Coming Attractions: The Looney Tunes are coming to TCM

 After getting bounced from HBO Max last year, Bugs Bunny and the rest of the Looney Tunes crew will return to the Warner Bros Discovery umbrella, with shorts airing on TCM (Turner Classic Movies) starting next Monday, February 2, with Bugs designated as the channel's "Star of The Month".

According to the Hollywood Reporter, it's a 6 year licensing deal, and it kicks off with 1940's "A Wild Hare", at 11 pm (ET).

So, you're probably asking, what happens to the shorts airing on Me-TV? That remains to be seen. They'll still stream on Tubi, which acquired the lot a few months back, until such time as WBD decides to bring them back to HBO Max. Whether that means getting rid of kid-unfriendly David Zaslav remains to be seen as well.

According to the article, plans call for the legendary "What's Opera, Doc?" and "Rabbit of Seville" to air as opening acts, if you will, for the Marx Brothers' "A Night at The Opera". Like, I don't know if that ever really happened at the theatres (doubtful), but fans of both Bugs and the Marxes will be in hog heaven.

Somewhere, Daffy Duck is in a jealous fit. Again.

Toon Rock: Livin' on a Chair (2025)

 I can't think of a better way for someone to mark the 40th anniversary of Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet", but some enterprising folks did.

Last month, "Bon Meovi" released "Livin' on a Chair", a parody of "Livin' on a Prayer".

"Slippery" reaches its 40th anniversary in August. "Bon Meovi" simply got a head start.

Saturday Morning Ringside: 518 represent in World Class Championship Wrestling (1985)

 While "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan was tearing it up in Mid-South Wrestling, Glens Falls' other gift to wrestling made her TV debut with World Class Championship Wrestling.

Misty Blue leads off this card from September 1985. I don't think Misty ever followed Duggan to the WWE.....

Saturday School: When Brandon Tartikoff visited Bayside High (Saved by The Bell, 1991)

 The following is the closing tag from a 1991 episode of Saved by The Bell. NBC programming chairman Brandon Tartikoff made a special appearance as part of an anti-drug episode of the series.....

A message that should still resonate today.

Game Time: Skedaddle (1988)

 In 1988, Hanna-Barbera decided to tweak their Funtastic World block with a game show. No, they weren't going to try the originally conceived format for Wacky Races, but, rather, they decided on something of a cross between Hot Potato & Nickelodeon's Double Dare.

Skedaddle, however, lasted just 6 weeks, a total dud, as viewers figured out very quickly that this was more of a knock-off of Dare. Ron Pearson served as host. Unfortunately, no footage exists, just some screen captures like this:

Jay Wolpert co-produced the show, returning a favor H-B did for him some time earlier. You see, H-B produced the animation for Wolpert's 1979 series, Whew!, for CBS. That lasted about a year before it was cancelled. I guess they went with dinosaur characters because the Skatebirds didn't want to come out of retirement. Ditto for the Banana Splits.

No rating, as I never saw the show.

Getting Schooled: The Skating Rink (ABC Afterschool Special, 1975)

 Here's a seasonally appropriate Afterschool Special.

"The Skating Rink" stars Rance Howard (Ron & Clint's dad), Stewart Peterson, radio & cartoon personality Jerry Dexter (ex-Gomer Pyle, USMC, Josie & The Pussycats), and, in one of his earliest roles, Sparky Marcus (later the voice of Richie Rich).

Producer Martin Tahse became a go-to for ABC in the mid-to-late 70's, producing films for the Afterschool Special and, later, Weekend Special.

No rating. Just a public service.

Getting Schooled: Our Friend, Martin (1999)

 "Martin", of course, is Martin Luther King, Jr., and this 1999 animated DTV, which has aired on cable in the intervening years, traces his life, with the contrivance of time travel.

LeVar Burton, Whoopi Goldberg, Jaleel White, Ed Asner, and Angela Bassett lead an all-star cast in this Emmy nominated film. The movie also features King's son, Dexter, as the adult King, and Frank Welker & John Travolta in supporting roles.

No rating. Strictly for educational purposes, as we honor Dr. King's memory today.