Summertainment: Looney Tunes' Lonesome Loser: Wile E. Coyote

 Wile E. Coyote, when matched against Bugs Bunny, claimed to be a super genius. And, yet, Bugs got the better of him every time. While Wile E. absorbed so much abuse trying to catch the Road Runner over time, cartoon physics being what they were, his silent frustration was what helped make him a legend.

This video also includes clips from "The Wild Chase", in which Wile E. teams with Sylvester to try to run down the Road Runner & Speedy Gonzales.

The common link? Bugs, Speedy, & the Road Runner were all faster than the coyote. No matter what Wile E. did to even the odds, his lonesome crusade was doomed to fail.

Getting Schooled: Hodgepodge Lodge (1970)

 Try to think of PBS' Hodgepodge Lodge as a middle school version of Romper Room. Miss Jean (Worthley) was the series host for the entire run (1970-7), produced and taped in Maryland. 

The series was launched as a mid-season replacement in February 1970. Unfortunately, some PBS affiliates dropped the show after cancellation.

Let's take a look at a sample episode.

Rating: A.

You Know The Voice: Joe Besser (1968)

 While Joe Besser was unfairly maligned for his time with the Three Stooges, he became a dependable character actor after leaving the team.

By 1968, Besser (ex-The Joey Bishop Show) was making the rounds of guest appearances, usually on sitcoms. We've previously seen him on That Girl, but now here he is on The Good Guys with Herb Edelman & Bob Denver.

Leonard Stone (ex-Camp Runamuck), who was recurring on Dragnet around this time, also guest stars in "Win, Place, & Kill":

Rare Treats: The Globetrotters album (1970)

 Pop impresario Don Kirshner, while still pumping out Archies records, added the Harlem Globetrotters to his music stable, coinciding with the team's first animated series in 1970.

Reportedly, the players actually recorded the songs themselves, backed by a studio band. This would explain why Meadowlark Lemon was credited on the show, but not other players like Curly Neal and Herbert "Geese" Ausbie.

Some of you might recognize this track, "Meadowlark", used in an episode of the series. The big surprise? Co-written by pop icon Neil Sedaka with Howard Greenfield. This might've inspired Sedaka to start recording his own songs again four years later.

We've got a screen cap of the actual 7" single, instead of using episode footage, which for this particular song may not be available right now.

Sedaka, Greenfield, & Jeff Barry were the principal songwriters on the album.

Coming Attractions: Me-TV picks up the original Wild Kingdom

 While I'm not sure if the current Wild Kingdom series will return to NBC this fall, Me-TV will become the new cable home of the original Kingdom, starting July 6.

The series will air in what is likely a block of episodes beginning at 7 am (ET). Whether or not these will include the updated intros by Peter Gros when RFD-TV held the rights, we don't know.

Me-TV offers this promo:

If you grew up with Marlin Perkins and the original Wild Kingdom, now you can share it with your kids, or grandkids, for that matter.

Daytime Heroes: Hector Heathcote in Hold The Fort (1964)

 The bumbling of Hector Heathcote leads to his being confined to quarters. But, after the rest of his unit retreats ahead of an invasion by the British, it is left to Hector (John Myhers) to "Hold The Fort":

Rating: B.

Saturday Morning's Forgotten Heroes: Cool McCool in Who Stole My 32 Secret Agents? (1966)

 Cool McCool (Bob McFadden impersonating Jack Benny) is tasked to rescue a group of British agents before they're brainwashed by Dr. Madcap (McFadden).

No rating. Just a public service.

Coming Attractions: Marvel finally closes the books on the 90's Spider-Man cartoon------in a comic book

 In the mid-90's, Fox had an embarrassment of riches in children's television with Batman: The Animated Series, Bobby's World, Peter Pan & The Pirates, Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?, & Spider-Man. It is the latter series that comes to the fore now with news that, more than 25 years after the animated series ended, Marvel Comics has decided it's way past time to close the plot threads left dangling from the series in a 6 issue miniseries, due to debut this fall.

Image courtesy Marvel Comics.

When the show ended, Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, went into the multiverse to find lost love, Mary Jane Watson. Never mind that in today's continuity, MJ & Peter are no longer a couple, at least for now, but you gotta figure that'll change inevitably, but they were one of Marvel's premier couples in the 80's & 90's, despite the idiotic ideas of separating them, which started with then-editor-in-chief Joe Quesada.

Writer-producer John Semper had to go to social media to note that he is not attached to the new book, as he's working on the new PBS cartoon, Weather Hunters, due next month. Veteran writer J. Marc DeMatteis, who wrote some Spider-Man stories for Marvel back in the day, as well as writing various titles for DC, has been entrusted with the miniseries, which will introduce a villain, Mordun, who came along after the cartoon ended. Semper does have some comics experience, having done some writing for DC in recent times.

