[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Adultswimlogo.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[{{Slogans}} All kids out of the pool!]]]]

->''"All kids out of the pool for Adult Swim!"''
-->--[[http://www.bumpworthy.com/bumps/129 One of Adult Swim's first]] AdBumpers

Adult Swim, stylized as [[AllLowercaseLetters [adult swim] ]] or [as], is a programming block on Creator/CartoonNetwork shown during the {{watershed}} hours (9:00 pm - 6:00 am Eastern/Pacific Time [[note]](If your provider offers both East and West Coast feeds of Cartoon Network, Adult Swim can start as early as 6 pm Pacific and end as late as 9 am Eastern, depending on where you live)[[/note]]). Founded in 2001 by Cartoon Network’s Williams Street division, the same studio that organizes Creator/{{Toonami}} [[note]](In fact, shortly before Adult Swim premiered, Toonami ran a late night block from 1999-2003 called the Midnight Run showcasing uncut versions of Toonami titles, which evidently served as the precursor to Adult Swim.)[[/note]], the block's remit is to air various kinds of adult-oriented animation including {{seinen}} (and [[WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids edgier]] {{Shonen|Demographic}}) {{anime}} and [[BlackComedy animated comedy]] (both originally produced and {{FOX}} acquisitions).

Since the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Boston_bomb_scare 2007 Boston Bomb Scare]] and [[UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom the resulting managerial changes that soon followed however]], the block [[NetworkDecay began to incorporate live action comedies]], following the example of the parent network with CN Real, and much to the chagrin of the anime and classic animated comedies. They’ve backed down on this somewhat since the "CN Real era" ended, but you can still see such shows on occasion (mainly on Thursday nights).[[note]](See UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom in the trope list below for details...or Adult Swim's entry on NetworkDecay.UniqueSituations for that matter.)[[/note]] In addition, since the revival of Toonami in 2012, Adult Swim was subsequently re-purposed as the brand for adult animated comedy as Toonami now handles the duties of anime and mature action-animation once again.

Because of its adult orientations, in comparison to the rest of Cartoon Network which is kid oriented ({{Periphery Demographic}}s aside), Adult Swim is considered to be a "separate" network from Cartoon Network proper for {{ratings}} purposes, and often shows ContentWarnings throughout the block that the programs presented are not suitable for young children. The name "Adult Swim" comes from the public pool period where the children have to get out because the lifeguards go on break and only the adults can swim, analogous to the network switching to adult-oriented programming. This reference was explicitly invoked in its early years when its AdBumpers and intro segment showed video clips from an adult swim pool.

The block is notable for its idiosyncratic [[AdBumpers commercial bumpers]] ([[http://www.bumpworthy.com bumps]]), its strange but often hilarious original programming, its habit of openly teasing and/or bashing those fans who complain about its near-weekly- and [[InvisibleAdvertising never advertised]]- schedule changes (especially when AprilFoolsDay is concerned), and being nearly the only place on American basic analog cable TV to run {{anime}} [[AnimationAgeGhetto not aimed at children]]. It also has, shall we say, an eclectic collection of original free-to-play games on its website (''RobotUnicornAttack'' included).

Sundays are typically rebroadcasts of {{Fox}} cartoons (such as ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'') and original programs from Williams Street, Adult Swim's production studio (programs such as ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce''). Saturdays usually mix comedic shows with North American dubs of anime, with the anime taking up the majority of the network's airtime on this night (and since May 2012 is now run by Creator/{{Toonami}}). Weekday evenings are reruns of comedies, both original or otherwise.
----
!!Adult Swim plays - or has played - the following series:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Animated originals that are on-going: ]]

[[index]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce'' (''Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 1'' for season 8, ''Aqua Something You Know Whatever'' for season 9, ''Aqua Tivo Avoidance Plan'' for season 10)
* ''WesternAnimation/BlackDynamite''
* ''ComicStrip/TheBoondocks''
* ''WesternAnimation/ChinaIL''
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}}''
* ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken''
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Squidbillies}}''
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Superjail}}''
* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers''
[[/index]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Animated originals cancelled/ended or on hiatus: ]]

