Animated World of DC Comics: A New Year's Toast (The New Batman Adventures, 1997)

 From the episode "Holiday Knights":

Batman (Kevin Conroy) makes a point of ringing in the new year with Commissioner Gordon (Bob Hastings) every year. Whodathunk the Dark Knight actually would drink coffee?

Happy New Year!!!!

Sunday Funnies: Barbara Walters on Saturday Night Live (2014)

 After being parodied by the likes of Rachel Dratch and the late Gilda Radner, Barbara Walters made a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live during the Weekend Update segment in 2014, just days before retiring, and making her last appearance on The View. Cecily Strong, who recently left SNL and is currently shilling for Verizon, is at the anchor desk.

In memory of Walters, 93, who passed away on Friday. Rest in peace.

Tooniversary: Superman in Arctic Giant (1942)

 Here's a perfect winter adventure with Superman, as he faces "The Arctic Giant".

Rating: A.

You Know The Voice: "Mr. Magoo" meets his clone? (What's My Line?, 1971)

 Jim Backus is on the panel for this installment of What's My Line?, which was in syndication, and airing in daytime in the 518. The mystery guest? Impressionist Rich Little!

I think I'm going to have to find that Truth or Consequences episode Rich referenced that he & Jim did together......

Sunday Funnies: The Muppet Reindeer discuss Christmas plans (The Ed Sullivan Show, 1968)

 Not all of Santa's legendary reindeer made the trip to New York for The Ed Sullivan Show. Then again, these are Muppet reindeer, courtesy of Jim Henson and friends, who modified a sketch first shown on The Kraft Music Hall with Perry Como three years earlier. Play this for your kids today. They'll love it.

Merry Christmas! We'll see you Monday.

Retro Toy Chest: Kreskin's ESP (1964)

 The Amazing Kreskin earned a reputation as a mentalist in the 60's, making frequent appearances on talk shows, and even hosted one himself.

But, a board game? Yup.

In 1964, Milton Bradley reached a licensing deal with Kreskin to produce a board game, Kreskin's ESP. I wish, aside from the commercial, I could tell you more, but the product was off the shelves by the time I first walked into the toy section of a department store.

Ghost of Christmas past, anyone?

Countdown to Christmas: American Bandstand's Christmas show (1969)

We've got a Christmas episode of American Bandstand from 1969. Yes, it was recorded in color, but this tape appears to have been a black & white kinescope. Anyway, the singer-songwriter team of Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart and Family Affair's Kathy Garver (who later got into voice acting) are among the guests. Includes in-show ads by host Dick Clark for Certs and Neet, and is otherwise sponsored by Dr. Pepper. Bill Woodson narrates an ad for The FBI.

Update, 2/6/24: Had to change the video, as Times Past Television lost its YouTube account (which sucks).

Getting Schooled: Peg + Cat (2013)

 While older viewers will have their issues with how a cartoon is animated today, preschoolers aren't going to care.

That's because preschoolers were the target audience for PBS' Peg + Cat, which had two "seasons" stretched out over a 5 year period (2013-18). This might be because of the computer process needed to producer the cartoons. The animation is kept as simple as possible, to make it easier for the viewers.

This simplistic approach might be because the show comes from a production company named in memory of Fred Rogers (Mister Rogers' Neighborhood).

The first season was stretched out across two years, and it is from 2014 we get this Christmas episode.

The closing music was edited off for copyright reasons, I believe.

Rating: A-.

Countdown to Christmas: Topo Gigio's Letter to Santa (The Ed Sullivan Show, 1967)

 Topo Gigio, like a lot of kids, decides to write a letter to Santa in this 1967 entry from The Ed Sullivan Show. 

After the series ended, I don't think Topo appeared on another American series.

You Know The Voices: Paul Lynde & Pamelyn Ferdin (1972)

 This, of course, means another episode of The Paul Lynde Show.

Paul Simms' son-in-law, Howie (John Calvin), is cast in a play where the cast is to act in the nude. Meanwhile, Sally (Pam Ferdin, Sealab 2020, The Roman Holidays) is doing homework (?) by reading Cosmopolitan, which raises her father's ire.

Also, Paul matches barbs with the mayor (Arthur O'Connell, ex-The Second Hundred Years). There is a portion of the show where the audio is ahead of the video.

Countdown to (Hanukkah): The Hanukkah Song III (Saturday Night Live, 2002)

 Actor/comedian/singer/songwriter Adam Sandler updated his riotous "Hanukkah Song" in 2002, and on Saturday Night Live, played on an electric guitar, brought out a children's choir, and everything was cool. Right up until Rob Schneider came out, all because "Deuce Bigalow" was included in the lyrics.......

Now, I get Adam & Rob are buds, having worked on a number of post-SNL projects together, but maybe, just maybe, Adam should've given Rob the number of his voice coach for singing.

Toonfomercial: Remember Cheetos Whirls? (2001)

 Frito-Lay tried to expand the Cheetos line of cheese snacks. Then, they turned over mascot Chester Cheetah to avant-garde animator David Feiss (Cow & Chicken, I. M. Weasel) for a trilogy of ads, this next item being the first.

Unfortunately, Feiss' series were out of production (read: cancelled) by the time this was produced, and after he finished the trilogy, Feiss was never heard from again.

Saturtainment: The Joe DiMaggio Show, aka The Lionel Clubhouse (1950)

 The fame of the Yankees was such that star outfielder Joe DiMaggio landed an offseason gig in 1950, hosting a Saturday afternoon show for kids. Unfortunately, The Joe DiMaggio Show, sponsored by Lionel Trains, lasted just 1 season of 13 episodes. The fact that it was tailored specifically for boys wouldn't work in today's market, to be sure.

Future game show legend Jack Barry was DiMaggio's sidekick, doing the shilling for Lionel, for example.

The series got off to a flying start, as DiMaggio brought in teammate Phil Rizzuto as his first guest. Unfortunately, that episode doesn't appear to be available at the moment, but the topic in this sampler, which appears to be from December 1950, is dogs. Courtesy of Ira Gallen's TVDays channel.

All the boys on the show were issued Lionel logo apparel, as you can see.

Could something like this work today? You'd have boys & girls in the audience, and, since The Baseball Bunch ended a few years ago, there is a void for programming of this sort. MLB Network's Play Ball, like Bunch, is more specifically designed for baseball. Today, you need someone who transcends sports in general. This is the sort of thing Peyton Manning should be looking to do. Just sayin'.

Rating: A.

Countdown to Christmas: Jack Benny goes Christmas shopping (1960)

 This next item has previously been used over at The Land of Whatever.

Jack Benny's annual Christmas episode in 1960 has Mel Blanc reprising as a salesman who gets completely flustered thanks to Benny's indecisiveness. Oh, the hilarity!

Countdown to Christmas: Blue Christmas (1957-2020)

 Elvis Presley first recorded "Blue Christmas" in 1957 on a Christmas album. RCA released it as a single seven years later, and it's become a Christmas staple since.

It took another 63 years before this animated video was produced.

I had contemplated Seymour Swine & The Squealers' recording in which Mr. Swine was impersonating Porky Pig, but, naaaaaaaaaaah.

Countdown to Christmas: Snow Foolin' (1949)

 From Famous Studios' Screen Songs series:

If you didn't believe that animals could skate, "Snow Foolin'" addresses this issue. Jack Mercer & Mae Questel took a break from the Popeye series to contribute to this one. Mae is heard as a mother hen who queues up "Jingle Bells". Oh, by the way, the complete song plays here, so if you didn't know the rest of the lyrics.......

Rating: A.

Toons After Dark: The Head (1994)

 With the success of Beavis & Butt-Head, MTV expanded its animation roster with the adventurous Oddities, which was supposed to be an anthology series with two series sharing the half hour space.

