Successful Late-Night Block of Animation for Adults to Air 11 p.m.-1 a.m. ET, PT Sunday-Thursday
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE via COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--Oct 22, 2002--Cartoon Network`s successful block of late night animation for adults, Adult Swim, will join the schedule five times per week beginning Sunday, January 12, 2003. Airing from 11 p.m.-1 a.m. (ET, PT) Sunday-Thursday, the block will continue to serve up a mix including blue chip acquisition FUTURAMA, quirky original animated series including Home Movies, Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, and stunning action/anime series such as Cowboy Bebop and InuYasha.
Following is the new schedule for Adult Swim, which begins Sunday, January 12, 2003.
Sunday
11 p.m.(ET, PT) Mission Hill
11:30 p.m.(ET, PT) The Oblongs
12 a.m.(ET, PT) The Ripping Friends
12:30 a.m.(ET, PT) Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Brak Show, Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, Sealab 2021
Monday
11 p.m.(ET, PT) FUTURAMA
11:30 p.m.(ET, PT) Home Movies
12 a.m.(ET, PT) InuYasha
12:30 a.m.(ET, PT) Cowboy Bebop
Tuesday
11 p.m.(ET, PT) FUTURAMA
11:30 p.m.(ET, PT) Home Movies
12 a.m.(ET, PT) InuYasha
12:30 a.m.(ET, PT) Cowboy Bebop
Wednesday
11 p.m.(ET, PT) FUTURAMA
11:30 p.m.(ET, PT) Home Movies
12 a.m.(ET, PT) InuYasha
12:30 a.m.(ET, PT) Cowboy Bebop
Thursday
11 p.m.(ET, PT) FUTURAMA
11:30 p.m.(ET, PT) Home Movies
12 a.m.(ET, PT) InuYasha
12:30 a.m.(ET, PT) Cowboy Bebop
''Since we began Adult Swim, the goal was to build it into an across-the-schedule franchise,'' said Jim Samples, executive vice president and general manager of Cartoon Network. ''Now, with the power of FUTURAMA, original comedies, acquisitions and Japan`s best anime, we have the depth in our Adult Swim programming portfolio to make it happen now.'' The expansion of Adult Swim was made possible by the recent acquisition of exclusive cable rights to the Emmy-winning hit animated series FUTURAMA, which will air Monday-Thursday at 11 p.m. (ET, PT). Cartoon Network has acquired rights to air all 72 episodes of FUTURAMA, which recently won the 2002 Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (less than one hour). FUTURAMA chronicles the adventures of Philip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy who was accidentally frozen on New Year`s Eve in 1999 while on the job. When he thaws out 1000 years later, he must adapt to a very different world populated by peculiar species, robots, space ships and omnipresent advertising. Cartoon Network continues production of new episodes of Home Movies, which will air Monday-Thursday at 11:30 p.m. (ET, PT). Home Movies is the story of a socially awkward third grader named Brendon Small. A budding auteur, Brendon writes, directs and acts in short films with neighborhood friends as a way of overcoming his shyness and dealing with the recent divorce of his parents. Adult Swim has earned a loyal fan following for Japanese anime imports Cowboy Bebop and InuYasha, which blend beautiful animation with hard-driving action. Both series will join the lineup Monday-Thursday. Cowboy Bebop, airing at 12 midnight (ET, PT), follows the exploits of bounty hunters Spike and Jet as they roam the galaxy taking on various assignments and tracking down criminals in a hyperspace world rampant with crime and opportunities. InuYasha, which will begin at 12:30 a.m. (ET, PT), follows the quest for a powerful enchanted jewel by a modern young woman who is accidentally transported to a feudal land inhabited by demons. Cartoon Network`s Sunday night Adult Swim lineup will remain dedicated exclusively to comedies. The lineup begins at 11 p.m. (ET, PT) with popular animated series Mission Hill, The Oblongs and The Ripping Friends. Cartoon Network has attracted great critical attention and an ardent fan following for its slate of peculiar original comedies, which will air on Sunday evenings during the 12:30 a.m. (ET, PT) slot. Shows rotating in ''The Lab'' will include: Aqua Teen Hunger Force, about human-sized food products living in a rental house in New Jersey; Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, the world`s first animated courtroom drama, trying the crimes and misdemeanors of the cartoon world; The Brak Show, which parodies the beloved tenets of classic family sitcoms with a wry sensibility and plenty of catchy songs; and Sealab 2021, a kitschy update of a Hanna-Barbera production about an undersea city. Launched in September 2001, Adult Swim has been a magnet for young adult viewers in its current weekend time periods (Saturdays from 11 p.m.-2 a.m. and Sundays, 10 p.m.-1 a.m.) The Sunday evening edition of Adult Swim celebrated its first anniversary on Sunday, September 1, 2002, by earning a 0.5 adults 18-34 rating, up 25 percent vs. last year. Among men 18-34, ratings were up 67 percent and delivery grew by 85 percent. Since its February 2002 premiere (Saturdays, 11 p.m.-2 a.m.), the Sunday evening block, which features anime programs like InuYasha, Cowboy Bebop and YuYu Hakusho has nearly doubled delivery of men 18-34 (+88 percent) compared to the same time period last year, while ratings grew by 67 percent. Cartoon Network, currently seen in 82.1 million U.S. homes and 145 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.`s 24-hour, ad-supported cable service offering the best in animated entertainment. Drawing from the world`s largest cartoon library, Cartoon Network also showcases unique original ventures such as The Powerpuff Girls, Dexter`s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Ed, Edd n Eddy and other Cartoon Cartoons. Since its launch in 1992, Cartoon Network has remained one of ad-supported cable`s highest-rated networks. Cartoon Network`s Web site is located at http://CartoonNetwork.com (AOL Keyword: Cartoon Network).
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., an AOL Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.
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