Toon Legends: Popeye in The Square Egg (1960)

 Now, this is one for the books.

Swee'pea calls Popeye's attention to a "Square Egg" he found in the barn. It might be some sort of scientific breakthrough, so Olive suggests calling in Professor O. G. Whatashnozzle, but Brutus is thinking in terms of profit margins.....

One of Jack Kinney's more curious entries in the series.

Rating: B-.

It Should've Been on a Saturday: Sidekicks (1986)

 We previously wrote up this next item over at The Land of Whatever a ways back, but it belongs here, too.

Sidekicks sprang from a Disney Sunday Movie, "The Last Electric Knight". Gil Gerard (ex-Buck Rogers in The 25th Century) stars as a police sergeant tasked with caring for a young karate master (Ernie Reyes, Jr., whose father choreographed the fight scenes) at the request of a sensei (Keye Luke, seen in flashbacks after the pilot movie).

There was a subsequent movie, "Sidekicks", with Chuck Norris & Jonathan Brandis, six years later, but has nothing to do with this series.

Here, politics and bullies are at issue. Frank Bonner (ex-WKRP in Cincinnati) and Nancy Stafford co-star.

Sidekicks did move to Saturday nights during the season, but by then it was too late.

Rating: B.

First, it was the Muppets. Then, Toy Story. Now, the Simpsons on Monday Night Football

 This is getting silly.

Tonight's Monday Night Football game between Cincinnati just got a little cray-cray with Disney's decision to do an animated alternate feed featuring The Simpsons.

Bart (Nancy Cartwright) will captain the Bengals. Homer (Dan Castelanetta) will lead the Cowboys. Hmm, y'think maybe it should be the other way around?

Here's a promo:

Marge (Julie Kavner) and Lisa (Yeardley Smith) are acting as sideline reporters.

However, there is a catch. As noted in the ad, this will be on ESPN+ & Disney+ only, not on ESPN. They have an alternate broadcast already with the Manning brothers clowning around pretending to be commentators.

But, will we see any interviews on SportsCenter? Stay tuned.

Countdown to Christmas: The Captain's Christmas (1938)

 MGM briefly had the license to adapt Rudolph Dirks' The Captain & The Kids, but only produced two shorts, including 1938's "The Captain's Christmas".

The Captain (Billy Bletcher) is playing Santa, but is ambushed by Long John Silver (Bletcher again), who takes over the role.

There's a reason MGM gave up.

Rating: B--.

Rare Treats: Captain Kangaroo meets Mister Rogers (1970)

 Two of TV's most relatable children's hosts met in 1970 when Captain Kangaroo (Bob Keeshan) paid a visit to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Bunny Rabbit & Mr. Moose (Cosmo Allegretti) tagged along and visited the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.

Following is a compilation from an interview with "Mr. McFeely":

15 years later, Captain Kangaroo would move to PBS after the series was cancelled by CBS. What I'm not sure of is if Fred Rogers ever returned the favor.......

Tooniversary: Return to Oz (1964)

 Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, airing tomorrow, isn't the only Rankin-Bass special turning 60 this year.

Before Rudolph, Arthur Rankin, Jr. & Jules Bass adapted L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz once more, but this time reworking the original story for Return to Oz, which, like Rudolph, premiered on the General Electric Fantasy Hour.

Despite the fact that this references the conclusion of the original story, Romeo Muller's script puts Dorothy and friends back at square one. The animation is the same as 1961's Tales of The Wizard of Oz, as Rankin-Bass used the same animation house as before, Crowley Films.

I think the goal here was to bring closure to the Takes series, which was syndicated, by bringing the animated version of the story to a wider audience.

No rating. Just a public service.

Toon Legends: Donald Duck in Donald's Snow Fight (1942)

 Donald Duck decides to bring out his sled for some fun in the snow. Nephews Huey, Dewey, & Louie are building a snowman. Chaos ensues.

Clarence Nash has all the voices in "Donald's Snow Fight":

Silly fun.

Rating: A.