(FORTUNE Magazine) – Coming soon to a TV near you: toons aimed at adults. Networks have been emboldened by Adult Swim evenings on the Cartoon Network (which, like FORTUNE's publisher, is owned by AOL Time Warner); its ratings have topped Leno and Letterman among males aged 18 to 24 recently. Though the TV graveyard is littered with adult cartoon flops, "adults love animation if it's done smartly," says animation historian Jerry Beck. Here's a viewing guide. --Matthew Boyle

SHOW (network) DEBUTS STORYLINE EARLY BUZZ

Hey Monie June 2003* Chronicles life of single Oxygen/BET black woman

Hopes to shatter the myth that cartoons are just for guys; BET has bought a second season. Gary the Rat; Stripperella June 2003 N.Y. attorney turns into Spike TV, formerly TNN rat--literally; stripper fights crime

Kelsey Grammer lends his voice to Gary; Pamela Anderson's Erotica Jones is hot--but animation buffs aren't aroused.

Untitled Oct. 2003 Misadventures of movie Comedy Central icon Robert Evans

Benefits from South Park lead-in and success of Evans's biopic.

Fatherhood Jan. 2004 Based on Bill Cosby's Nick at Nite bestseller

Could grab Gen Xers weaned on Cosby Show, the top-rated program on Nick at Nite. Tripping the Rift Jan. 2004 Spacy spoof of sci-fi Sci Fi Channel genre

Already delayed, but babe factor (Gina Gershon voices one character) might lure Trekkies.

Venture Brothers Feb. 2004 Imagine the Hardy Boys, Cartoon Network only weirder Adult Swim's surging ratings should give this show (done in flash animation) a lift.

Father of the Pride Fall 2004 Cheeky comedy about NBC Siegfried & Roy's lions DreamWorks is producing, but NBC has a checkered past with cartoons.

*Launched on BET in March.