Regular Show: The Lost Tapes

Regular Show: The Lost Tapes is an American animated sitcom created by J. G. Quintel for Cartoon Network. A revival of Quintel's series Regular Show (2010–2017), the series premiered globally on May 11, 2026.[1][2]

Regular Show: The Lost Tapes
Genre
Created byJ. G. Quintel
Based onRegular Show
by J.G. Quintel
ShowrunnerJ. G. Quintel
Voices of
Theme music composerJ. G. Quintel
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
ProducerRyan Slater
Running time11–22 minutes
Production companyCartoon Network Studios
Original release
NetworkCartoon Network
ReleaseMay 11, 2026 (2026-05-11) 
present
Related

Similar to the original series, it follows the daily adventures of blue jay Mordecai and raccoon Rigby, who work as groundskeepers at a local park. Other members of the park include their short-tempered boss Benson (a gumball machine), the lollipop-shaped owner of the park Pops, and their coworkers, Skips (a yeti), Muscle Man, and Hi-Five Ghost.

Premise

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The series depicts a new set of surreal situations faced by Mordecai (J. G. Quintel) and Rigby (William Salyers)—two best friends and groundskeepers at a park where they often avoid work to have fun, much to the annoyance of their boss Benson (Sam Marin). Other characters include Pops (Marin), the owner of the park, and their coworkers Skips (Mark Hamill), Muscle Man (Marin) and Hi-Five Ghost (Quintel).

Each episode—as revealed in the first episode—is told under the framing device of Pops in the afterlife following the events of the series finale of the original series, in which each untold adventure is played out through footage from a box of VHS tapes Pops found, aptly titled "The Lost Tapes". As a result, any episode can theoretically take place in different time periods of the original series instead of following a linear timeline.

Production

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On June 12, 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that a new Regular Show series titled Regular Show: The Lost Tapes had been greenlit for two seasons, with J. G. Quintel returning as showrunner.[3] On September 30, 2024, Mark Hamill confirmed that he would reprise his role as Skips.[4] Later it was unveiled that much of the original cast—including Quintel, William Salyers, Sam Marin, and Minty Lewis—were returning.[1] The series is produced by Cartoon Network Studios, with Quintel and Sean Szeles returning as executive producers alongside studio president Sam Register.[5][6]

