network block Adult Swim in 2001. If anything, it's become an even bigger (and more enduring) hit in the U.S. than in its homeland. A big reason for this popularity was because the English dub was excellent: The characters speaking the...
- 11/21/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.
Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:
Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys
2023 Emmy Predictions:
Outstanding Animated Program Rick and Morty, S7. Adult Swim.
Weekly Commentary: Netflix’s “Entergalactic,” the animated accompaniment to Kid Cudi’s album is competing against long-standing series such as “Bob’s Burgers,” “Rick and Morty” and “The Simpsons.” The streamer pulled off a surprise win last year with “Arcane,...
Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:
Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys
2023 Emmy Predictions:
Outstanding Animated Program Rick and Morty, S7. Adult Swim.
Weekly Commentary: Netflix’s “Entergalactic,” the animated accompaniment to Kid Cudi’s album is competing against long-standing series such as “Bob’s Burgers,” “Rick and Morty” and “The Simpsons.” The streamer pulled off a surprise win last year with “Arcane,...
- 8/28/2023
- by Clayton Davis
- Variety Film + TV
J.J. Villard’s debut animation series for Adult Swim may have won the network its first ever Emmy for animation, in 2015, but the creator wasn’t given free reign for his follow-up show, JJ Villard’s Fairy Tales, which he produced and directed. “After King Star King, they just told me, ‘This show is way too perverted,'” he recalls. “‘You went way too far.'” Before creating the six 11-minute episodes of his latest series, Villard was told: no sexual jokes, no religious jokes and no fart and throw-up jokes. “So I was like, ‘Okay, cool.’ And then I told my writers and they’re like, ‘Well, do you want me to quit today? Because what else, what the f**k are we going to do?'”
Somehow Villard and writers James Merrill and Johnny Ryan managed to stay just within the parameters set out for them in creating...
Somehow Villard and writers James Merrill and Johnny Ryan managed to stay just within the parameters set out for them in creating...
- 7/9/2020
- by Nadia Neophytou
- Deadline Film + TV
This Sunday night, Adult Swim fans will have the opportunity to check out JJ Villard’s Fairy Tales, a brand new animated series that turns all those classic stories that we grew up learning and loving on their proverbial heads. Daily Dead recently had the opportunity to speak with Villard about his approach to his brand new show that features a ton of twisted humor, some truly gorgeous animation and a proverbial Who’s Who of vocal talent, including Linda Blair, Robert Englund, Peter Weller, Keith David, Cassandra Peterson, Sheryl Lee, Finn Wolfhard, Warwick Davis, Jennifer Tilly, and so many more.
During our interview, Villard discussed how Fairy Tales came to be, what inspired the visuals for the series, his experiences collaborating with the talent involved for Fairy Tales and more.
Be sure to check out JJ Villard’s Fairy Tales when it premieres this Sunday, May 10th (technically the...
During our interview, Villard discussed how Fairy Tales came to be, what inspired the visuals for the series, his experiences collaborating with the talent involved for Fairy Tales and more.
Be sure to check out JJ Villard’s Fairy Tales when it premieres this Sunday, May 10th (technically the...
- 5/8/2020
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Michael Ouweleen, a 20-year Turner networks veteran, has been named President of Adult Swim. The appointment is effective this summer when former Freeform president Tom Ascheim joins Warner Bros. as President, Kids, Young Adults and Classics. Ouweleen will report to him.
Ouweleen, Previously Evp/ Chief Marketing Officer, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang, was named interim president of Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang and TCM in November 2019 following the exit of Christina Miller. Ouweleen’s job morphed into interim head of the Warner Bros. Kids, Young Adults and Classics Division once the unit was formed earlier this month and Ascheim’s appointment was announced. Ouweleen will continue in that capacity for the next couple of months, reporting to Ann Sarnoff, Chair and CEO, Warner Bros.
Ouweleen is well liked and respected within the Turner family and a veteran executive who knows the Adult Swim brand inside and out. While serving...
Ouweleen, Previously Evp/ Chief Marketing Officer, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Boomerang, was named interim president of Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang and TCM in November 2019 following the exit of Christina Miller. Ouweleen’s job morphed into interim head of the Warner Bros. Kids, Young Adults and Classics Division once the unit was formed earlier this month and Ascheim’s appointment was announced. Ouweleen will continue in that capacity for the next couple of months, reporting to Ann Sarnoff, Chair and CEO, Warner Bros.
Ouweleen is well liked and respected within the Turner family and a veteran executive who knows the Adult Swim brand inside and out. While serving...
- 4/29/2020
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
While the 2018 Emmy Awards did a good job of spreading the wealth this year, there were still multiple nominees who walked away with a handful of trophies. Mega-producer Ryan Murphy won Best Limited Series for “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” as well as Best Directing after four consecutive losses for other programs. But Amy Sherman-Palladino was the biggest winner of the live ceremony, taking home not one, not two, but three Emmys for producing, directing and writing “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” This is on top of her win at the Creative Arts Emmys last weekend for Best Music Supervision. Despite launching multiple critically acclaimed series over the years, these are Sherman-Palladino’s first Emmy wins.
