Underrated Adult Swim Shows You Need To Watch

Since its debut in 2001, Adult Swim has established itself as one of television's most unique and experimental programming blocks. Experimental is the key word here, as the block was developed by Mike Lazzo to appease Cartoon Network's desire to capture older demographics. In the 20 years since its arrival, the block has been the home for several of animation's most surreal and mind-bending content. Beyond that, Adult Swim has also been shown to be a home for a slew of unique live-action content as well.

From original programs like "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" to syndicated heavy hitters like "Family Guy," Adult Swim has aired plenty of well-known shows. However, not every series produced by the programming block has seen widespread acclaim — or notoriety — meaning that many have been relegated to short runs and niche cult status. These are the Adult Swim shows that, for one reason or another, deserve a bit more attention.

Adult Swim has always had an infinity for animated shows with often surreal and minimalist animation. Nowhere is this represented better than "12 oz. Mouse," a series with an animation style that can best be described as childlike and half-cooked. That isn't us trying to be hyperbolic, either, as the series literally looks like someone scribbled it on a bathroom wall. This seems international, however, as creator Matt Maiellaro described the series in an interview as something that would cost very little and would require very little in terms of resources.

The series follows Mouse Fitzgerald, a mouse with a penchant for binge drinking and rampant shenanigans. Mouse tends to find himself involved in various surreal situations, often related to the world of espionage. Along the way a more cogent plot develops that sees Mouse discovering the truth about himself and the truth of his existence. From the minute the show begins to a high octane track composed by Nine Pound Hammer, viewers are thrust into an unrelentingly bizarre experience. "12 oz. Mouse" is a series that, despite a mixed critical reaction, is still recognized for its unfiltered late-night strangeness.

Adult Swim has often had a habit of giving shows new life after cancellation, most famously in the case of "Family Guy." However, another series whose cult status was firmly solidified after airing on the late-night block was the short-lived "Mission Hill." This show will feel immediately relatable for many as it depicts the often tumultuous period following college that many young people endure. Created by Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein, the series follows 24-year-old Andy French in his day-to-day life. Andy's post-graduate life is knocked for a loop when his parents tell him his little brother Kevin wants to move in with him. There's also Andy's loft mate Jim Kuback (Brian Posehn), a lanky ginger with an affinity for all things electronic.

The Brag described the series as the hipster version of "The Simpsons" –- a fair assessment considering that Oakley and Weinstein were both former writers on "The Simpsons." It would also gain major praise for being one of the first network shows to showcase a gay middle-aged couple's kiss on-screen. The series would sadly fizzle out during its original run on The WB but found new fans on Adult Swim.

"Stroker & Hoop" is a unique show, even amongst the various oddities presented by Adult Swim, which is saying a lot. The show is an unabashed parody of various 1970s television shows, most notably buddy cop shows like "Starsky & Hutch." Stroker and Hoop live in modern-day Los Angeles and make their living as a pair of passionate yet inept private investigators. Despite their contemporary setting, the duo act and dress like they are ripped right from a 70s buddy cop show. Along for the ride (quite literally) is C.A.R.R, a neurotic sentient talking car inspired by K.I.T.T. from "Knight Rider."

The show is an eclectic blend of pop culture references and homages mixed with various over-the-top concepts. This includes the likes of Colombian drug lords, ninjas, the evil of voodoo, and (for some reason) David Copperfield. Sadly the series would not reach its planned conclusion, as the show ended on a cliffhanger in 2005. It's an oddity, for sure, but an undeniably entertaining one that is definitely worth a second look.

Sometimes a show's premise is so bizarre and so inventively gonzo that it simply must be seen to be believed. Like "Mission Hill," the original run of "The Oblongs" would be short-lived but would find a new home on Adult Swim. The series focuses on the titular Oblong family, a literal nuclear family who traverses daily life in an impoverished valley community. The family deals with gross physical deformities and mutations brought on by the waste of a wealthy community known as the Hills. This includes the father, Bob Oblong, who was born without arms or legs, and the twins, Biff and Chip, who are conjoined twins.

Despite its short stint on the air, "The Oblongs" definitely left an impression on those who caught it. In recent years, media outlets like Comic Book Report have praised the show for its unique portrayal of class division and climate change topics. While its brand of strangeness might've been a bit too much for viewers in the early '00s, "The Oblongs" is worth revisiting.

In the formative years of Adult Swim, four shows served as the inaugural pieces of content for the burgeoning late-night programming block. These shows were "Space Ghost Coast to Coast," "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law," and "Sealab 2021." The latter, much like its brethren, would help to define the early identity of the program block with a balance of adult jokes and surrealist humor. Much like "Space Ghost" and "Harvey Birdman" it reused old Hanna-Barbera assets, in this case the single-season underwater adventure program "Sealab 2020," in a humorous way.

The series would mark the debut of Adam Reed and Matt Thompson, the future creative forces behind "Archer." In many ways, "Sealab 2021" marks the genesis of the duo's style of punchy, self-aware dialogue mixed with surrealist humor. If you love "Archer," definitely dust this one off to see where the creators first left their mark on the world of animation.

"Tom Goes to the Mayor" would serve as the artistic springboard for two of modern comedy's most influential figures, Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim. The series would begin life as a crude web cartoon on the duo's website and would gain the attention of Bob Odenkirk, as Heidecker revealed during an interview with People. Odenkirk saw potential in their little webtoon, opting to come on as a producer and bring it to Adult Swim's attention. The series follows the titular Tom, played by Heidecker, who brings various ideas to the mayor, played by Wareheim. More often than not, the mayor will take the idea in his own problematic direction, leading to relentless madcap mayhem.

Much like the duo's subsequent endeavors, the show was polarizing with equal amounts of rabid supporters and critical detractors. There's no denying, however, that the show helped jumpstart their very successful and still ongoing careers in entertainment. If you love Tim and Eric's brand of humor, check this show out to see where it all started.