Mike Lazzo is a retired American television producer who served as executive vice president in charge of Adult Swim, the adult programming block of Cartoon Network, and its production arm Williams Street. He helped create the first animated late-night talk show, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, in 1994, and was involved in the creation of The Powerpuff Girls, Toonami, and shows including Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law, and Sealab 2021.
How did Mike Lazzo start his career at Turner Broadcasting?
Mike Lazzo began working at Turner Broadcasting System in 1984 in the shipping and receiving department. He gradually moved through the programming department, eventually running TBS's animation block before becoming the first programmer in Cartoon Network's history in 1993.
When did Adult Swim officially launch and what shows premiered with it?
Adult Swim officially premiered in September 2001 on Cartoon Network. However, shows including The Brak Show, Sealab 2021, Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force had already aired unannounced in the early mornings of December 2000, nearly a year before the block officially launched.
When did Mike Lazzo retire from Adult Swim and Williams Street?
Mike Lazzo retired from the company on the 16th of December 2019. In 2021, he was listed as a recipient of the Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program for the Primal episode "Plague of Madness".
What is Ghost Planet Industries and how is it connected to Williams Street?
Ghost Planet Industries was Mike Lazzo's production company, which created Space Ghost Coast to Coast and Cartoon Planet in the mid-1990s. In 1999, Ghost Planet Industries changed its name to Williams Street, and the studio subsequently shifted toward developing adult-oriented comedy cartoons beyond its Space Ghost origins.
What is Mike Lazzo's favorite cartoon short and favorite TV show?
Mike Lazzo has stated that his all-time favorite cartoon short is Nasty Quacks, which he has watched hundreds of times. His favorite television show is The Simpsons.