The series premiere of Pro-Stars (1991)

 DIC had 3 series built around celebrities in 1991. Hammerman was a notorious bomb for ABC. Over on NBC, you had Macaulay Culkin starring in Wishkid, and then, there was Pro-Stars.

While Bo Jackson, Wayne Gretzky, & Michael Jordan were the featured stars, and Jackson & Gretzky are interviewed in bumper segments, like a reality show, other actors, such as Dorian Harewood and Townsend Coleman, spoke for their animated counterparts, who were gimmicked with trick shoes, or, in Gretzky's case, skates, though it looks like he uses roller blades for some missions.

In the opener, "The Slugger Returns", the guys are called on to rescue a retired baseball player, and reunite him with his son. Marv Albert, at the time the lead voice of NBA basketball and NFL on NBC, is heard in a cameo.

Part of the reason this bombed was because viewers knew early on that this was a lame duck, once NBC made it known they were overhauling the lineup the next season.

No rating. Appropriate fare for opening weekend of Major League Baseball.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: Mara-mara-marathon (1978)

 Some Metric Marvels shorts have made their way to YouTube. For how long, we don't know.

Anyway, "Mara-mara-marathon" is not only the title of a song, but the 2nd of two Meter Man shorts. Meter Man (Bob Kaliban) starts off in a 2-man marathon, but pauses to teach his rival, who doesn't speak, and the audience about the difference between miles & kilometers. The other Bob, the late Bob Dorough, does the singing, I do believe.

Coming Attractions: My Adventures With Superman finds a home, as [adult swim] expands

 On May 1, [adult swim] will expand its block further into primetime, as it will now start at 7 pm (ET), where it currently runs from 8 pm-6 am 7 days a week.

As part of the announcement, two series are being added to the [as] library, likely ticketed for the 7-8 pm (ET) hour.

The previously announced My Adventures With Superman, starring 2nd generation actor Jack Quaid, is one. 

Now, it might seem weird that My Adventures With Superman would be an unlikely candidate for [as], but considering that Warner Bros. Discovery frontman David Zaslav doesn't want it on HBO Max for some reason (proving again that Zaslav is an idiot), but the more [as] expands, the wider audience becomes more available with an established brand. 

The other new entry is the latest from Genndy Tartatovsky (Primal, Dexter's Laboratory). Unicorns: Warriors Eternal appears set to launch on May 1 as well, and we can assume Superman will, too. Given Tartatovsky's track record at [adult swim] and Cartoon Network, they are banking on Unicorns being another big hit.

Ideally, you'd want Unicorns to go on first at 7 pm, followed by Superman, especially on Tuesdays, so that My Adventures With Superman would lead right into CW's Superman & Lois. We will see just how this will play out, though.

Stay tooned.

Tooniversary: Jana of The Jungle and the Cordillera Volcano (1978)

 Let's take a trip into the jungles of South America with Jana of The Jungle as she tries to rescue some miners from "The Cordillera Volcano":

Rating: B.

Toon Sports: Abner The Baseball (1961)

 Back in the day, your average animated short clocked in anywhere between 5 & 8 minutes.

In 1961, Paramount tried a two-reel animated entry, which was released well after baseball season had ended. Abner The Baseball was released in November of '61, with Eddie Lawrence in the title role, as Abner tells his story.

Yes, Abner made his television debut on The New Casper Cartoon Show at least two years after this film was released. With baseball's regular season starting later this week, I'd think this would be appropriate fare.

Rating: B.

Saturday Morning's Forgotten Heroes: Space Ghost vs. Brago (1966)

 Space Ghost (Gary Owens) is summoned by a family in need of help from a galactic raider. Paul Frees is heard as "Brago".

Edit, 7/26/24: The video has been deleted. In its place is a title card:

Rating: A.