Unfortunately, Sam Kieth, creator of Image Comics' The Maxx, didn't play ball, and his segment was delayed several months due to the process of adapting the printed page to animation.

That meant that The Head, an original concept by animator Eric Fogel, would have the half-hour all alone to start the series, with two chapters per week. Viewers liked what they saw, and Head was given a 2nd season, in which he was joined by others with bizarre infirmities for what amounted to a Super Friends parody. The series was repurposed on Saturday mornings during its two season run. After Head ended, Fogel topped himself with the claymation Celebrity Deathmatch.

Let's take a look at the opener.

Believe it or not, there was a hardcover trade of original material spinning out of the series. I actually thought about getting it as a Christmas present for my brother, but never followed up on the thought. That book is now a collector's item.

Rating: B.

Countdown to Christmas: Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (1970-2021)

 The Jackson 5 released their 1st Christmas album in 1970, reissued on CD in 1986. In 2021, some enterprising folks produced a music video that mixed puppets with flash animation.

From Comics to Toons: The series premiere of WildC.A.T.S. (1994)

 Jim Lee's WildC.A.T.S. made their television debut in October 1994, as unforeseen delays pushed back the series launch by two weeks. Something tells me network meddling with the Nelvana-produced series might've had something to do with it.

Anyway, in the opener, we learn the origin of team member Warblade.

I think it was midway through the run that the local affiliate lifted its blackout after getting calls from comics fans.

No rating.

No, he didn't lose everything: The series finale of the Weird Al Show (1997)

 CBS' scheduling department aired the holiday episode of The Weird Al Show as the pentultimate episode instead of the series finale, as it was intended. 

So what happened? Perhaps as a subtle sign that this series was one season and done, the finale has Weird Al Yankovic getting robbed. Yeah, it's a plot device that's been used on a few primetime shows over the years (i.e. Sanford & Son). Anyway, Dick Van Patten (ex-Eight is Enough) who'd appeared in a few of Yankovic's videos, such as "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Bedrock Anthem", guest stars, along with Gilbert Gottfried (ex-Problem Child, Aladdin), Martha Quinn, and "Macho Man" Randy Savage, then with WCW, who has a "match" with Harvey, Al's pet hamster. As silly as it sounds!

The Fatman shorts you can skip past. They were to Al what the Brown Hornet was to Fat Albert more than 15 years earlier. A distraction.

Rating: B--.

Sunday Funnies: Topo Gigio's Christmas List (The Ed Sullivan Show, 1969)

 As a child, I'd seen a smattering of The Ed Sullivan Show, but I can't say for sure if my folks actually were interested in it on a regular basis.

In 1963, the Italian puppet, Topo Gigio, made his American debut, and would make regular appearances on the show until it was cancelled in 1971. Since then, Topo has starred in a Japanese anime which ran for 2 seasons (1988-90), and also appeared in some movies in his native Italy.

From 1969, Topo shows Ed his Christmas list.

Topo at Christmas was an annual attraction, so we've got more coming up.

Toon Rock: Money For Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies (1989)

 Four years after Dire Straits released "Money For Nothing" as the 1st single off their CD, "Brothers in Arms", "Weird" Al Yankovic mashed "Money" together with the theme from The Beverly Hillbillies for the soundtrack to his film debut, "UHF".

Straits lead singer-guitarist Mark Knopfler sits in on guitar, a condition agreed to that allowed Yankovic to send up the classic rock track.

Toonfomercial: Pac-Man gets his own line of pasta (1984)

 After the animated Pac-Man had ended its run after 2 seasons, Hanna-Barbera called some of the cast back for a commercial to promote---wait for it----Pac-Man canned pasta from Chef-Boy-Ar-Dee (now part of ConAgra Foods).

Marty Ingels (ex-Motormouse & Autocat), Barbara Minkus (ex-Curiosity Shop, Love American Style), and Russi Taylor voice the Pac-family.

Of course, as the popularity of the video game waned, the pasta disappeared from shelves.

Countdown to Christmas: A Sesame Street Christmas Carol (2006)

 In 2006, Sesame Workshop & Sony Wonder put together a DVD that mixed new material with clips from past Sesame Street holiday entries, some of which have been showcased here before.

A Sesame Street Christmas Carol, narrated by Tim Curry (ex-The Wild Thornberrys), focuses on the Street's resident miser, Oscar (Carroll Spinney). Kristen Chenoweth guest stars.

Predictable.

Rating: B.

From Comics to Toons: Beetle Bailey in Camp Invisible (1964)

 An assignment issued down the chain of command from the Pentagon all the way to dimwitted Private Zero (Howard Morris) leads to chaos when Zero mistakenly uses some top-secret invisible paint to make Camp Swampy disappear.

Here's "Camp Invisible":

Morris would revisit the concept of invisible paint on The Archie Show just four years later. Veteran writer Dennis Marks had one of his first credits as the writer of this farce.

Rating: B.

Remembering Bob McGrath (1932-2022)

 Talk about your emotional gut punches.

Singer Bob McGrath was one of the original human cast members of Sesame Street, and continued with the series for nearly 50 years, retiring in 2017 after a 48 year run. Bob returned to television with Sesame Street after a run on Sing Along With Mitch a few years earlier, and the earliest Street albums were released on Columbia, where McGrath had recorded with Mitch Miller until Miller left the label in 1965.

We're sad to report that McGrath has passed away at the age of 90. 

What we're not sure of, of course is whether or not PBS or HBO will pay tribute to McGrath's contributions to Sesame Street, including the "People in Your Neighborhood":

Rest in peace.

You Know The Voice: Daws Butler, Voice Magician (1987)

 You know the characters, from Yogi Bear to Cap'n Crunch. In 1987, PBS devoted an hour during a national pledge drive to the early career of the incomparable Daws Butler.

Butler started as a vaudeville impressionist, and parlayed that into a lucrative career in radio and animation. In the course of the hour, narrated by William Conrad (ex-Rocky & His Friends, The Fugitive, Cannon, et al), we see and hear from Butler, along with a fair number of his contemporaries, specifically Stan Freberg, Don Messick and June Foray, and producers Walter Lantz, William Hanna, & Joseph Barbera.

On with the show!

Yes, it stops with the launch of Hanna-Barbera in 1957, and that might be because as time progressed, Daws began to recycle some of his voices. Snagglepuss, for example, was reused for The Funky Phantom. Blabber Mouse led to Elroy Jetson and Lambsy from It's The Wolf, and so on.

We lost Daws a year after this show aired.

Rating: A.

Countdown to Christmas: A Cranberry Christmas (2008)

 ABC Family (now Freeform) sold a half hour's worth of airtime to Ocean Spray, which, in turn, allowed a flash animated adaptation of the book, A Cranberry Christmas, to air commercial free in 2008.

Co-produced by Film Roman, Cranberry is built around a dispute over a piece of property between two men (Jeff Bennett & Rob Paulsen). Narration & music by Barry Manilow.

Ocean Spray, nearly 15 years later, has not seen fit to release Cranberry on DVD, even as a promotion for their line of cranberry products. Hmmmmmmmm.

To be honest, I'd never heard of this one until today.

Rating: B-.

Countdown to Christmas: Christmas with The Hollywood Squares (1987)

 The 2nd annual Christmas episode of The New Hollywood Squares would also be the last first-run episode for 1987, what we would refer to today as the mid-season finale. Joan Rivers (ex-The Adventures of Letterman) shares her center square with John Davidson, Jr., and 518 native Joe Alaskey (Out of This World) is on the panel.

Countdown to Christmas: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1987)

 From A Claymation Christmas Celebration:

The California Raisins, who would be spun off into their own show, perform a cover of "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" in the style of the Temptations' version, released a few years earlier. Buddy Miles is the lead voice of the Raisins musically.

