…your modern-day online firefighters return with another installment of “Stay Calm! It’s Not Official.”

In the last installment, Rilo mentioned how none of Venture Bros. (with the exception of two specials) was leaving Max (Besides the fact that you can likely find the entire series elsewhere). There was also the entire “Someone from Titmouse said something about Venture Bros. returning” issue that we won’t even get into here… but let’s break down this current one…

We reported recently that ATHF co-creator Matt Maiellaro joined Twitter. In one of his recent responses, he answers a question that came from another post:

There’s a number of ways to break this down… however there’s no doubt, the incorrect way is “OMG ATHF IS CANCELLED!!!!” What I mean by this:

• “Cancelled” doesn’t have the same meaning as it used to: When linear programming (aka broadcast/cable TV) was still the king, “cancelled” meant done. The show is never coming back, go scratch, the end. In recent years, that clearly has had a different meaning. In 2015, then VP Mike Lazzo “cancelled” ATHF outright and we came to terms with the fact that the show would not be coming back at all…
  
  Six years and two merger/acquisitions in corporate (plus two streaming apps) later, it was announced that not only would we be getting a new movie, but five episodes were being greenlit, which we presumed (and was later confirmed by President Michael Ouweleen) was a way of sorts to test the waters for more episodes. The episodes were seemingly successful, to the point where it received a slideshow nod during Wednesday’s Upfront Presentation (FYI: Where no shows were mentioned as coming, outside the previously mentioned Rick and Morty: The Anime) alongside of regular Rick and Morty, and other previous/current programs.
  
• Two words vs. an entire elaboration: There’s a vast difference between a creator (or someone close with the creator) mentioning something with a two-word cryptic/misconstrued message vs a creator just coming out and saying it. I’m of course talking about Dodge Greenly (creator of Pibby) stating on Instagram last October on how WBD passed on a full series for the show. Honestly, I once responded to a similar post like Eric Alper’s above with Dancing With the Stars, and a couple of people actually were like “Wait, what?!?” As I am but a humble under 1.5k poster, it didn’t go too far, but imagine if someone with 20k – 50k followers reposted? Hmmmm….
  
• Speaking of trolling: Maiellaro (and by association Adult Swim) are notorious for saying stuff that turns out not to be true, or even cryptic: Take this perfect example of when ATHF was in its prime: An ad campaign ran during the 2004 season of the show, wherein the characters were killed one-by-one with the caption “ATHF is cancelled” Our then, AquaTeenCentral.com whether in our forums, by e-mail, etc would get dozens of messages every month after from fans, that asking us if the show was indeed cancelled. Some of which we straight out said “No, this was a joke.” others we had fun with (because we were kids with no lives who didn’t like having to answer the same thing over and over again) and decided following suit was an alternative. Later in the show’s run there were episodes with titles like “The Last One” and “The Last One Forever and Ever” and I believe one or two other iterations where people asked the same question, and it was a lather rinse repeat of the same answer(s). In short, don’t believe everything everyone says or read into it.

• What we know: Since starting to write this, I reached out to a couple of sources and found out the following that seem to match up:
  
  1) The show isn’t cancelled; it just hasn’t been ordered for a new season.
  
  2) More than likely this is due to last year’s strike, which slowed down/stopped a lot of animated shows and work. For example, I bring up that this season’s Bob’s Burgers had to be cut down. Fans of the show didn’t get the standard Halloween – Christmas episodes, and the show has been on hiatus since early March, with the season finale finally premiering this coming Sunday.
  
  3) In both instances I heard Season 12 did rather well… and have no reason to doubt that, considering (again) it was prominently featured on-screen at the Upfronts.
  
  4) Maiellaro might just be playing it up, as word has just come out about him guesting on Ronnie’s Aqua Teen Podcast: Dancing is Forbidden on Monday.
  
