Adult Swim announces programming slate for 2011-12

Adult Swim celebrated a new slate of programming for the 2011-12 season Wednesday night during its star-studded annual Upfront event in New York City.


New original series and specials include:


The Venture Bros. Special - From the Ladle to the Grave: The Story of Shallow Gravy
See the Venture Family as you've never seen them before: in a 15-minute documentary-style animated special. Follow the meteoric rise, the equally meteoric fall and the decidedly un-meteor-like second coming of the most important band Hank Venture, Dermott Fitctel and H.E.L.P.eR. robot have ever been in: Shallow Gravy. If you're hungry for rock, then open wide, because here comes a ladle of heavy metal fire and metaphoric meat drippings. Launched on Adult Swim in August 2004, The Venture Bros. is an inspired spoof of such 1960s action cartoon shows as Jonny Quest. Created by Jackson Publick III (King of the Hill, The Tick), the 30-minute animated series follows the bizarre misadventures of the Venture family. Premieres July 24.

Tight Bros
Tight Bros is a new animated comedy that follows two moronic "clergybros" who are on a quest for fat beats, hot chicks and tricked-out cell phones. Vince and Aaron were called by God to spread a holy message: one of peace, love and tearin' up the club. By day, the two sell religious kitsch at a kiosk in Viceroy Del Sol mall. By night, they hunt for babes, but only with mega tans and super smooth waxes in place. Premiering in the spring of 2012, Tight Bros is created and written and executive produced by Sam Johnson and Chris Marcil.

Black Dynamite
Based on 2009's critically-acclaimed feature film Black Dynamite, the new 30-minute animated series will premiere in the spring of 2012. The Black Dynamite animated series further chronicles the exploits of the central character, Black Dynamite, and his crew. Under the direction of Carl Jones (The Boondocks), the series features the voice talent of Michael Jai White, Tommy Davidson, Kym Whitley and Byron Minns, all of whom starred in the feature film. The feature film is an outrageous action comedy-spoof that follows ex-CIA agent and full-time ladies man Black Dynamite, who's out to avenge the death of his brother against kung-fu masters, drug-dealing pimps and The Man. Black Dynamite, the animated series, is being produced by Ars Nova Entertainment. Jones is executive producer. Jon Steingart and Jillian Apfelbaum also serve as executive producers. Brian Ash is co-executive producer. Scott Sanders, White and Minns are producers. Black Dynamite is being animated by Titmouse, Inc.


Returning series:


Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1
The series formerly known as Aqua Teen Hunger Force is one of the most popular and longest-running original series on Adult Swim and has been retooled for glory and renamed Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1. Show creators Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro felt that after 100+ episodes, they really didn't like the name. Now Frylock, Master Shake, Meatwad and their smelly neighbor Carl appears under a new banner and new theme song, which was written, composed and performed by Joshua Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) and Alain Johannes. The closing theme shred guitar performance is by co-creator Maiellaro. The cast also does a lot of the things they've done over the past 10 years: look for a new place to put their stuff, pay rent, make gut-wrenching decisions and talk about life while sipping herbal tea. Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1 premiered May 8 and continues at 11:45 p.m. (ET/PT) every Sunday.

Mary Shelley's Frankenhole Moral Orel creator Dino Stamatopoulos returns to Adult Swim in the spring of 2012 with season 2 of the stop-motion animated series Mary Shelley's Frankenhole. This is the true story of Victor Frankenstein -- the world's most narcissistic genius -- and his various attempts to become recognized as the great creator/scientist that he believes himself to be.

Metalocalypse
From creators Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha, the fourth season of the animated series Metalocalypse premieres in the spring of 2012. The series chronicles Dethklok's crusades into darkness and their exploitation as the world's most popular metal band and most significant cultural force.

Mongo Wrestling Alliance
The Wrestler meets Metalocalypse in this story of the once great Kleberkuh Clan. Back-stabbing smoking ring sluts, villainous mutants and pile-drivers from the top of great big ladders -- it's all in a day's work for young Rusty Kleberkuh, who is determined to restore his family's name in the treacherous and deviant world of professional wrestling. Created by Tommy Blacha (Metalocalypse co-creator), Mongo Wrestling Alliance premiered season 1 part 1 in January. Season 1 part 2 premieres at midnight (ET, PT) Sunday, June 19.

Robot Chicken
Robot Chicken uses stop-motion animation to bring pop-culture parodies to life in a modern take on the variety/sketch show format. The Emmy Award-winning series began airing in February 2005 and remains the top-rated original series on Adult Swim. Robot Chicken is created and executive produced by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich under their Stoopid Monkey Productions, in conjunction with Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico's ShadowMachine Films. Green and Senreich also executive produce, write and, with Chris McKay, direct the series, with Green providing many of the voices. Season 5 part 2 premieres this fall.

Squidbillies
The inbred squid-things of Dougal County return for a fifth season of hillbilly shenanigans in the spring of 2012. The squids won't disappointify you, as long as you like bank robbing, drug trafficking, unskinny bopping, and guest appearances by bona-fide famous people. Squidbillies premiered on Adult Swim in October 2006 and is from creators Dave Willis (Aqua Teen Hunger Force) and Jim Fortier (The Brak Show), both Georgia natives. Willis and Fortier worked as writers and producers on Space Ghost Coast to Coast.

Superjail!
In April, the hit series Superjail! slammed back in general population for a second season of destruction and continues to premiere at midnight (ET, PT) Sundays on Adult Swim. Double the insanity. Double the crazy. Double the pain of being kicked in the guts really hard. Superjail! returns to Adult Swim with ten new episodes produced at Titmouse Studios in N.Y. Series creators and executive producers Christy Karacas (Cartoon Sushi, Robotomy) and Stephen Warbrick (Beavis and Butthead, Daria) teamed up again to take this over-the-top animated series to the next level. Chris McCulloch (The Venture Bros.) returned as a consulting producer this season and lent his talents with story editing and voiceovers.


Pilots currently in development include:


The Dummiez; Nick Cannon project
Untitled project with Major Lazer
Untitled project with Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All
Rolling with Dad; 30-minute animated sitcom created by Seth Grahame-Smith and David Katzenberg
Untitled project by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland


Returning acquisitions:


American Dad!
Bleach
Family Guy
Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood
King of the Hill