You Know The Voice: Keye Luke (1973)

 From season 2 of the original Kung Fu:

As Caine (David Carradine) prepares to face off with members of a Chinese Tong, a flashback shows blind Master Po (Keye Luke) fending off a bandit as a young Caine (Radames Pera) observes. It's just too bad we don't have the complete episode due to WB enforcing copyrights, but that's why they invented DVD's. Keye appears at the 1:09 mark.

Tooniversary: The series premiere of The Fabulous Funnies (1978)

 The Fabulous Funnies turns 45 this year. Out of all the features in the series, Tom K. Ryan's Tumbleweeds only appeared in the opener, and was never seen again after Filmation reached an agreement with Ryan after a misunderstanding led them to assume that Ryan had signed off on using his cowboy character.

The umbrella title for this episode is "Animal Crack-Ups", and leads off with Alley Oop (Bob Holt) forced to give away his trusty dino-steed, Dinny, to the King because of a newly created tax the King has imposed. The lone Tumbleweeds entry, "Bean Stew", only goes a couple of minutes. Alan Oppenheimer plays 'Weeds with a modest Jimmy Stewart mimic, forgetting that Stewart shed his stuttering when on camera in his movies.

Rating: B.

Saturday Morning's Forgotten Heroes: Manta & Moray in Sea of Madness (1978)

 Time to dive back into a component of Tarzan & The Super 7:

Manta & Moray are usually at home in the water, but what happens when they encounter a "Sea of Madness"?

In memory of writer J. Michael Reaves, who passed away earlier this week at 72. No rating out of respect.

Toonfomercial: A warning about drugs (1970)

 I don't think Hans Christian Andersen ever intended for The Emperor's New Clothes to be used as an analogy involving drug use, but here it is, in this 1970 PSA, which looks like Filmation was commissoned to produce. The music sounds familiar, and the voices include Howard Morris and Jane Webb.

I have known people who've used drugs dating back to my youth, and I've never understood the appeal, even now, when marijuana has been legalized mostly for medicinal use.

Toonfomercial: Fred Flintstone & Barney Rubble for One-a-Day (1962)

 During The Flintstones' ABC run (1960-6) Hanna-Barbera forged a business partnership with Miles Laboratories that continues today, even though it's now Warner Bros. Discovery and Bayer.

During season 3, H-B produced some ads for One-a-Day vitamins that were included in the show. Here, Fred (Alan Reed) & Barney (Mel Blanc) are heading home from work, avoid an accident, and all the while, Fred is touting One-a-Day. The fact that Barney tries to steal the vitamins would predate those Pebbles cereal commercials that would begin a few years later.

From Primetime to Daytime: Bewitched adapts Jack & The Beanstalk (1969)

 By season 6 of Bewitched, Dick York left the series due to health concerns, and Dick Sargent (ex-Broadside, The Tammy Grimes Show) stepped in to take his place as Darrin.

In the season opener, Tabitha (Erin Murphy) runs away into the pages of Jack & The Beanstalk, effectively trading places with Jack himself (guest star Johnnie Whitaker, Family Affair). NFL star David "Deacon" Jones also appears, but not as the giant.

Edit, 9/4/23: The episode has been deleted as the Museum of Classic Television was tagged for a copyright claim. In its place is a short excerpt.

Tooniversary: Three Musketeers in Challenge For The Crown (1968)

 They say when the cat's away, the mice will play.

When the King of France is away, there's bound to be someone seeking to usurp the crown out of sheer jealousy and greed. Such is the case in this Three Musketeers entry, "Challenge For The Crown". While the King is away, a baron seeks the crown.......

Rating: A-.

Rare Treats: Adam West on the Floppy Show (1977)

 The New Adventures of Batman, a winter replacement for CBS in 1977, was in perpetual repeat by November of that year. Adam West made an appearance as Batman on the popular Des Moines children's show, The Floppy Show, as a guest of host Duane Ellett, airing on November 5. One of the youngsters who was in the studio audience that day would later post this clip to YouTube.

