Editing Robot Chicken (section)

==Production history==
[[File:Matthew Senreich by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Matthew Senreich]]]]
[[File:Seth Green by Gage Skidmore 5.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Seth Green]]]]

''Robot Chicken'' was conceptually preceded by ''[[Twisted ToyFare Theatre]]'', a humorous photo [[comic strip]] appearing in ''[[ToyFare]]''.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|last=Burlingame|first=Russ|date=September 9, 2012|title=Before Robot Chicken: Twisted ToyFare Theatre Takes on DC Comics|url=https://comicbook.com/blog/2012/09/09/before-robot-chicken-twisted-toyfare-theatre-takes-on-dc-comics/|access-date=July 26, 2013|publisher=Comicbook.com}}</ref> [[Matthew Senreich]], an editor for ''ToyFare'', got in touch with actor [[Seth Green]] when Senreich learned that Green had made [[action figures]] of castmates from ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' and asked to photograph them.<ref name="nytimes2006">{{Cite news|last=Itzkoff|first=Dave|date=September 17, 2006|title=Big Boys' Dream Job: Getting Paid to Play With Toys|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/17/arts/television/17itzk.html|access-date=July 21, 2022|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109034926/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/17/arts/television/17itzk.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Months later, Green asked Senreich to collaborate on an animated short for ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]'', featuring toy versions of himself and O'Brien.<ref name="nytimes2006" /> This led to the 12-episode [[stop-motion]] series ''Sweet J Presents'' on the [[Sony]] website Screenblast.com in 2001.<ref name="nytimes2006" /> Conan O'Brien is voiced by ''[[Family Guy]]'' creator [[Seth MacFarlane]] in the first ''Sweet J'' episode ("Conan's Big Fun").<ref name="nytimes2006" /><ref name="tvcom1">{{Cite web|title=Robot Chicken: Sweet J Presents (Summary)|url=http://www.tv.com/robot-chicken/sweet-j-presents/episode/751164/summary.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530004610/http://www.tv.com/robot-chicken/sweet-j-presents/episode/751164/summary.html|archive-date=May 30, 2009|access-date=May 27, 2012}}</ref>

Continuing the concept of the web series, the show creators pitched ''Robot Chicken'' as a television series, the name being inspired by a dish on the menu at a [[West Hollywood, California|West Hollywood]] [[American Chinese cuisine|Chinese]] restaurant, Kung Pao Bistro, where Green and Senreich had dined (other ideas for the series' name included ''Junk in the Trunk'', ''The Deep End'', and ''Toyz in the Attic''; some of these would be reworked into episode titles for the [[Robot Chicken season 1|first season]]).<ref name="autogenerated1" /> Some television networks and sketch shows rejected the series, including [[Comedy Central]], ''[[MADtv]]'', ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', and even [[Cartoon Network]]. However, someone at that network passed the pitch along to its nighttime programming block, [[Adult Swim]], around the same time that Seth MacFarlane told Green and Senreich to pitch the show to the channel.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} On February 20, 2005, the series premiered on Adult Swim.

The show was created, written, and produced by Green and Senreich and produced by [[ShadowMachine|ShadowMachine Films]] (Seasons 1–5) and Stoopid Buddy Stoodios in association with [[Stoopid Buddy Stoodios|Stoop!d Monkey]], [[Williams Street]], [[Sony Pictures Digital]] (Seasons 1–5) and [[Sony Pictures Television]] (Seasons 6–10).

The program aired [[Robot Chicken: Star Wars|a 30-minute episode]] dedicated to ''[[Star Wars]]'' that premiered June 17, 2007, in the U.S., featuring the voices of ''Star Wars'' notables [[George Lucas]], [[Mark Hamill]], [[Billy Dee Williams]], and [[Ahmed Best]].<ref name="usa">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2007-06-12-robot-chicken_N.htm|title='Robot Chicken' digs its satirical talons into 'Star Wars'|access-date=November 2, 2008|work=[[USA Today]]|author-first1=Mike|author-last1=Snider|date=June 13, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719215756/https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2007-06-12-robot-chicken_N.htm|archive-date=19 July 2008}}</ref> The ''Star Wars'' episode was nominated for a 2008 [[Emmy]] Award as Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour).