Episodes

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No.Title[7][8]Written and storyboarded byStory byOriginal release date[7][8]Prod.
code
U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Fix That Tape"Written by: J. G. Quintel, Sean Szeles, Toby Jones, and Calvin Wong
Storyboarded by: Siti Lu and Calvin Wong
Matt PriceMay 11, 2026 (2026-05-11)101A0.20[9]
Following the events of the series finale of the original series, Pops, now residing in the afterlife, accidentally breaks his memory VHS tape and tries to find another copy.
Song: "Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra
2"Skips' Luau"Maddie Brewer and Ryan PequinMinty LewisMay 11, 2026 (2026-05-11)101B0.20[9]
Mordecai and Rigby use a hovercraft to take out the trash after Benson suspends their wheel privileges so they can attend Skips' luau and eat a special burger. An FBI agent mistakes them for aliens.
Song: "Kiss on My List" by Daryl Hall & John Oates
3"Blade Games"Sam Lane and Bryan MannMinty LewisMay 12, 2026 (2026-05-12)[a]1020.17[9]
Benson watches a motivational VHS tape in an attempt to improve Mordecai and Rigby's work ethic.
4"Nap Spot"Alex Cline and Monty RayMichele Cavin and Matt PriceMay 13, 2026 (2026-05-13)[a]1030.08[9]
When Mordecai and Rigby discover Muscle Man's secret nap spot, Muscle Man must enter their dreams to rescue them from its horrors.
5"Coffee Shop Wars"Maddie Brewer and Ryan PequinMichele CavinMay 14, 2026 (2026-05-14)[a]1040.08[9]
Margaret and Eileen create a new recipe to compete with a nearby fusion restaurant threatening their coffee shop.
6"Boba or Bo-Bust"Alex Cline and Monty RayMinty LewisMay 18, 2026 (2026-05-18)[a]1050.16[9]
After replacing all the food in the snack bar with boba, Mordecai and Rigby have to sell it and repay the money they spent. They later use Pops as a mascot for the boba, which transforms him into a new persona, "Boba Casanova."
7"Corpse Flower"Monty Ray and Alex ClineMinty LewisMay 19, 2026 (2026-05-19)[b]1060.12[9]
When Eileen learns that her trip to see the blooming of an corpse flower coincides with Margaret's poetry recital, Rigby helps her attempt to attend both events in time.
8"Beginson"Hilary Florido and Madeline QueripelMichele CavinMay 20, 2026 (2026-05-20)[b]1070.10[9]
Benson recounts how he was kicked out of his band, Hair to the Throne, and later became the park manager after dealing with a lazy coworker named Talks.
9"Good Mitch Spiking"Sam Lane and Bryan MannMichele CavinMay 21, 2026 (2026-05-21)[b]1080.12[9]
Muscle Man recounts his first breakup with Starla and how he pursued a volleyball career to win her back.
10"Stilt Walkers"Maddie Brewer and Ryan PequinMatt PriceMay 22, 2026 (2026-05-22)[b]1090.21[9]
When Rigby uses a pair of stilts as chopsticks for old Christmas decorations to act as sushi, and wants a picture taken out of it, the others call it a terrible idea. This leads him to move to a small civilization led by Uncle Sam, where everyone walks in stilts.
11"Spice It Up: Beyond Underdome"TBATBATBATBATBD
12"Secret Menu Item"TBATBATBATBATBD
13"Smoke Alarm on the Water"TBATBATBATBATBD
14"Party Horse 4: Third Time's a Charm"TBATBATBATBATBD
15"Clean the Living Room"TBATBATBATBATBD
16"Artist's Block"Hilary Florido, Madeline Queripel, J. G. Quintel and Sean SzelesMichele CavinMay 28, 2026 (2026-05-28)[c]TBATBD
17"That's Funny"TBATBATBATBATBD
18"Cool Boss"TBATBATBATBATBD
19"Terror Tales of the Park"[d]TBATBATBATBATBD
TBA
20"Skips' Van"TBATBATBATBATBD
21"Super Strong Johns"TBATBATBATBATBD
22"Car Wash"TBATBATBATBATBD
23"All You Can Fit"Hilary Florido and Madeline QueripelMatt PriceMay 28, 2026 (2026-05-28)[c]TBATBD
24"Don's Back"TBATBATBATBATBD
25"Life & Death of Robot Dog"TBATBATBATBATBD
26"Before Sunrise"TBATBATBATBATBD
27"Recycle Yo!"TBATBATBATBATBD
28"Hi Five's Throat"TBATBATBATBATBD
29"Carter & Briggs Are Here"TBATBATBATBATBD
30"Wet Phone"TBATBATBATBATBD
31"Dip Deep"TBATBATBATBATBD
32"Ketch of the Day"TBATBATBATBATBD
33"Thanks for the Memories"TBATBATBATBATBD
34"Master Curator"TBATBATBATBATBD
35"12,000 Seconds"TBATBATBATBATBD
36"The Afterheist"TBATBATBATBATBD
37"Japlan"TBATBATBATBATBD
38"The Ultimate Format War"[d]TBATBATBATBATBD
TBA

Release

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Regular Show: The Lost Tapes officially premiered on Cartoon Network feeds worldwide on May 11, 2026.[1][11] In Canada, the series aired on YTV the same day.[12] The series is also streaming on HBO Max and Hulu, starting in the United States on June 8, 2026.[13][1][14] Internationally, the series is streaming on StackTV and Teletoon+ in Canada,[15] Neon in New Zealand,[16] Now in Italy,[17] and Movistar Plus+ in Spain.[18]

Critical reception

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The series has received mixed reviews from critics, with split opinions regarding its attributes in comparison to the original Regular Show. Some critics praised its respect for the original show's style and continuity, while others saw it as having an overreliance on the original show's humor or as having pacing issues.