Countdown to Christmas: December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)(2010)

 To be totally honest with you, I hadn't heard of this next track until today.

25 years after Wham! released "Last Christmas", George Michael recorded "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)". In keeping with a more recent preference at this stage in his career, Michael opted not to appear, and, instead, we have a mix of CGI and traditional line animation.

Countdown to Christmas: I'm Dreaming of a Pink Christmas (Operation Petticoat, 1977)

 One of Jim Varney's 1st gigs before "Ernest" made him famous was in the TV version of Operation Petticoat, which lasted a season-plus on ABC, cancelled a month into its 2nd season. That first season cast also included John Astin (ex-The Addams Family), inheriting the lead as Lt. Sherman, played by Cary Grant in the movie version nearly 20 years earlier, a young Jamie Lee Curtis, and, in a recurring role, Norman Alden (The All-New Super Friends Hour, ex-Electra Woman & DynaGirl), who plays Sherman's commanding officer in a few episodes, including the holiday entry, "I'm Dreaming of a Pink Christmas". Norman shows up around the 17 minute mark. The video's not perfect, but it'll have to do.

Six years later, Norman would be recurring in Varney's next series, The Rousters, this time playing a police detective who worked occasionally with the Earp family.

Countdown to Christmas: Disney's Very Merry Christmas Songs (1988)

 In 1988, Disney compiled some classic Christmas songs, matched them up with some vintage cartoons, and created Disney's Very Merry Christmas Songs. The same tracks were used for a sing-along volume, released concurrently.

You'll recognize the open from the annual "From All of Us to All of You" from The Wonderful World of Disney, but with Eddie Carroll as the singing voice of Jiminy Cricket while Mickey Mouse multi-tasks. The rest of the set includes music by Gene Autry, Bing Crosby, and the Disneyland Chorus.

Toon Legends: Betty Boop's Crazy Inventions (1933)

 Betty Boop (Mae Questel) and friends try out some bizarre items in "Betty Boop's Crazy Inventions".

Luckily, wiser minds came up with a spot remover that doesn't harm the fabric, and, years later, Tex Avery did it better with  his "Tomorrow" series of shorts at MGM.

Rating: C.

Literary Toons: Franklin (1997)

 By the late 90's, kids were accustomed to the heroic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in reruns and finishing their run on CBS.

In Canada, a series of children's books gave birth to an animated series from Nelvana about a young turtle named Franklin, who made his way to the US on CBS & Nickelodeon, starting in 1998. Franklin is the older of two children. Younger sister Harriette is your typical mischief maker that big brother Franklin has to keep out of trouble.

Franklin had two separate Saturday runs on CBS (1998-9, 2000-2), and aired weekdays on Nickelodeon as part of their Nick Jr. block, before Nick Jr. was rebranded to succeed Noggin as their preschool channel. Reruns aired there until 2013.

To kick off this year's Countdown to Christmas, let's go back to 2001 for Franklin's Christmas Adventure.

I don't know if the books that birthed the series ever made it to American stores and libraries.

Rating: A.

Rare Treats: The Lone Ranger on Super Circus (1956)

 Super Circus was in its final season under that title when, in February 1956, the Lone Ranger (Clayton Moore) stopped by to visit with the show's new ringmaster, Jerry Colonna (Claude Kirschner and Mary Hartline, based in Chicago, were let go when the series moved from Chicago to New York), and perform a few tricks.

Prior to becoming an actor, Clayton Moore was, in fact, a real life circus acrobat.

ABC actually rebooted Super Circus into the primetime Circus Time, with Paul Winchell taking over as ringmaster/host, aided, of course, by Jerry Mahoney & Knucklehad Smiff.

In 1980, the producers of Filmation's Lone Ranger paid a sort of homage to Moore by setting one episode at the circus. 

From Primetime to Daytime: Enter Bruce Lee Urkel! (1995)

 Family Matters co-star Jaleel White shares a birthday with the late martial arts legend Bruce Lee. That, more than anything, might've been a reason why Steve Urkel (White) adopts the persona of Bruce Lee Urkel in the season 6 episode, "The Substitute Son". While the title refers to Eddie's dimwitted BFF, Waldo, Urkel, of course, stole the show.

After being roughed up trying to protect Laura from some thugs, Urkel uses his transformation machine, and... let the butt-whuppin' begin.

White does most of his own stunts, save for some flips. Mix in a little Jackie Chan and the Three Stooges, and this became a fan favorite in a hurry. One wonders why he didn't take on any more serious roles after Matters ended. Could've been an action hero.....

Supposedly, Jackie Chan had been considered for a guest role, but that was nixed because he would've likely overshadowed Urkel and the concept behind this homage. Jackie as a technical adviser, though? That would've been gold.

Remembering Jason David Frank (1949-2022)

 Another gut punch for 90's kids.

Just over a week after Kevin Conroy, the beloved voice of the Batman from 1992-forward, had passed away from cancer, an actor associated with another Fox Kids franchise has passed.

Jason David Frank played Tommy, the Green Ranger, during the early years of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers franchise, but, aside from a memorable guest appearance on Family Matters (and a fight scene he choreographed), he seemed to disappear. Still, it comes as a shock to fans of the Power Ranger franchise.

It would be too easy to bring back that Family Matters clip, in which Frank played a gang member embarrassed by Steve Urkel (Jaleel White), but instead, we'll use a Power Rangers clip. Here, Tommy regains his powers and Green Ranger identity.

Rest in peace.

You Know The Voice: Norman Alden (1967)

Ah, Rango. Tim Conway's 1st post-McHale's Navy series lasted just 17 episodes (January-May 1967). It also served as Norman Alden's 1st series gig, playing Captain Horton, the CO of the Texas Ranger station where Rango (Conway) is assigned. Horton can't get rid of Rango, despite the latter's bumbling, because Rango's father was the head of the Rangers!

Director Sidney Lanfield had also done a good number of episodes of McHale, so he was familiar with Conway. In this sampler, Mike Mazurki guest stars.

I'm going to be on the hunt for a particular episode in which future ABC announcer Ernie Anderson, a long time friend of Conway and a fellow Cleveland area native, had a rare acting role. Anderson would cross over to CBS to be Conway's announcer for his two variety shows.

As for Norman Alden, he wouldn't get another primetime series role, but he would land a role in the Kroffts' female-centric Batman knockoff, Electra Woman & DynaGirl, which, like Rango, lasted just one season, but is considered a cult classic. Why Rango isn't given similar consideration? Built around Conway, it tried to be a cross between F-Troop (halfway through its 2nd season) and McHale, and failed.

Sunday Funnies: Mah-na, Mah-na (1969)

 The Muppets were recurring guests on The Ed Sullivan Show long before the launch of Sesame Street in 1969.

In this bit, "Mah-na Mah-na" is also the name of the Muppet (voiced by Jim Henson) doing the singing & scatting.

The song was also used on Sesame Street, as well as on other shows.

Thanksgiving Toons: B. C.: The First Thanksgiving (1973)

 After debuting in skits on Chuck Jones' ABC series, Curiosity Shop, Johnny Hart's B. C. made its primetime debut in 1973 in this NBC special, B. C.: The First Thanksgiving, produced by frequent Jones collaborator Abe Levitow.

Daws Butler voices the title character, and does a Jack Benny mimic at the start, as B. C. discovers fire. From that point, it's a series of gags that could just as easily have been lifted from the strip itself. Singer-actress Joanie Sommers joins Butler and fellow voice vets Bob Holt and Don Messick in rounding out the cast.

No real plot, just a showcase for the strip. However, it'd take 8 years before these cave people would return to TV.

Rating: B-.

