As those of you who are very astute observers may have noticed, sometimes I attempt to pretend I can make cartoons. As such, I’m very sure you have long wondered what sort of whimsical cartoons have been my inspiration. That is why I write to you today, dear reader. To share some of the cartoons that have informed My Truth, on this very special episode of ‘As Seen On TV’.
[SHOW INTRO PLAYS]
I am going to focus on shows that aired on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim programming block, specifically some of the lesser known shows you may have missed. I know that some of you are very much aware of a few the more popular shows like Venture Bros., Sealab 2021 and one of my more direct inspirations Aqua Teen Hunger Force. (if you aren’t familiar, each of those links to a sample of each series) But here are a few you may have missed.

FRISKY DINGO (2006)
This show gives it to you strong and hard. Wait, are we not doing phrasing anymore? That’s right, Frisky Dingo was co-created by Adam Reed, co-creator of Sealab 2021 and creator of Archer. Where as Archer is a take on the spy genre, Frisky Dingo was a take on the super hero genre before the current crop of multi-versal comic book movies were a thing. The show focuses on rich playboy Xander Crews (who is not so secretly the superhero Awesome X) and his arch nemesis Killface. The show took wierd quirky turns like focusing on Killface trying raise his son as a single parent or pitting Xander and Killface against eachother in run for President (where Killface’s running mate was a baby penguin). It ran for 2 glorious seasons.

 

MINORITEAM (2005)
I have heard it said that Blazing Saddles couldn’t be made today due to the cultural shift the left has undergone, but this show from 2006 might get you labeled a ‘Domestic Terrorist’ for even mentioning that it existed. I’ll just quote the Wikipedia entry for the members of this Super Hero team and you’ll get the idea.

Minoriteam
Dr. Wang, Chinese Human Calculator (voiced by Dana Snyder) – The leader of the Minoriteam. He is paraplegic. He has a terrible personality and powerful mental abilities gained from drinking his own urine. He also owns and operates a laundromat where he charges extra to get your clothes back from the machines. In addition, he has faked accidents to obtain legal settlements and is a compulsive gambler. He has no known non-stereotypical in real life. In the episode “The Assimilator”, Dr. Wang gives the team “tea” to drink and then tells them that it is his urine. His depiction as Chinese, however, leans more to the stereotype of Northeast Chinese people, mostly with his mustache and queue, which otherwise makes his design reminiscent of Dr. Fu Manchu.
El Jefe (voiced by Nick Puga) – El Jefe is an overweight, moustached Mexican who fights crime with the Leafblower 3000, the deadliest weapon in the entire universe. His mask is a Sombrero pulled halfway down his face with eye holes cut in it. In his non-stereotypical real life, Richard Escartin is the handsome billionaire CEO of his own oil company. El Jefe is also 1/18th Viking.
Fasto (voiced by Rodney Saulsberry) – An African-American who is known as “the fastest man that ever was.” In addition, he seems to have the power to seduce or charm all white women in the immediate area. Fasto wears a green mask, a T-shirt, cut-off jeans, striped tube socks, and sneakers. In his non-stereotypical real life, Landon K. Dutton is a bookish and bespectacled Professor of Women’s Studies. He vigorously pursues sexual relationships with what he calls “booty” (especially white women) but is uninterested in an exclusive relationship. His father is a space-alien from the planet Blackton which was destroyed by Balactus.
Jewcano (voiced by Enn Reitel) – A white-bearded, massively muscular man in a yarmulke (which he can throw like a deadly frisbee a la Wonder Woman’s tiara) and a Star of David leotard with the powers of the Jewish faith and the fiery fury of an erupting volcano (after being knocked into a volcano accidentally by Dr. Wang). He is always screaming at the top of his lungs. In his non-stereotypical real life, wimpy young accountant Neil Horowitz dates Mika, Fasto’s statuesque younger cousin, and loves soul food. Jewcano is also the member of Minoriteam who spends the most time in his civilian garb (or merely has his civilian garb shown on-screen more often than his teammates’ garbs).
Non-Stop (voiced by Keith Lal) – An Indian convenience store owner who is immune to bullets and fire because of his lead-lined skin. His non-stereotypical identity of Dave Raj is an ex-professional skateboarder, a talent that comes in handy when flying on his magic carpet. While not fighting crime, Dave sometimes smokes a hookah. He sometimes says “Krishna, give me strength!” when surprised and his magic word to transform into his bearded, bare-chested, turban-clad alter ego is “Abrakazoom!”.

Minoriteam faces off against The White Shadow Organization consisting of: The White Shadow, The Corporate Ladder, Racist Frankenstein, The Standardized Test, Corporate Loophole, Dirty Cop, The Plant , Shamus McFisticuffs, Steven Skullbird, Middle-manager Tom Severson and Stuck Up Girlfriend.
Like I said, this really couldn’t be made today and has pretty much been memory holed after its 1 season.

Mike Tyson Mysteries (2014)
Take Scooby Doo and cross it with the Mister T cartoon from the 80s, and somehow you get Mike Tyson (voiced by Mike Tyson) solving mysteries with the gay ghost of the Marques of Queensberry, a man who was turned into a pigeon by his ex-wife who was a witch (voiced by Norm McDonald) and Mike Tyson’s adopted Korean daughter that was left on his doorstep as a baby. It is batshit insane and it is glorious. 4 Seasons, so the most successful of the bunch so far.

 

 

Korgath of Barbaria (2006)
This one is a bit different, as only the pilot episode aired. Adult Swim advertised the series had been picked up, but it never came to fruition. This was an homage to the pulp barbarian stories like Conan as well as 70s/80s Post Apocalypse barbarian fare such as Thundarr the Barbarian. It was gloriously violent and sexist. To this day I am very saddened by the fact that this went no farther than a pilot.

 

 

REMINDER: I am throwing a shindig in May. Details are in the forums under meet-ups.