Solicitations for the first issue are already out, meaning Spider-Man '94 will drop in September. Stay tooned.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits (Revisited): Lightning Strikes (1974)

 The falsetto that powered the chorus wasn't there anymore, but Lou Christie got some extra mileage out of "Lightning Strikes" when he appeared on The Midnight Special in 1974.

Lou passed away earlier this week, so this video is posted in his memory. Rest in peace.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: It's Summertime (1969)

 Summer starts this weekend, so why not get a jump on things with help from the Cattanooga Cats? Here's "It's Summertime":

Saturtainment: Dusty's Treehouse (1970)

 Dusty's Treehouse started as, I believe, a Saturday morning show based in California on a CBS affiliate there, then, after the series ended, resurfaced on Nickelodeon during the early years of the network.

The one flaw I can see is that the squirrel puppet's lips don't move. Hmm, I wonder why that is?

Check this sample episode, and you'll see what I mean.

Dusty's Treehouse ran for 10 seasons total before being syndicated and shipped off to Nick. No rating.

Coming Attractions: Land of The Lost to return, this time on Netflix

 More proof that Hollywood is creatively bankrupt comes with the news that Netflix and Legendary Television are developing a new version of Land of The Lost, which the Kroffts introduced on NBC from 1974-7, then revived on ABC from 1991-3. There was a movie version, with Will Ferrell & Danny McBride, a few years ago, that was not very popular because of the crass humor included in the movie.

File photo courtesy Variety.

The original series had some of the cheesiest special effects in television history, but today's technology will allow for CGI dinosaurs, as the movie did. No word on when the series is set to begin production, but it's likely within the next year or so.

But is anyone really, really interested in another trip to this Land? I'd sooner see a movie tie up storylines from two 1975 Krofft entries, Lost Saucer & Far Out Space Nuts, but that's just me.

Rare Treats: There was actually a concept for a Beach Boys cartoon (1976)

 Now, we all know what the Class of 1976 meant for Hanna-Barbera.

Mumbly, Jabberjaw, & Dynomutt debuted for ABC. Clue Club was launched on CBS, early due to the network's commitment to the US Open tennis tournament.

But, what if H-B had actually been able to close the deal on a license to adapt one of the most famous bands in the world into an animated series?

Well, peeps, feast your eyes on this:

Yep, the Beach Boys. "America's Band".

Consider H-B's track record with pre-fab bands:

The Banana Splits: Hosts of a 2 season anthology series (1968-70) for NBC, converted to animation for a ABC Saturday Superstar Movie.

Josie & The Pussycats: Licensed from Archie Comics for 2 1-season series (1970, '72) and the short-lived In The Know interstitals that were the forerunner to In The News.

Butch Cassidy: Rocker/spy, like the Splits an in-house creation, lasted one season for NBC (1973), but deserved a better fate.

Now, does anyone think that Joe Ruby & Ken Spears were asked to create Jabberjaw after the deal for the Beach Boys fell through? I think so.

As Paul Harvey used to say, that is the rest........of the story. We think.

Toon Legends: Trail of The Lonesome Pink (1974)

 Ready for two Big Noses, each with a different color?

Two fur trappers, Jacques & Jules, are out in the wilderness, seeking to trap beavers, foxes, bears, and squirrels, but run afoul of the Pink Panther and a group of snapping turtles. Here's "Trail of The Lonesome Pink". The laugh track was added for network broadcast on NBC.

Rating: A.

Toon Rock: Brothers in Arms (1985)

 Dire Straits hired a different animation house to produce this next item, a video for the title song from their 1985 CD, "Brothers in Arms".

"Brothers" turns 40 this year. Time does fly.

Toonfomercial: When rock music became a video game (1982)

 Data Age isn't around anymore,  but they got their 15 minutes of fame in 1982 marketing a video game based on Journey's 1981 album, "Escape". Billed as the first rock music video game, it actually played as most games would during this period.

Casey Kasem narrates.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: Don't Worry Baby (1964)

 The Beach Boys were the epitome of California cool in the mid-60's, with a string of hits that included "California Girls" (later covered by David Lee Roth), "Surfin' USA", "I Get Around", and this next entry, "Don't Worry Baby", which landed them on American Bandstand.

In memory of Brian Wilson, 82, who passed away Wednesday. Rest in peace.

Saturday Morning Ringside: The mystery of the unknown wrestler (1991)

 Most wrestling fans know the story of how Brutus Beefcake had become disfigured in a parasailing accident. As Beefcake recovered, Vince McMahon needed to do something with the former tag team champion, so he had disguised Beefcake as a masked mystery man who attacked heels such as Rick Martel and the late Earthquake. The then-heel Slick was also a victim of a man fans began calling "Furface", but was meant to be either the Avenger or Mariner. I'll explain after the video compilation.

