If Vulture has a calling card, it is our love for making extremely comprehensive and undeniably definitive ranked lists. We debate, watch, rank, rewatch, fight, rerank, and sometimes cry (which actually happened this time) during a yearlong process that ultimately pays off with a list that feels original and authoritative, and invites plenty of spirited debate. Last year, the bravest, weirdest Vulture staffers were game to endure the lengthy process of researching and evaluating every original series from Adult Swim, the beloved and freaky late-night programming block from Cartoon Network that shaped the tastes of a bleary-eyed, post-ironic generation of comedy fans. As the potential Paramount acquisition of Warner Bros., the home of Cartoon Network, looms and the fortunes of cable television decline, the future of Adult Swim has never been murkier, so we felt a long look at the network's history and impact felt imperative. The team approached the exercise with a balance of deep analysis and rigor against personal biases and tastes. As you'll see in the ranking, the result is part critical history, part love letter, and the full Vulture list experience.
—Nic Juarez, staff editor, Vulture