Toons After Dark: Turkey Television (1985)

 Nickelodeon already had a hit importing You Can't Do That on Television from Canada, but that wasn't enough. They wanted their own version, too. A clear case of having cake, and eating it as well.

Unfortunately, Turkey Television, which was also part of the then-nascent Nick at Nite evening block, was a dud, cancelled after 1 season. A mishmash of cartoons imported from across the globe, and comedy skits from here, there, and everywhere. Dana Carvey appeared in at least one episode while on Saturday Night Live. Nick at Nite was finding its footing at the time, but giving Turkey a weekend daytime berth to widen its audience didn't work, either.

Here's the intro:

Co-creator/co-executive producer Geraldine Laybourne would recover from this debacle.

No rating.

Saturday School: City Guys (1997)

 Call it Saved by The Bell: East Coast.

That was the issue with City Guys, which ran for five seasons on NBC as part of its Saturday teen-centric block, with the last 1st run episode rolling out right before Christmas 2001.

What producer Peter Engel sought to do was recapture the vibe of Saved by The Bell, but on the east coast. Bell's New Class had started its 5th season when City Guys launched, but in reality, the last thing NBC needed was another Bell clone. The last time they tried it, Running The Halls bombed out four years earlier.

Unlike Bell, City Guys' largely unknown cast didn't have any breakout stars. Marcella Lowry, who played the school principal, had been on The Cosby Show, but none of the kids really stood out. In other words, this was as generic as it got.

Let's take a look at the intro. This is from the series' rerun cycle on BET:

While season 5 was on the air, seasons 1-4 went into syndication in a package with another Engel entry, California Dreams, but was pulled from syndication after 1 year. After brief cable runs on networks such as BET, the series now is available for streaming on Tubi.

No rating.

Toonfomercial: Remember the Vlasic stork? (1977)

 Vlasic pickles caught the attention of parents everywhere with a series of ads that featured a stork shilling the product, shattering the myth that storks delivered babies.

Pat Harrington (One Day at a Time), doing a Groucho Marx mimic, is the stork here, with Roger Bowen (ex-Arnie) or John Erwin as the doctor.

Thanksgiving Toons: The Turkey Caper (1985)

 Bill Hutten & Tony Love's Chucklewood Critters, starring Buttons & Rusty, returned in the Thanksgiving special, "The Turkey Caper". We had this up before a ways back, but it was taken down. Luckily, with Thanksgiving 2 1/2 weeks away, it's back. 

Rating: B.

Kevin Conroy (1955-2022)

 This hurts, especially for Batman fans who grew up with the 90's Bat-toons.

Kevin Conroy, long regarded as the definitive voice of the Dark Knight, has passed away. Castmate Diane Pershing (Poison Ivy) confirmed the news this morning on her Facebook page, and after initial skepticism among fans, news has been confirmed by genre outlets, including Newsarama.

Prior to Batman, Conroy had appeared on a number of primetime shows, including a recurring gig on Tour of Duty, and a guest role on Matlock.

From season 1, as Batman battles the Scarecrow (Henry Polic II, ex-Webster, When Things Were Rotten), he overcomes the villain's fear toxin with a now-iconic line.

"I am vengeance! I am the night! I am Batman!":

Rest in peace, Kevin.

Saturtainment: Wacky & Packy in The Party Crushers (1975)

 Wacky & Packy (both voiced by Allan Melvin, All in The Family, who is also the announcer) crash high society in "The Party Crushers":

The Three Stooges did this way better in live action form years earlier.

Rating: C.

Thanksgiving Toons: Holiday For Drumsticks (1949)

 Daffy Duck on a farm? Yep.

A hillbilly farmer brings home a turkey, then throws it into the same pen where Daffy is. Chaos ensues.

Here's "Holiday For Drumsticks":

Daffy's attempt at altruism backfires, of course, but then again, it would begin to be a recurring theme for the next few years.

Rating: B--.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: Boogie Shoes (1978)

 I may be wrong about this, but "Boogie Shoes" might've been the last hit for KC & The Sunshine Band. KC himself would return with a duet with Teri DeSario ("Yes, I'm Ready") the next year, then try a solo career. This clip comes from American Bandstand.

Daytime Heroes: The Five Golden Pips (Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century, 1999)

 While Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century lasted just 1 season on Fox, the producers had the good sense to commission original scripts instead of relying strictly on adaptations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's works.

Case in point is "The Five Golden Pips". The only downside is that this is an excuse to have Professor Moriarty be further established as a recurring villain in the series, when in truth, he didn't appear in too many of the novels.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. Fox dropped the ball with Holmes, which could've continued for at least another 2 seasons.

Rating: A-.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: She's Gone (1974)

 From Soul Train:

Tavares soared all the way to #1 on the R & B chart with "She's Gone" in 1974. A year earlier, Hall & Oates, who had written & recorded the track in 1973, missed the top 40. However, after Hall & Oates left for RCA, Atlantic Records reissued their version of "She's Gone", and that's the version oldies channels here will play.

Check the smooth harmonies of Tavares on "She's Gone":

To tell ya the truth, pilgrims, I didn't even know about this version until tonight.

You Know The Voice: Dan Castelanetta (1992)

Meet the man behind Homer Simpson.

In a very unusual crossover, Dan Castelanetta not only performed the voice of America's most dimwitted father on LA Law, but he even ends up on the witness stand. The scene with the jury all wearing foam Homer heads is priceless.

While LA Law, a 20th Century Fox stablemate of The Simpsons at the time, is long off the air, Simpsons is still going strong 30 years after this classic.

Toonfomercial: Hop aboard the Chexpress (1980)

 In an effort to call attention to their signature brand of cereal, Ralston Purina hired on veteran artist Jack Davis, whose work appeared in TV Guide and Mad Magazine, as well as ads for Spalding, among other advertisers, to create this whimsical bit promoting the Chexpress. (Chex Express. Get it?)

From Out of The Recycling Bin: Acme Hour (1995)

 Back when Cartoon Network wasn't afraid to diversify its programming, the network put together an eclectic block of shorts under the label, Acme Hour, which ran for 8 years (1995-2003). This was where you'd get a generous mix of WB & MGM shorts, where the legends were mostly the creators, such as Hugh Harman, Bob Clampett, Tex Avery, and Rudolf Ising.

The shorts presented here are mostly from the golden era, some of which have previously been showcased here (i.e. "Yankee Doodle Daffy"). Front & backloaded with commercials to keep the copyright enforcement folks happy.

This sampler dates back to 2000.

As the carnival barker put it, "you pays your money, you takes your chances".

Rating: B-.

Spooktober: A Match Game Halloween (1990)

 Match Game had its only Halloween episode during the Ross Shafer era in 1990. Why Charles Nelson Reilly (ex-Lidsville, Uncle Croc's Block, Flintstone Comedy Show) opted to wear a homemade Superman costume over reprising as Frankenstein's monster (i.e. Frank Frankenstone), I don't know. Shafer's Dracula ensemble only heightened the fact he might've been separated at birth from Jon "Bowzer" Bauman......

Spooktober: Misfortune Hunters (Archie's Weird Mysteries, 1999)

 They say no good deed goes unpunished. When Betty gets some fortune cookies and performs good deeds, she runs afoul of a demon.

Here's "Misfortune Hunters":

Rating: B.

Sunday Funnies: The Boys From Termite Terrace (Camera Three, 1975)

 CBS' Camera Three, a Sunday public affairs program, took a close look at Warner Bros.' legendary Termite Terrace studio in this 1975 installment, loaded with vintage clips, and interviews with Chuck Jones, Mel Blanc, Bob Clampett, and others.

Seems to me this might've been a 2 parter, since Camera Three was normally a half hour program. Coincidentally, CBS had reacquired the rights to the Looney Tunes gang that same year. The video also includes a UNICEF PSA with Carroll O'Connor (All in The Family), who made his debut as a producer that year with Bronk, a promo for which is the last item on the video.

