Animated World of DC Comics: Superman in The Magnetic Telescope (1942)

 A scientist's experiments with a "Magnetic Telescope" attracts the attention of Superman (Bud Collyer). I think you know how this will go....

Some things should be left well enough alone.

Tooniversary: Pest Pilot (1941)

 Popeye is running a small air service out of an old hangar. Poopdeck Pappy wants to fly, despite a lack of experience. Uh-oh...............

Jack Mercer performs all the voices in "Pest Pilot":

Toon Sports: Popeye in King Of The Rodeo (1979)

 From season 2 of The All-New Popeye Hour:

The Popeye Sports Parade sends Popeye (Jack Mercer) back to the rodeo, but this time, he & Bluto (Allan Melvin) aren't dueling over Olive. Instead, they're competing to become "King of The Rodeo":

Well, you knew how this was going to end, right?

Toon Legends: A Lad in His Lamp (1948)

 Bugs Bunny and director Bob McKimson took their turn at parodying Aladdin with 1948's "A Lad in His Lamp". Bugs finds the lamp as he is doing some work, and meets the genie (an uncredited Jim Backus in one of his first toon roles).........

From Comics to Toons: Big Monster on Campus (2000)

 "Big Monster on Campus" was the series finale of Archie's Weird Mysteries, first shown in February 2000. 

A mad scientist with a major hate on for Riverdale decides to avenge himself by inserting an android onto Central High's wrestling team, targeting Riverdale's star, Marmaduke "Moose" Mason.......

From Comics to Toons: An episode of Archie's TV Funnies (1971)

 This installment of Archie's TV Funnies takes a good natured poke at the infamous "rural purge" of 1970-1, with Reggie (John Erwin) trying to pass himself off as a rural host.

Featured strips:

Broom-Hilda, The Captain & The Kids, Dick Tracy, Smokey Stover, The Dropouts, Moon Mullins.

Toon Legends: Spider-Man vs. The Circus of Crime (1981)

 Spider-Man is framed for a series of robberies by the Ringmaster and his "Carnival of Crime".

So predictable.

Looney TV: Bushy Hare (1950)

 Mel Blanc may have had his inspiration for Captain Caveman nearly 3 decades before the Captain came to life.

Bugs Bunny ends up taking a flight, without a plane, but with a set of balloons, to Australia, in 1950's "Bushy Hare". Listen to Blanc's Aborigine voice.

Weird, yo'.

Rating: A-.

Looney TV: Porky's Pastry Pirates (1942)

 These things we know are true. Flying insects are a problem around food, indoors or outdoors. If you don't believe me, ask a vendor at the local farmers' markets, for example. Flies & bees are all over the joint.

We also know that flies can see in all directions, and, presumably, that applies to bees, too. However, for comic effect, the insects in "Porky's Pastry Pirates" have humanoid eyes, which takes away their advantage.

Amazingly, this is the first time I've seen this short. Hmmmmmm.

Toon Legends: Gulliver Mickey (1934)

 The title says it all, folks. Jonathan Swift's classic is parodied by Mickey Mouse as he spins a yarn for a group of orphaned mice.

Popeye would do it better nearly 30 years later.

Rating: B.

Looney TV: The Henpecked Duck (1941)

 "The Henpecked Duck" is Daffy Duck in this Bob Clampett farce, with Porky Pig as the presiding judge, Sara Berner voices Mrs. Duck.

Today, we would say that Daffy was whipped.

Rating: B.

Tooniversary: Porky's Bear Facts (1941)

 Porky Pig stars in Friz Freleng's loose adaptation of Aesop's The Grasshopper & The Ant, "Porky's Bear Facts", as he contends with a lazy neighbor...

The fact that bears normally hibernate during the winter didn't apply here.

Rating: A.

Toons After Dark: Mr. Magoo as Paul Revere (1964)

 With Independence Day, celebrating America's 250th birthday, next week, let's return to The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo, as Magoo (Jim Backus, Gilligan's Island) portrays "Paul Revere":

Why did this series flop after one season. Two words. Jackie. Gleason. Enough said.

Toons After Dark: Fred's Final Fling (1980)

 NBC had lined up a string of Flintstones primetime specials in October 1980, leading to The Flintstone Comedy Show joining the Saturday lineup weeks later.

In "Fred's Final Fling", Fred (Henry Corden) has a health scare when his x-rays are mixed up with those of Frank Frankenstone (John Stephenson; Charles Nelson Reilly would take over when they started the Saturday series). The usual chaos follows.

Edit, 6/22/26: Had to change the video. The opening & closing credits are deleted from this copy.

Family Toons: The Flintstones' 1st time travel adventure (1965)

 From season 5 of The Flintstones:

Fred & Wilma (Alan Reed & Jean VanderPyl) and Barney & Betty (Mel Blanc & Gerry Johnson) are sent to the future, specifically, the 1964 New York World's Fair, then backwards to other periods in this compilation from the episode, "Time Machine". Comes with closing credits of the period.

Gold Key produced a full-length comic book with the Flintstones & Rubbles at the World's Fair around this time.

Animated World of DC Comics: Superman in The Underground World (1943)

 The title says it all, as Superman (Bud Collyer) discovers a race of Hawk-Men in "The Underground World":

Rating: A-.

From Primetime to Daytime: Hell hath no fury like Wilma Flintstone (The Flintstones, 1960)

 From season 1 of The Flintstones:

Barney (Mel Blanc) buys Betty (Bea Benaderet) an engagement ring (??), and has Fred (Alan Reed) hold it for safekeeping. Wilma (Jean VanderPyl) finds the ring, and assumes Fred bought it for her. Uh-oh!! Now, Fred, who doesn't have the money to buy a 2nd ring, talks Barney into an exhibition boxing match with the champ. The girls ask the champ's manager to let Barney win the fight, but Barney's clowning proves costly. Believing they've been double-crossed, welllllllll......

Notice how the boxing gloves were made from the same cloth as Fred's shirt. Hmmmmm.

Coming Attractions: Meet Netflix's Scooby-Doo!

 Casting has been completed for Netflix's forthcoming Scooby-Doo: Origins, with Nick Robinson & McKenna Grace among the stars.

The final casting was for Scooby himself, and, well, here he is.....

Yep, they cast an actual dog, instead of using CGI or AI. Makes ya long for the days of Frank Inn training pets for television back in the 60's.

Stay tuned.

This is NOT how to have a birthday party (The Flintstones, 1964)

 From season 5 of The Flintstones:

Fred (Alan Reed) is up to his neck in trouble with both wife Wilma (Jean VanderPyl) and the Water Buffalo Lodge when Bedrock's only caterer mixes up two parties scheduled for the same night. A clown, meant for Pebbles' party, ends up at the lodge, and a jazz band and the Boulderettes show up at the Flintstone house, as you'll see in this excerpt:

I eventually saw this in syndication. Typical silliness.

Rating: B.

Toon Sports: Popeye in The Steeplechase at Ups & Downs (1979)

 From season 1 of The All-New Popeye Hour:

Popeye (Jack Mercer) and Bluto (Allan Melvin) are in a steeplechase race after Olive (Marilyn Schreffler) inherits a horse. Well, you know how this goes.

Just in time for the 3rd annual (& final) Belmont Racing Festival at Saratoga, opening Wednesday.

Rating: B.