It Should've Been on a Saturday: Cadets (1988)

Viacom wanted to try a sitcom set in a military academy, not exactly a haven for comedy. ABC was willing, but ultimately passed on Cadets after a 1-shot airing in September 1988.

Film stars Richard Roundtree ("Shaft") and William Sadler are part of an ensemble with Soleil Moon Frye, fresh from Punky Brewster, Jaleel White (ex-Charlie & Company, and a few months away from Family Matters), Remy Auberjonois (Rene's son), and Corin "Corky" Nemec, two years away from Parker Lewis Can't Lose.

Didn't see this the first time (baseball season, you know), and now I know why ABC passed.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits (Revisited): Tallahassee Lassie (1964)

 Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon racked up a few hits, including "Palisades Park" and this next item, "Tallahassee Lassie", which brought him back to American Bandstand in 1964, four years after "Lassie" charted.....

In memory of Cannon, who passed away on Saturday. Rest in peace.

Retro Toy Chest (with a side order of candy): Shillin' with the (future) Brady Kids (1960's)

 Many actors start off doing commercials before hitting it big. Such was the case with the Brady Kids well before The Brady Bunch launched in 1969.

A trio of commercials are showcased here:

1. Barry Williams for Milky Way candy.

2. Maureen McCormick (and some assume Eve Plumb appeared here, too) for Mattel's Chatty Cathy.

3. Christopher Knight for Marx's Fun Pack Carry-all action figure set.

Teenage Toons: Totally Spies! in Wild Style (2002)

 HG Wells' Island of Dr. Moreau gets sent up in the episode, "Wild Style", in which Clover and some cruise ship passengers are turned into humanoid animals for the benefit of a deranged fashion maven, who wants to then kill them for their newly acquired fur.....

I'm told the show is still airing somewhere, but not available on local cable at the present time.

Saturday Morning's Forgotten Heroes: The Three Musketeers in The Pirate Adventure (1968)

 The Three Musketeers are heading out on the high seas in "The Pirate Adventure" to capture Captain Corsair:

Rating: A. We had this one up before, and it was taken down.

Coming Attractions: The Mickey Mouse Club set to return again

 Media outlets are reporting that Disney is bringing back The Mickey Mouse Club, the variety series that helped launch the careers of Annette Funicello, Don Grady, Bobby Burgess, Sherry Alberoni, Sharon Baird, Lisa Whelchel, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Keri Russell, and so many more.

This time, the series will be on Disney+, and a pilot has been ordered.

The 1996 Club.

I suspect that, like the recent relaunch of The Muppet Show earlier this year, Disney will repurpose the pilot, upon completion, on ABC, which was home to the original Club in the 50's.

Stay tooned.

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-.