On The Air: Harlem Globetrotters: Play it Forward (2023)

 Overshadowed by the revival of Wild Kingdom last fall was the return of the Harlem Globetrotters to Saturday morning television for the first time in 45 years.

Harlem Globetrotters: Play it Forward is a reality series as part of NBC's The More You Know Saturday block, packaged by Hearst Entertainment. These are not your father's Globetrotters, but a new generation who have taken time out from their tour to educate audiences, and, in turn, educate themselves with various occupations.

Check the trailer from the team's YouTube channel:

Unlike each of the team's previous series, this one's likely to stick around a while.

Rating: A.

Tooniversary: Robo Force (1984)

 40 years ago, Ideal Toys had gotten into the business of creating a line of science fiction action figures, in competition with Hasbro, in particular.

Robo Force also spawned an animated pilot from Ruby-Spears, which, unfortunately, went nowhere, and was included in a 2015 DVD release of Challenge of The Go-Bots from Warner Video.

The voice cast had some familiar names, including B. J. Ward, John Stephenson, Michael Bell, Alan Young, and Peter Cullen. Jonny Quest creator Doug Wildey served as a producer.

The Robo Force line was revived in 2013 by Toyfinity, which later sold the line to another company which is planning, as of 3 years ago, to produce a new animated series for streaming and cable.

Rating: B.

Saturday School: The Lone Ranger meets President Grant (1980)

 From season 1 of Filmation's The Lone Ranger:

The Masked Man (William Conrad) & Tonto travel to Utah to protect President Grant from a vengeful man Grant sent to prison years before. Also, Tonto (Ivan Naranjo) explains how the railroad united the East & West coasts.

Here's "The President Plot". Frank Welker is prominently heard.

Rating: A.

Rare Treats: There was almost a Moon Mullins show (1960)

 Before Space Angel. Before Clutch Cargo. Cambria Studios had planned on introducing their infamous synchro-vox system with an adaptation of the comic strip, Moon Mullins. Check this promo:

Unfortunately, Moon Mullins didn't clear enough markets to make it to the air. As we all know, Filmation acquired a license 11 years later, so Moon made his TV debut on Archie's TV Funnies.

Daytime Heroes: The Lone Ranger in Gold Trains (1950)

 The Lone Ranger (Clayton Moore) often encountered unexpected resistance when visiting small towns because, well, word hadn't gotten around about his exploits, so he's often mistaken for an outlaw himself.

In "Gold Trains", the Ranger runs into that problem, but things, of course, correct themselves just in the nick of time.

Hank Patterson (later of Green Acres) and DeForest Kelley (pre-Star Trek) guest.

Billy Bletcher (Horseface) was an unsung hero of the early days of cartoons. He often went uncredited for his work, especially at Warner Bros..

Rating: A.

Animated World of DC Comics: Your first look at Batman: Caped Crusader

 To paraphrase the Joker (Jack Nicholson) from 1989's "Batman", we now have a date to ease the pain of waiting for Batman: Caped Crusader on Amazon Prime.

The series begins dropping on Thursday, August 1. DC has supplied a trailer, which we got from IGN's channel on YouTube:

This should be fun to watch.

Saturday Morning Ringside: Remembering Sika (1945-2024)

 We had heard that Afa Anoia, 1/2 of the legendary Wild Samoans tag team, had been in ill health and in and out of hospitals the last few months. We didn't know that his brother and tag team partner, Sika, was also in ill health.

We've learned in the last few minutes that Sika has passed away.

The brothers began wrestling as a tag team in 1973, their exploits taking them through the NWA and then-World Wrestling Federation, where they made their debut in 1980, managed by Lou Albano.

Doubtlessly, there will be a tribute on Smackdown on Friday night. Sika's son, Leati Joseph Anoia (aka Roman Reigns), became the most successful Samoan wrestler with a nearly 3 year reign as champion until losing to Cody Rhodes at Wrestlemania back in April. Sika, with brother Afa, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007.

Rest in peace.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: Leaving on a Jet Plane (1972)

 Singer-songwriter-actor John Denver wrote "Leaving on a Jet Plane" in 1966, and initially recorded it for his debut album three years later, concurrent with a cover version released by Peter, Paul, & Mary.