Ellett wanted to be a lawyer, but got into broadcasting instead, and was a self-taught ventriloquist. He passed away 10 years after this show aired.

Toonfomercial: The Flintstones try a slogan for vitamins (1974)

 Here's another ad for Flintstones vitamins (italics mine). Fred (Alan Reed), Wilma (Jean VanderPyl), and Barney (Mel Blanc) appear to have come up with a slogan ("That's why we're here!") for these bits. William Schallert (ex-The Patty Duke Show, Dobie Gillis) is the narrator.

As we have stressed, Miles Laboratories was bought out by Bayer a ways back, but they've stopped making commercials. Hmmmmmmm.

Toonfomercial: Garfield meets Buzz Bee (1993)

 Buzz Bee, of course, is the mascot for General Mills' Honey Nut Cheerios. In this 1993 spot, Buzz introduces the product to Garfield (Lorenzo Music). By this point, Billy West had assumed the role of Buzz.

You Know The Voice: Casey Kasem (1985)

 Casey Kasem and the producers of America's Top 10 developed a companion series for AT10, but because it didn't have a lot to do with music, America's Choice flopped.

There is very little information about this 1 season entry, and, to be truthful, until I'd seen the following sampler, I didn't even know this show existed. Thankfully, Casey had racked up enough pop culture points to survive this failure, though not long after, Nick at Nite brought him in to do some New Year's Eve specials for a few years.

Let's take a look at this sampler. Topic: A celebrity countdown that includes Linda Evans (Dynasty, ex-The Big Valley):

Remember Jim & Judy in Teleland? (1949)

 Some years ago, legendary animator Chuck Jones decried animation for television as "illustrated radio". I can only imagine if there was any indignation over one of the first syndicated cartoons, going all the way back to 1949.

Jim & Judy in Teleland, created & produced by Paul Peroff, was a series of 5 minute shorts, the kind that would be inserted into larger packages with theatrical shorts such as Bugs Bunny, Popeye, Woody Woodpecker, et al. Peroff produced 52 episodes total over one season, but after the series ended, deals were made to syndicate the series in Venezuela, and, then, back in the US, in the Deadwood, South Dakota market, both in 1954, and then to Japan 2 years later. 3 years after that, it was reissued and reedited as Bob & Betty in Adventureland, though Lord only knows why.

I believe Peroff is the narrator, but I'm not sure if he's doing all the voices. Let's check this sampler.

The limited lip movement predates Cambria Studios' infamous Synchro-Vox technology by a few years. Today, you'd be hard pressed to find this even among cartoon collectors.

No rating.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: I Heard it Through The Grapevine (1972)

 "I Heard it Through The Grapevine" is one of the most iconic songs of the late 60's and early 70's. Three distinct versions have stood out, and you can't go wrong with any of them, whether it's the original by Marvin Gaye or covers by Creedence Clearwater Revival or this up-tempo version from Gladys Knight & The Pips, which landed them on Soul Train.

Coming Attractions: Fox's Flintstones reboot gets a title and a pilot order

 Yeah, it's happening.

Two years after the project was first announced by Fox suits, the network has green-lit a pilot for a sequel to The Flintstones. Yes, I said sequel, because the new show is set 20 years after the original series ended.

Actress-filmmaker-game show host Elizabeth Banks (Press Your Luck), hot off the success of her film, "Cocaine Bear", serves as executive producer for Bedrock, which brings Pebbles & Bamm-Bamm back to being adults, as they were when Hanna-Barbera did all those primetime specials for ABC in the 80's, culminating in the couple getting married and starting a family. Banks will also voice the adult Pebbles, while Manny Jacinto (ex-The Good Place), a relative newcomer to toons, will play Bamm-Bamm.

Stephen Root (ex-NewsRadio, King of The Hill) and Amy Sedaris (ex-Strangers With Candy) will voice Fred & Wilma, respectively.

