Just about every time a Netflix show gets cancelled, a sizable portion of its subscriber base tries to take over the Internet with #SaveShow campaigns. Such was the case in 2019 whenever the streaming service pulled the plug on the acclaimed and fan-friendly animated series Tuca & Bertie, starring comedians Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong in the lead roles, just two months after it was released. A full ten months later, Tuca & Bertie fans can finally rejoice, as a cable channel has resurrected the series for Season 2.
Tuca & Bertie will no longer be a streaming exclusive, as the former Netflix original has been acquired by Adult Swim, which has picked up the reins for Season 2. As surprising as the pickup may be from a general standpoint, it's not so shocking that Tuca & Bertie ended up at Adult Swim, since that programming block has become such a vaunted hub for left-of-center comedy, as evidence by everything from the sci-fi madness of Rick and Morty to the nightmarish stop-motion of The Shivering Truth.
While everything is still being worked out behind the scenes, Adult Swim is giving Tuca & Bertie ten episodes for Season 2, which is the same as Season 1. It's presumed that these will be the full half-hour installments that the show received on Netflix, and not merely the 11-15 minute blocks that a lot of Adult Swim's programming adheres to.
Tentative plans are set for Tuca & Bertie Season 2 to arrive on Adult Swim in 2021, assuming the animation industry is able to get back into gear without any major hiccups. Unfortunately, the renewal order does not give Adult Swim airing rights to the show's first season, which will remain exclusive to Netflix, according to Variety.
Here's how Tuca & Bertie creator and executive producer Lisa Hanawalt reacted to the big news:
I’ve been a fan of Adult Swim shows since my teens, so I’m thrilled to bring my beloved fowl to the party and be a new voice for a fresh decade of absurd, irreverent, yet heartwarming adult animation.
Beyond Lisa Hanawalt, Tuca & Bertie's Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong also serve as executive producers, as does BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg. The comedy series is basically about two BFF birds who live in the same apartment complex, but takes its stories in many wild, wonderful, and visually pleasing directions. (And yes, that sometimes includes Sex Bugs.) Despite all this, and despite the 98% Fresh critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, Netflix apparently didn't see the value in securing a second season, and cancelled the show in July 2019.
Tuca & Bertie is welcoming back Tiffani Haddish and Ali Wong to the titular roles, and it can be presumed that Walking Dead vet Steven Yuen will be reprising his role of Bertie's no-nonsense boyfriend Speckle. One can only hope that Adult Swim is cool with the show maintaining its stacked roster of recurring actors and guest stars. Season 1 featured excellent appearances from Nicole Byer, Richard E. Grant, Reggie Watts, Awkwafina, Tessa Thompson, Taraji P. Henson, Isabella Rossellini and many more.
Weird as it may be, Tuca & Bertie is only the second Netflix series to find new life elsewhere after being cancelled by the streaming service. The first was the sitcom One Day at a Time, whose initial cancellation sparked a fan fervor that inspired the cable network Pop to renew the '70s reboot for a fourth season. The first half of that season was embraced by fans and critics, though its weekly audience likely isn't as large as what the show brought in at Netflix.
For now, Tuca & Bertie Season 1 is still available to watch and enjoy in full on Netflix. Stay tuned for more details about Adult Swim's takeover and the show's planned 2021 premiere. In the meantime, head to our Summer 2020 TV schedule to see what other big shows are starting up in the coming months.