Chris Gallardo of Tell-Tale TV gave the series a positive review, assuring that the humor of the series is "still as absurd as ever, blending its off-beat, surreal humor with the fast-paced energy" and that "the comedy still hits relatively the same".[19] Sean Isaacs of The Fanboy Factor praises the series for retaining its original format and "presenting the episodes as stories that could have existed alongside the original run rather than continuing it."[20]

Guy Dolbey of DiscussingFilm rated the series 2 out of 5 stars; he critiqued the material as too familiar to the original series, lacking in surprises, and deemed the humor as "not very funny", while comparing to the perceived decline in quality of The Simpsons.[21] Wilson Chapman of IndieWire criticized the series for "failing to stack up to the original run at its best" and being "a bit frantic and poorly paced, lacking the contrast between the chill, down-to-earth characters and the absurdity surrounding them that gave the series its initial hook".[22]

Notes

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  1. 1 2 3 4 This episode first premiered on HBO Max internationally on May 11, 2026, ahead of its official air date.
  2. 1 2 3 4 This episode first premiered on HBO Max internationally on May 18, 2026, ahead of its official air date.
  3. 1 2 This episode was accidentally added to Hulu and Disney+ via a bundle subscription prematurely.[10] It would later be taken down hours later.
  4. 1 2 This is a half-hour episode.

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 Moorman, Taijuan. "New 'Regular Show' series 'The Lost Tapes' on Cartoon Network: What to know". USA Today. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  2. Maldonado, Leo. "Looking Through Leo's Lens: OHHHH!!! Regular Show the Lost Tapes Teaser". The Decaturian. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  3. Hopewell, John; Lang, Jamie (June 12, 2024). "New 'Regular Show,' 'Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends' Series Unveiled at Annecy (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  4. Flook, Ray (September 30, 2024). "Regular Show Revival Will Include Mark Hamill Returning as Skips". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  5. Milligan, Mercedes (March 23, 2026). "Oooooh! 'Regular Show: The Lost Tapes' Brings a Cartoon Network Favorite Back to Screens in May". Animation Magazine. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  6. "J.G. Quintel on 'The Lost Tapes,' Cartoon Network's Golden Age and Pushing the 'Regular Show' TV-PG Rating to the Limit: 'They Were Like, "We Need You Guys to Tone It Down"". Variety. May 9, 2026. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  7. 1 2 "A Cartoon Network májusi újdonságai". mentrum.hu. April 1, 2026. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  8. 1 2 Bracamonte, Facundo (April 6, 2026). "Un Show Más: Las Cintas Perdidas ya tiene sus primeros episodios confirmados". TVLaint (in Spanish). Retrieved April 30, 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "U.S. Cartoon Network and Adult Swim Ratings". SpoilerTV+. Google Drive. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  10. @AnimationOnMax (May 28, 2026). "In other streaming news, "Regular Show: The Lost Tapes" has been added prematurely to Disney+. Probably in error because only episodes 16 and 22 are available, neither of which have aired anywhere else in the world yet" (Tweet). Retrieved May 28, 2026 via X (formerly Twitter).
  11. Chu, Jennifer (March 19, 2026). "Cartoon Network Brings Back Regular Show After 9 Years". Screen Rant. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  12. "TV Schedule for YTV (Youth Television) - East". TV Passport. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  13. "What's New On HBO Max This June". Warner Bros. Discovery. May 21, 2026. Retrieved May 21, 2026.
  14. "Regular Show: The Lost Tapes | Watch Full Episodes". Disney+. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  15. "Corus Entertainment Delivers A Red-Carpet 2025/2026 Lineup Across Its Specialty Portfolio And Streaming Platforms". Corus Entertainment. June 1, 2025. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  16. "Watch Regular Show: The Lost Tapes Online". Neon. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  17. "Regular Show: Le cassette perdute". Now. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  18. "Historias Corrientes: Las cintas perdidas". Movistar Plus+. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  19. Gallardo, Christ (May 7, 2026). "Regular Show: The Lost Tapes Review: Same Old Absurdity With an Updated Visual Look". Tell-Tale TV. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  20. Isaacs, Sean (April 27, 2026). "Regular Show: The Lost Tapes Review — A Familiar Return That Doesn't Miss a Beat". The Fanboy Factor. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  21. Dolbey, Guy (April 27, 2026). "Regular Show: The Lost Tapes Review – More of the Same, But Not For the Better". DiscussingFilm. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  22. Chapman, Wilson (May 14, 2026). "Regular Show: The Lost Tapes and the Tricky Science of a TV Revival". IndieWire. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
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