In reality, the Mariner might not have been a good idea, as Beefcake was not wearing colors that would associate him with the Navy or anything along those lines. Instead, it would've been a subtle reference to the accident. The Avenger would have made more sense, but then McMahon would've run into copyright issues over the use of the name.

The gimmick was abandoned after about a month, and soon after, Beefcake, his face healed, began hosting a talk show.

Coming Attractions: Animal Farm gets animated----again (2025)

 George Orwell's legendary Animal Farm has been adapted into a movie for the 3rd time, this time in full CGI.

First adapted by the British team of Halas & Bachelor many decades ago, "Animal Farm" was last adapted with a mix of live action & CGI in 1999. I remember seeing a trailer back in the 70's for the original adaptation when it aired on HBO, back when you could see free previews before the day's schedule began in the late afternoon, and you had to change the channel if you weren't a subscriber.

Anyway, the new version is directed by motion capture expert Andy Serkis, who is also part of the voice cast that also includes Seth Rogen, Kieran Culkin, Laverne Cox, Woody Harrelson, & Iman Vellani.

Rogen & Culkin are featured in this clip.

"Animal Farm" arrives in theatres this weekend.

Looney TV: 3 Ring Wing Ding (1968)

 Cool Cat is on the run again from Colonel Rimfire, which leads them to a circus in "3 Ring Wing Ding". Larry Storch (ex-F-Troop) handles all the voices.

Rating: B.

Toon Rock: Faithfully (2025)

 When I first heard about a remake of Journey's 1983 top 10 hit, "Faithfully", it stunned me that vocalist Steve Perry, now 76, had gone back into the studio to re-record the song, this time with country legend Willie Nelson, 92, as a duet.

"Faithfully" was written by Jonathan Cain as the band was en route to SPAC, and released on 1983's "Frontiers". 42 years later, it is a hit all over again. Proceeds from the single will go toward this year's edition of Farm Aid, co-founded by Nelson in response to Live Aid 40 years ago.

No truth to the rumor that this was also underwritten by Geritol. Just kidding.

Nelson began writing songs in the 50's, so he's in his 8th decade in the music business. Perry came out of retirement, it'd seem, for this.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits (?): King Kong (1975)

 About a year before the first remake of one of the greatest monster movies of all time, the Jimmy Castor Bunch recorded "King Kong", which landed them on Soul Train. Not sure about the song's chart standing back then, or if it'd been reissued when the movie (starring Jessica Lange) was released a year later.

Admittedly, this was the first time I'd heard the song.

Saturday Morning's Greatest Hits: The Show Must Go On (1974)

 Leo Sayer co-wrote "The Show Must Go On", which became a top 5 hit for Three Dog Night (the band's last top 10 hit). But before TDN got their hands on it, Sayer, dressed as a clown, with a lookalike puppet as a sidekick, performed it on The Midnight Special.

Host du jour George Carlin introduces Sayer.

Saturtainment: Mr. Mayor (1964)

 Bob Keeshan was 9 years into his run as Captain Kangaroo when CBS asked him to develop a separate Saturday morning show. Unfortunately, Mr. Mayor wasn't quite as popular, and lasted just 13 weeks in 1964.

Yeah, there are no videos of the series, which likely was wiped due to network practices of the day to save videotapes. What we do know is that one recurring skit, The Town Clown, a pantomime segment, moved over to Captain Kangaroo after Mr. Mayor was cancelled. It was Keeshan's return to the greasepaint after he'd left Howdy Doody (he was the original Clarabell) about a decade or so earlier.

No rating. Just a public service.

Looney TV: China Jones (1959)

 Robert McKimson's 1959 farce, "China Jones", with Daffy Duck in the title role, was taken off television sometime in the 90's due to its use of now-outdated ethnic stereotypes. Porky Pig essays the role of Charlie Chung, who is not what Jones thinks he is.....

WB kept this locked in the vault until it became available for streaming 4 years ago. It's not one of McKimson's best, nor does it fit as any of Porky or Daffy's best, either.

Rating: B--.

Toonfomercial: MLB goes anime (2025)

 I suppose it was inevitable.

Major League Baseball has gone anime.

You've probably seen commercials like this since the season began in late March.

The commercials are in heavy rotation on MLB Network, ESPN, and Fox Sports 1 & 2, airing on Fox when the parent network has Baseball Night in America or a late afternoon game. Wouldn't mind seeing them on other channels, too, if not already.

Toon Rock: Lolly, Lolly, Lolly (Get Your Adverbs Here) (1974)

 From Schoolhouse Rock comes this little sing-a-long entry written & sung by Bob Dorough. Here's "Lolly, Lolly, Lolly (Get Your Adverbs Here)", which tells the story of three generations of a family business specializing in adverbs.