SEEPsst! Here are 7 secrets you didn’t know about the 70th Emmy Awards that I only learned by being there
While RuPaul Charles won his third consecutive Emmy for Best Reality Host last week at the Creative Arts,...
SEEPsst! Here are 7 secrets you didn’t know about the 70th Emmy Awards that I only learned by being there
While RuPaul Charles won his third consecutive Emmy for Best Reality Host last week at the Creative Arts,...
- 9/18/2018
- by Kevin Jacobsen
- Gold Derby
There are so many prizes being handed out this weekend at the Creative Arts Emmys that it takes two nights to celebrate them all; Saturday’s awards include Outstanding Animated Program, Short Form Series, and Casting. Below are the official winners, which we’ll update through Sunday as Emmys season comes to a close.
Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel • Prime Video • Amazon Studios
Meredith Tucker, Original Casting by
Jeanie Bacharach, Csa, Original Casting by
Cindy Tolan, Csa, Casting by
Outstanding Casting For A Limited Series, Movie Or Special
The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story • FX Networks • Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions
Courtney Bright, Csa, Casting by
Nicole Daniels, Csa, Casting by
Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series
The Crown • Netflix • Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television
Nina Gold, Csa, Casting by
Robert Sterne, Csa, Casting by
Outstanding...
Outstanding Casting For A Comedy Series
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel • Prime Video • Amazon Studios
Meredith Tucker, Original Casting by
Jeanie Bacharach, Csa, Original Casting by
Cindy Tolan, Csa, Casting by
Outstanding Casting For A Limited Series, Movie Or Special
The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story • FX Networks • Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions
Courtney Bright, Csa, Casting by
Nicole Daniels, Csa, Casting by
Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series
The Crown • Netflix • Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television
Nina Gold, Csa, Casting by
Robert Sterne, Csa, Casting by
Outstanding...
- 9/9/2018
- by Liz Shannon Miller
- Indiewire
Comedians Casper Kelly and Nick Gibbons have a way of twisting popular culture into a nightmare version of itself for the express purpose of making you laugh uncomfortably. It’s been four years since the duo’s “Too Many Cooks” had people convincing friends to “just watch until the end.”
Their latest, “Final Deployment 4: Queen Battle Walkthrough” does for video games what “Too Many Cooks” did for 80s sitcom nostalgia. It begins with a mundane, stereotypical frat boy streamer taking players through the final boss fight of the fictional game, “Final Deployment 4.” From there, it spins rapidly out of control for nearly twice the length of 2014’s “Too Many Cooks, ”delivering commentary dipped in existentialism.
Kelly and Gibbons are no strangers to gaming. Gibbons is a diehard PlayStation 4 fan, having just finished the new “God of War.” He cites “Uncharted” and “The Last of Us” as two of his favorite games.
Their latest, “Final Deployment 4: Queen Battle Walkthrough” does for video games what “Too Many Cooks” did for 80s sitcom nostalgia. It begins with a mundane, stereotypical frat boy streamer taking players through the final boss fight of the fictional game, “Final Deployment 4.” From there, it spins rapidly out of control for nearly twice the length of 2014’s “Too Many Cooks, ”delivering commentary dipped in existentialism.
Kelly and Gibbons are no strangers to gaming. Gibbons is a diehard PlayStation 4 fan, having just finished the new “God of War.” He cites “Uncharted” and “The Last of Us” as two of his favorite games.
- 6/27/2018
- by Michael Futter
- Variety Film + TV
After Genndy Tartakovsky’s cult animated series “Samurai Jack” was canceled by Cartoon Network in 2004, rumors swirled for years about a feature-length adaptation. Tartakovsky worked with four different studios to adapt his hyper-stylized blend of martial arts and sci-fi action for the big screen, including New Line, Sony and J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot, but none of them panned out. “As soon as we started developing it as a movie, they wanted to fit it into a box,” Tartakovsky told IndieWire. “I love ‘Jack’ as one of my creations and would never want to change it from what it was supposed to be. There was no reason to reinvent. It was working.”
See More ‘Samurai Jack’ Review: Adult Swim Resurrects the Best Samurai of the 21st Century, and It’s Already an Action-Packed Masterpiece
Tartakovsky knew exactly how he wanted to tell his story of the titular samurai, who’s thrown...
See More ‘Samurai Jack’ Review: Adult Swim Resurrects the Best Samurai of the 21st Century, and It’s Already an Action-Packed Masterpiece
Tartakovsky knew exactly how he wanted to tell his story of the titular samurai, who’s thrown...
- 10/17/2017
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Over the years, Adult Swim’s Robot Chicken series has lovingly paid tribute to hundreds of pop culture icons and projects, but this October, they're celebrating AMC’s The Walking Dead with an entire special episode devoted to Rick and his cohorts in honor of the show’s success and its legions of fans who remain devoted to the series after seven seasons.
At a recent press day, Daily Dead had the opportunity to speak with several members of the Robot Chicken family, including Seth Green, Breckin Meyer, Matthew Senreich, Tom Sheppard, as well as the incomparable Michael Rooker, whose character, Merle, makes a memorable appearance in the special (and sings us a little ditty about looking for love in a post-apocalyptic world). During the discussion, they chatted about being able to work with Robert Kirkman, Scott Gimple and The Walking Dead cast, how supportive AMC was to their idea...
