Home Movies: Adult Swim Material?
- UPN and Comedy Central
Note: I might add more.

As everyone knows, Home Movies airs as part of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block. The savior Mike Lazzo saved this genius show from becoming a footnote on the long list of “Failed UPN Shows” and has let the show become a mild hit. But, could this have happened on another block/in another timeslot/on another network? A “What if…” situation here: What if Home Movies wasn’t an Adult Swim show?

1: UPN

Well, I’ll start off with the most obvious hypothetical situation: UPN. Suppose the “season finale” “Yoko” had actually just been a season finale, and the show was renewed. UPN, based on what they did with the small time they had Home Movies, would continue to keep it in an after Dilbert timeslot. Advertisements would continue in the non-actual Home Movies comedy department (such as Jason’s snot trick being advertised). As we all know, Dilbert was not a very successful show. After Dilbert’s cancellation, figuring Home Movies had kept good enough ratings to warrant being renewed again, the network would have no idea what to do with the show. Then:
1) The show is put in a random timeslot, barely advertised, and cancelled quickly.
2) The show is put against a high-rated show, and cancelled eventually.
3) The show is put in a good timeslot, advertised effectively, and becomes a hit.
In the unlikely event of Scenario 3, the UPN department would then bastardize the show. The show would then become a cash cow, not being run by Brendon Small by rather the board (think modern-day Simpsons). The show gradually loses its appeal, goes off the spotlight and is cancelled/ended quietly.

2: Comedy Central (Not the animation block, but rather as a prime time show)

After being cancelled by UPN, what if Home Movies would’ve been picked up by Comedy Central as a primetime series? Well, let’s start off realistically: Home Movies = Animated, failed on another network, has potential. Immediately, the show would be put on at 10:30 Wednesdays, after South Park. The show would become gradually accepted, as most “after South Park shows” are. The show is then moved to anchoring another night, most likely Thursday. The difference between UPN and Comedy Central is that CC has had experience in the past by being the former home of HM-style (and same production company) Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist. The show continues, and:
1) The show finds cult popularity, as it did in real life on Adult Swim, and has a good, respectable run until it is mutually stopped after 5/6 seasons.
2) The show cannot stand on its own. It is switched around to random timeslots, and eventually finds a home 3 AM Sunday nights after Duckman.
3) The show becomes a hit.

For the purposes of continuing, lets says scenario 3 happens. Now, lets remember what Comedy Central does when they get a hit: Home Movies merchandise, to the extreme. Brendon plushes, McGuirk talking toys, a rushed DVD, a Jason watch/clock…anything you could think of. The show would be advertised to death, until the point where nobody can friggin’ stand it anymore. The show would enter a dark period…then, I believe after all had forgotten about the show (it would be Season 5/6 by that time), the show is allowed to continue, as remains a cult show for 2 more seasons before Small decides to end it.