You Need To Check Out Adult Swim’s Live Streams This Week

When it comes to relating to its viewer base, Adult Swim has always been ahead of the game. Whether you’re a diehard Adult Swim fan who spends your nights quoting Dr. Rockso the Rock & Roll clown from Metalocalypse or you think the network is just crude and confusing, you have to admit that Adult Swim’s viewing options are on point.

While other networks hold their precious shows near and dear to their heart, only allowing password protected cable log-ins to access the latest episodes, Adult Swim’s approach to streaming its shows can best described by ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. If you’re an Adult Swim fan, your options for watching content are many and cheap. Not only does the network have an exclusive and extensive deal with Hulu, but several of its shows are available to watch on its site for free. Sure, you have to sit through commercials, but still. FREE. But that’s not what we’re focusing on today. Today, we’re exploring the wonderland that are Adult Swim’s live streaming and marathoning options.

The network that brought you “Too Many Cooks” has essentially made the type of streaming experience you wish every network had without costing you a penny. What are two of the biggest first world streaming problems out there? Having to choose what to watch from a seemingly limitless amount of content and not being able to virtually stream a show with your friend. Adult Swim’s site solves both of those problems by streaming a handful of curated collections all day, every day. The site also features several original series that can best be describes as a mixture of a YouTube star and well, Adult Swim. There’s a lot of rap and non-sequiturs. However, the best part about Adult Swim’s live streaming and marathoning capabilities is the network’s dedication to its fan base. These marathons prove that Adult Swim listens. For example, viewers have been asking for reruns of the absurdist animated talk show, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, for years. Guess what Adult Swim’s site now has? A marathon stream exclusively dedicated to showing Space Ghost 24 hours a day. Other networks should take note; this is how you repurpose old content.

Since Adult Swim is far too cool to have a simple site design (If you want to see what I mean, look at its classified-inspired Show page. It’ll probably be something else entirely by the time this article publishes), I’ve broken down the main live streaming and marathoning options. Next time you and your old college roommate are debating what you should simultaneously stream, remember that Adult Swim has your back.

LIVE STREAM

Adult Swim’s official live stream is a mixture of college TV, YouTube gamers, and drugs. Lots of drugs. You can check out the live schedule for the day on the streaming page, but most of the shows watch like a failing public access show, much like The Eric Andre Show. That’s all to say these shows are so intentionally bad, they’re surprisingly funny — a line that no one walks better than Adult Swim. However, the best part about the live stream has to be how interactive it is. Most shows have a number and email address you can actually contact, and there’s a chat feature. There’s also a show called Clock, that’s literally a clock. That you can request music for. Enjoy.

Check out the Adult Swim live stream.

MARATHONS

Daily Marathon

This looping feed of cancelled and current programming is probably the best of the bunch. You never know what you’re going to get, but you know it’s probably going to be absurd, bloody, curse-filled, and probably NSFW. Watch this one cautiously.

Check out the Daily Marathon.

The Venture Bros.

If watching other people fail helps make you feel a bit better about yourself, then let me introduce you to a bit of schadenfreude that won’t hurt anyone. Adult Swim’s longest-running original series, The Venture Bros., is available to watch 24/7.

Check out The Venture Bros. Marathon.

Ghost Planet

Fans begged that Space Ghost Coast to Coast be released from its vault, and the network has finally relented. You can now watch this staple Hanna-Barbera character interview real-life celebrities at any time of the day. So how is it after all these years? Even weirder and better than you remember.

Check out the Ghost Planet Marathon.

Tim and Eric

Do you love Tim and Eric? Then this one if for you. This marathon gets bonus points for being absurd enough that you never have to pay complete attention and for having surprise celeb guest appearances.

Check out the Tim and Eric Marathon.

Off the Air

Are all of these marathons too normal for you? Then check out this ongoing marathon of Off the Air episodes, Adult Swim’s surrealist anthology series. We’re not going to say any of these options may or may not pair nicely with drugs, but you may want to remember this one on April 20.

Check out the Off the Air Marathon.

Toonami

If you love anime in all shapes and sizes, then welcome home. From FullMetal Alchemist to Cowboy Bebop and so many things in between, this marathon covers a lot of ground. There are two components to this: a show chosen for the weekly marathon (Monday through Friday) and an encore Toonami block of programming (typically on Sunday nights). Have fun.

Check out the Toonami Marathon.

You can watch pick and choose what Adult Swim shows to watch on Hulu.

Photos: Everett Collection, Adult Swim