by: John Gillooly

Being honor bound to view every new show to come through Cartoon Network’s mature content programming block, Adult Swim, I was more than happy to sit down and watch the brand new show “Loiter Squad.”

Created by and starring members of the rap group Odd Future, early buzz on the show was “Jackass meets Chappelle Show.”  It’s a show featuring up-and-coming rappers pranking on each other — and I couldn’t understand why this show was on Adult Swim, versus MTV.

“Loiter Squad” absolutely belongs on Adult Swim.The comparisons to “Jackass” are very apt, however it’s done with a twist that gives it a very Adult Swim feel. Sketches and bits are sewn together in a manic style with flashing colors and freakish visual cues like some A.D.D. Frankenstein.

While pranks and “caught on camera” antics do make up a large portion of the program, there are other sketches, both scripted and improvised, that break up the largely overdone prank show format, giving it a very unique signature unlike anything on TV.

I’ll give the kids credit, there are some pretty good pranks, including a mayo jar and a ping pong paddle, and a brilliant counter-prank that had me on the floor in stitches. Another caught-on-camera-style bit had the members holding up comic-like thought bubbles over unsuspecting bystanders’ heads. It was hilarious. When a perturbed victim becomes confrontational, it evolves, or possibly devolves, into a mind-blowing display of either intelligent foresight or brilliant improvisation.

I have a few concerns, namely that some of the sketches and pranks either fall short, or are extended too far, but considering that it’s only  the first episode —  I’m sure there is plenty of time for this schizophrenic program to find its legs.

The pilot has set a high bar for an out-of-nowhere show to leap back over, but only time will tell if these plucky, disturbed kids from L.A. are as successful in the off-the-beaten-path-comedy world as they have in the hip-hop world.

I give this gloriously insane show a solid 4 out of 5.