  So let’s recap… what have we all learned from this…
  
• Words have meaning, and when someone’s been cryptic or given next to no information, keep calm and wait for further instructions. Best not to read into it until 110% clear.
• “Cancelled” doesn’t mean what people think it means. Reasons we have new versions of Fraiser and The Office
• Listen to P.E.:

Programming Notes:

The Upfronts – As I’ve mentioned many times before (and will continue to), every year networks on TV and streaming head to NYC to entice advertisers with their upcoming next 12 months of programming. Previously, Adult Swim held a separate one themselves and included an after part with some random musical act and or guest (of which we tried to get into for over a decade but were sadly never invited). Since the merger with AT&T, and later Discovery, the Warner Bros Discovery family have been consolidated into one full-blown presentation, showcasing Adult Swim, TNT, TBS, Food Network, Discovery, HBO and the rest of the gang (including Max). This year’s takes place tomorrow morning at 10am East and as always, we’re left wondering what will be mentioned, if anything.

Last year, we had the privilege of alleviating the AS Twitter Fandom’s uncertainty of a report by site CordCutters where the Chairman/CEO of WBD US stated they were adding an extra hour of the network on the success of a previously added hour, potentially for American Dad reruns and/or Rick and Morty: The Anime, the latter of which has yet to air. Ultimately this announcement would evolve into, yet another additional hour added, and the creation of the Checkered Past block on weekdays starting at 5pm. Hopefully we will have a better idea tomorrow morning and will have an update. For what they COULD announce, check out these two links to info from last year’s New York Comic Con as well as the Annecy Animation Festival in France.

Annecy – Speaking of Annecy, our friend and resident internet genius on all things WBD Animation, RegularCapital posted recently that this year’s Annecy will feature another WBD Adult Animation Panel on June 14th at Noon CEST, featuring panelists Peter Girardi (Head of Production: WB Animation), Suzanna Makkos (EVP Original Comedy and Adult Animation: Max) and Michael Ouweleen (President: Cartoon Network/Adult Swim). Post-Upfronts, it remains to be seen as to what they plan on discussing, but as previously noted, there have been a number of programs announced previously that are currently in production.

New Smiling Friends

Moving on to current programming… in case you didn’t know: Smiling Friends Season Two is now on Sundays at midnight (next day on Max) for your watching pleasure. First two episodes aired last Sunday (including the April Fools episode). Do yourself a favor and watch them both and every episode thereafter. As with the first season you’re in for a ride. Gwimbly Mania has hit the interwebs.

P.S.: As previously mentioned, S2 of My Adventures with Superman will be out in a few short weeks!

Space Ghost: The Comic Book!

In an analog media surprise on May 1st, Dynamite Comics has released the first issue of the (IMHO) well-awaited Space Ghost, written by David Pepose (Moon Knight: City of the Dead, The Punisher) and illustrated by Jonathan Lau (Red Sonja, Vampirella Strikes). Dynamite, as well as Pepose himself have been giving us some great sneak peeks at the upcoming issues, and they look just as amazing (if not more amazing) as issue #1.

In addition, Former Marvel Comics head, Joe Quesada has lent his talents and illustrated a variant cover for the upcoming issue #2 (in comic shops on June 5th – put in your order today!) I purchased #1 for Free Comic Book Day (support your local comic shops AND your comic book writers/artists) and I have to say it’s a great trip down both the OG Space Ghost cartoon as well as Coast to Coast, with the characters us fans know so well. I’ve already added this to my pull list and can’t wait for more!

New ATHF Talent Have Arrived on Social Media

And speaking of talented people behind Space Ghost, Aqua Teen, and more… he has arrived! The legendary Matt Maiellaro of the aforementioned, plus your favorite AS classics like 12 oz. Mouse and Perfect Hair Forever is now on Twitter to give you all kinds of behind the scenes musings, show you exclusive merch, and a whole lot more. He also has a YouTube you should check out, featuring some pilots and other animated awesome for your eyes and ears.

Also worth noting: Animation/Art Director for ATHF, Brak Show and more, Matthew Jenkins has joined Twitter as well with his awesome character designs, art cels, and much more!

Also also! Our long-time friend and ATHF (among many other shows) animator Todd Redner has opened his very own website. Go check it out at ToddRedner.com!

That is everything I can type without passing out for the evening. Will be back for the Upfront News and whatever else comes up in the near future. Stay tuned!

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