Another three years passed, and Denver re-recorded "Leaving" for a new album, joined this time by Cass Elliott (The Mamas & The Papas), which brought them to The Midnight Special:

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: Goodbye to You & Love's Got a Line on You (1982)

 Scandal, with lead singer Patty Smyth, made quite the first impression with 1982's "Goodbye to You", which landed them on American Bandstand. In addition to "Goodbye" and an interview with Dick Clark, the band also performs the follow-up hit, "Love's Got a Line on You":

It would be a couple of years before Scandal returned with "The Warrior", which was an even bigger hit on MTV.

Getting Schooled: Our Gang in Hook & Ladder (1932)

 Give the kids of Our Gang credit for having initiative, even if at that time, they couldn't spell it.

In "Hook & Ladder", the kids form their own fire company for fun, but, then, they run into a real fire.

Dickie Moore made his debut in this film, but would only stick around for a year. 35 years later, long retired, Moore returned to the national spotlight with a 1-shot guest appearance on To Tell The Truth.

No rating. Didn't see this the first time.

Coming Attractions: Harley Quinn's pal Kite Man gets his own show

 Two years after it'd first been announced, Harley Quinn spins off Kite Man: Hell Yeah!, launching next month on Max.

Kite Man (Matt Oberg) had previously been engaged to Poison Ivy (Lake Bell), but now is dating Lisa Snart, aka the Golden Glider, who will have a prominent role in the new series.

Kite Man, understandably, will have the same creative team as Quinn, including Kaley Cuoco (ex-The Big Bang Theory, 8 Simple Rules, Brandy & Mr. Whiskers), who likely will make a guest appearance or three as Harley.

Let's give Kite Man credit. The last few years have turned him from a bumbling, D-list Bat-villain to a cult favorite, and you can thank writer Tom King for that. Now, can he carry his own show?

Stay tooned to find out.

Summertainment: Sidewalk Surfin' (American Bandstand, 1964)

 Jan & Dean's 1964 hit, "Sidewalk Surfin'" was about skateboarding, which really became a thing in the 70's & 80's.

2 years later, 20th Century Fox commissioned producer William Asher (Bewitched) to produce a pilot for a possible series, Jan & Dean: On The Run, narrated by baseball icon Vin Scully.

Getting Schooled: A primer on "censorship", and what it may really mean (Room 222, 1972)

 From season 4 of Room 222: 

A student (guest star Jane Actman, The Paul Lynde Show) runs into unexpected opposition from the school newspaper's faculty advisor (Ivor Francis) when her work contains some coarse language.

Here's "Bleep":

Ivor Francis would split time in season 5 between his recurring role as Mr. Dragen and a regular gig on the syndicated Dusty's Trail with Bob Denver & Forrest Tucker. He even made a rare appearance on General Hospital, acting opposite his daughter, Genie, who had become a breakout star on the soap in the late 70's and early 80's.

Personal note: I took a 1/2 year course in journalism at Troy High, and even wrote a piece or two for the school's now defunct student newspaper. There were no issues with censorship at Troy, though.

Rating: A.

Toonfomercial: Lemonade from half a lemon? (1976)

 In 1976, Pillsbury tried to put a dent in the sales of Country Time lemonade, as well as Kool-Aid, with Squoze, which boasted of having half the lemon flavor. In other words, it was meant to be diet lemonade.

Hanna-Barbera mainstay John Stephenson voices the mascot.

Unfortunately, Squoze was, ah, squeezed out of the market before the end of the decade.

Toon Sports: Woody Woodpecker in Surf Crazy (2002)

 From Fox's ill-fated Woody Woodpecker Show:

Winnie (BJ Ward) enters Woody (Billy West) in a surfing competition after he learns there's a vacation as a prize. Buzz Buzzard (Mark Hamill) may have something to say about that.

Here's "Surf Crazy":

Well, we know what motivates Woody, don't we?

Rating: B.