[[index]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheBrakShow''
* ''WesternAnimation/TheDrinkyCrowShow''
* ''WesternAnimation/FriskyDingo''
* ''WesternAnimation/HarveyBirdmanAttorneyAtLaw''
* ''WesternAnimation/HomeMovies''
* ''WesternAnimation/LucyTheDaughterOfTheDevil''
* ''WesternAnimation/MaryShelleysFrankenhole''
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Minoriteam}}''
* ''WesternAnimation/MongoWrestlingAlliance''
* ''WesternAnimation/MoralOrel''
* ''WesternAnimation/PerfectHairForever''
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Sealab 2021}}''
* ''WesternAnimation/SpaceGhostCoastToCoast''
* ''WesternAnimation/StrokerAndHoop''
* ''WesternAnimation/TitanMaximum''
* ''WesternAnimation/TomGoesToTheMayor''
* ''WesternAnimation/TwelveOunceMouse''
* ''WesternAnimation/XavierRenegadeAngel''
[[/index]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Original animated pilots and/or specials: ]]

[[index]]
* ''WesternAnimation/CheyenneCinnamonAndTheFabulousUnicornOfSugarTownCandyFudge''
* ''WesternAnimation/FreaknikTheMusical''
* ''WesternAnimation/KorgothOfBarbaria''

[[/index]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Animated imports/syndicated: ]]

[[index]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad''
* ''WesternAnimation/BabyBlues''
* ''WesternAnimation/ChuckNorrisKarateKommandos'' (AprilFoolsDay prank and late-night filler)
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Clerks}}''
* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' (Rights expired at the end of 2007)
* ''WesternAnimation/GodTheDevilAndBob''
* ''WesternAnimation/HomeMovies''
* ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill''
* ''WesternAnimation/MissionHill''
* ''WesternAnimation/MisterT'' (AprilFoolsDay prank and late-night filler)
* ''WesternAnimation/TheOblongs''
* ''WesternAnimation/ThePJs''
* ''WesternAnimation/TheRippingFriends'' (License potentially expired, as the show has not been aired on Adult Swim in years)
* ''WesternAnimation/SymBionicTitan'' (Added to the new Toonami lineup)
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Thundercats 2011}}'' (Added to the new Toonami lineup)
[[/index]]

'''''Note:''' Except for ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' and ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', all of these series were canceled and discarded by their original host networks before syndication rights were picked up by Adult Swim (this was also the case for ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', but it has since been {{Uncanceled}} due partially to ratings for the reruns on Adult Swim). Adult Swim's expired rights to ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' were picked up by ComedyCentral, which led to the show's revival on that network. ''HomeMovies'' was renewed as an Adult Swim original series for an additional three and a half seasons following its original cancellation.''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live action originals: ]]

[[index]]
* ''Series/CheckItOutWithDrSteveBrule''
* ''Series/ChildrensHospital''
* ''{{Delocated}}''
* ''Series/{{Eagleheart}}''
* ''TheEricAndreShow''
* ''FatGuyStuckInInternet'' (Ended)
* ''Series/TheHeartSheHoller''
* ''[[Music/{{OFWGKTA}} Loiter Squad]]''
* ''Series/{{Newsreaders}}''
* ''NTSF:SD:SUV::''
* ''Saul Of The Mole Men'' (Ended)
* ''Series/TimAndEricAwesomeShowGreatJob'' (Ended)
* ''Young Persons Guide To History'' (Ended)
* ''Series/YourPrettyFaceIsGoingToHell''
[[/index]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live action imports/syndicated: ]]

[[index]]
* ''Series/GarthMarenghisDarkplace''
* ''LookAroundYou''
* ''Series/TheMightyBoosh'' (Yes, it's British; no, it has nothing to do with ''FriskyDingo'')
* ''Series/TheOfficeUK''
* ''PeeWeesPlayhouse''
* ''Series/SavedByTheBell''
[[/index]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Anime]]
For any anime showcased since May 26, 2012 (as well as AprilFoolsDay 2012), see also Creator/{{Toonami}}

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Currently Owned Anime: ]]