No fair rating. Camera Three did not air in the Albany market, so I never saw the show.

Toonformercial: Alice in Rexall-land (1966)

 Rexall was one of the sponsors of the 1966 animated adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, or, What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This?. To that end, some in-show ads were made, not just for Rexall, but also for the other sponsor, Coca-Cola.

Here, Alice (Janet Waldo) chases her dog through a magical TV screen, and finds the White Rabbit shilling for Rexall. Howard Morris voices the White Rabbit.

I think, if you listen close, Morris would rework his Rabbit voice for Dilton Doiley in the Archie cartoons (1968-78).

Animated World of DC Comics: The Marvel Family vs. Black Adam, round 2 (1981)

 In "A Little Something Extra", Black Adam poses as a newspaper delivery man to set a trap for the Marvels. It would be Adam's final appearance in animated form for several years.

"A Little Something Extra" was written by Paul Dini.

Rating: B.

Coming Attractions: The Simpsons go anime

 If you're a fan of the anime, Death Note, it might interest you to know that you're not alone.

You can count some creative personnel on The Simpsons among its fans.

What we're learning is that this year, the series' annual Treehouse of Horror will include a vignette inspired by and paying tribute to Death Note. The Korean animators hired for this segment gave the family a completely new look, as opposed to the golden yellow skin that is Matt Groening's trademark.

What we can tell you is that the regular cast will still be intact. A clip of this segment is already viral, with Yeardley Smith as Lisa.

Personally, I'd love to see a full episode in anime format. There's your next challenge.

Game Time: "Superman" meets Duncan Hines and a soap box derby champion (To Tell The Truth, 1957)

 I think most of us have used Duncan Hines products over the years. I know my late mother did, when it was made by Procter & Gamble.

Now, you have the opportunity to meet the man himself. Duncan Hines was an author and restaurant expert by the time he appeared on To Tell The Truth in September 1957. Pay close attention as moderator Bud Collyer simply scolds panelist Hy Gardner with just a simple look.

Also: 1957 soap box derby champion Terry Townsend.

Tooniversary: Jackson & The Beanstalk (1972)

 ABC renewed The Jackson 5ive in 1972, rechristening it as The New Jackson 5ive Show, even though only 6 new episodes were produced by England's Halas & Bachelor, which was also contracted for The Osmonds. Anyway, the boys are caught up in a parody of an oft-adapted children's story in "Jackson & The Beanstalk".

Actor Donald Fullilove, the speaking voice of Michael, was also heard on another freshman series, Kid Power. Marlon's speaking voice was performed by a member of another musical family, Edmund Sylvers (The Sylvers).

In memory of co-executive producer and director Jules Bass, who passed away earlier this week at 87. No rating out of respect.

Looney TV: Chester Cheetah meets Daffy Duck (1998)

 There was a time when Daffy Duck was being licensed for commercial endorsements more often than frenemy Bugs Bunny. One such instance was in 1998, when Frito-Lay hired Daffy to work with Chester Cheetah----as a stunt double. 

If anything, we'd already proven that Daffy was meant to be a second banana after all......

Spooktober: Monster in My Pocket: The Big Scream (1992)

 Monster in my Pocket started as a toy line, originally produced by Matchbox, but by the time The Big Scream, produced by Hanna-Barbera for the ABC Weekend Special, aired, Matchbox had turned over the rights to another company. A license had been granted to Harvey Comics in 1991 for 4 bi-monthly issues, but the publisher's internal issues killed any chance of it continuing.

Let's go to October 1992 for The Big Scream:

I'm thinking this was meant to be a back-door pilot for a spin-off series, but nothing came of it, same as the comic book before it.

No rating. Just a public service. 

Animated World of DC Comics: The Marvels vs. Black Adam (1981)

 Black Adam made his television debut in 1981 in this Shazam! cartoon from The Kid Super Power Hour.

41 years later, DC has rebooted Adam, as he is no longer an Egyptian, opting to create the fictional country of Khandaq, as seen in the new movie. In addition, had this cartoon been made in more recent times, Adam wouldn't be that gullible at the end, either.

Rating: A-.

Space Cadets: There's No Place Like Outer Space (The Archie-Sabrina Hour, 1977)

 Archie and the gang get a tour of a space station, and bumble into a mission simulator. John Erwin (Reggie) doubles as the tour guide (using his Dick Tracy voice, later recycled for He-Man), and is also heard as the computer, Q. Good thing Dilton (Howard Morris) went on this trip....

What killed this for me is Reggie immediately suspecting Sabrina as she walked through the moon simulation, while the others tested the zero gravity. Give it a rest!

Rating: B-.

Saturday School: Cry, The Beloved Mascot (Fillmore!, 2002)

 Fillmore (Orlando Brown, That's So Raven) has to have his parents postpone family dinner night to solve a case when the school mascot disappears, and Principal Folsom (Wendie Mallick, Just Shoot Me) sends for him. Holly Robinson Peete is heard as Fillmore's mom, and Jeff Probst (Survivor) low-keys it as the assistant principal in "Cry, The Beloved Mascot":

It's fitting we're using this episode, as a number of schools around the country, including here in the 518, are holding spirit weeks this month. At my alma mater, its Homecoming week, but nothing cheesy like the festivities at X Middle School.

Series creator Scott Gimple might not be in a hurry to revisit this series, but, then, there's his current franchise, the adaptation of the Image comics series, The Walking Dead.

Rating: B.

Saturday Morning's Forgotten Heroes: The Arabian Knights vs. The Desert Raiders (1968)

 It's been a while since we checked on the Arabian Knights.

Van-Gorr (Paul Frees) fancies himself as the leader of "The Desert Raiders", pillaging villages to enrich Bakkar (John Stephenson). The Knights, however, have other ideas.

Rating: B.

Toon Legends: Pink in The Drink (1978)

 The Pink Panther is lured onto what he thinks is a pleasure cruise, but it's a scam.

And, oh, is the duplicitous captain going to regret it!

Rating: B.

Toonfomercial: Snagglepuss becomes a chocolate King Midas (1961)

 This Cocoa Krispies ad is a parody of the story of King Midas, except that Snagglepuss (Daws Butler) has a chocolate touch. June Foray is also heard in one of her first jobs for Hanna-Barbera. Some YouTube commentators thought it was either Janet Waldo or Jean VanderPyl.

The first couple of seconds were edited off, but if we can find a complete copy, we'll sub it in.

Saturtainment: The Mighty Termite (1961)

 Here's a Paramount Modern Madcap that, according to the YouTube poster, was later used on The New Casper Cartoon Show.

A scientist (Jack Mercer) wants to study the habits of a termite, but the subject is very resistant. Here's "The Mighty Termite":

Rating: B.

You Know The Voices: Pat Harrington & Micky Dolenz (1973)

 From season 3 of Owen Marshall, Counselor-at-Law:

Singer John Denver makes his acting debut, as a son wrongfully accused of killing his terminally-ill mother (Teresa Wright). 

Pat Harrington appears around the 20 minute mark as a prosecutor going over the case with Marshall (Arthur Hill) and his assistant, Danny (Reni Santoni). Micky Dolenz (ex-The Monkees, Funky Phantom) turns up at the 35 minute mark as a record producer who testifies at trial. Look quick, too, for Kristina Holland (ex-Funky Phantom, Courtship of Eddie's Father).

Also co-starring Mike Farrell (ex-The Interns), two years before joining the cast of M*A*S*H.

Toonfomercial: When a raisin interviews the sun (1981)

 Here's an odd one. Kellogg's decided to give a sentient raisin (likely Paul Winchell) a reporter's cap and a microphone to interview the Sun.

Silly.