Summertainment: Hula-La-La (1952)

 The Three Stooges are working for a down-on-its-luck movie studio, whose president (a clean shaven Emil Sitka) sends them to the South Seas to teach the natives how to dance for a movie.

Things to watch for:

Larry Fine on the piano in the open.

Shemp Howard trying to implement his late brother Curly's famous shuffle into a closing dance number.

Rating: A.

Game Time: Pick Your Brain (1993)

 Marc Summers had made enough bank, if you will, from Double Dare to venture out and produce his own children's game show, albeit in syndication, not on Nickelodeon or Fox or anywhere else.

Unfortunately, Pick Your Brain, which sounded like your typical Nick game, lasted 1 year, done in by a lack of station support. I have no memory, for example, of the series airing in my home area.

Summers serves as host and foil to his robot announcer, 2XL (Greg Berg), as well as co-executive producer.

Let's check a sample episode.

They made the kids feel important, almost as if they were on an adult game show on weekdays.

No rating.

Toon Rock: Get in Line (1999)

 Canada's Barenaked Ladies recorded "Get in Line" in 1999, and it was used on King of The Hill, which is why everyone's favorite conspiracy nut, Dale Gribble (Johnny Hardwick) appears in the video. The band members appear in animated form briefly in a mock-up of the show's usual open.

Literary toons: The Littles attempt to make a movie (1983)

 From season 1 of The Littles:

After nearly being discovered in a theatre, the Littles decide to make their own movie. Unfortunately, Dr. Hunter sees an opportunity......

Rating: A.

Coming Attractions: Cartoon Network revives a trio of old favorites

 Many thanks to correspondent Steven Dolce for the tip.

Three of Cartoon Network's most successful original properties of the last 20 years are returning with new looks.

JG Quintel's popular Regular Show returns, but Quintel is keeping the details of his yet-unnamed new series under wraps until a later date.

Meanwhile, Craig McCracken's Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends spawns a sequel, Foster's Funtime For Imaginary Friends, which definitely will have a new cast supporting a slightly older Bloo.

Photo composite courtesy Variety.

Foster's Funtime looks like it's ticketed for the Cartoonito preschool block.

Adventure Time returns with not one, not two, but three new series. 

Fionna & Cake will air on Max, aimed at older audiences. Side Quests brings back Finn & Jake from the original series, which was a whimsical homage to the Golden Age works of Windsor McCay. Finally, a preschool series, Heyo BMO, also headed for Cartoonito, completes the troika. Some will say Adventure Time ended a bit prematurely, but this should make fans very happy.

Also announced was another Scooby-Doo series, with a premise that sounds rather familiar, save for the setting.

Go-Go Mystery Machine does not suggest any sort of a crossover with Inspector Gadget. Not even close. However, the series is set in Japan, where Scooby, unsurprisingly, has some relatives. He & Shaggy unwittingly unleash hundreds of monsters. I think you know where this is going, as it'll likely launch upon the 40th anniversary of the one Scooby series that bombed, The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo.

And it does look like Scooby & Shaggy are all alone on this one, with some new friends joining them, in place of Daphne, Velma, & Fred. Hardcore Scooby fans won't like that, given past history.

Stay tooned.

Sunday Funnies: The Three Stooges in Merry Mavericks (1951)

 The Three Stooges are out west in 1951's "Merry Mavericks", which was shot during the spring of 1950, and kept in inventory until its release a year later. Another spoof of Western tropes.

Rating: B+.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: Runaway & She Don't Know Me (1984)

 Hard to believe, but it's been 40 years since Bon Jovi debuted with "Runaway", and right away, you could see that this combo from New Jersey wasn't about to be lumped in with hair metal or any kind of metal. Na-nah!

"Runaway" was the band's debut, followed by "She Don't Know Me". Both songs, sandwiched around an interview, were featured on American Bandstand.

Toon Rock: Operator (That's Not The Way it Feels) (1972-2024)

 The late Jim Croce released "Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels)" as the 2nd single from 1972's "You Don't Mess Around With Jim". "Operator" peaked at #11 on the adult contemporary chart, and #15 on the Hot 100.

52 years later, it was adapted into this animated music video.