At a recent press day, Daily Dead had the opportunity to speak with several members of the Robot Chicken family, including Seth Green, Breckin Meyer, Matthew Senreich, Tom Sheppard, as well as the incomparable Michael Rooker, whose character, Merle, makes a memorable appearance in the special (and sings us a little ditty about looking for love in a post-apocalyptic world). During the discussion, they chatted about being able to work with Robert Kirkman, Scott Gimple and The Walking Dead cast, how supportive AMC was to their idea...
- 9/26/2017
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Created by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland, “Rick and Morty” is the zany sci-fi family comedy that keeps on surprising. Cycling through multiple timelines, alien life forms, and human insecurities with a maniacal glee, the animated series flew under the radar at first, with Harmon’s eccentricities caused fans to wait a years in between seasons. Now, “Rick and Morty” is back in full swing, and better than ever. That’s largely due to some fresh blood in the writers room — now fifty percent female, not counting the showrunners.
“That’s just incredibly rare, unfortunately,” Jessica Gao told The Hollywood Reporter. “More often than not, I’m the only woman in the room or the only person of color — or I’m both. So, having a balanced room just makes things a lot easier for women in the sense that you feel you can pitch things and someone else will understand you.
“That’s just incredibly rare, unfortunately,” Jessica Gao told The Hollywood Reporter. “More often than not, I’m the only woman in the room or the only person of color — or I’m both. So, having a balanced room just makes things a lot easier for women in the sense that you feel you can pitch things and someone else will understand you.
- 8/11/2017
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
The cult series “Samurai Jack” returns after a nearly 13-year absence with a final story that’s darker, bloodier, and more intense.
That explains why “Jack” has moved from Cartoon Network to Adult Swim as its 10-episode Season 5 premieres this Saturday. The series picks up 50 years later, but the eponymous hero (now sporting a flowing beard and armor and driving a motorcycle) hasn’t aged as a result of being hurled into the dystopian future.
As Jack journeys home, he’s lost in a psychological purgatory and losing his mind. He’s haunted by memories of the past and filled with guilt about abandoning his family. He even has ego-crushing,”Birdman”-like dialogues with himself.
That’s not to suggest that the series has lost its humor. For creator Genndy Tartakovsky, “Jack” continues to incorporate a Hanna-Barbera (where he began his career) influence.
And it’s been a redemptive experience for Tartakovsky,...
That explains why “Jack” has moved from Cartoon Network to Adult Swim as its 10-episode Season 5 premieres this Saturday. The series picks up 50 years later, but the eponymous hero (now sporting a flowing beard and armor and driving a motorcycle) hasn’t aged as a result of being hurled into the dystopian future.
As Jack journeys home, he’s lost in a psychological purgatory and losing his mind. He’s haunted by memories of the past and filled with guilt about abandoning his family. He even has ego-crushing,”Birdman”-like dialogues with himself.
That’s not to suggest that the series has lost its humor. For creator Genndy Tartakovsky, “Jack” continues to incorporate a Hanna-Barbera (where he began his career) influence.
And it’s been a redemptive experience for Tartakovsky,...
- 3/9/2017
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Adult Swim has canceled Million Dollar Extreme Presents: World Peace, a show which has been accused of promoting racism, sexism and bigotry, Splitsider reports.
The sketch show was canceled after one season, airing just six episodes over the summer. Created by Sam Hyde, Charls Carroll and Nick Rochefort, the show immediately garnered criticism for controversial sketches – including one where Hyde wore blackface – while some of its promotional material featured language that seemed to nod to the white nationalist movement known as "Alt-Right."
Per Buzzfeed, an Mde press release stated the...
The sketch show was canceled after one season, airing just six episodes over the summer. Created by Sam Hyde, Charls Carroll and Nick Rochefort, the show immediately garnered criticism for controversial sketches – including one where Hyde wore blackface – while some of its promotional material featured language that seemed to nod to the white nationalist movement known as "Alt-Right."
Per Buzzfeed, an Mde press release stated the...
- 12/6/2016
- Rollingstone.com
Comedian Brett Gelman has taken to Twitter to announce that he has “severed ties” with comedy network Adult Swim in the wake of the recent controversy surrounding their lack of female creators.
Splitsider reports that the “Dinner in America” star and creator will no longer work in tandem with the network, specifically pointing to Evp/creative director Mike Lazzo’s recent Reddit post that attempted to explain away the channel’s lack of female creators — as was reported earlier this year, they currently have zero projects from women currently in the works — by announcing that “women don’t tend to like conflict” when it comes time to write and produce comedy.
Adult Swim’s Mike Lazzo Takes to Reddit to Defend Lack of Female Creators https://t.co/fjxE8FYx7z This Is The Reason I Have Severed Ties
— Brett Gelman (@brettgelman) November 14, 2016
Gelman also noted that his decision stemmed...
Splitsider reports that the “Dinner in America” star and creator will no longer work in tandem with the network, specifically pointing to Evp/creative director Mike Lazzo’s recent Reddit post that attempted to explain away the channel’s lack of female creators — as was reported earlier this year, they currently have zero projects from women currently in the works — by announcing that “women don’t tend to like conflict” when it comes time to write and produce comedy.