[[index]]
* ''Anime/TheBigO'' (Its second season is [adult swim]'s sole "original anime" [[hottip:note:They directly financed season 2's production, meaning they own it in every sense of the word]]; it has since been removed from the schedule when the new Toonami premiered on May 26, 2012)
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' (Aired as part of the new Toonami)
* ''Anime/CasshernSins'' (One of two shows added to the 2012 Toonami revival)
* ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' (Paved the way for the rest as [adult swim]'s first anime series, and remained a perennial fixture on its schedule a decade after the network's debut. Originally remaining on as part of the new Toonami, it was temporarily removed as of Aug 11, 2012 to make room for ''Anime/EurekaSeven'' but it has since returned.)
* ''Manga/DeadmanWonderland'' (The other new show added to the 2012 Toonami revival; finished its run and removed as of August 11, 2012)
* ''LightNovel/{{Durarara}}'' (Ended, removed from the schedule when the new Toonami premiered on May 26, 2012)
* ''Anime/EurekaSeven'' (Originally ran on [adult swim] from 2006 to 2008. Joined the new Toonami lineup on August 18, 2012, making it the only anime to be brought back by [adult swim] after its license had expired--at least so far.)
* ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'' (Still occasionally aired, [[AdoredByTheNetwork as it has actually been labeled as the Adult Swim crew's favorite anime]].)
* ''[[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood]]'' (Aired on AS for a while before being moved to the new Toonami)
* ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' (Both seasons of the series; moved to the Toonami reboot.)
* ''Manga/InuYasha'' (The second-longest regularly-aired anime series on Adult Swim, behind only ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' - over 5 years after the dub ended, they continued to play reruns well into 2012, albeit as 5:30 AM filler for their Saturday anime block. It was finally pulled from the schedule when the new Toonami premiered on May 26, 2012, although it returned on November 3rd, and it's been rumored that ''[=InuYasha=]: The Final Act'' will eventually air on Toonami.)
* ''Manga/{{Kekkaishi}}'' (Ended and was removed from the schedule when the new Toonami premiered on May 26, 2012)
* ''[[Anime/SeireiNoMoribito Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit]]'' (It was placed on hiatus for a good portion of 2009, but eventually returned to the lineup in late summer, and finally finished in the winter of 2009.)
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' (Part of the new Toonami as of December 1st 2012)
* ''Anime/SamuraiSeven'' (Replaced ''Deadman Wonderland'' after it concluded its run on August 18, 2012)
* ''Manga/SoulEater'' (Replaced ''Samurai 7'' on February 16, 2013)
* ''Anime/TenchiMuyoGXP'' (Part of the new Toonami)
[[/index]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: License Expired Anime: ]]

[[index]]
* ''Anime/AstroBoy'' (As early morning filler)
* ''Anime/TheBigO'' (Season 1)
* ''Anime/BloodPlus''
* ''Anime/BlueGender'' (Horribly {{Bowdlerise}}d, possibly due to being originally meant for Toonami)
* ''Anime/CodeGeass'' (expired after one rerun, possibly because Adult Swim [[ScrewedByTheNetwork kept changing the time slot later and later]])
* ''[[Anime/ShinChan Crayon Shin Chan]]'' (The Creator/{{Funimation}} GagDub, directly created by a team of former Adult Swim writers who wanted to bring a comedy anime specifically for Adult Swim.)
* ''Manga/DeathNote'' (The original TV series)
* ''Manga/DetectiveConan'' (50 episodes only)
* ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist'' (Has not been aired since the premiere of ''[[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist Brotherhood]]'', and confirmed as expired by the Creator/{{Toonami}} staff on their Tumblr)
* ''Anime/{{Gigantor}}'' (Mostly filler played at 5:30 AM EST)
* ''Series/{{Kikaider}}''
* ''Manga/LupinIII'' (About 26 episodes aired only)
* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' (Aired the edited Creator/{{Toonami}} version)
* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0080WarInThePocket'' (Aired the edited Creator/{{Toonami}} version in November-December 2002)
* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory''
* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''
* ''Manga/OutlawStar'' (Aired the edited Creator/{{Toonami}} version)
* ''Anime/ParanoiaAgent''
* ''Manga/PilotCandidate'' (Originally meant to air on Creator/{{Toonami}})
* ''Anime/ReignTheConqueror'' (Apparently their least-favorite anime)
* ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo''
* ''Anime/{{s-CRY-ed}}''
* ''Anime/SuperMilkChan''
* ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'' (Aired the edited Creator/{{Toonami}} versions of the original ''Tenchi Muyo'' [=OVAs=], ''Tenchi Universe'', and ''Tenchi in Tokyo'')
* ''Manga/{{Trigun}}''
* ''LightNovel/TrinityBlood''
* ''Anime/{{Voltron}}'' (Same as ''Gigantor'')
* ''Anime/WitchHunterRobin''
* ''Manga/WolfsRain''
* ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'' (Aired on Adult Swim before moving to Creator/{{Toonami}} a year later)
[[/index]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Anime Films Shown on [adult swim]: ]]