The series was renewed for a 20-episode third season, which ran from August 12, 2007, to October 5, 2008.<ref name="nytimes2006"/> After an eight-month hiatus during the third season, the show returned on September 7, 2008, to air the remaining 5 episodes.<ref name="nytimes2006"/> The series was renewed for a fourth season, which premiered on December 7, 2008, and ended on December 6, 2009.<ref name="nytimes2006"/> In early 2010, the show was renewed for a fifth and sixth season (40 more episodes total).<ref name="auto10">{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/21/robot-chicken-gets-unprecedented-two-season-40-episode-pick-up/39625|title=Robot Chicken Gets Unprecedented Two-Season, 40 Episode Pick-Up – TV Ratings, Nielsen Ratings, Television Show Ratings|publisher=TVbytheNumbers.com|date=January 21, 2010|access-date=April 27, 2010|archive-date=January 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125153023/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/21/robot-chicken-gets-unprecedented-two-season-40-episode-pick-up/39625|url-status=dead}}</ref> The fifth season premiered on December 12, 2010.<ref name="nytimes2006"/> The second group of episodes began broadcasting on October 23, 2011. The 100th episode aired on January 15, 2012.<ref name="nytimes2006"/> In May 2012, Adult Swim announced they were picking up a sixth season of ''Robot Chicken'', which began airing in September 2012.<ref name="auto14">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2012/08/16/robot-chicken-season-6-kicks-off-on-sept-9th-at-midnight-597200/20120816adultswim01/|title=Breaking News – "Robot Chicken" Season 6 Kicks Off on Sept 9th at Midnight!|publisher=TheFutonCritic.com|date=August 16, 2012|access-date=July 26, 2013}}</ref> The seventh season premiered on April 13, 2014. The eight season premiered on October 25, 2015.<ref name="auto5">{{cite web|url=https://www.leagueofbuddies.com/news/this-week-robot-chicken-season-8-begins-writing/|title=Robot Chicken Season 8 begins writing|year=2015|work=League of Buddies|publisher=Stoopid Buddy Productions|access-date=May 20, 2015|archive-date=May 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512015956/http://www.leagueofbuddies.com/3340/this-week-robot-chicken-season-8-begins-writing/|url-status=live}}</ref> The ninth season premiered on December 10, 2017.<ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/robot-chicken-season-9-details-walking-dead-parody|title=What Fans Can Expect From Robot Chicken Season 9|website=screenrant.com|last=Deckelmeier|first=Joe|date=September 26, 2017|access-date=November 4, 2017|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107164701/https://screenrant.com/robot-chicken-season-9-details-walking-dead-parody/|url-status=live}}</ref> Season 10 premiered on September 29, 2019, containing the 200th episode.<ref name="auto13">{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/robot-chicken-season-10-200th-episode-seth-green-interview/|title=Seth Green on Season 10 of 'Robot Chicken', Their 200th Episode, and Upcoming Special|publisher=Collider|date=September 20, 2019|access-date=April 29, 2020|archive-date=May 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522004658/https://collider.com/robot-chicken-season-10-200th-episode-seth-green-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref> Season 11 premiered on September 6, 2021.<ref name="auto6">{{Cite tweet|title=Robot Chicken season 11 premieres this September!|user=swimpedia|number=1396684409361797120|date=May 24, 2021|access-date=June 27, 2021|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref><ref name="auto11">{{cite web|title=ROBOT CHICKEN Returns Sept. 6 to Adult Swim|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/ROBOT-CHICKEN-Returns-Sept-6-to-Adult-Swim-20210810|publisher=BroadwayWorld TV & Film|date=August 10, 2021|access-date=August 10, 2021|archive-date=August 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810161149/https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/ROBOT-CHICKEN-Returns-Sept-6-to-Adult-Swim-20210810|url-status=live}}</ref> <!--please do not state that Season 11 is the final season unless you have a cited and reliable source; until then the show is basically just on hiatus -->

Following the 2020 cancellation of ''[[The Venture Bros.]]'', ''Robot Chicken'' became Adult Swim's longest running series, until it was surpassed by ''[[Aqua Teen Hunger Force]]'' after its renewal in 2023.

After not having released new episodes since April 2022, Green announced in a live-streamed interview that, while a new full season of ''Robot Chicken'' would likely not be ready in time for the following year, a new half-hour ''Robot Chicken'' special is slated for release sometime in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Seth Green & Hugh Sterbakov Talk Comics, Toys & Robot Chicken TV|website=[[YouTube]]|date=23 July 2024|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ5CJ5bzF78|access-date=September 6, 2024|archive-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905104741/https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=5407&v=WJ5CJ5bzF78&feature=youtu.be|url-status=live}}</ref><!--timestamp is 1:30:05 --> In a later interview, Green announced that ''Robot Chicken'' will be moving away from 20-episode seasons and towards doing specials.<ref name="Bubbleblabber">{{Cite web |last=Schwarz |first=John |date=September 4, 2024 |title=Robot Chicken Moving Towards Specials Rather Than Full Season Orders Says Seth Green |url=https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2024/09/robot-chicken-moving-towards-specials-rather-than-full-season-orders-says-seth-green/#google_vignette |access-date=September 23, 2024 |website=Bubbleblabber}}</ref> ''The Robot Chicken Self-Discovery Special'' will be released in summer 2025 in honor of the series' 20th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=2025-02-20 |title='Robot Chicken' Sets 20th Anniversary Special At Adult Swim |url=https://deadline.com/2025/02/robot-chicken-20th-anniversary-special-adult-swim-1236295346/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Milligan |first=Mercedes |date=February 20, 2025 |title='Robot Chicken' Celebrates 20 Years of Animated Parodies with New Adult Swim Special |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/02/robot-chicken-celebrates-20-years-of-animated-parodies-with-new-adult-swim-special/ |access-date=February 20, 2025 |website=[[Animation Magazine]]}}</ref>