Toonfomercial: Look who's shilling for Midas! (2006)

 It's only 30 seconds (at least this version), but Fred Flintstone (Jeff Bergman) and Barney Rubble (Frank Welker) are at a modern day Midas shop......

Retro Toy Chest: Aurora Derby (1972)

 It wasn't too long ago that we posted a Union 76 ad over at The Land of Whatever, starring Dick Yarmy, brother of Don Adams (ex-Get Smart, The Partners, Tennessee Tuxedo). At the time, we speculated as to whether or not the brothers actually did anything together.

Well, we've got our answer.

As part of his endorsement deal with Aurora, Don brought Dick in to help promote the Aurora Derby, an electronic horse racing game, at a time when auto racing products were all the rage (i.e. Hot Wheels, Johnny Lightning). Unsurprisingly, the Derby didn't last.

Here's the ad:

A YouTube commenter, writing about one of Adams' Skittle game spots, thought Adams directed the commercials as well. It wouldn't be a surprise, since he made his directing debut on Get Smart.

Family Toons: The series premiere of The Proud Family (2001)

 Some of you might know that Disney decided to revive The Proud Family a while back to mark the series' 20th anniversary. We haven't seen anything from the new series yet, so let's take a trip back to the 2001 opener, in which Penny (Kyla Pratt) is trying out for the cheerleading team.

Theme song performed by Solange Knowles (Beyonce's sister) and Destiny's Child.

No rating. Just a public service.

Toonfomercial: Remember Shreddies? (1993)

 Like, Shreddies were Canada's answer to Wheat Chex, eh? Oh, you didn't know? Well, we'll forgive you, since they were created in Canada, after all.

At first glance, you'd think Shreddies were shorthand for Shredded Wheat, and probably is. Nabisco made this cereal until sold to Post or Nestle, depending on what part of the globe you live in. I don't think it's ever made it here to America, where comparisons to Wheat Chex, Frosted Mini-Wheats, et al, would be inevitable.

In this 1993 ad, more suited for Halloween, two talking pieces of cereal encounter some goblins, and are lucky not to end up as a snack, eh?

I'm more of a Corn Chex guy myself.

You Know The Voice: Paul Winchell (1956)

 Previously, we've served up an episode of What's My Line? with Paul Winchell on the panel, on a night when Bob Hope and his daughter were mystery guests.

Here, though, is a historic meeting between Winchell and his idol, if you will, Edgar Bergen, who brings along Mortimer Snerd. Jerry Mahoney flirts with Arlene Francis at the start, but gets Dorothy Kilgallon's attention (or is that the other way around) at the end.

Oh, what fun!

A weekend tradition: American Top 40 (1970)

 We've previously discussed our next topic over at The Land of Whatever, but it also belongs here, too.

American Top 40 launched on July 4, 1970, and grew into as much of a pop culture icon as the music itself. Series co-creator and original host Casey Kasem (Scooby-Doo, Hot Wheels, Cattanooga Cats, etc.) had worked in morning drive radio in places as diverse as Buffalo, Detroit, and Los Angeles, and developed the show's format with co-creator and producer Don Bustany. After a decade, the duo expanded their scope to add a TV version, the half hour America's Top 10 (previously reviewed), which launched in 1980, and ran into the 90's before being cancelled.

While the series was at its peak, Kasem also continued to work in cartoons (i.e. Super Friends), and did commercials for Soft 'n' Dri, Raid, Ford, Chevron, Red Lobster, and other sponsors. After 18 seasons, however, and a salary dispute, Casey left, with Shadoe Stevens (Hollywood Squares) taking over, and bringing along his own bizarre brand of humor. This lasted for 7 years before the series was cancelled, only to return with Kasem back at the helm three years later. Casey retired, and passed the mic to current host Ryan Seacrest in 2009.

We lost Casey in 2014, but the memories will always be there. Here's a sample episode from June 1980, with the likes of Paul McCartney, Ambrosia, Lipps, Inc., and Bette Midler on the chart.

America's Top 10 made its local debut the very next week.

Rating: A.

Tooniversary: Oh, Yeah! Cartoons (1998)

 It's hard to believe, but Nickelodeon's Oh, Yeah! Cartoons turns 25 this year. This anthology series was the brainchild of network exec Fred Seibert, who'd also developed What a Cartoon! for Cartoon Network a few years earlier. Same purpose. New ideas being tested out, and, in fact, three series were spun off: ChalkZone, My Life as a Teenage Robot, & The Fairly OddParents, the latter of which is still running today.