[[index]]
* The first two ''Bleach'' films
* All four ''Inu Yasha'' movies
* ''Anime/{{Kakurenbo}}'' (as a Halloween special in 2005)
* ''Anime/{{Metropolis}}''
[[/index]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Anime Shown Only on [adult swim] Australia and New Zealand: ]]

[[index]]
* ''Manga/AirGear''
* ''Manga/BlackCat''
* ''Manga/InitialD'' (the Tokyopop dub)
[[/index]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Other]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder: [adult swim] Specials ]]

[[index]]
* ''OffTheAir'' (combinations of surreal animated and live action shorts that airs infrequently)
* ''[[WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones Flintstones on the Rocks]]''
* ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeResolute''
* ''{{Rejected}}'' (Scheduled and promoted, but pulled at the last minute due to censorship issues)
* ''Film/TheRoom'' (Run as an April Fools' Day prank in 2009-2011. In 2012, they teased viewers with a ''fourth'' showing of the movie... only to kick off the Toonami revival instead.)
* ''[[WesternAnimation/YogiBear Ranger Smith: Boo Boo Runs Wild]]'' (played on a regular basis for a few months, mostly as a potshot to their viewers)
[[/index]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Series Shown Only on [adult swim] UK and Ireland: ]]

[[index]]
* ''Anime/AfroSamurai''
* ''WesternAnimation/KidNotorious''
* ''ModernToss''
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Stripperella}}''
[[/index]]
[[/folder]]
----
Adult Swim is also known for unique timing of commercial breaks. Most American networks have 8 minutes of commerical breaks per half-hour block -- one 1 or 2 minute break at the top of the half-hour, two 2 or 3 minute breaks during the show, and a final 1 or 2 minute break at the end of the half-hour. Adult Swim has only 2 breaks per half-hour. Still totaling 8 minutes, but there's one break in the middle of the half-hour, and one at the end. Viewers appreciate this for obvious reasons, and they can sometimes have up to 5 uninterrupted minutes of commercial time to leave the TV and do other things before the next show comes on. Goodness knows what the advertisers think of that, but considering AS's key demographic is the advertising gold-mine of males from age 18-35, they still pony up the dollars. The only downside to the viewer would be a CommercialBreakCliffhanger in non-original programming is less effective because [[ToBeContinuedRightNow the show continues immediately after]] (unless, of course, that happens to be where the break actually hits). Incidentally, this is how all ad breaks work on UK and Japanese channels - quite fortunate given all the UK and Japanese programming.

Bizarrely (or not given their track record for severely cutting what content they do air), Creator/CartoonNetwork in the UK never had an Adult Swim slot. Laddish lad channel Bravo did however air it instead but that channel bit the dust in 2010, taking that slot with it. After that though the slot ended up over on [=TCM2=] occupying a much shorter 2 and a half hour slot only on Friday nights/Saturday mornings to go along with small selection of episodes that went on the website each week, although [=DVDs=] of the shows finally started being released in the UK in late 2008. Since then though, it seems the whole [as] thing hasn't caught on and there are no channels airing Adult Swim, the dedicated UK site now redirects to the US site and home entertainment releases of Adult Swim shows have dried up.

In UsefulNotes/{{Australia}} and UsefulNotes/NewZealand, the local branch of Creator/CartoonNetwork once had its own version of Adult Swim, including both comedy and anime, but the entire block was canceled at the end of 2007. The comedy series moved to The Comedy Channel, the Antipodean equivalent to Comedy Central, which still continue to air on a daily basis with consistent ratings, even though the block airs only on Saturdays from 12am-2am AEST and 6:30pm-7:30pm ASET; a few of the anime shows were picked up by the local Sci Fi Channel's Animax block. Many Adult Swim series, both comedy and anime, are available on DVD in the two countries, due to a licensing deal with Creator/MadmanEntertainment.

Latin America used to have Adult Swim via Cartoon Network and later I.Sat due to negative reviews from the parents. It mostly showed only non-anime, Adult Swim-original cartoons (with a great deal of the bumps explicitly stating they would never show anime even though they did later on). Unfortunately, it ran only Friday through Sunday at very late hours, and apparently people didn't get most of the jokes[[note]]It doesn't help practically any non-Mexican-dubbed series broadcasted there had awful dubs.[[/note]], and was eventually discontinued due to low ratings.

