Mike Lazzo

Mike Lazzo is the head of comedy programming at Williams Street Studios, the company that makes the Toonami, Miguzi, Fridays, and Adult Swim programming blocks on Cartoon Network. He started out running Cartoon Network when it was simply a place to show cartoons from the Hanna-Barbera library, after Turner purchased it. In 1996 when Turner and Time-Warner merged he lost control of Cartoon Network and moved over to working for Williams Street. He is commonly and usually incorrectly credited as the creator of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Brak Show, Tom Goes to the Mayor, Stroker and Hoop, 12 oz. Mouse, and Squidbillies, among others. However, he did help to create the show Space Ghost: Coast to Coast. Lazzo, along with Cartoon Network Executive Khaki Jones, helped restart Home Movies on Adult Swim after the show had been cancelled on UPN. Because the shows under his control have been so popular, it is generally believed that he holds a lot of weight in Adult Swim's decisions.

Controversy

Lazzo has occasionally been referred to by his detractors as the "Rick Berman" of Adult Swim as a result of their belief that he might have been responsible for the decision to discontinue The Big O and not air Excel Saga.

Recently, Lazzo has become more unpopular, with the new schedule for Adult Swim pushing back debuts of "Inuyasha" to October, and cutting off "Fullmetal Alchemist" one episode from its finale. Cries of hatred have been most prominent in the Action folder on Adult Swim's website, as many fans blame Lazzo for the sudden disregarding of anime on the schedule.

Sources

* Wired 12.04 2004 Rave Awards - Mike Lazzo chosen for television award by Wired
* The edge of night: Adult Swim draws youth by breaking rules - YoungMoney article on The Boondocks (television) and Lazzo
* Swimming Against The Tide - FastCompany article about Lazzo
* An Interview with Mike Lazzo - IGN interview of Mike Lazzo
* Pirates and Animals Blog post on AdultSwim.com about Lazzo's history with pirates