In the first season, Nick auditioned some kids to serve as hosts. They scrapped that idea in season 2, turning over the MC's duties to Kenan Thompson, then starring on Kenan & Kel. After a hiatus, All That's Josh Server took over as host for the final season.

From season 1, here's "Zoomates", written by Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy), and produced & directed by Butch Hartman (Teenage Robot, Fairly OddParents):

Unfortunately, voices were not given screen credit, so we can't tell which of the title characters were performed by MacFarlane.

Rating: B.

Saturtainment: Blast Off Buzzard in Testing 1-2-3 (1977)

 The writers of the Blast Off Buzzard shorts on CB Bears tried to go out of their way to duplicate the gags in the Road Runner cartoons airing on CBS at the time.

Anyway, the plot, such as it is, centers on experimentation on new traps in "Testing 1-2-3":

Silly fare.

Rating: A-.

Saturday Morning's Forgotten Heroes: Bigfoot vs. Bigfoot? (Bigfoot & Wildboy, 1979)

 From season 2 of Bigfoot & Wildboy:

Bigfoot (Ray Young) is being framed by another Bigfoot (Allen Wyatt, Jr.) wandering into his territory and causing havoc. TV vets Larry Pennell (ex-Ripcord, The Beverly Hillbillies, Lassie) & Leonard Stone (ex-Camp Runamuck) guest star in "The Other Bigfoot".

No rating. Didn't see this the first time.

Retro Toy Chest: How do you hustle Skittle Pool? (1970)

 After being known as a manufacturer of model products, Aurora ventured into games in 1970 with the Skittle line of sports games. Don Adams (ex-Tennessee Tuxedo, Get Smart) was tapped to star (and some say also direct) commercials such as this one, in which a mild mannered salesman (Adams) takes on Wisconsin Skinny (Robert Middleton).

Unfortunately, the Skittle line, and Aurora, are part of history.

Toons You Might've Missed: The Ruby Eye of The Monkey God (1969)

 On the heels of an unsold pilot for Sally Sargent, Terrytoons tried again, working with independent producer Fred Calvert (uncredited), and Hanna-Barbera vets such as Iwao Takamoto, to produce this next offering, "The Ruby Eye of The Monkey God". Keep in mind that by the time this had made its way to air in the winter of 1969, H-B already had The Arabian Knights, a super-team component of The Banana Splits, and Shazzan was in perpetual rerun on CBS.

Ali and his prospective girlfriend, Princess Jasmine (pronounced Yasmine) must protect a stolen ruby, and return it to its rightful place. Very little else is known about this short, which made its YouTube debut last month.

The closing credit suggests it was included in the syndicated package for Mighty Mouse, but never aired on WPIX, which had the rights during the 70's and early 80's.

Rating: B.

Remember when Atari got the video game revolution started? (1980)

 Atari set the wheels in motion for video games in the late 70's and early 80's. Of course, they've long since been eclipsed by Nintendo and Sony Playstation, but these were, after all, simpler times.

This commercial is a parody of "Casablanca", with Leon Askin (ex-Hogan's Heroes) as Fez, ostensibly modeled after Sydney Greenstreet. Danny Dark (Super Friends) is the voice over announcer at the end.

Toonfomercial: Remember the Ajax Elves? (1950's)

 Ajax has been one of Colgate-Palmolive's most enduring brands since 1948. In 1951, the ad agency for C-P called on animator James "Shamus" Culhane to produce a series of ads starring the Ajax Elves, a trio of lads extolling the benefits of the products. YouTube commenters have speculated that Thurl Ravenscroft may be one of the voice actors. I'll add Dallas McKennon to the list, just on a hunch.

Valentoons: Pretty as a Picture (1969)

 Here's another Cattanooga Cats entry, "Pretty as a Picture", written by Mike Curb & Michael Lloyd, and sung by Lloyd.

Seems this was the only gig Lloyd had with Hanna-Barbera, as he would later work for the Kroffs.

Sunday Funnies: The boys of That 70's Show get animated (2000)

 It all starts when Fez (Wilmer Valderrama) makes a reference to Scooby-Doo. Next thing you know, he, along with Kelso (Ashton Kutcher), Hyde (Danny Masterson), & Eric (Topher Grace) appear as cartoon characters.

From season 2 of That 70's Show:

Given Masterson's recent legal troubles, I doubt seriously he'll be invited back for the current That 90's Show.