Adult Swim’s Mike Lazzo Takes to Reddit to Defend Lack of Female Creators https://t.co/fjxE8FYx7z This Is The Reason I Have Severed Ties
— Brett Gelman (@brettgelman) November 14, 2016
Gelman also noted that his decision stemmed...
- 11/14/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Brett Gelman claims the reason he cut off contact with Adult Swim was due to the adult animation programming block’s lack of female creators. Gelman, an actor and comedian who worked on Adult Swim shows “Eagleheart” and “Hot Package,” posted a write up of a recent reddit post from Adult Swim creative director Mike Lazzo discussing comments he made about women. Gelman captioned the tweet with, “This is the reason I have severed ties.” Adult Swim's Mike Lazzo Takes to Reddit to Defend Lack of Female Creators https://t.co/fjxE8FYx7z This Is The Reason I...
- 11/14/2016
- by Joe Otterson
- The Wrap
Mike Lazzo, who serves as vice president and creative director of Adult Swim, received criticism this week for reportedly not hiring women in creative positions because, as one anonymous former employee recalls him saying, “when you put women in the writers room, you get conflict, not comedy.”
Read More: Hollywood Is ‘Epicenter of Cultural Inequality’ For Women and Minorities, New Report Finds — Girl Talk
Lazzo clarified his comments on reddit: “What I actually said was-women don’t tend to like conflict, comedy often comes from conflict, so that’s probably why we (or others) have so few female projects,” he wrote. “Nonetheless this was a dumb answer to a good question as Lucille Ball and Gilda Rather to Amy Poelher and Amy Schumer prove my statement a load of generalized nonsense.” A recent Buzzfeed report states that only one out of every 34 credits go to women on Adult Swim, the...
Read More: Hollywood Is ‘Epicenter of Cultural Inequality’ For Women and Minorities, New Report Finds — Girl Talk
Lazzo clarified his comments on reddit: “What I actually said was-women don’t tend to like conflict, comedy often comes from conflict, so that’s probably why we (or others) have so few female projects,” he wrote. “Nonetheless this was a dumb answer to a good question as Lucille Ball and Gilda Rather to Amy Poelher and Amy Schumer prove my statement a load of generalized nonsense.” A recent Buzzfeed report states that only one out of every 34 credits go to women on Adult Swim, the...
- 10/6/2016
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Adult Swim animator and voice actor Clay Martin Croker died yesterday at the age of 54, as reported by Adult Swim creative director Jason DeMarco and contributor/rapper Mc Chris. Croker is best known for voicing both Zorak and Moltar on the long-running Cartoon Network talk show parody “Space Ghost Coast to Coast,” a series credited for establishing Adult Swim, spawning four separate spin-off shows — “Aqua Teen Hunger Force,” “Sealab 2021,” “The Brak Show,” and “Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law” — and produced the majority of the writers and staff who still currently work for the alternative programming block.
Read More: Adult Swim Makes History By Launching First Full Episode On Vine
Croker began his career animating promos for TNT in the early-90s, but moved to Cartoon Network a few years later to help animate and design bumpers for the network’s rebranding. It was then producer Mike Lazzo, now Senior...
Read More: Adult Swim Makes History By Launching First Full Episode On Vine
Croker began his career animating promos for TNT in the early-90s, but moved to Cartoon Network a few years later to help animate and design bumpers for the network’s rebranding. It was then producer Mike Lazzo, now Senior...
- 9/19/2016
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
Sad clown alert: the popular Adult Swim comedy Childrens Hospital will be ending its seven season run next month. Creator and star Rob Corddry confirmed the news in an in-depth interview with Variety, saying he believes the currently-airing seventh season is “the ultimate season of Childrens Hospital.”
The actor admitted that if he and the team believed that they weren’t going out on top, they would have probably continued the show into another year. As it stands, he thinks they’ve made the right decision.
Here’s a brief clip from his thoughts on the move to end the show:
This show, season after season, has been an exercise in perfecting this world. We just finished editing this season a couple of weeks ago, and it really is the ultimate season of Childrens Hospital. That wasn’t the decision-maker but it certainly was a strong factor. It’s uncomfortable...
The actor admitted that if he and the team believed that they weren’t going out on top, they would have probably continued the show into another year. As it stands, he thinks they’ve made the right decision.
Here’s a brief clip from his thoughts on the move to end the show:
This show, season after season, has been an exercise in perfecting this world. We just finished editing this season a couple of weeks ago, and it really is the ultimate season of Childrens Hospital. That wasn’t the decision-maker but it certainly was a strong factor. It’s uncomfortable...
- 3/4/2016
- by Mitchel Broussard
- We Got This Covered
Adult Swim unveiled its coming slate ahead of next week’s upfront event, including the ironically titled “TV Sucks” from Brad Neely. All told, the animated Turner channel is turning up its development to the tune of 30 new original series, specials and pilots for 2015-2016. “Adult Swim has always been known as a place for taking risks and for great talent trying interesting things,” said Christina Miller, president and general manager, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang. “Mike (Lazzo) and his team continue to raise the bar, always knowing what the Adult Swim fan wants; and this new slate of original programming adds.