-----
!!Tropes exhibited by [adult swim] include:
* AdBumpers: Adult Swim is quite famous for these. You can see an entire archive of these bumps [[http://www.bumpworthy.com/ here]].
* AllAdultAnimationIsSouthPark: Adult Swim and much of it's content is accused of advocating this. Even more so since 2012 when the block's anime and action cartoons, the most notable aversions, are once again under the Creator/{{Toonami}} brand.
* AllLowercaseLetters: Adult Swim's branding of course, stylized as [adult swim].
* AprilFoolsDay: Adult Swim has a running tradition of messing with their programs on April 1st, both the night of and the following day. Examples being mustaches drawn on characters, putting fart noises in the shows, running a marathon of Perfect Hair Forever as dated VHS with badly done subbing, playing ''Film/TheRoom'' (which is what arguably granted the movie more infamy as it now had a wider audience) or even bringing back past Williams Street blocks such as Creator/{{Toonami}} for the night.
* ArtifactTitle[=/=]TheArtifact:
** Adult Swim is named as such as it came from the analogy of the network switching to adult-oriented programming by showing AdBumpers consisting of a public pool period where the children have to get out and let the adults swim. This analogy hasn't been used since 2003, when these bumpers were replaced with the "white text on black" style bumpers seen ever since, and the "swim" part isn’t really recognized much anymore.
** Contributing to Cartoon Network’s controversial decision of adding live action shows to the channel (and thus making "Cartoon" Network an ArtifactTitle somewhat), Adult Swim has also controversially added a number of live action shows to their lineup. While the live action Adult Swim shows have better critical reception than their regular Cartoon Network counterparts because they aren’t just DiscoveryChannel [[FollowTheLeader ripoffs]], these works and the decision has unsurprisingly not been well received with a good portion of the fanbase, especially if you ask fans of the anime or the classic animated comedies.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Adult Swim wished for the third season of ''WesternAnimation/MoralOrel'' to be darker than either of the previous two - [[ExecutiveMeddling and instantly regretted it]]. The series was then cancelled.
* BitingTheHandHumor:
** Adult Swim has often made fun of their own strange programming decisions at times. They also have had plenty of things to say about Creator/CartoonNetwork’s [[ExecutiveMeddling executive]] [[NetworkDecay decisions]], to say the least.
** From [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7k-BbwVqxo a segment on]] ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'':
--> ''"Stupid Adult Swim only plays it [''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}''] on Saturdays now."''
** In ''[[WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce Aqua Unit Patrol Squad 01]]'' the episode "Jumpy George" has a woman hiring Meatwad to babysit her children. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIZtaYZR29c Her instructions]]:
--> ''"They're allowed to watch half an hour of television, and only cartoons. Which means [[NetworkDecay no Cartoon Network]]."''
* ColonCancer: At least one program uses multiple colons in the name of the show, a fake PoliceProcedural series titled "NTSF:SD:SUV" which stands for "National Terrorism Strike Force: San Diego: Sport Utility Vehicle".
* CommercialPopUp:
** During the "world premiere" of the ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce'' [[TheMovie film]], the movie was aired normally for the first 7 minutes, and then displayed without sound in a tiny box in the corner of the screen, and episodes of ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' aired while the movie ran (in its entirety) in the corner. During this, humongous pop-up ads for the movie with loud sound effects also appeared from time to time.
** One episode of ''FriskyDingo'' had a message on the screen for 15 seconds at the start that said "This is where the network puts that mammoth bug." Then, "Enjoy the show." BitingTheHandHumor doesn't even begin to cover it.
* ContentWarnings: "Just in case that last disclaimer wasn't enough, this episode contains extreme violence. We would rather run this than cut the violence from the episode because we are American Cowboys." --Adult Swim before really bloody anime episodes; as stated, it follows a more traditional (and bland) content warning advising that Adult Swim is not for viewers under 18...err 14.
* CueTheFlyingPigs: [[[http://www.bumpworthy.com/bumps/3926 Success]]]
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Adult Swim once aired a "Where Are They Now" style bump, with [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWsNaDl0ztg the last one]] featuring [[WesternAnimation/SpaceGhostCoastToCoast Brak, Zorak, and Moltar]] planning a revival of ''WesternAnimation/CartoonPlanet''. ''WesternAnimation/CartoonPlanet'' would come back on March 31, 2012.
