President Curtis review: Rick and Morty spinoff plays it safe
Adult Swim's new Rick and Morty spinoff President Curtis plays it safe while keeping the sci-fi franchise moving, according to a Variety TV review. Co-created by Dan Harmon and James Siciliano, the animated series stars Keith David as the recurring president character and premieres July 26 at 11:30 p.m. ET.
Key Takeaways
- President Curtis is the first Rick and Morty satellite series, co-created by Dan Harmon and James Siciliano.
- Keith David leads as President Curtis, joined by Stephanie Beatriz and Jim Rash.
- Variety calls the show inventive and paced, but lighter on emotional stakes than early Rick and Morty.
- It premieres on Adult Swim on July 26 at 11:30 p.m. ET; episodes stream on HBO Max the next day.
For more Streaming & TV Alerts, follow how Adult Swim expands its biggest animated hit into new territory without reinventing the formula.
What is the President Curtis series about?
Per Variety's TV review, President Curtis is an animated procedural that mixes high-concept science fiction with sharp, proudly juvenile humor. The title character—already a recurring figure on Rick and Morty—faces weekly threats far from ordinary politics.
His chief of staff Banks (Stephanie Beatriz) is a cyborg who overrides her own ethics protocols. Special Agent O'Doyle (Jim Rash) is a Secret Service member who is also half leprechaun. Episodes range from a "paranormal Guantanamo" breakout to hunting Napoleon's mummified penis so France cannot undo the Louisiana Purchase.
The show leans more supernatural—vampires, witches, werewolves—than the flagship's aliens and multiverse chaos, though space still turns up. One early gag has Curtis declare he "killed Paul Bunyan today," then add, in David's baritone: "Timber, bitch!"
How does President Curtis compare to Rick and Morty?
A baton-pass cold open features Morty (Harry Belden) and Rick (Ian Cardoni) joking about spinoffs. Variety says shared DNA shows in dense 2D sight gags and sensibility more than heavy canon ties—likely fine for fans.
Unlike Rick and Morty, which grew serialized family drama before easing off thematic weight for longevity, President Curtis starts light on emotional stakes. Curtis is divorced and still carries a torch for his ex-wife (Kelsey Scott), now Illinois governor, but that detail stays background.
The review frames the series as dependable over strictly innovative: guest stars (Kristen Schaal as Amelia Earhart), pop-culture bits, and elaborate jokes. Rick is a zany grandpa fantasy; Curtis self-describes as "America's cool dad."
When does President Curtis premiere and where can you watch?
President Curtis premieres on Adult Swim on July 26 at 11:30 p.m. ET. Remaining episodes air weekly on Sundays and become available to stream on HBO Max the following day.
Production companies listed are Williams Street, Harmonious Claptrap, and Green Portal Productions. With Rick and Morty in its 13th year and ninth season, the spinoff keeps the franchise cruising by bringing that ethos back to Earth—one Curtis, Banks, and O'Doyle, and plenty of absurd crises.