- 5/7/2015
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Aaron McGruder has signed a first-look development deal with Adult Swim that will be launched with "Hooligan Squad," a live-action pilot set in the future, about an American insurgency in Japanese-occupied San Francisco. “With "The Boondocks" and the upcoming "Black Jesus" series we consider Aaron very instrumental in the success of Adult Swim and this deal is the continuation of a great partnership,” said Mike Lazzo, executive vice president/creative director of Adult Swim. McGruder added: “It’s a rare thing to have a network home. Even more rare is a home that wants to see you grow and expand as a creator. Adult Swim is headed to...
- 7/15/2014
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
There was a certain point in history, somewhere between The Simpsons and Daria, when TV animation ceased to be the sole provenance of kids drooling over their morning bowls of Lucky Charms. These days, cartoons for grown-ups are not only ubiquitous, but hilariously twisted and high-quality to boot — and that's due in large part to a phenomenon called Adult Swim. What began as a freaky little block of late-night programming has evolved into a vast, even-freakier universe of animated and live-action series with a sardonic, absurdist sense of humor that's...
- 6/13/2014
- Rollingstone.com
(Cbr) Fresh off their visit to the Cbr Yacht at Comic-Con International, "Rick and Morty" creators Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland stopped by the Cbr Tiki Room at New York Comic Con 2013 to talk with Jonah Weiland about their new Adult Swim show. The pair discuss their stellar voice cast including Sarah Chalke and Chris Parnell and what it’s like getting notes in animation versus live-action. They then go on to discuss the pleasure of working with Adult Swim and their approach to creatives, specifically citing exec Michael Lazzo as someone firmly in their corner. They wrap things up by...
- 12/3/2013
- by Jonah Weiland, Comic Book Resources
- Hitfix
Dan Harmon returned to "Community" for Season 5, but the experience of being bumped from his own show for a season has changed him. It's no secret that Harmon lost a lot of faith in the network television medium after his difficulties working on his beloved project, and he took that expectation of network executives along with him to Adult Swim.
There Harmon teamed with voice actor, writer and producer Justin Roiland to create the animated TV series "Rick and Morty." Roiland voices both title characters, but that wasn't always the case. The process of convincing Adult Swim senior executive vice president Mike Lazzo to make the show Roiland and Harmon wanted to create helped revitalize Harmon's faith in the network TV process.
During an interview with Zap2it, Roiland explains that "Rick and Morty" was developed around him voicing both brilliant grandfather scientist character Rick and his young grandson Morty.
There Harmon teamed with voice actor, writer and producer Justin Roiland to create the animated TV series "Rick and Morty." Roiland voices both title characters, but that wasn't always the case. The process of convincing Adult Swim senior executive vice president Mike Lazzo to make the show Roiland and Harmon wanted to create helped revitalize Harmon's faith in the network TV process.
During an interview with Zap2it, Roiland explains that "Rick and Morty" was developed around him voicing both brilliant grandfather scientist character Rick and his young grandson Morty.
- 11/29/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Dan Harmon faced reporters at the TCA summer press tour on Wednesday (July 24), ostensibly for his new Adult Swim show "Rick and Morty." But that did not end up being the sole topic of discussion.
The assembled critics and reporters also wanted to talk about "Community" and his return to the show after being fired a year ago. The press conference broke down to about half discussion of "Rick and Morty" -- about a boy's sci-fi adventures with his mad-scientist grandfather -- and equal parts about Harmon's return to "Community" (including comparisons of the two networks) and Harmon talking about Harmon. Some highlights:
On the notes he gets from Adult Swim vs. those at NBC:
"[Adult Swim creative director] Mike Lazzo is a bona fide, actual genius, especially in the world of network executives. He has the autonomy and the humility and the mental power to actually take a script, recognize it as what it is,...
The assembled critics and reporters also wanted to talk about "Community" and his return to the show after being fired a year ago. The press conference broke down to about half discussion of "Rick and Morty" -- about a boy's sci-fi adventures with his mad-scientist grandfather -- and equal parts about Harmon's return to "Community" (including comparisons of the two networks) and Harmon talking about Harmon. Some highlights:
On the notes he gets from Adult Swim vs. those at NBC:
"[Adult Swim creative director] Mike Lazzo is a bona fide, actual genius, especially in the world of network executives. He has the autonomy and the humility and the mental power to actually take a script, recognize it as what it is,...
- 7/25/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Yes, yes, Dan Harmon is back running the show at "Community." But while he was exiled last season, he wasn't just ranting on Twitter and on his Harmontown podcasts -- he was also creating another show with partner Justin Roiland.
"Rick and Morty" is a new animated comedy premiering on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim this fall, all about the adventures of a genius inventor and his less-than-genius grandson.
Answering questions from critics at the annual Television Critics Association press tour, Harmon talked about the benefits of doing animation versus live-action: "You can make a banana purple. You can put three hats on a cowboy." Then when talking about influences, Harmon cited the "British sci-fi stuff" that he grew up reading, as well as "a heavy dose of 'Doctor Who.'"
That the follow-up question wasn't about "Inspector Spacetime" is a total TCA fail, but the questions did quickly shift to "Community,...
"Rick and Morty" is a new animated comedy premiering on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim this fall, all about the adventures of a genius inventor and his less-than-genius grandson.