Getting Schooled: Readin' & Writin' (1932)

 School's almost out for the year, but this Our Gang entry focuses on the start of a new school year.

However, "Readin' & Writin'" focuses on a new kid, Breezy Brisbane, a bit of a rebel who tries turning the gang against their teacher, Miss Crabtree.

Kendall McComas (Breezy) didn't last long, as he was already into his teen years when he joined the cast. He was gone a year later, and Hal Roach had to find someone else to fill the void created by Jackie Cooper's departure to feature films.

Rating: B. 

You Know The Voices: Mark Hamill & John Astin (1994)

 Nearly 3 1/2 years ago, I'd posted an episode of the original Burke's Law that featured Bill Woodson & Paul Lynde. In 1994, Aaron Spelling revisited that episode, with a few twists.

"Who Killed Alexander The Great?" was a remake of 1963's "Who Killed Merlin The Great?", which was written by the legendary team of Richard Levinson & William Link, who got a credit for the remake as well. The setting has changed. Audrey Meadows (ex-The Honeymooners) is the MC, not a news reporter as Woodson was 31 years earlier. John Astin is Alexander, and you have Mark Hamill & Roddy McDowell as magicians.

Yeah, it's weird. The Joker & The Mad Hatter from Batman: The Animated Series reconstituted as magicians, but I digress. We'll also note Astin (Attack of The Killer Tomatoes, Addams Family), Dom DeLuise (ex-The Roman Holidays) & Tom Bosley (ex-Happy Days, Wait 'Til Your Father Gets Home, The World of David The Gnome). Even though DeLuise got a guest star credit in every episode, he should've been credited as a series regular.

Animated World of DC Comics: Superman in Showdown (1942)

 One of the oldest tropes in fiction is used in this Superman entry from 1942, "Showdown". A common thug, wearing a dime store Superman suit, pulls a series of robberies, so, of course, the police think Supes has gone rogue.

Filmation would try this trope themselves nearly 25 years later.

Rating: A.

Getting schooled: The Valediction (Room 222, 1970)

 From season 2 of Room 222:

While some high schools have already had commencement, as recently as last month, schools in the 518 will begin graduation exercises in the 2nd half of June, though some private schools have already had theirs.

With that in mind, we present "The Valediction", in which a rebellious senior (Richard Dreyfuss) uses the occasion to make his views heard, however controversial they might be. Jason Wingreen, at the time a respected character actor who'd later land a regular gig on All in The Family & Archie Bunker's Place, plays an appreciative parent.

Rating: A.

Rare Treats: Little Orley (1940's)

Well before he became Bob Keeshan's right hand man as Mr. Green Jeans on Captain Kangaroo, Hugh "Lumpy" Brannum had appeared on radio on Fred Waring's show during the 1940's. Brannum, as Uncle Lumpy, spun short yarns of a little boy named Orley, backed by Waring & the Pennsylvanians. 

Brannum actually had his own show, Uncle Lumpy's Cabin, a New York children's show, in 1951, 4 years before Captain Kangaroo. However, that series appears to be lost.

For now here's Orley and "The Cap":

Aside from a few tweaks (i.e. substituting "Indians" with Native Americans), there is a good chance these stories could be brought back for today's audience with a different narrator.

Rating: B.

Retro Toy Chest: Power Tennis (1974)

 How this game didn't get past maybe a year on the shelves, I don't know.

Hasbro introduced Power Tennis 50 years ago as a family game, perhaps in answer to Aurora's Skittle line and Ideal's Toss Across. Check it.

Power Tennis didn't even survive the decade. A shame.

Sunday Funnies: It Ain't Hay (1943)

 Abbott & Costello star in an adaptation of Damon Runyan's Princess O'Hara, 1943's "It Ain't Hay", which, like most films with the comedy legends, was in heavy rotation on WPIX back in the day. Shemp Howard, Cecil Kellaway, and an uncredited Mike Mazurki are part of the supporting cast. Racing scenes were shot at Saratoga Race Course.

Princess O'Hara had previously been adapted a few years earlier with Chester Morris. You'd be hard pressed to find it on cable, while "Hay" has turned up in recent times.

Rating: B.