* InvisibleAdvertising: A notable form of Adult Swim’s ExecutiveMeddling antics. Unless the work is AdoredByTheNetwork, advertising for an Adult Swim premiere program is nearly non-existent.
** This is especially true for ''anything'' that's anime, in which fans will even invoke CueTheFlyingPigs if they actually see even a mention of anime in Adult Swim’s advertising. It is worth noting that ''Anime/CodeGeass'' and ''MoribitoGuardianOfTheSpirit'' received absolutely zero promotion, other than constant [[TakeThat Take Thats]] and saying that the show sucked and don't bother to watch it. [[DudeNotFunny All this only shortly after anime was moved to Saturday-only.]]
** On April 18, 2008, Adult Swim premiered ''RisingSon'', a spoof of {{Soap Opera}}s focusing on the life of {{Jesus}}), at ''5 o'clock in the morning''. Without any announcement of any kind except for the title appearing on the schedule.
** In November 2009, Adult Swim suddenly replaced a rerun of ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce'' in its later time slot for a false {{infomercial}} for '[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paid_Programming_%28TV_series%29 Paid Programming]]'' without any on-air acknowledgment. It featured a white man using the N Word, a woman dying, and [[ClusterFBomb gratituous cussing.]] They also advertised "Nazi Gold." Though some suspected it was the work of TimAndEric, it turned out it was a failed {{pilot}} by Creator/DavidCross, meant to seem like an infomercial with strange implications of darker intentions.
** ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QChulZGk8X8 Aziz Ansari's Dangerously Delicious]]'' was part-special, part infomercial, making this a literal example.
* KillerApp: ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' constantly outnumbers all other shows on Adult Swim, far more than even its more successful originals like ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce'' or ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'', at least according to the NielsenRatings.
* MarathonRunning: Adult Swim usually does marathons around holidays, especially in December.
** There have been marathons of ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'', ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}}'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Squidbillies}}'', ''ComicStrip/TheBoondocks'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' (every episode one after the other, RIGHT before its license expired,) ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', ''WesternAnimation/MoralOrel'', ''Anime/{{FLCL}}'', and even all four ''Anime/InuYasha'' movies.
** Adult Swim will occasionally show a marathon of a show on AprilFools just to do a RunningGag. At one time, an April Fools marathon of ''WesternAnimation/PerfectHairForever'' played all seven episodes in backwards order with bad subtitles. Another time, they showed the same episode of Harvey Birdman 24 times in a row.
** On Christmas and New Year's Eve 2011, they showed all night marathons of ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''.
* NetworkToTheRescue: If a show that Adult Swim loves is having trouble, they will do everything in their power to save it. We didn't say Adult Swim loves to show love for shows that they adore for nothing, did we?
** Adult Swim at one point started airing a promo in which they say ''{{Squidbillies}}'' has been getting low ratings... and how clearly the reason was that the [[ViewersAreMorons viewers were morons]] and hadn't yet given this wonderful show a chance. That's why now they're airing it every single night instead of once a week, to get us to watch it and see how great it is.
** Same with ''WesternAnimation/TheOblongs''.
** Somewhat inverted with ''TimAndEricAwesomeShowGreatJob''. Adult Swim promotes the hell out of it and gives it gets the red carpet treatment, but the fanbase isn't biting and the show has low to middling ratings.
** For the Anime lineup...[[ScrewedByTheNetwork uhh]]...[[NetworkDecay well]]...there’s Adult Swim getting a second season for ''Anime/TheBigO''...until Adult Swim [[ScrewedByTheNetwork managed to screw that up]].
** Adult Swim may well be ''the'' reason why ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' (and by extension, ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow'') are even still on the air, let alone having new episodes produced for each.
** After spending the last part of the TurnOfTheMillennium being the poster victim of Creator/CartoonNetwork’s NetworkDecay, Anime is finally getting [[ThrowTheDogABone thrown a bone]] with the revival of Creator/{{Toonami}}. Anime in general seems to be getting more respect as a result, with ''{{Samurai 7}}'' and ''CasshernSins'' being signs that they're serious about Toonami and saving more serious anime on Cartoon Network.
** A part of Toonami's revival includes repeats of ''WesternAnimation/SymBionicTitan'', one of the classic examples of Getting Screwed By [[Creator/CartoonNetwork The Parent Network]]. Time will tell if a second season will be made under Toonami, though Creator/GenndyTartakovsky [[http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/10l1an/i_am_genndy_tartakovsky_the_director_of_hotel/c6gky3n?context=3 says there is hope]].
* OurProductSucks: Quite a few of the Adult Swim bumpers are self-deprecating, often featuring flames and trolls from the message boards. When the network played ''Series/SavedByTheBell'', the network changed its logo to "[crappy 1980's live action tv show network]", after a message board user suggested it.
