In my previous column I explored my history of watching cartoons on television. My habit of watching Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig gave way to the likes of Mr. Peabody, Sherman, Dudley Do-Right, Boris and Natasha who introduced me to story lines that dealt with more complicated and adult themes.

Adult animated cartoons, introduced in 1989 entered our collective knowledge as comedies. They attracted an adult audience with themes and story lines that had no boundaries. They dealt with cultural clashes, political issues and other elements that were not suitable nor understood by children.

Welcome to the world of prime-time adult animation. If you allow me to be your guide, I will give my nominees for the Mount Rushmore of adult animated shows.

My version of Mount Rushmore features the head of households in four prime time adult animated shows. Three of them are the father figures in a show. The fourth member of my “Rushmore” group is a self-proclaimed leader of his elementary school playmates.

In order of when their shows debuted, they are…Homer Simpson, Eric Cartman, Peter Griffin and Bob Belcher.

“The Simpsons” premiered in 1989 and introduced adult animated shows. It follows the stories of the Simpson family comprised of Homer, his wife Marge and their kids Bart, Lisa and Maggie. They reside in the animated town of Springfield. The adult nature of the show unfolds in the ways it spoofs and depicts the problems and craziness of popular culture, politics and everyday life.

In the first few episodes the story lines centered on Homer’s son, Bart. His favorite expressions like “Don’t have a cow, man” and “Cowabunga” were used often. Eventually the show’s producers realized that the central figure should be Homer, and everything involved him.

They obviously made the right decision. With over thirty seasons aired, The Simpsons holds the record for the longest running American sitcom.

Next on my “Rushmore” list is “South Park” which arrived on the screen in 1997. The episodes revolve around four elementary school friends named Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny. They live in a fictional town in Colorado called South Park. It features crude animation and the fearless approach to controversial topics. That is what makes it so popular with adults and goes over the head of most children. Nobody is safe from their touch whether it is making fun of celebrities, religious figures or political leaders. The show pulls no punches and really hits the audience hard.

We can thank Seth MacFarlane for creating the show that is next on my “Rushmore” list. “Family Guy” premiered in 1999 and centers on the Griffin family. Peter, his wife Lois, Stewie, Meg and Chris live in the fictional town of Quahog, Rhode Island. It blends cutaway gags, slapstick comedy and biting satire.

A unique character is Stewie Griffin a British accented baby who provides constant laughs with his schemes and one liners. He even has built a time machine in his closet and frequent episodes follow him traveling around with their talking dog named Brian.

Finally, my “Rushmore” list is complete with the show that premiered in 2011 called “Bob’s Burgers.” It follows the antics of the Belcher family. Bob, Linda, Tina, Jean and Louise struggle to run a somewhat failing burger restaurant. Unlike some other adult animated comedies, this show has warmth as well as the quirky characters. It is character driven and the plots are based around the struggles of running a failing restaurant and dealing with the competitors across the street.

Unlike the other three shows that are on my “Rushmore” list, Bob’s Burgers has not developed the following that the others have maintained. But give it a chance and let me know what you think. I would hazard a guess that you will be enjoying the episodes as Bob and his family navigate through life.

Hudson Cooper is a resident of Sullivan County, a writer, comedian and actor.