The concept? Fred is on the verge of retirement, and Pebbles is making her way into the workforce herself. 

Lindsay Kerns, who has worked on DC Super Hero Girls for Cartoon Network, is set as head writer. Nicole Byer (Grand Crew) and Joe Lo Trulio (ex-Brooklyn Nine-Nine) have been cast as Betty & Barney Rubble.

Fox will at least screen the pilot. I'd think it'll go to series, sandwiched in between two series inspired by the original Flintstones, that, of course, being The Simpsons & Family Guy. Fox is co-producing with WB.

Stay tooned.

Toon Rock: Kick it up a Notch (2011)

 From the movie "Phineas & Ferb Across The 1st & 2nd Dimensions" (italics mine):

The movie closes with "Kick it up a Notch", in which the boys are joined by no less than metal icon Slash, who is also a fan of the series.

We know Slash is up for anything, as witnessed by his appearing in a TV & radio ad campaign for Capital One. He really is the best thing about Guns 'N' Roses.

Daytime Heroes: King Calico (1951)

 Here's a regional puppet show from the early 1950's that did spend a little bit of time in syndication, but gone well before ye scribe learned how to change channels.

King Calico was a 15 minute a day, three times weekly daytime show hosted by Doris Larson, and starring puppeteer Johnny Coons, who was credited with voicing all the characters. The show was based out of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and apparently had a minor network of stations in the midwest.

Now, I said that Coons voiced all the characters, and that might be true, but, as this sampler shows, the King's voice might bear some resemblance to the later works of Dallas McKennon. Judge for yourselves.

Today, if someone wanted to do a show like this, there are public access channels in need of programming that would take a chance on it.

No rating. Just a public service.

Animated World of DC Comics: Superman & Wonder Woman for the Boys & Girls Clubs (1989)

 After production ended on the short-lived 1988 Superman series, Ruby-Spears & Toei Animation had the Man of Steel (sounds like Beau Weaver reprised here) and Wonder Woman (BJ Ward, maybe) do a PSA for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Scott Menville, son of writer Chuck Menville, and now a veteran voice actor himself (Teen Titans Go!) is also heard.

Coming (again) Attractions: Batman: Caped Crusader finds a new home

 After being unceremoniously dismissed by Warner Bros. Discovery CEO/Head Cheapskate David Zaslav nearly 7 months ago, Batman: Caped Crusader will see life on the screen after all.

The Hollywood Reporter says that Amazon Prime appears to have won the bidding war for the series, a collaborative effort among Matt Reeves, JJ Abrams, & Bruce Timm, which would put the series on the fast track to launch either later this year or in 2024 for a 2 season commitment.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if this isn't the end of Amazon making moves to keep some of those discarded WB projects in play. Stay tooned.

Looney TV: The Road Runner & Coyote shill for Honey Nut Cheerios (1990)

 There was a time when Arnold Stang (ex-Top Cat) was the voice of Honey Nut Cheerios' mascot, Buzz Bee. In 1990, Buzz met the Road Runner & Wile E. Coyote.

I think we need to make a list of the pop culture icons Buzz hasn't met. There was that bit with Hulk Hogan around 1985, and.........

Getting Schooled: Kukla, Ollie, and......Bobsie? (1951)

 There was a time when Fran Allison took a vacation from Kukla, Fran, & Ollie in the winter of 1951. By this point, the series was on the same network as Howdy Doody, NBC.

Radio & television personality Robert Q. Lewis stepped in to cover for Fran for a portion of February 1951. Ollie tries impersonating Fran to start, and, well..........!

Frequent correspondent and Chicago's own Mike Doran will likely help fill in the blanks here.

No rating. Just a public service.

Toonfomercial: Road Runner & the Coyote for Purolator Courier (1986)

 Oh, you didn't know Purolator had a courier service, too? Neither did I until now.

Purolator obtained a license from WB to use Road Runner & Wile E. Coyote for this spot. Willard Scott (The Today Show) is the narrator.