Toons After Dark: Mr. Magoo meets Dick Tracy (1964)

 From The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo:

Dick Tracy made his final appearance for UPA in this crossover episode, produced three years after Dick's syndicated series had ended production. 

The plot: Magoo (Jim Backus, Gilligan's Island) is recruited by Tracy to pose as a lookalike mobster, Squinty Eyes, in order to infiltrate the mob, led in this case by Pruneface (Marvin Miller). Now, I'm not sure if Oodles (Howard Morris) was an actual Chester Gould creation, or was made for TV. It'd have to be the latter to explain his appearance here.

Marvin Miller also voices Chief Pat Patton, who makes his TV debut.

Magoo needed to be humbled at the end, to keep his ego in check. It would be seven years before Tracy and some of his foes, like Flattop, Mumbles, The Brow, and The Mole, would return.

Rating: A-.

Spooktober: A complete episode of Groovie Goolies (1970-1)

 The content of this Groovie Goolies episode includes:

The Rolling Headstones performing "Chick-a-Boom", which was posted separately years ago.

Wolfie (Howard Morris) getting more than he bargained for when the mailbox sends him the beach.

A Goolies number serves as a backdrop for Ratso & Batso hassling Hauntleroy with a robot girl bent on kissing him.

Frankie (Morris) visits Drs. Jekyll & Hyde (a 2 headed doctor).

Weird Window Time, featuring Sabrina (Jane Webb). The segment is derived from the Joke Wall segment on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.

As you can probably tell, Larry Storch recycled his Phineas J. Whoopee voice from Tennessee Tuxedo for Drac.

Rating: B.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)

 We lost the real-life "Coal Miner's Daughter", Loretta Lynn, a week ago. In 1980, her memoir of the same name was adapted into a movie, which netted an Oscar for star Sissy Spacek, whose rendition of "Daughter" landed her and The Band's Levon Helm on The Midnight Special.....

Helm would move up to the front for two additional tracks in this episode, with Sissy picking up a guitar. We'll play those another day.

A lesson in bike safety with the Cisco Kid (1955)

 It's almost like walking through a time warp.

Duncan Renaldo & Leo Carrillo, the stars of The Cisco Kid, appear in costume for this short spot promoting bike safety.

It makes one wonder if there was a longer version of this ad, and there probably was.

Toon Legends: Heckle & Jeckle in Thousand Smile Check-Up (1960)

 Here's a made for TV Heckle & Jeckle short that got quite a bit of play in syndication in the 70's & 80's when the boys appeared on cable. They're out in the desert as owners of a service station, but a competitor wants to drive them out of business.

Here's "Thousand Smile Check-Up":

I've heard of putting a tiger in your tank, but a bulldog?

Rating: A-.

From Comics to Toons: Me & My Shadow (The Archie-Sabrina Hour, 1977)

 In the original Archie Show, we were introduced to one doppleganger of Jughead (Howard Morris). In "Me & My Shadow", we meet Jug's lookalike cousin, Ace (Morris), a prankster framing his cousin for his stunts all over the city.

Seems like this episode gave Morris license to channel his most famous character, Ernest T. Bass (The Andy Griffith Show), through Ace. He even created a voice that was a hybrid of Jug & Bass.

Rating: B.

Spooktober: Shopworn Wolf (Teen Wolf, 1986)

 From season 1 of Teen Wolf:

Scott (Townsend Coleman) wants a guitar, and rocks out when testing it. Stiles, his best friend (Don Most, ex-Happy Days, Fonz & The Happy Days Gang, Dungeons & Dragons) turns the hardware store into a hangout while Scott's father (James Hampton, ex-F-Troop, The Doris Day Show) is away. Yeeks!

No rating. Just a public service. 

Tooniversary: Todd McFarlane's Spawn (1997)

 Spawn is one of two Image comics series that has remained in publication over the course of its 30 years of existence (Savage Dragon is the other). 25 years ago, series creator Todd McFarlane, one of Image's founders, struck a deal with HBO and the Japanese animation studio Madhouse to adapt the series for television.

Todd McFarlane's Spawn lasted just three seasons of six episodes each. Keith David, fresh from Gargoyles, voiced the title character, a demonic mutation of ex-soldier Al Simmons, who had been betrayed and killed five years before his resurrection.

Due to language and adult situations, two things very common with HBO, we can't show any video footage. What we can tell you, though, is that during the 1st season, NHL player Tony Twist filed suit due to one of the villains on the show (and comic book), a mob boss, was his namesake. Twist won the case, and the gangster was written off. A follow-up series was in development 13 years ago, but never really got off the ground.

Spawn has become a cottage industry for Image, with a number of spin-off series currently running.

No rating.

Sunday Funnies: WPIX's Sunday brunch with Abbott & Costello (1971)

 When cable television arrived in the 518 around 1973-4, WPIX's Sunday Morning Movie became a regular viewing destination at home with the folks.

Beginning in 1971, WPIX used the Sunday Morning Movie as a means of showcasing the collection of Abbott & Costello feature films. We've noted in the past how WPIX would lead into the movie with reruns of The Abbott & Costello Show or F-Troop on an alternating basis. At one point, the lead-in spot was filled with the Three Stooges after 'PIX reacquired rights to those classic shorts in the 80's.

It didn't matter how often we watched the same movies (i.e. "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein"). It was a means to kill time until football in the fall or baseball in the spring & summer.

I don't even know if the tradition continues today, but it would be a good thing if it did.

From Comics to Toons: A flying saucer over Riverdale? (Archie's TV Funnies, 1971)

 Sightings of a flying saucer send Reggie & Moose in search of a story. Problem is, it's not what it looks like.

Also in this installment of Archie's TV Funnies:

Broom-Hilda falls for a wrestler, but then has to feud with another witch. Sound familiar?

Hans & Fritz free a gorilla that the Captain & the Inspector intend to sell to the zoo on Captain & The Kids.

Dick Tracy battles Flattop (this was previusly reviewed separately years ago).

The Dropouts go fishing.

Plus, quick, short skits with Moon Mullins, Nancy, & Smokey Stover. Emmy Lou has the day off.

​

Rating: B+.

Spooktober: Jeepers Creepers (1939)

 Porky Pig (Mel Blanc) is a cop on the beat, sent to a reputedly haunted house. Oh, there is a ghost (Pinto Colvig), but this wouldn't be the last time Porky would set foot in a haunted house. Here's "Jeepers Creepers":

Edit, 10/30/24: The video was deleted due to a copyright claim from WBD. In its place is a colorized version copyrighted by WB in 1990.

I'm not sure if this has been playing anywhere in recent years, since the ghost ends up covered in black smoke, leading to a mimic of Eddie "Rochester" Anderson at the end. Anderson, of course, would join Mel for "The Mouse That Jack Built" a few years later with the rest of the cast from The Jack Benny Program.

I recall seeing this back in the 70's. Silly.

Rating: B-.

Coming Attractions (continued): Mindy Kaling's take on Velma gets a supporting cast-----------and Velma gets repackaged in a new movie

 It has been whispered for years in fandom, and now, Warner Bros Discovery has acknowledged, per the new Scooby-Doo DTV DVD, "Trick or Treat, Scooby-Doo", that Velma Dinkley is, in fact, gay.

Seems the plot involves Velma crushing on a female crime boss. "Trick or Treat", already out on digital DVD, drops on HBO Max on October 15.

From what we understand, noted director James Gunn, who had a hand in scripting the two live-action theatrical "Scooby-Doo" movies 20 years ago, wanted Velma to be presented as gay in those films, but Warners was a little reluctant at the time, image & merchandising being a big reason.