Answering questions from critics at the annual Television Critics Association press tour, Harmon talked about the benefits of doing animation versus live-action: "You can make a banana purple. You can put three hats on a cowboy." Then when talking about influences, Harmon cited the "British sci-fi stuff" that he grew up reading, as well as "a heavy dose of 'Doctor Who.'"
That the follow-up question wasn't about "Inspector Spacetime" is a total TCA fail, but the questions did quickly shift to "Community,...
- 7/24/2013
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
The difference between making Adult Swim’s new animated half hour Rick And Morty, and making NBC’s live-action comedy Community at Sony, is that Adult Swim exec vp Mike Lazzo is “a bona fide genius, especially in the world of network executives,” Dan Harmon said this afternoon at TCA Summer TV Press Tour 2013. Harmon came to the tour today to talk about Rick And Morty, the comedy about a genius inventor grandfather and his less-than-genius grandson that Harmon is doing with creator Justin Roiland. But Harmon is best known for creating and exec producing Community, for being sacked from the show last season because of his behavior, for being brought back to the show for its fifth when the fourth one tanked, for saying that watching the fourth season of Community was like “being held down and watching your family get raped on a beach,” and then issuing a mealy-mouthed apology.
- 7/24/2013
- by LISA DE MORAES, TV Columnist
- Deadline TV
Adult Swim's TCA press tour panel for "Rick and Morty" quickly turned to the psychoanalyzing of Dan Harmon. Harmon's the executive producer of the new animated show (which premieres in December), and was there with co-creator and writer Justin Roiland, but Harmon's turbulent history with network television, his firing and rehiring at "Community" and his general tendency to overshare with brutal and sometimes ill-advised honestly on social media (in a way that delights journalists) were generally more alluring than "Rick and Morty," a quirky (natch) series about the adventures of a mad genius grandfather and his grandson. Asked first about the differences in terms of network notes between Adult Swim and NBC, Harmon called Adult Swim's Mike Lazzo "a bona fide actual genius," meaning that "he has the autonomy and the humility, the mental power to take a script, recognize it as what it is -- which is a document,...
- 7/24/2013
- by Alison Willmore
- Indiewire
Turner Broadcasting has restructured its young adults and kids media group to align Cartoon Network and Adult Swim's digital and gaming initiatives. As part of the new alignment, Rob Sorcher (pictured above right) and Mike Lazzo (left) have been named Executive Vice President/Chief Content Officer for Cartoon Network and Executive Vice President/Creative Director for Adult Swim, respectively. "In order to build on our continued success it is imperative that we have a structure in place that will allow us to think and execute more strategically and also set us up for growth and...
- 7/8/2013
- by Jethro Nededog
- The Wrap
Rob Sorcher is now Evp and Chief Content Officer for Cartoon Network and Mike Lazzo is Evp and Creative Director at Adult Swim. The promotions are part of a broader restructuring announced today by Turner Broadcasting. Sorcher — based at Cartoon Network Studios in Burbank — and Lazzo — at Williams Street Studios in Atlanta — will continue to report to Stuart Snyder, President and COO of Turner’s Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media Division. In their new roles, the pair will take on responsibilities for the digital and gaming businesses for each of their areas, along with continuing to spearhead development and production of original and acquired content and the supervision of Cartoon Network Studios and Williams Street Studios, respectively. Sorcher has been chief content officer at Cartoon Network since 2008, with the network now seeing some of its best ratings in history thanks to series like the Emmy-winner Regular Show and Lego Ninjago...
- 7/8/2013
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Turner Broadcasting's Young Adults & Kids Media Group has aligned content, digital and gaming, with executives at Cartoon Network and Adult Swim earning promotions with the reorganization. Mike Lazzo has been named executive vp/creative director at Adult Swim, while Rob Sorcher has been tapped exec vp/chief content officer at Cartoon Network, Turner announced Monday. In their new roles, both will oversee each network's digital and gaming business while spearheading development and production of original and acquired content, as well as supervising Cartoon Network Studios and Adult Swim's Williams Street Studios. They will report to Stuart Snyder, president and COO at Turner Broadcasting's Animation,
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- 7/8/2013
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"Rick and Morty," Dan Harmon's latest TV project, has found a home on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. According to Splitsider, Harmon co-created the project with Justin Roiland and Roiland made the announcement on Twitter as did their production company, Starburns Industries.
So far Adult Swim has ordered 10 half-hour episodes of "Rick and Morty."
Rick and Morty! 10 half hours!Watch it sometime in late 2013 on adult swim!
— Justin Roiland (@JustinRoiland) October 27, 2012
Huge congrats to Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland for the pick up on Rick and Morty. Thanks Mike Lazzo and everyone at Adult Swim.
— Starburns Industries (@StarburnsInd) October 27, 2012
The show follows an evil genius and his not-so-evil genius grandson.
Since being axed from his NBC comedy "Community," Harmon has been at work on new TV projects. In July, The Hollywood Reporter reported Harmon signed a script deal at CBS. Harmon was also close to a deal with Fox.
So far Adult Swim has ordered 10 half-hour episodes of "Rick and Morty."
Rick and Morty! 10 half hours!Watch it sometime in late 2013 on adult swim!
