classicswim | [as] TZ ‘04 Year in Review

I had this idea on Toonzone brewing for about the last quarter of 2023. Maybe even before that. Because of how long I’ve been following this, and retrospection is simply part of what I am.

The turnout (and later burnout) of my year-round Home Movies thread, along with the state of welcomeness on that board as of late, made it a wise deduction that my idea would only be another merciful blob of double posting. So I didn’t go through with it.

Though... I still liked the idea that I had. And I do believe it’s something worth exploring. Even when the vast majority of TZ disagrees.

So, here’s a select few from the burner:

_____________________________

C&C - Anything Else [12/29/03 - 1/1/04]

Mostly talk on Brak Show’s Bashington New Years Special. And their standard final episode.

I’ve occasionally had the “bring back Brak” mindset as time passed since the cancellation. Don’t think the show deserved the bad rap that it got, but am more open to the critiques looking back. Not like it could ever be done again anyways. A defined relic!

Goes without saying that Bashington was a pretty damn good sendoff. Reminds you how close that Space Ghost/Williams Street comedy tree stuck together in those days. Brak was a fairly significant part of that from the beginning. In spite of being viewed as the sore thumb of the bunch.

Definitely shows its age with the overkill of horn beeps. Disregarding that - - still funny as hell.

Debbie being too much for Carl to handle, “Brak Show” Zorak meeting “Coast to Coast” Zorak, MEATWAD’S PULP FICTION PUPPET SHOW, the Thundercleese/Frylock revelation which was almost begging to happen anyway. Was a memorable event!

ATHF’s “Last Fucking One For 2003” certainly did the most to amp me up as well.

Had to have been my first time seeing Family Guy’s Y2K episode. Either that or once I picked up the volume 1 DVD.

_____________________________

[I'm gonna **** because I don't give a ****!] - Jan 2, 2004

The previously mentioned Bashington event, on top of ATHF and Sealab’s colorful language increase brought on this discussion.

It was right around this time anyway where people began wising up to Adult Swim wanting MA content.

It became a permanent direction later into 2005, but ‘04 was somewhat the preparation as Venture Bros along with Stroker & Hoop later fell into this category. Even TGTTM!

I remember [as] more or less gave credit to Boondocks on this specifically (and why wouldn’t they?) but they were just gearing for this across multiple waves. Halfway into Robot Chicken’s first order was making this a necessity also.

And there were detractors on this.

•••• RD! writes: I think it takes away from alot of what people argued way back when Adult Swim started. People defended alot of these shows, especialy Home Movies, that the shows were adult because they had adult appeal with writing that would be appreciated by such adults and not have to be defined as adult because of excessive swearing.

On top of that, it doesn't feel right at all, and takes away from the (sometimes) witty writing. Especialy Home Movies, I mean, they're kids, it just seems like a lame attempt to make the show South Park. ••••

I have noticed such a thing in later Home Movies, but I’ve also listened enough to Loren & Brendon to get the sense that they were aware of these same concerns.

Sometimes it worked for them and sometimes there was a flubbing. Brendon’s tantrum in the Halloween show was funny in context to more so his hurt ego than simply swearing for the sake of swearing.

And y’know... there are other ways a show can be unfunny besides what’s often just rapid cussing during one bit.

Whole ordeal involving the network direction change is still fairly intriguing to me. I wouldn’t expect anyone younger to give a shit. It was oddly exciting for me to experience it in real time.

_____________________________

[Recap of the Family Guy situation?] - Jan 10, 2004

The news was settling in by this point that FG was indeed coming back.

Adult Swim + DVD sales reigned supreme!

•••• Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane is happy with his show's return, even to a lower-profile channel: "Networks don't cancel shows and pick them up again, no matter how big the fan push is. If that were the case, the original Star Trek would have stayed on the air." ••••

The only thing unsure of at the time was whether Family Guy would be coursing over Adult Swim proper or back on FOX.

Though believe it or not, Lazzo had the very option at one point with new episodes and dropped the ball. Can’t imagine what could’ve been. Although I doubt the series would look the way as it has being CN funded.

This is probably stuff I’ll remark upon again shortly, considering the show’s 25th anniversary is in just a few days!

_____________________________

[Simpsons on Adult Swim?] - Jan 22, 2004

Oh, how this ship has sailed long, long ago. Only to be very briefly and swiftly sailed again!

This was virtually never a possibility in my eyes. Even when they’ve bid on and greatly expressed wanting it.

I’d say I wouldn’t want it any other way, though. The [as] airings of Futurama and FG got me to adore those shows as I still sorta do.

They took network underachievers and turned both into mega hits. They both just became integral to that brand.

They could’ve done something equally nice for Simpsons, even if just airing old episodes FOX would never show again anyway. But it was never in [as] valley and I think that’s okay!

Appreciate them as well for giving Mission Hill and Oblongs the little appreciation it has! More so Mission Hill specifically, but both were Simpson adjacent and something new to my eyes then!

_____________________________

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I loved Meatwad's Pulp Fiction puppet show. I still sometimes say "Does he look like a bitch?" in Meatwad's voice.

The Simpsons never making it to Adult Swim is a mixed blessing. I feel like if it had, it would take up even more space than the rest of the acquired shows and AS would be in an even bigger hole with lack of material once Disney bought Fox.

•• I still sometimes say "Does he look like a bitch?" in Meatwad's voice. ••

Ditto.

At the very least, I believe Simpsons airing as it has on say FXX should’ve happened long back when that type of packaging was more convenient.

Maybe not [as] but I wish they had a better outlet for older episodes because the box sets after awhile were most of what I could count on.

You just can't NOT say it. I hate that word and I don't use it. But I do repeat that bit sometimes. It's the voice.

[as] TZ ‘04 Year in Review - January

no subject

no subject

no subject