Meanwhile, Mindy Kaling's forthcoming Velma is filling out its cast. As we've previously reported, Shaggy is being flipped to African-American (voiced by Sam Richardson). Constance Wu (ex-Fresh Off The Boat) has been cast as Daphne, and Glenn Howerton will play Fred. Kaling has assembled a roster of guest stars including Wanda Sykes, Jane Lynch, "Weird" Al Yankovic, Stephen Root, Gary Cole, and NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns. Frank Welker, long the voice of Fred, will play a different role in the new series, which will drop on HBO Max sometime in 2023. To tie you over, WB Animation has released a teaser video, which premiered today at the NY Comic Con.

Mindy has the voice down, and, as you can see, with Velma being rebooted as having roots in India, she now has darker skin, which won't sit well in certain parts of this country. As for the news of Velma being rebooted as gay, there are certain corners of fandom that won't dig that, either, but then again, 25 years ago, Ellen DeGeneres came out, merited the cover of Time, and became a bigger star. Surprisingly, according to at least one headline I've seen, the usual right wing suspects are suspiciously silent----for now.

We'll see how this all plays out over the next few months. Velma will have 10 episodes in season 1, but beyond that is anyone's guess.

Toonfomercial: Garfield shills for Alpo cat food (1990)

 While Garfield's creator, Jim Davis, landed an American Express commercial, Garfield starred in a series of commercials for Alpo when the pet food company began producing cat food in 1990.

Don't know who the actor is who appears to be playing Jon, Garfield's owner. It is, of course, Lorenzo Music as Garfield.

Reportedly, Music missed a subsequent taping, resulting in singer-comedian Tom Smothers filling in for at least one ad.

Saturtainment: A complete episode of The Kwicky Koala Show (1981)

 Well, this one's a treat.

Episodes of Kwicky Koala are now available on YouTube, or at least until Warner Bros Discovery sends their copyright enforcement unit out to have them removed. You know how it works.

Anyway, the Bungle Brothers (Michael Bell & Allan Melvin) are a would-be post-modern vaudeville act. The three vignettes here have them trying out various circus acts. Loosely based, we think, on Tex Avery's George & Junior.

Kwicky in "Robinson Caruso". Kwicky (Bob Ogle impersonating Bill Thompson) is on a deserted island where Wilford Wolf (John Stephenson) has been marooned. A treasure is involved.

Crazy Claws in "The Claws Conspiracy": Crazy (Jim MacGeorge doing a slight mimic of Groucho Marx) creates trouble for Rawhide Clyde (Don Messick) as usual.

Dirty Dawg in "Dirty's Debut": Dirty (Frank Welker mimicking Howard Cosell) tries entering Ratso (Peter Cullen) in a dog show, thinking no one would know the difference. One of the first instances of the two actors working together, forging a partnership still going strong more than 40 years later.

What doomed the show was its early time slot, airing at 8 am on the east coast as a lead-in for Trollkins. If CBS had slotted The Bugs Bunny-Road Runner Show at 8 (it was 90 minutes by this point), and plugged in Kwicky & Trollkins from 9:30-10:30, maybe they survive the season.

Rating: B.

You Know The Voice: Gilbert Gottfried (1989)

 In the late 80's, Gilbert Gottfried had a recurring gig as a faux executive at MTV. He was working a similar schtick doing ads for Oh Henry candy bars, at the time made by Nestle. This video has three short ads.

After Ferriero acquired the rights to Nestle's candy line, which also included Crunch and 100 Grand, three years ago, they retired Oh Henry in the US. It's still being produced in Canada-----by Hershey.

To think that around the same time these ads aired, Gottfried also was shilling for Banquet's microwave chicken nuggets, and was a little more normal in that he didn't do his usual schtick.

Spooktober: The Ghost Busters meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1975)

 Robert Louis Stevenson always meant to have Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde as two distinct personalities sharing the same body. Ghost Busters creator/head writer/associate producer Marc Richards felt the need to turn this novel on its side by having Hyde (Joe E. Ross, fresh from Hong Kong Phooey) co-exist with Jekyll (Severn Darden) by having the two appear simultaneously.

Anyone that ever read Stevenson's tale knew better. Ross dug up his caveman gear from It's About Time, almost a decade earlier, which also was the wrong look for Hyde. Ugh.

Rating: C-.

Tooniversary: Archie becomes honorary chief of police (The Archie-Sabrina Hour, 1977)

 When Entertainment Rights had the distribution rights to the Archie line of animated series, they chopped up The Archie-Sabrina Hour into half-hour increments under the revised title, The Archie-Sabrina Surprise Package.

In the opener, Reggie loses his post as honorary police chief to Archie. Making matters worse for Reggie, he brings in a friend from rival Crosstown High, and soon regrets it.

This story revisits elements from 1968's "Disappearing Act".

You'd think Reggie would be smarter than this. His false accusations of Sabrina, a carry-over from the past, rang hollow, as usual.

Rating: B.

Spooktober: Earth, Wind, Fire, & Air (1999)

 We all know that the four elements are Earth, Wind, Fire, & Water, the latter substituted with Air for a Hex Girls track that closes "Scooby-Doo & The Witch's Ghost" from 1999.

Actresses Jennifer Hale and Kimberly Brooks join with Jane Weidlin of the Go-Go's to form the trio, and, 23 years later, fans are still waiting for a Hex Girls CD or spin-off movie.

In case you wonder, Thorn (Hale) is the lead singer and guitarist. Luna (Brooks, South Park) is the bassist and back-up singer. Dusk (Weidlin) is the drummer. Methinks any of those three could cure Shaggy's fear of the supernatural, if you know what I mean.

From Out of The Recycling Bin: An episode of Motormouse & Autocat (1970)

 As we've previously discussed many moons ago, Motormouse & Autocat were spun off from Cattanooga Cats into their own all-rerun series in 1970. All that was new was the opening sequence, repeated as the closing credits played. The Cats appear in a trio of bumpers also held over from the previous season.

We had the It's The Wolf episode, "Winter Blunder-Land", by itself, but it was deleted from YouTube years ago. This comes complete with commercials for Shasta (a toonfomercial narrated by Tom Bosley that I think is available on its own) and Wyler's (back when it was a subsidiary of Borden).

Rating: B.

Ronald McDonald dreams of breakfast, and becomes a cartoon (1984)

 Ronald McDonald dreams of a breakfast in the clouds with Birdie, the Early Bird (Russi Taylor), and suddenly, the characters are animated.......

I'm not sure about this, but this might've led to the animated Adventures of Ronald McDonald video series.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: Love Train (1972)

 Perhaps the biggest hit of The O'Jays' career, "Love Train" was a huge radio hit in 1972-3, which landed them on Soul Train:

From Comics to Toons: The Brow's bad day (The Dick Tracy Show, 1961)

 You have to feel sorry for Dick Tracy's foe, The Brow. We saw him yesterday on Archie's TV Funnies, where he was treated like the menace he was meant to be. 10 years earlier, he and other villains were treated like saps by UPA for Dick's made-for-TV aides.

This video has three Brow & Oodles shorts, in which the villains bumble their way to jail.

"Lighthouse Creepers": Go Go Gomez (Paul Frees) is up first against Brow & Oodles, and, wellllll.......

"The Vile Inn": Next, it's Joe Jitsu (Benny Rubin) shutting down Brow's operations at a cheap motel.

"Banana Peel Deal": Finally, Hemlock Holmes (Jerry Hausner) goes after another of Brow's smuggling operations.

Rating: C.

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

 The theme of this episode of Archie's TV Funnies centers on Reggie (John Erwin) and Moose covering the Riverdale Air Circus, with disastrous results.

Also on deck:

Broom Hilda tries to placate Irwin and Gaylord by making it rain. Due to the use of Noah's Ark at the end, I don't think this would play today in certain parts of the country.