— Justin Roiland (@JustinRoiland) October 27, 2012
Huge congrats to Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland for the pick up on Rick and Morty. Thanks Mike Lazzo and everyone at Adult Swim.
— Starburns Industries (@StarburnsInd) October 27, 2012
The show follows an evil genius and his not-so-evil genius grandson.
Since being axed from his NBC comedy "Community," Harmon has been at work on new TV projects. In July, The Hollywood Reporter reported Harmon signed a script deal at CBS. Harmon was also close to a deal with Fox.
- 10/29/2012
- by Chris Harnick
- Huffington Post
Canadian terrorists won't want to mess with these guys.
Adult Swim’s wacky police procedural NTSF:SD:SUV:: has been renewed for a second season. The comedy spoof on shows like CSI, Criminal Minds, Law & Order and NCIS, stars creator Paul Scheer, Rebecca Romijn, Brandon Johnson and Kate Mulgrew. Mulgrew, who wore an eye patch in the first season, played Captain Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager.
“The ratings have consistently built throughout the first season and we love what we’re seeing from the show, and how can you not love SUVs?” Adult Swim’s Mike Lazzo is quoted as saying by The Hollywood Reporter.
NTSF:SD:SUV:: stands for National Terrorism Strike Force: San Diego: Sport Utility Vehicle. The show’s over-the-top, often hilarious and sometimes surreal 15-minutes episodes focus on a clandestine group of government agents based in a hi-tech facility in San Diego. They...
Adult Swim’s wacky police procedural NTSF:SD:SUV:: has been renewed for a second season. The comedy spoof on shows like CSI, Criminal Minds, Law & Order and NCIS, stars creator Paul Scheer, Rebecca Romijn, Brandon Johnson and Kate Mulgrew. Mulgrew, who wore an eye patch in the first season, played Captain Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager.
“The ratings have consistently built throughout the first season and we love what we’re seeing from the show, and how can you not love SUVs?” Adult Swim’s Mike Lazzo is quoted as saying by The Hollywood Reporter.
NTSF:SD:SUV:: stands for National Terrorism Strike Force: San Diego: Sport Utility Vehicle. The show’s over-the-top, often hilarious and sometimes surreal 15-minutes episodes focus on a clandestine group of government agents based in a hi-tech facility in San Diego. They...
- 10/6/2011
- by Michael Simpson
- CinemaSpy
Filed under: TV News
Watch out terrorists! Paul Scheer's butt-kicking team on 'Ntsf:sd:suv' will be back for a second season.
"The ratings have consistently built throughout the first season and we love what we're seeing from the show, and how can you not love SUVs?" Adult Swim honcho Mike Lazzo said.
Scheer created the procedural parody series and also stars alongside Rebecca Romijn, Kate Mulgrew, Brandon Johnson, June Diane Raphael and Martin Starr. The all-star cast play characters who are part of a clandestine team of government agents that protects San Diego from terrorist threats.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments...
Watch out terrorists! Paul Scheer's butt-kicking team on 'Ntsf:sd:suv' will be back for a second season.
"The ratings have consistently built throughout the first season and we love what we're seeing from the show, and how can you not love SUVs?" Adult Swim honcho Mike Lazzo said.
Scheer created the procedural parody series and also stars alongside Rebecca Romijn, Kate Mulgrew, Brandon Johnson, June Diane Raphael and Martin Starr. The all-star cast play characters who are part of a clandestine team of government agents that protects San Diego from terrorist threats.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments...
- 10/6/2011
- by Chris Harnick
- Aol TV.
It just wouldn't be San Diego Comic-Con without a visit from the stars and creators behind some of Adult Swim's greatest shows! We're talking Robot Chicken, Metalocalypse, Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1 (formerly Aqua Teen Hunger Force), The Venture Bros. and Squidbillies!
We already know that Childrens Hospital will host its own panel, Robot Chicken, and The Venture Bros. as well, so where does that leave Adult Swim's other big names? Last year Adult Swim hosted a joint panel featuring Robot Chicken's Seth Green Tom Root and Matthew Seinreich, Metalocalypse's Brendon Small, and The Venture Bros.' Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick, even though they later had their own panel.
In addition to all the big name panels, Adult Swim will hold its general panel on Friday, July 22nd at 12:45pm - 1:15pm in the Indigo Ballroom of the Hilton Bayfront. The panel will...
We already know that Childrens Hospital will host its own panel, Robot Chicken, and The Venture Bros. as well, so where does that leave Adult Swim's other big names? Last year Adult Swim hosted a joint panel featuring Robot Chicken's Seth Green Tom Root and Matthew Seinreich, Metalocalypse's Brendon Small, and The Venture Bros.' Doc Hammer and Jackson Publick, even though they later had their own panel.
In addition to all the big name panels, Adult Swim will hold its general panel on Friday, July 22nd at 12:45pm - 1:15pm in the Indigo Ballroom of the Hilton Bayfront. The panel will...