* {{Pun}}: [all times and music eastern]
* RecycledInSpace: It's like NickAtNite [-ON CARTOON NETWORK-]!
* RunningGag:
** There are a series of bumps calling attention to some shortcoming or ridiculous doing of the United States, followed by '''USA''' showing up with a synthesized voice reciting the letters.
** They also point out an EpicFail with a synthesized "Fail".
* ScrewedByTheNetwork: Adult Swim's infamous ExecutiveMeddling antics has not gone too well with a number of shows. Such include:
** The Anime block in general. Anime used to air an hour or two on weeknights and weekends, and coinciding with CartoonNetwork's decision of ending Creator/{{Toonami}}, it slowly decreased to Saturday nights/Sunday mornings at midnight only, in which ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' was the only on-going show that premieres new episodes and not reruns. It has been said that [[ScrewedByTheNetwork one of those in charge of [adult swim]'s programming doesn't like the style]] and was the first to go when the NetworkDecay began. Adult Swim has often rather been vocal about their increasing dis-contempt towards Anime and the block. Bumps regularly criticize it, commercials show their {{Narm}} moments and episode descriptions on their website tend to read like "Vampires, robots, big hats!". ''WesternAnimation/PerfectHairForever'' basically boils down to several hours of TakeThat against [[ShonenDemographic shonen]]. Observers have also noted [[InvisibleAdvertising the lack of promotion of the block and its programming]], especially in comparison to their other blocks. Fortunately, the Creator/{{Toonami}} revival does suggest a turning of the tide on this front.
** ''Anime/TheBigO''. The show was popular enough that Adult Swim is directly responsible for financing the production of the 2nd season. [[hottip:note:It's also the reason why they only ever showed season 2 and not season 1: They ''own'' season 2.]] However, the premiere of the second season was around the same time Adult Swim begun its NetworkDecay, and they ended up screwing up the airing of a couple episodes (including accidentally airing a repeat over the ''finale'') and ended up canceling the show before a reportedly expected third season, despite it having paid off financially. However, you could argue that this is more of Creator/CartoonNetwork's fault considering that they were the ones that refused to fund the third season, perhaps due to the NetworkDecay that Creator/CartoonNetwork was undergoing at the time.
** ''Anime/CodeGeass'' is a notable victim of Adult Swim's [[ExecutiveMeddling constant schedule switching of shows]]. Adult Swim had kept changing the time slot later and later to the point that people stopped caring and their rights to the show expired after one rerun.
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', although this was from Fox rather than from Adult Swim. The [=DVDs=] sold more than ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'''s, fan push was apparently larger, the ratings on Adult Swim were better, but ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' was the one that came back first. Also, Adult Swim even offered to fund new episodes and were told no. THEN the network got screwed over when the show they helped try to bring back was ripped away from them [[ChannelHop and given to another network]]. In this situation, it was Adult Swim that got screwed. On the bright side, the popularity and adoration it got from Adult Swim did help push for a continuation of the series on ComedyCentral.
** ''WesternAnimation/KorgothOfBarbaria'', one of Adult Swim's most well received pilot shows, was supposedly green-lighted for an entire season, but aborted due to lack of funds that the higher ups refused to provide.
** Adult Swim requested that the third season of ''WesternAnimation/MoralOrel'' to be as DarkerAndEdgier as much as creator Dino Stamatopoulos could make it. He complied, but after a screening of the darkest episode of the show's run — "Alone" — Adult Swim executives cancelled the series and cut Season Three down to thirteen episodes, which forced several key arcs to be abandoned. BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor indeed.
