Celebrity Toons: The Spirit of Thunder Mountain (Lassie's Rescue Rangers, 1973)

 From season 2 of the ABC Saturday Superstar Movie:

"The Spirit of Thunder Mountain" was the pilot for Lassie's Rescue Rangers, but didn't air until November, two months into the season. Ted Knight (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Super Friends) is Ben Turner, Sr., the leader of the family-based Rescue Force, which incorporates some forest animals to assist Lassie.

Lassie's trainer, Rudd Weatherwax, condemned the series because of its writing (mostly Chuck Menville & Len Jansen) and (animal) violence. Viewers must've agreed, since the series lasted just the one season.

Toon Sports: Dexter plays dodgeball (1996)

 From season 1 of Dexter's Laboratory:

Dexter doesn't want to go to gym class, but a substitute teacher forces him to endure a week of dodgeball, and it doesn't help that there are three idiots passing themselves off as bullies. Of course, as Bugs Bunny famously put it, you realize this means war.

Leave it to Dee Dee to be a buzzkiller.

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.

Tooniversary: Wildfire (1986)

 Aside from the 50's series, Fury, few series centered on horses as protagonists have succeeded.

When CBS announced Wildfire as part of their 1986 lineup, some would be forgiven if their first thoughts were of a song by the same name that was a hit for Michael Martin Murphey 10 years earlier. Instead, it was another fantasy cartoon. If memory serves, this was a lead-in to the returning Muppet Babies. The cast includes David Ackroyd, Jessica Walter, and, in a rare dive into animation, Krofft stalwart Billy Barty.

Here's the open:

I think you can see why this bombed.

Coming Attractions: Futurama and Disenchantment come together!

 The cast of Disenchantment returns after 5 years away for a crossover with one of Matt Groening's other creations, Futurama, in a parody of Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.

While the following teaser suggests it drops Monday, the text after it on YouTube says September.

The plot, based on the teaser: Fry (Billy West) lands in the world of Princess Tia Bean and friends. Somehow, dumber than a doorknob Elfo (Nat Faxon) is now king........

Prepare to have your mind blown.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: Love Will Keep us Together (1975)

 The Captain & Tennille soared all the way to #1 with 1975's "Love Will Keep us Together", written by Neil Sedaka. In this clip from The Midnight Special, not only is "Captain" Daryl Dragon on keyboards, but so is Toni Tennille.

From Primetime to Daytime: McHale's Navy vs. Nippon Nancy (1963)

 From season 1 of McHale's Navy:

"Nippon Nancy" (voice of Julie Bennett) gets under the skin, not so much of McHale and his crew, but Capt. Binghamton (Joe Flynn, ex-The Joey Bishop Show).

I'll bet anything that today, a certain demagogue would find Nancy's voice to be soothing......