Space Ghost: Coast to Coast is a legendary series. It was the first fully original program for Cartoon Network, with Space Ghost himself acting as the network’s first mascot. It was spearheaded by eventual Adult Swim executive Mike Lazzo, and its writers would range from future Adult Swim employees to future writers for David Letterman. In addition to this, Coast to Coast served as a launchpad for series like Aqua Teen Hunger Force, The Brak Show and Harvey Birdman. Coast to Coast ran for nearly a decade before ending regular production, going through several notable eras and creating dozens of unforgettable episodes. But throughout its history, some have stood the test of time as true stars among the series’ massive multimedia space.

In April 2024, Space Ghost: Coast to Coast celebrated its 30th anniversary, with Adult Swim even hosting a live YouTube stream to remind everyone where it all started. While its creators may have moved on their creation and its history, its decades’ worth of fans certainly haven’t.

10 “Banjo” Created the Prototypical Space Ghost Episode

“Banjo” arguably set the tone for Space Ghost: Coast to Coast, though fans shouldn’t declare the episodes before it any less inspired. While the series certainly had potential before this episode, it took a guest cast of Schooly D and Weird Al Yankovich to give them a chemistry that could properly unlock it.

The episode sees Space Ghost raising Banjo the sea monkey while alternating spots with Weird Al as a victim of Zorak’s newfound mind control abilities. Its comedy is great, but it’s the tragedy of Banjo that put this episode over the top for fans of Space Ghost: Coast to Coast's early seasons.

9 “Curses” Kills Moby

Over the course of Space Ghost: Coast to Coast's 11 seasons, interrupting Moby becomes a bit of a running joke. The legendary gag was born in the Coast to Coast’s “Curses” as Space Ghost interrupts Moby’s exposition on outer space phenomena before eating him. The cannibalistic talk show host then goes on a rampage that starts with Moby and ends with his own crew.

“Curses” brilliantly juxtaposed a starved and temperamental Space Ghost against some of the quirkiest personalities in pop culture. Joining Moby were Emo Phillips and Garbage singer Shirley Manson. The episode’s events may have been a dream, but the ride is very real and very fun for fans of the series.

8 “Piledriver” Feels More Surreal Every Year

The greatest asset of “Piledriver” is its unbeatable cast. In the episode, Space Ghost interviews an aggressive Rob Zombie and a young Raven Symone. But the proceedings are interrupted by Space Ghost’s grandpa, voiced by Randy Savage. Leonard Ghostal disrupts interviews, beats on Zorak, and is eventually captured/rescued by an alien saucer crab.

“Piledriver” has great moments, all resulting from Savage’s performance. Grandpa argues with Moltar about steel cage matches against the latter’s father. He threatens Zorak, mistaking him for Blip the Monkey. No one is safe from Grandpa Ghost’s savagery; not even Symone, who’s speechless as she is regaled with tales of Grandpa Ghost's legendary beatdowns.

7 The Show Goes Up in Flames during “Chinatown”

Tyra Banks has accomplished a lot in her career. She’s been an actress, talk show icon and host of America’s Top Model; however, she’s also one of the only people to ever make Zorak blush. Banks does her best to feature in “Chinatown,” an episode where she competes for attention against an interruptive Space Ghost.

A major issue in the episode is its director. After trading Moltar to a Chinese baseball league, Space Ghost leaves the reins of his talk show to a dog. Problems occur on all ends, with Space Ghost losing control of interviews with Tyra and Rebecca Romaine and Moltar’s baseball career souring in record time.

6 “Fire Ant” Is a Beloved Fan Favorite

Conan’s guest spot on Coast to Coast is a cult classic. So beloved is the episode that the show even includes episodes in tribute to it; “Rehearsal” shows a table read for an early version of the episode’s script. Not only does O’Brien’s genre awareness make for unique banter with Space Ghost, but Ghostal’s dismissal of him leads to one of the show’s greatest scenes.

After he’s bitten by an ant, Ghost vows to follow it home and “kill its whole family.” The full episode, not generally included on streaming platforms, sees his usually short stalk of the ant stretched to 11 extra minutes. The moment’s energy would power entire episodes in writer Matt Maillaero’s future work 12 oz. Mouse.

5 “Flipmode” Sets a High Standard

Busta Rhymes showed up to his Coast to Coast interview “spaced out,” to put it lightly. The episode built around him keeps the same energy, with Space Ghost running a play while also suffering from the side effects of a gas leak, caused as part of the play. The result is an episode unlike any other.

“Flipmode” is violent, irreverent and exploratory. Zorak is beaten with a crowbar until he finally retreats into the sets heating ducts. Space Ghost crashes his ship and brings Busta his barely conscious crewmates to clubs, grocery stores, and campfires. All while the show plays out as if it were a fever dream beamed directly into Busta’s psyche.

4 “Dam” Breaks Barriers

“Dam” featured everything that makes Coast to Coast great. Space Ghost found himself trapped against the antagonistic banter of Zorak and Moltar, Oscar-winning actor Charlton Heston was equally unwitting and interactive as a guest, and Space Ghost’s self-help tape was an unforgettable gag.

A series highlight comes when Tad asks Heston about a sequel to The Ten Commandments. Pitches for potential new commandments end when Moltar runs wild with the premise before being blasted. A crescendo of quick, perfectly-timed dialog is followed by an all-time best pregnant pause as the crew and Heston give Ghost the silent treatment.

3 "Snatch" Is Horror at Its Silliest

“Snatch” is a horror film parody that takes place on an animated series that is a parody of talk shows. It’s a unique and honestly crowded premise, but for 11 minutes, this episode runs it through as much distance as it could possibly go. Beset upon by alien bodysnatching pods and The Blob, Space Ghost and crew must stay awake.

Interestingly, the episode has no credited writer, with some sites even crediting it to Archer creator Adam Reed. But the appearance of Dave Willis as “The Colonial Man” in the show’s original airing makes him and Maillaero the most likely culprits. The duo brought back the pods for Aqua Teen Hunger Force’s “IAMAPOD” episode.

2 "King Dead" Is a Step Past Over-the-Top

Everything about “King Dead” is immaculate. As Space Ghost is locked out of the studio, Zorak and Moltar wreak havoc as only they can. They kidnap guest H. Jon Benjamin and make cyclical prank calls on Space Ghost before hyping up unreasonable demands they never actually make.

The episode embraced non-sequitur humor to create something bordering on the brink of insanity. It’s antics, animation quirks, and slapstick sequences — both in the real-world segments and animated segments — are comedic gold. Overall, “King Dead” is relentlessly hilarious, culminating in the most ridiculous final scene of any episode in the series.

1 "Kentucky Nightmare" Sees Space Ghost at its Finest