Frank and Steve Smith are brothers who teach in the history department of a state university in China, IL. They also happen to be legends in their own minds who will often sacrifice facts, lessons and syllabi for the sake of being awesome. China, IL is a reverse Animal House where the teachers are crazy and the students just want to learn. China, IL premiered on Adult Swim on October 2, 2011.
Brad Neely is the creator, writer and executive producer of China, IL. The new series is based on Neely's previous popular web series The Professor Brothers and I Am Baby Cakes that debuted on Super Deluxe in 2006. Both web series were combined in character and concept to create China, IL.
Characters
Frank Smith
History professor. The younger brother. Only cares what others think of him. Insecure. Pines to be respected as much as Steve.
Steve Smith
History professor. The older brother. Doesn't care what anyone thinks, and therefore is dangerous. Selfish and cool. Struggles with empathy.
Mark "Baby" Cakes
Perennial student. The holy idiot. Innocent but enlightened. Son of Professor Cakes. Old friends with Frank and Steve.
Pony Merks
Student T.A. She rides the line between student and professor. The voice of reason, but down for a good time. Perma Drunk.
The Dean
Crazier than the teachers. Pushes everyone to live with abandon.
Leonard Cakes
Super Science Professor. Lothario. Dad to Baby Cakes. Can make anything. Dangerously selfish.
Sammy Davis
History Professor. The old kook. More absurd than Baby Cakes. Totally lost. Fussy. Musty.
Crystal Peppers
Philosophy/Spanish Professor. Steve's competitor. Snooty, confident and capable. Probably a good teacher, but vengeful and wicked.
Jack Falgot
Doctor. Runs the Campus Clinic. On the surface he seems like a cool, rational, regular guy who is over worked. But he can lose control when instigated. Abuses his own prescription drugs.
The Mayor
The Dean's longtime nemesis. He hates the school. He loves his God fearing town. Super religious, but oblivious to his own weirdo proclivities.
Cast
Pony Merks, Dr. Falgot, Frank Smith, The Dean, Sammy Davis, Steve Smith, Crystal Peppers, Baby Cakes, and Leonard Cakes gather on campus in Adult Swim’s new animated series, China, IL.
Adult Swim- Jason Alexander (Seinfeld) as Harold The Professor
- Tommy Blacha (Metalocalypse) as The Mayor
- Dave Coulier (Full House) as Jackie Lather/Ronald Reagan
- Greta Gerwig as Pony Marks
- Terry "Hulk" Hogan as The Dean
- Jordi Molla as The Dream Reamer
- Brad Neely as Frank Smith/Steve Smith/Baby Cakes
- Chelsea Peretti as Crystal Peppers
- Andy Richter (Conana) as Agent Green
- Jeffrey Tambour (Arrested Development) as Professor Cakes
- Gary Anthony Williams (MAD, Star Wars: The Clone Wars) as Dr. Jack Falgot
Creative Team
Brad Neely also created the unauthorized, alternative soundtrack to Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone, entitled Wizard People, Dear Reader, as well as the popular animated web short George Washington and the singe panel comic series Creased Comics. Neely attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and currently lives in Los Angeles, CA.
Daniel Weidenfeld is the executive producer on the animated series China, IL. Weidenfeld began his career at Cartoon Network before helping start Turner Broadcasting's online comedy network Super Deluxe. During his time at Super Deluxe, he was responsible for overseeing development and production of over 150 projects, with a list of talent that includes Tim & Eric (Tim and Eric Awesome Show), Aaron McGruder (The Boondocks), Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation) and Kristen Schaal (Bob's Burgers) among many others. He was also the VP of Development at Generate, where he developed 1/2 hour animated/live action comedies under their deal at 20th Century Fox TV. Weidenfeld graduated from Tufts University and currently lives in Los Angeles, CA.
