[3] Adult Swim has described Tom Goes to the Mayor as "one of the most polarizing shows" they have ever had, indicating that viewers "either love it or hate it.

"[4][5] Tom Peters (Tim Heidecker) has just moved to Jefferton, an unpleasant, rundown town filled with strip malls and buffets.

Episodes usually focus on Tom going to the mayor (Eric Wareheim), hence the title of the show, with various ideas for business and civic endeavors, and the Mayor tweaks those ideas and causes them to backfire in horrible and destructive ways, leaving Tom to answer for them.

The show features a crude but distinctive limited animation style made by taking photos of the cast with different facial expressions and body language.

[6] Many characters, segments, and content from Tom Goes to the Mayor have resurfaced in Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, including the Channel 5 Married News Team, the Cinco Company, Gibbons, and even a live-action version of Tom Goes to the Mayor used as an opening for the episode "Pepperoni".