- 7/11/2011
- UGO TV
Comic-Con 2011 Movie Panels: Friday Schedule
11:00-12:00 Paramount: The Adventures of Tin-Tin — Tba Hall H
12:15-1:15 Relativity Media: Raven and Haywire— Two fantastic films from Relativity Media debut in this Hall H presentation. Hall H
Raven — The film is a gritty thriller in which Edgar Allan Poe joins forces with a young Baltimore detective to hunt down a mad serial killer who’s using Poe’s own works as the basis for a string of brutal murders. Ravenstars John Cusack as Edgar Allan Poe, Luke Evans, and Alice Eve and is directed by James McTeigue.
Haywire — An electrifying tale of espionage and betrayal. A female covert ops specialist who works in the deadly world of international operatives strikes back after discovering she’s been double-crossed by someone close to her in the agency. Mixed martial arts superstar Gina Carano makes her feature film — and Comic-Con — debut,...
11:00-12:00 Paramount: The Adventures of Tin-Tin — Tba Hall H
12:15-1:15 Relativity Media: Raven and Haywire— Two fantastic films from Relativity Media debut in this Hall H presentation. Hall H
Raven — The film is a gritty thriller in which Edgar Allan Poe joins forces with a young Baltimore detective to hunt down a mad serial killer who’s using Poe’s own works as the basis for a string of brutal murders. Ravenstars John Cusack as Edgar Allan Poe, Luke Evans, and Alice Eve and is directed by James McTeigue.
Haywire — An electrifying tale of espionage and betrayal. A female covert ops specialist who works in the deadly world of international operatives strikes back after discovering she’s been double-crossed by someone close to her in the agency. Mixed martial arts superstar Gina Carano makes her feature film — and Comic-Con — debut,...
- 7/9/2011
- by Kevin Coll
- FusedFilm
It seems like San Diego Comic-Con 2011 is right around the corner, and it's going to be one hell of a glorious weekend of geek awesomeness. Comic-Con International has unleashed the full schedule for Friday July 22nd, once again we have a full day of fun and excitement. There's so much I want to see here, including The Amazing Spider-Man, The Walking Dead, Total Recal, Batman: Year One, Locke & Key, Haywire, Raven and more!
I've gone through the list and put exclamation points next to all of the events that we want to cover. Let us know what panels and events you would like to know about and we will try and get them covered for you! If you are actually going to be at the con, what will you be checking out?
GeekTyrant will once again be at Comic-Con in full force this year, bringing you the best maximum super rad coverage.
I've gone through the list and put exclamation points next to all of the events that we want to cover. Let us know what panels and events you would like to know about and we will try and get them covered for you! If you are actually going to be at the con, what will you be checking out?
GeekTyrant will once again be at Comic-Con in full force this year, bringing you the best maximum super rad coverage.
- 7/8/2011
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
Cartoon Network's VP original series Rob Swartz is leaving the cable network after a three-year stint to return to his alternative series roots, this time as a producer. His last day is today. At Cn, Swarz led the development and current teams and oversaw development and current programming for all of Cn’s original animated, live-action and alternative series, including Adventure Time, Regular Show, Mad, Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, Generator Rex, Young Justice, Hole in the Wall, Dude What Would Happen, and Destroy Build Destroy. He joined Cn from Syfy, where as VP alternative programming he developed and launched Destination Truth and was responsible for overseeing the successful Ghost Hunters franchise. Here is an internal memo from Cn chief content officer Rob Sorcher announcing Swartz's departure: Rob Swartz has decided to pursue a career track producing alternative format series, as a producer. I am very grateful to Rob...
- 4/29/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Exclusive: Adult Swim has picked up a second season of the live-action comedy Eagleheart, starring Chris Elliott. The quarter-hour series, a parody of butt-kicking crime dramas like Walker, Texas Ranger, hails from Conan O'Brien's Conaco Prods. It was set up while O'Brien and Conaco were still based at NBC but now represents nice synergy between Time Warner entities. Elliott is set to return as U.S. Marshal Chris Monsanto, who blindly kicks, punches and shoots his way to what may or may not be a legitimate solution to his case, along with co-stars Brett Gelman and Maria Thayer as his sidekicks Brett and Susie. Eagleheart, which premiered Feb. 3 at midnight, was No. 1 in its time slot among adults/men 18-34 and 18-49, and it ranked as basic cable's No. 1 sitcom in the men 18-34 and men 18-49 demos. The series was created by former Late Night With Conan O'Brien...
- 4/14/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Dr. Blake Downs will walk through halls of Dr. Arthur Childrens' hospital, embodying a bizarro Hippocratic oath and dispensing his special kind of Patch Adams health care, for at least 14 more episodes. Cartoon Network has renewed Childrens' Hospital for a third season. Created by Rob Corddry and starring a bevy of Hollywood hotshots (including former Will and Grace star Megan Mullally, Boston Legal’s Lake Bell, Ken Marino, The Office’s Ed Helms, SNL’s Jason Sudeikis, Rob Huebel from Human Giant, Malin Akerman, Henry Winkler, John Cho, and Kurtwood Smith), Childrens' Hospital originally aired in December 2008 as a web series on TheWB.com. After a strong internet performance, Mike Lazzo, Adult Swim's senior vice-president of programming and production, caught wind of the series. He liked what he saw. In July 2010, Childrens' Hospital aired as part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim line-up. For the first cable television season,...
- 10/5/2010
- by Joshua Cohen
- Tubefilter.com
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