In The Captain & The Kids, the boys are falsely accused of untying the Captain's canoe, when it's clear they had nothing to do with it.

Dick Tracy battles The Brow.

Emmy Lou consoles a friend who thought she found Mr. Right, but is disappointed.

A quick Dropouts skit involving a giraffe, and gags with Smokey Stover & Nancy. Moon Mullins got the week off.

I honestly think Filmation could have spun Dick Tracy off into his own series, but passed.

Rating: B-.

McDonald's Professor "invents" a dinner gong (1976)

 Ronald McDonald (King Moody) helps the Professor with a new "invention'----a dinner gong. Howard Morris voices the Professor & Mayor McCheese, and likely directed the ad, too.

Silly stuff, but entertaining for the kiddo's.

Toonfomercial: A husband schools his wife on 'Lectric Shave (1973)

 Here's another animated spot for 'Lectric Shave. Allen Swift voices the husband, but we're not sure about the wife. Might be Joan Gerber or Norma McMillan. Designs by Jack Davis.

Toonfomercial: Remember Chef's Blend cat food? (1981)

 Before Carnation was bought out by Nestle, they expanded their Friskies line of cat foods with Little Friskies' Chef's Blend. The product was introduced in 1979, and it's not only a medley of flavors in the product itself, but some musical commercials, too.

In this 1981 entry, the Chef himself (speaking voice appears to be Barry Gordon) extols the virtues of the product.

Rare Treats: Behind the scenes of a McDonaldland commercial (1973)

 If you've ever wondered what goes into making a commercial, McDonald's offers a primer with this behind the scenes look at a 1973 ad featuring Ronald McDonald (King Moody, ex-Get Smart), Captain Crook, and the Hamburglar. Howard Morris not only was the voice of Mayor McCheese, recycling his Mummy voice from Groovie Goolies, but he also directed this particular spot and a few more!

Tooniversary: Give & Tyke (1957)

 Spike & Tyke were spun off from the Tom & Jerry shorts, but were only given two of their own before MGM shut their animation studio later in 1957.

In "Give & Tyke", a neighborhood stray (Daws Butler impersonating Art Carney) steals Spike's collar & license ID. Chaos follows.

Edit, 1/20/24: Had to change the video. This copy has the insinuation that it was reissued by Sunset Productions, which did some WB reissues. It's not. The poster did this to evade the copyright patrol.

Conflicting sources listed Bill Thompson as the original voice of Spike, while others said it was under-appreciated, under-credited Billy Bletcher. Either way, Butler took over in "Scat Cats".

Rating: B.

Toons After Dark: Toon Heads: The Lost Cartoons (2000)

 Here's another Toon Heads special, this one focusing on "The Lost Cartoons".

What the "Lost Cartoons" entails are rare shorts, some of which, such as "Any Bonds Today", "So Much For So Little", and Private Snafu, were previously reviewed, plus some rarities.

I think we can see why Bosko didn't have staying power. Hugh Harman & Rudolf Ising moved on to MGM after leaving WB, if memory serves correctly. We previously featured Ralph Phillips in "From A to Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z", but it was deleted off YouTube and Dailymotion.

Rating for the episode: A-.

Daytime Heroes: Barnyard Commandos (1990)

 Based on a 1989 toy line from Playmates, Barnyard Commandos was adapted into a short-lived animated series which got 13 weeks in 1990, produced by Murakami-Wolf-Swenson (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). You have two teams of animal armies who engage in playful war games, but sometimes, things do get serious. 

The voice talent included Robert Ridgely, Len Weinrib, and relatively new to toons Thom Bray (ex-Riptide).

Following is the series opener:

I think that might be Weinrib attempting a mimic of Robin Leach as the narrator.

There's a reason the toy line faded into obscurity until plans surfaced for a revival 2 years ago.

No rating.

What if the Smurfs were bugs?: Glo Friends (1986)

 The Glo Friends is the last component of My Little Pony & Friends to be discussed here. The series launched nine months after a Christmas special introduced viewers to a community of glow-in-the-dark insects. The personalities of some of these characters mirrored those of the Smurfs, well established at NBC. Some of the same voice actors worked on both shows, including Don Messick, Russi Taylor, and Frank Welker.

26 weekly installments of 15 minutes each were produced. That's all. The Christmas special, which we figure we'll have up in time for the holidays, featured a All in The Family mini-reunion with guests Carroll O'Connor and Sally Struthers.

For now, here's the intro.

I think part of the reason this was cancelled was because it was not only derivative of other Marvel-Hasbro entries such as MoonDreamers and Transformers, but I don't think I'm the only one who saw the comparisons to the Smurfs.

No rating.

Saturday School: Fat Albert in Sign Off (1973)

 From season 2 of Fat Albert & The Cosby Kids:

In some circles, graffiti is a form of artistic expression. Unless you happen to be Cool Roy, who tags any place, any time, including Fat Albert's apartment building. Judging from the spelling errors on his outdoor tags mocking Albert & Rudy, I'd say he's also got a bit of a learning disability......

Today, my neighborhood has a ton of graffiti lining the walls of various businesses, some vacant, but the message is incomprehensible, as they're trying to make art, but don't know what message to convey. It could be worse, of course.

Rating: A-.

Daytime Heroes: MoonDreamers (1986)

 MoonDreamers was part of a rotation of back-up features as part of the My Little Pony & Friends syndicated anthology package, based on the toys of the same name. One other series, Potato Head Kids, has previously been reviewed, and we'll look at Glo Friends another day.

The format was to have Pony take up the 1st half of the show, with the back-ups in the 2nd half. This is why the series opener is a 2-parter. Overall, the concept was another variation on the good vs. evil conflict seen on Transformers and other action series geared for teens. MoonDreamers was set for pre-teens and younger.

No rating. I was at work when this show aired, and thus never saw it. It's for the little ones, after all.

Tooniversary: Pop Goes The Mynah (The Brady Kids, 1972)

Marlon (Larry Storch) is trapped in a soda can. Don't ask. The Brady Kids have to deal with a couple of crooks to get him home in "Pop Goes The Mynah":

Just fast forward past the cheesy theme song, and enjoy.

Rating: B-.

Toonfomercial: A primer on 'Lectric Shave (1975)

 The J. B. Williams Company was known as the makers of Geritol, Aqua Velva, Sominex, Nytol, and 'Lectric Shave, until each of the products were sold to other companies.

In 1975, Williams' ad agency commissioned artist Jack Davis (Mad Magazine) to design the characters in this next ad. Allen Swift (ex-Howdy Doody) voices the man on the right of your screen.

You Know The Voice(s): It's easier to pick who didn't work in cartoons on Match Game (1974)

 2/3 of the panel in this July 1974 episode of Match Game had or later would land some voice-over gigs. To wit:

Mitzi McCall voiced Penny Pillar on Pebbles & Bamm-Bamm and The Flintstone Comedy Hour (1972-4).

Don Adams (ex-Tennessee Tuxedo, later Inspector Gadget).

Richard Dawson made his toon debut in Oliver & The Artful Dodger (1972).

Charles Nelson Reilly (ex-Lidsville, Ghost & Mrs. Muir) made his toon debut in The City That Forgot About Christmas.

Coming Attractions: Bloom County returns to television

 Bloom County creator Berkeley Breathed was said to have been disappointed with the final product of 1991's A Wish For Wings That Work, an adaptation of a book he'd written, featuring characters from the strip.

31 years later, Opus, Bill The Cat, and the rest are getting ready to make a comeback.

Fox has picked up a license to do a new Bloom County series, as the strip itself was revived online by Breathed 7 years ago. Emmy winning writer Tim Long (The Simpsons) will be a showrunner, and work with Breathed. Plans, it seems, call for the new Bloom County to launch in 2023 or '24.

Now, I wonder if they've released the current series in any other media.......