Peacock Cancels Its First Original Adult Animated Series ‘In the Know’ After One Season

by

As a devoted fan of adult-animated series and a connoisseur of Mike Judge’s work, I find myself utterly disheartened by the news of Peacock canceling ‘In The Know’. This unique blend of stop-motion animation and real interview footage was a breath of fresh air in the streaming landscape. It was not just another show; it was a daring experiment that pushed boundaries and offered a whimsical viewing experience unlike any other.

The decision to pull the plug on ‘In The Know’ leaves me wondering about Peacock’s commitment to investing in innovative, unconventional projects. After all, if they can’t appreciate the genius of a show that features puppets interviewing real-world celebrities, what hope is there for future groundbreaking content?

On a lighter note, I can’t help but wonder if the cancellation was due to Kaia Gerber’s puppet complaining about having to share screen time with everyone else. After all, everyone knows that puppets, like teenagers, can be incredibly self-centered!

The evening of New Year’s Eve delivered unfortunate news to television aficionados, as Peacock announced the termination of one of its top original shows. Debuted on January 25, 2024, the adult-animated series In The Know briefly shone in the limelight before disappearing into obscurity. As reported by Deadline, Peacock has decided to end In The Know. The show was a distinctive mix of stop-motion animation and real interview footage, an avant-garde mixed-media series with a six-episode run. Following its premiere, it garnered positive reviews from critics who appreciated its humor, insightful social commentary, and the fantastical viewing experience it provided. The official summary of In The Know goes as follows:

“Exploring the absurdities and complexities of modern society through a unique blend of stop-motion animation and real interview footage, In The Know offers viewers an immersive, whimsical journey into today’s cultural landscape. With six captivating episodes, this experimental series delves deep into the heart of social issues, providing both humor and food for thought.

As a devoted cinephile, I’d rephrase it like this: “I’m talking about Lauren Caspian, the third most beloved host at NPR. Just like many of us, he’s got his quirks – a touch of well-intentioned hypocrisy perhaps, but who doesn’t? What makes him unique, though, is that he’s not a human, but a stop motion puppet. Each episode takes you behind the scenes of an episode from Lauren’s show ‘In the Know’, where he engages in profound conversations with genuine guests from our world. The magic happens as he works alongside a motley crew of NPR staff, all of whom are equally fascinating puppets and nimrods.

Created by the minds of Mike Judge and Greg Daniels (also executive producers), along with Zach Woods and Brandon Gardner, this series showcased a stellar voice cast that included Judge himself, as well as talents like Caitlin Reilly, Carl Tart, J. Smith- Cameron, and Charlie Bushnell. Each episode offers intricately crafted narratives, where Lauren conducts in-depth interviews with an impressive array of guests such as Kaia Gerber, Ken Burns, Norah Jones, Mike Tyson, Finn Wolfhard, Hugh Laurie, and many others.

‘In The Know’ Is Peacock’s First Adult Animated Series

In its debut into adult animation, “In The Know” was designed to serve as a trailblazing piece, challenging the norms of traditional animation and paving a path for similar series in the future. Unlike typical 2D or 3D animated shows, it utilized stop-motion puppets to infuse a unique, handcrafted aesthetic into its visuals. Given his past work on “Beavis and Butt-Head” and “King of the Hill”, and his affinity for stop-motion animation, Judge recognized that puppets were the ideal medium for this Peacock original and its satirical tone.

Over the past few years, adult animation has experienced significant growth, largely due to streaming services like Netflix and Paramount+. These industry titans have delved into this realm and created hit shows such as BoJack Horseman, Big Mouth, and Star Trek: Lower Decks, which have garnered a loyal fanbase. Meanwhile, Peacock’s choice to discontinue In The Know has sparked doubts about their willingness to invest in edgier, less traditional productions in the time ahead.

On streaming platforms, many shows are enjoying success. However, the outlook for Peacock’s animation library is at present ambiguous. The future implications of this decision aren’t yet clear, but as the competitive landscape expands, fans can only cross their fingers that Peacock will persist in experimenting with fresh and engaging storytelling methods.

Read More

2025-01-02 16:31