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

New Year’s Eve brought yet more bad news for television enthusiasts, as Peacock announced the cancelation of one of its best original series. Released last year, on January 25, 2024, In The Know is an adult-animated series that enjoyed a brief moment in the spotlight before fading into darkness. According to Deadline, Peacock has officially pulled the plug on In The Know. The series was a unique blend of stop-motion animation and real interview footage, an experimental mixed-media series with a six-episode run. After its debut, it was received well by critics, who praised its capacity for humor, the incisive social commentary, and the whimsical viewing experience it offered. The official synopsis of In The Know reads:

“Lauren Caspian is NPR’s third most popular host. He’s a well-meaning, hypocritical nimrod, just like you and me. He’s also a stop motion puppet. Each episode follows the making of an episode of Lauren’s show In the Know, in which Lauren conducts in-depth interviews with real world human guests. Lauren collaborates with a diverse crew of NPR staff. They are also puppets and nimrods.”

The brainchild of creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels (who executive produced the series), as well as Zach Woods and Brandon Gardner, the series boasted an impressive voice cast including Judge himself, alongside talents like Caitlin Reilly, Carl Tart, J. Smith-Cameron, and Charlie Bushnell. Each episode features a seamlessly woven story with Lauren taking elaborate interviews with guests such as Kaia Gerber, Ken Burns, Norah Jones, Mike Tyson, Finn Wolfhard, Hugh Laurie, and more.

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

As Peacock’s first foray into the world of adult animation programming, In The Know was intended to be a prototypical creation that pushed boundaries of conventional animation and paved the way for more such shows. Unlike traditional 2D or 3D animated shows, it featured stop-motion puppets to add a handcrafted and original layer to its visuals. Judge, renowned for his work on Beavis and Butt-Head and King of the Hill, has always had a passion for stop-motion animation, and for this Peacock original and its satirical tone, he knew puppets were the perfect medium.

In a broader context, adult animation is an arena that has grown tremendously in recent years thanks to Netflix and Paramount+, two streaming giants that have successfully ventured into the realm and produced a string of popular shows like BoJack Horseman, Big Mouth, and Star Trek: Lower Decks. These shows have carved out a niche and attracted a dedicated fanbase. On the other hand, Peacock’s decision to cancel In The Know raises speculation about the platform’s commitment to investing in bolder, more unconventional projects in the future.

While other shows on the streamer continue to thrive, the future of Peacock’s animation slate is currently uncertain. It’s unclear how the decision will impact it moving forward, but with the space becoming increasingly competitive, viewers can only hope that Peacock will continue to explore innovative approaches to storytelling.

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Release Date

January 25, 2024

Creator(s)

Zach Woods
, Mike Judge
, Brandon Gardner

Cast

Zach Woods
, J. Smith-Cameron
, Charlie Bushnell
, Carl Tart
, Mike Judge
, Caitlin Reilly