Adults 'Toon In

▪ 1999

      By 1998 television cartoons aimed primarily at adults had reached an unprecedented popularity. Fox Broadcasting's "The Simpsons" not only was the longest-running animated program on TV but, after the show's ninth season on the air, had become the longest continually running prime-time series still releasing new episodes. The Cartoon Network was perhaps the most successful new cable channel. Another cable network, Comedy Central, attracted huge audiences and wowed critics with such animated hits as "South Park," "Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist," and the British-made "Bob and Margaret." At a time when the preponderance of television sitcoms featured generic characters, canned laughter, and pat story lines, adult viewers in search of intelligent humour and genuine, compelling characters were, ironically, turning increasingly to cartoons.

      Adult-oriented TV cartoons had come a long way since 1960, when "The Flintstones" and "Mr. Magoo," the first prime-time animated programs, made their debuts. "The Flintstones" was based in part on Jackie Gleason's classic sitcom "The Honeymooners," and the antics of the nearsighted, crotchety Mr. Magoo recalled the comedy of W.C. Fields. These and other early animated shows, such as the popular "Peanuts" television specials, could be enjoyed equally by children and adults. By and large they avoided social and political criticism and, some would say, reflected a more wholesome era than today.

      The cartoon landscape changed dramatically in 1990 with the appearance of "The Simpsons," the first animated prime-time series in two decades. Created by comic-strip artist Matt Groening, the show depicted the misadventures of the Simpson family, focusing particularly on Homer, the bickering, ineffectual husband and father, and Bart, the sly, sarcastic 10-year-old son. A de facto revolt against idealized images of the American family promulgated by such well-known sitcoms as "Father Knows Best" and "The Cosby Show," "The Simpsons" instantly struck a chord with viewers and cleared the way for other adult-oriented cartoons. "King of the Hill," developed by Fox as a companion show to "The Simpsons," debuted in 1997. Set in a Texas suburb and featuring another beleaguered working-class family, the cartoon was one of television's most successful new shows.

      Other prime-time cartoons stirred controversy. MTV's "Beavis and Butt-head" and Nickelodeon's "Ren and Stimpy" tried hard to be obnoxious, but perhaps the most outrageous cartoon of all was "South Park." Although the series centred on the lives of four young boys, it carried a "mature audiences" rating for its liberal doses of profane language, gross humour, and graphic violence (one character, Kenny, was killed in almost every episode, sometimes more than once). Described by one critic as "Peanuts on acid," the cartoon's deadly satire helped it become the highest-rated show on cable. Like "The Simpsons," "South Park" also strove for an element of realism. "Most kids on TV are just projections of what adults think kids should be like," observed "South Park" cocreator Matt Stone. "Kids are not sweet and innocent. They're mean and vindictive . . . and that's what makes them so funny."

      Although satire was sure to remain their emphasis, adult-oriented cartoons promised to continue breaking new ground. At year's end Groening was hard at work on "Futurama," an animated science-fiction series, scheduled to air in January 1999.

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