** ''MoribitoGuardianOfTheSpirit'' was constantly schedule-switch later and later until it aired at 5:30 AM EST by Adult Swim, dropped after 10 episodes, restarted in a better timeslot, and then got dropped again after Creator/{{Geneon}} went bankrupt, and it was removed from the air until the licensing issues were resolved. However, the problems were eventually solved, and Adult Swim re aired and completed the series between June and December 2009.
** The second season of ''WesternAnimation/LucyTheDaughterOfTheDevil'' was canned after going through two years of DevelopmentHell. A half hour second season was planned along with a new pilot, but both of which were scrapped due to Loren Bouchard and the network having creative disagreements about the show.
** A second season of ''StrokerAndHoop'' was planned thanks to good ratings; including a series premiere that would have wrapped up the cliff hanger, but Adult Swim thought the show was far too pricey, and as a result, it was canned with [[LeftHanging no ending]].
* SleeperHit:
** Nobody expected ''OffTheAir'', a portfolio of MindScrew-filled videos from Website/{{Youtube}}, to become one of Creator/AdultSwim's most popular shows.
** While the "[[NetworkDecay live action instead of animated slope]]" has been [[BrokenBase a contentious issue among the block’s fanbase]], some shows, like ''{{Eagleheart}}'' and ''ChildrensHospital'' have had some good reception.
* SpiritualSuccessor: Adult Swim itself is a successor of Creator/{{Toonami}}'s "Midnight Run" block, and is in fact run by the same studio that ran Toonami (Williams Street). Some might argue that it is a successor to Toonami in general since Toonami was canceled, but considering that Adult Swim underwent NetworkDecay shortly thereafter, many have said otherwise.
* SubvertedKidsShow: Adult Swim itself is this trope for Creator/CartoonNetwork in general. A number of programs also qualify such as, ''WesternAnimation/HarveyBirdmanAttorneyAtLaw'', ''WesternAnimation/{{Sealab 2021}}'', ''WesternAnimation/MoralOrel'', ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'', and ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeResolute''.
* SurrealHumor: Most Adult Swim original programs exhibit this in varying degrees, from "wacky" to "WhatDoYouMeanItWasntMadeOnDrugs".
* TakeThat[=/=]TakeThatAudience[=/=]TrollingCreator: Adult Swim just loves to do this at times with their AdBumpers. On occasions, [[http://www.bumpworthy.com/bumps/3862 Adult Swim tends to]] [[LampshadeHanging lampshade this]].
* ThisIsForEmphasisBitch: ''"Attention Toonami Faithful: We heard you. On 05.26.12 #[[{{Twitter}} ToonamisBackBitches]]"''
* TimeshiftChannel: With the exception of Saturdays, the "DVR Theater" and the occasional nights of programming decided by contest winners, Adult Swim's second half is usually a repeat of its first half. A thing to note is that considering that Creator/CartoonNetwork has separate East and West Coast feeds, it's sometimes possible to watch something four times in a night if one so wishes to, if one has [=DirecTV=], AT&T U-Verse or Dish Network.
* TranslationTrainWreck: The 2007 Adult Swim April Fool's Day gag involved 'bootleg' versions of several Adult Swim shows.
* UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny: One fan suggested that they pit [[WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers Brock Sampson]] vs. WesternAnimation/BlackDynamite and see who wins. Adult Swim ran with it, telling fans to vote on Twitter, and the results would be posted the following week. There was no decisive winner. The final tally was 50/50, and a massive flame-war erupted from both fandoms. Adult Swim followed up with the next matchup: Stewie Griffin vs. Early Cuyler. They also said that what they really want to see is the Brock Sampson and Black Dynamite fandoms to fight each other.
-->"Because some y'all crazy bitches!"
* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: In 2007, Adult Swim launched a guerrilla marketing campaign for the ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce'' [[TheMovie movie]] featuring battery-powered LED placards resembling the Mooninite characters being placed in numerous places around the US. However in Boston, police officials mistakenly thought that the [=LEDs=] were bombs, and treated the whole event as such. This event would turn out to known as the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Boston_bomb_scare Boston Bomb Scare]], which lead to legal implications being placed on Turner Broadcasting and their contractors, the internet to make mock [[MemeticMutation "Never Forget" memes]], and forced then-current Creator/CartoonNetwork head Jim Samples to step down. It wouldn’t be long after until fans began to realize that Adult Swim, scratch that, Creator/CartoonNetwork in general would not be the same since the incident. Not because of any legal incidents, but because Samples' replacement, Stuart Snyder, has since become the instigator of the channel’s infamous NetworkDecay with the increase of live-action sitcoms and reality shows on the channel.
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