Typically when fans learn of instances in which TV networks force creators to make major changes to their show, it comes across like a negative thing. On the other end of the spectrum, Adult Swim insisting that Rick and Morty be a half-hour show, instead of each episode lasting eleven minutes as Justin Roiland wanted, was brilliant.
During the episode “Total Rickall”, Rick and Morty’s main characters struggle to figure out what is real and fake as their home is infested with a slew of outrageous new characters. As it turns out, that episode was written because Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland were amazed when Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s main character suddenly had a sister that everyone just accepted
While working on a short film that was a precursor to Rick and Morty, series co-creator and voice contributor Justin Roiland burped in the middle of delivering a line. Amused by the moment, he went on to force himself to burp while he recorded many other lines of dialogue for that character. Happy with the results, he has continued the practice off and on since he began voicing Rick.
Largely due to the fact that each episode of Rick and Morty is densely packed with story, references, jokes, and set up for future moments, the show’s writers tend to work on them for a long time. On the other hand, when Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland wrote the script for the show’s pilot they completed it in only six hours.