Saturday School: High Class Hudson's Emergency Lessons For People (1981)

 Apparently, Dr. Henry did a disappearing act not long after debuting, so, two years later, Greengrass Productions went back to the drawing board, and revived the H. E. L. P. series, replacing Dr. Henry with High-Class Hudson, a wealthy African-American. The format is basically the same.

Like Dr. Henry, Hudson didn't survive the decade.

Rating: A.

You know you're in trouble when you have two people telling you to fix your muffler (1972)

 This is one of the most famous Midas ads of the 70's, and likely aired during sports programming back in the day.

Anyway, a motorist driving with a tired muffler in need of repair is being berated by a motorcylist, and another driver (a pre-Secrets of Isis Joanna Cameron, using what sounds like a NY or Boston accent). Jack Somack, a frequent guest on Barney Miller (1975-82), is the belittled driver.

Rare Treats: A promo for The Flintstones with Ann-Margret (1963)

 An enterprising fellow posted this gem on Reddit for everyone to see. Thought I'd share it here.

We've already seen the musical numbers from this episode, which kicked off the 4th season. Too bad there wasn't a sequel.

Valentoons: Honey (1969)

 Not to be confused with the Archies' song of the same name that came out a year earlier, the Cattanooga Cats released their own "Honey" in their lone season of 1st run episodes in 1969. Co-written and sung by Michael Lloyd.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: Hocus Pocus (1973)

 The Dutch band Focus had a 1-hit wonder here in the US with "Hocus Pocus", all the way back in 1973. This got them on The Midnight Special on a program headlined by host du jour Gladys Knight (w/The Pips).

Taken from a VH1 "Best of" broadcast.

Weird.

Remembering Lanny Poffo (1954-2023)

 When the Great Muta (Keiji Muto) arrived in the US in 1989, NWA-WCW viewers were led to believe the Japanese star had introduced the moonsault to American wrestling. That's not really true.

"Leaping" Lanny Poffo, later known as the vile Genius, actually introduced the moonsault, as well as a senton bomb off the top rope, prior to or after arriving in the then-World Wrestling Federation in 1985. Unlike his more famous brother, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Poffo never became a true main event wrestler during two tours of duty with the then-WWF. Instead, he remained a lower-or-mid-card wrestler, even after adopting the persona of The Genius, which began in 1989.

The cap & gown ring attire was inspired by Poffo's father, Angelo, who wore a similar outfit to the ring years earlier

In recent times, Poffo has turned up doing infomercials, among other things, his best years in wrestling long behind him. He passed away on February 2 at 68.

From Wrestling Challenge, circa the spring of 1990, here's Poffo, as The Genius.

It is said that Savage had wanted to bring his brother to WCW to become a modern day Gorgeous George, complete with bleached hair. Lanny had the mannerisms down, but he was never booked for television, and Savage eventually gave the Gorgeous George name to then-girlfriend Stephanie Bellars, who spent about a year or two in WCW.

Rest in peace, Lanny.

Toon Rock: The Archies sing the National Anthem (US of Archie, 1974)

 Maybe this was inevitable.

In an episode of US of Archie that chronicled the origins of "The Star-Spangled Banner", as written by Francis Scott Key, the Archies perform an upbeat rendition of "Banner" to close the show.

Coming Attractions: King of The Hill to return, this time on Hulu

 Well, I'll tell you what. This was inevitable.

Mike Judge has revived Beavis & Butt-Head twice (2011 & 2022), so it made sense that he would return to his other animated hit, King of The Hill, which is headed to Hulu this time.

Hill has outlasted Beavis in terms of series length. The current Beavis, streaming on Paramount+, would act as season 6 for the franchise, which marks the 30th anniversary of its initial series launch this year. Hill, in its initial run, lasted more than twice as long at Fox, 13 seasons (1997-2010), and marked its 25th anniversary last year.

Virtually the entire cast is back, save for Brittany Murphy (Luanne), who passed away some years back, before the 1st series ended. If you loved the original, you'll dig the new King of The Hill.

Saturtainment: Demon of The Dozens (Waynehead, 1996)

 "Demon of The Dozens" is the series premiere of Damon Wayans' animated series, Waynehead. Damey (Orlando Brown, Family Matters) gets into a battle of insults with the school bully.

Jamil Smith (Mo' Money, Jr.) was also heard on Hey, Arnold! as Gerald, Arnold's BFF/sidekick.

No rating. Didn't see this the 1st time.