Space Ghost: Coast to Coast is a spoof talk show on the cable TV channel, Cartoon Network. It began in 1994. The main cast is comprised of Space Ghost (born Tad Ghostal), a cartoon character originally from an old Hanna Barbera cartoon called Space Ghost which ran in the 1960s and early 1980s, and Zorak and Moltar, his former enemies from that show. Space Ghost is voiced by George Lowe, while C. Martin Croker voices Zorak and Moltar. Other characters include Brak, Lokar, Metallus, and Tansut, all of whom also used to make appearances in the original show. The show is shot and broadcasted from Space Ghost's studio on the Ghost Planet. Space Ghost also has a twin brother Chad, who is somewhat smarter but has an apparent evil streak. Luckily, he can be identified by his goatee and his use of hipster slang.
Various celebrities have appeared on the show as guests. They are shown on a TV screen next to Space Ghost, and unlike the characters, they are not animated.
Space Ghost: Coast to Coast uses the talk show format at its template, but subverts it regularly. Space Ghost himself is portrayed as incredibly stupid, as well as somewhat deranged. He apparently believes his guests are other superheroes and usually opens the interview by asking them about their superpowers. His interactions with guests are almost always painfully awkward, and sometimes hostile (it is sometimes hard to tell if all of the guests are really aware of the nature of the program on which they are appearing; answers heard sometimes do not match the "questions" coming from Space Ghost). His relationship with his co-workers is worse. His bandleader, an evil talking mantis named Zorak, and his producer, a red-helmeted lava man named Moltar, work for Space Ghost as punishment for their crimes, and make no secret of the fact that they hate him.
Space Ghost is arrogant, showboatish, uninformed, oblivious to his own stupidity, and violent when provoked. His powers include invisibility (courtesy of his Inviso-Belt) and the ability to shoot powerful beams from his wrists (courtesy of his power armbands). Zorak personifies pure (if neutered by his imprisonment) evil and spends his time on the show making fun of Space Ghost, generally getting blasted in return for his efforts. Moltar is more placid about his predicament and enjoys watching CHiPs reruns on the monitors during the show.
Unlike most shows, each episode of Space Ghost:Coast to Coast is only 15 minutes in length, to remedy this Cartoon Network stuck two episodes back to back in order to make a 30 minute programming block. In 1995 Cartoon Network created a spin-off show called Cartoon Planet, this featured Space Ghost and friends attempting to host a television show on the Cartoon Planet. Cartoon Network placed this show right after Coast to Coast in order to atract ratings. The Brak Show, a situation comedy starring Brak's hijinks as an adolescent, was also spun off as an independent 15 minute program.
Space Ghost: Coast to Coast aired on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block. It was shown on it's own in an early evening slot in Britain (around 6pm on Sunday nights), before being shunted to a late-night slot later on. (around 10.30pm) It also aired on CNX in it's hour of comedy from 9pm - 10pm, taking up most of the airtime, but is currently on hiatus in both countries.
A 2-Disc DVD set is available collecting 16 episodes from the show's first two seasons. It is titled "Space Ghost: Coast to Coast, Vol. 1". Disc 1 includes: "Elevator", "Spanish Translation", "Gilligan", "CHiPs", "Bobcat", "Punch", "Banjo", "Batmantis", and "Story Book House". Disc 2 Includes: "Girlie Show", "Hungry", "Fire Drill", "Sleeper", "Jerk", "Urges", and "Explode".
A second 2-DVD set, "Space Ghost: Coast to Coast, Vol. 2" was released on November 16, 2004.
Disc 1 includes: "$20.01", "Lovesick", "Transcript", "Sharrock", "Boo", "Freak Show", "Switcheroo", "Surprise", and "Glen Campbell".
Disc 2 includes: "Jacksonville", "Late Show", "Cookout", "Art Show" and "Woody Allen's Fall Project".
Special features include "Andy's Pilot", a performance by Thurston Moore, the unedited version of Matt Groening's interview from "Glen Campbell", pencil test footage, and bonus footage.
A third 2-DVD set, "Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Vol. 3" will be released on April 12, 2005, alongside Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law Vol. 1. It will include 24 episodes from the series, some of which are extended. It will also include commentaries, new footage, deleted scenes, and more.