Cartoon Network grows up

The fact that an animated show about a fast-food meal has gained a cult following is a testament to the strength of the lineup, and the effectiveness with which the cable channel cross-promotes its programming.

The best-known series are Fox network castoffs: "The Family Guy," Seth MacFarlane's twisted take on sitcom suburbia, and "Futurama," Matt Groening's satire set 1,000 years from now.

But quirky, often surreal promos draw attention to the network's original shows, including "Aqua Teen"; "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law," about an ambitious superhero lawyer who always ends up defending cartoon characters; and "Sealab 2021," a mutation of the 1972 cartoon "Sealab 2020," about a high-tech underwater compound run by scientists who only look like bright-eyed do-gooders. On Saturday nights, the programming is devoted to Japanese anime.

It's an eclectic mix of sharp writing, inventive subject matter, and diverse visual styles that began nearly three years ago -- but was in the plans since the channel's conception, in 1992.

"We just try to do things we haven't seen, shows and styles you don't see everywhere, that you don't get in other types of sitcoms or sci-fi things. If it's a superhero, it's a superhero with a completely crazy spin," said Mike Lazzo, the Cartoon Network executive in charge of "Adult Swim."

"We don't even subconsciously say, `Let's do something like this.' We say, `Let's work with that person, because they're interesting, and see what they come up with.' "

One of those people is Andre 3000 of OutKast, who has done some artwork for the avant-rap duo's albums and is developing an animated series for "Adult Swim."

"We'll hope to have an announcement here shortly about it," Lazzo said this week. "I'm wary of anything that has to do with personality versus ideas -- but he is a genius, and that is apparent when you listen to even one song."