You Know The Voice: John Byner (1973)

 John Byner was one of the guests on this season 6 episode of The Carol Burnett Show, portions of which you've probably seen in the syndicated Carol Burnett & Friends. Chief among the skits is Donald Duck (Byner with makeup, including a too small bill) being told by a studio boss (Harvey Korman), under pressure from his boss (Lyle Waggoner), that his contract is being terminated.

Petula Clark is our musical guest.

I think the makeup for Byner as Donald Duck was so "Donald" could speak coherently, something that was almost impossible in cartoons until the 80's.

Toon Rock: (You're The) Devil in Disguise (1963-2022)

 This may not be the last Elvis Presley classic to be adapted into animation. I could've saved "(You're The) Devil in Disguise" for, like, Halloween, but it'll do for now. "Devil" peaked at #3 in the US, and hit #1 in the UK in 1963.

Toon Rock: Theme From Spider-Man (1995)

 Comics & cartoon fans were given a Christmas present in December 1995 with the release of "Saturday Morning Cartoons' Greatest Hits", a collection of theme songs from cartoons spanning from the 60s to 1991 (Ren & Stimpy). 

For the 1967 Spider-Man theme, the track was given to punk rock icons and native New Yorkers, The Ramones, who went animated themselves.

When the Ramones reprised the 2nd verse, the lyrics are on the screen, enabling viewers to see what the lyrics really were.

Four years earlier, MTV doll (and the 518's own) Martha Quinn tried to recite the lyrics on the air, and fumbled, probably due to nerves. Note I said recite, not sing. You're forgiven, Martha.

Saturday School: The Basking Shark (Sealab 2020, 1972)

 To paraphrase David Byrne, you may ask yourself, what is a "Basking Shark"?

It's a lesser known breed of shark that factors into this Sealab 2020 episode that involves a space probe returning to earth, but landing first in the ocean, then, well, you'll figure the shark's role in all of this. Mike Road (ex-Jonny Quest, Herculoids), fresh off a recurring role on Cade's County the previous season, and I think also shilling for Fireman's Fund insurance, guest stars.

Rating: A.

Looney TV: Looney Tunes for Toyota (1992)

 What's a commercial with Looney Tunes characters without Bugs Bunny? Obscure.

Up until today, I didn't even know WB had licensed the characters for a Toyota commercial. I'm serious. 

Elmer Fudd sporting Robin Hood gear, and using plungers for arrows while hunting Daffy Duck, while Foghorn Leghorn is his usual self.

Saturday Morning's Forgotten Heroes: Isis in No Drums, No Trumpets (1975)

 From season 1 of The Secrets of Isis (part of The Shazam!/Isis Hour):

An amateur radio expert (Mark Lambert) is enraged after losing at the Larkspur Science Fair, but after Isis (Joanna Cameron) rescues him, the youth finds his way into more trouble in a ghost town. Albert Reed (ex-Chase) co-stars as Dr. Barnes, and Christopher Norris, later of Trapper John, MD, appears in a recurring role.

Part of the drama is in Andrea losing her amulet, then finding it just in time for the finale.

Rating: A.

Saturtainment: The Pink Panther in Extinct Pink (1969)

 Here's a little oddball for ya.

The Pink Panther is in prehistoric times, dueling with the Little Man (later rechristened Big Nose), and a couple of dinosaurs over a bone, in "Extinct Pink". For whatever reason, the closing music from Ant & The Aardvark is used at the end of this one, probably because the score for this short is by Doug Goodwin.

Like, totally cray-cray.

Rating: A.

Toonfomercial: George Jetson for Electrasol (2004)

 In the last few years, The Jetsons have been licensed by Hanna-Barbera and WB for various products and sponsors, including Tums, Radio Shack, and Electrasol and its companion products.

In 2004, George (Billy West, Futurama) duels with a talking dishwasher (presumably Frank Welker).....