Space Ghost Coast to Coast

Space Ghost Coast to Coast is an adult animated comedy talk show produced by Williams Street (formerly Ghost Planet Industries) for Cartoon Network, Cartoon Network's late-night programming block, Adult Swim, and then tragically GameTap. It ran from 1994 to 2008, airing 108 episodes.

The series is a spin-off of the more kid-friendly Hanna-Barbera character Space Ghost from a series of self-titled Space Ghost segments from the 1960s and 1980s. Space Ghost upheld the law as a space cop with armbands that allowed him to fly and turn invisible, hence his name. Coast to Coast has Space Ghost retired from saving the galaxy and now hosts a surreal and absurd talk show broadcasting from Ghost Planet, joined by director and producer Moltar and bandleader Zorak, who despite being rehabilitated villains, still make his job a nightmare, although Space Ghost himself isn't always on top form either as he is always rude and mostly asks irreverent questions to his guests. Space Ghost, who's animated in cheap recycled footage (as are all the characters from his era), interviews live-action celebrities via a monitor.

On a tiny budget and modest ratings, Space Ghost Coast to Coast was to inspire the entire restructuring of Cartoon Network's late-night entertainment when they launched Adult Swim in 2001. Space Ghost Coast to Coast had two of its own personal spin-offs in Cartoon Planet and The Brak Show, while also creating a back-door pilot to Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and inspiring other series such as Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, Sealab 2021, Perfect Hair Forever (which guest stars Space Ghost), and The Eric Andre Show.

Casting
The second test pilot had Gary Owens reprise his role, although when it came to the series proper, George Lowe had been cast instead, due to budget reasons. This is also why C. Martin Croker stepped in to take the role of Zorak, instead of Don Messick.

Aftermath
Time Warner has allowed its subsidiaries and the people involved to mock the series since it officially ended on Adult Swim. Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters had Meatward set off a missile which accidentally hit Space Ghost as he was greeting the audience of his show, burning off his clothes and skin before he explodes.

In 2007, Cartoon Network Spain adapted the series for their TNT, by editing the episodes with celebrities more well known to Spanish audiences.

After the GameTap era ended, Adult Swim randomly dusted the Coast to Coast set for interviews whenever they were asked to promote something, as they did with Zoe Saldana for Avatar in 2009, Steve Nash in 2010 for Vitamin Water, Tommy Wiseau in 2011 for The Room (even though it came out in 2003, and Will Ferrell and Zach Galifiankis in 2012 for The Campaign.

Ahead of filming the first season of The Eric Andre Show, Eric Andre had several questions for Coast to Coast's creator, Mike Lazzo, but Lazzo had no interest in the series anymore as if he had disowned it, stating "Space Ghost is dead to me."

In Scooby-Doo! Team-Up #19, it was revealed that Zorak had hypnotized Space Ghost into believing that he had been a talk show host.

Ian Jones-Quartey, creator of ''OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, wanted to do a crossover with Space Ghost Coast to Coast'', but after the passing of C. Martin Croker, Jones-Quartey dropped the idea out of respect, as he felt it would've been difficult to do the episode without him.

Music
The music was composed by Sonny Sharrock and Eddie Horst, the latter of whom was also the musical director. The vocals of the theme song were provided by Alfreda Gerald.

Release
Premiere dates of countries are in order of release:


 * United States: April 15, 1994 on Cartoon Network

Cast

 * George Lowe as Space Ghost
 * C. Martin Croker as Zorak and Moltar
 * Don Kennedy as Tansit/announcer

Space Kid Coast to Coast
For April Fools Day 2021, Adult Swim advertised they would be making regressed versions of their cartoons, such as Space Kid Coast to Coast. In an overall trailer for all the different takes, Zorak is a baby, whereas in the unique ad for Space Kid Coast to Coast, Zorak is a larva.