Downshift

Downshift is an American animated series that premiered on Nickelodeon on December 29, 2001, and ended on June 9, 2017, with a total of 11 seasons and 210 episodes. The series follows Strone and Roman, two guys living in a center/biker gang called Downshifters.

Premise
The series follows around a duo named Strone and Roman, living in a center for a biker gang called Downshifters.

Main

 * Roman (voiced by Seth Green): One of the main characters of the series. He is very cranky and serious most of the time and he somewhat has a fear of giant animals (since the episode "The Big Pet", and again in "One Sweet Special Montage...")
 * Strone (voiced by Jeff Bennett): One of the main characters of the series. He is very optimistic at times, but he can sometimes be sarcastic and clueless. He is also Roman's roommate. In the season 3 episode "You Steal This and I Steal That", His real name is Storken Strone.
 * Drack (voiced by Carlos Alazraqui): The main antagonist of the series.

Minor

 * Patricia (voiced by Debi Derryberry): Roman's crush and Strone's close friend.
 * Annaweth (voiced by Candi Milo): Strone and Roman's next door neighbor.
 * Fabian (voiced by Tom Kenny): Roman's friend from Mexico.
 * Alex (voiced by Billy West)

Development
Following the success of Hood Doggie$, Tom John confirmed that he would do another animated series for adults. During production on Downshift, John pitched the series to various networks, with various versions pitched. The original version, as pitched by John, was intended for HBO and other premium networks, the second pitch was similar to the first but toned down for network television, and the third pitch was to children's cable networks, with an added emphasis on surreal humor. The third pitch was picked up by Nickelodeon in late 2000 and given a 20-episode order.

Critical reception
Downshift received generally positive reviews from television critics, many people praised the show for its running gags and surreal humor. The series holds a 8.2 on IMDb, with a 8.6 on TV.com.

Broadcast
Downshift was first previewed on the Nickelodeon network on September 23, 2001, and officially premiered on December 29, 2001 with the episode "Making the Rules".