RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
10-11-14 | 11:24 AM
#1
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From: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
I noticed this the other weekend when paid programming, reality shows and extended weekend news started to change the Saturday morning landscape.
Originally Posted by Gizmodo
This Is the First Weekend in America With No Saturday Morning Cartoons
10/04/14 9:00am
Saturday morning American broadcast TV was once animation's home field. Filling a cereal bowl with artificially colored sugar pebbles and staring at the tube was every kid's weekend plan. Not any more: For the first time in 50-plus years, you won't find a block of animation on broadcast this morning. It's the end of an era.
Yes, The CW, the final holdout in Saturday morning animation, ran its last batch of Vortexx cartoons last weekend. This week, where you once saw shows like Cubix, Sonic X, Dragon Ball Z and Kai, Digimon Fusion, and Yu-Gi-Oh!, you'll instead find "One Magnificent Morning," a block of live-action educational programming.
It's the end of an era, but it's been a long time coming: NBC ditched Saturday morning cartoons in 1992, CBS followed suit not long after, and ABC lost its animated weekend mornings in 2004. The CW, a lower-tier broadcast network, was the last holdout in a game that the Big 3 left long ago.
What killed Saturday morning cartoons? Cable, streaming, and the FCC. In the 1990s, the FCC began more strictly enforcing its rule requiring broadcast networks to provide a minimum of three hours of "educational" programming every week. Networks afraid of messing with their prime-time slots found it easiest to cram this required programming in the weekend morning slot. The actual educational content of this live-action programming is sometimes debatable, but it meets the letter of the law.
But more importantly, with hundreds of cable and satellite channels to choose from that don't have to abide the FCC's guidelines, whippersnappers kids these days can get their animation fix any day of the week. With the rise of cable and satellite, advertisers no longer had to cram all their kid-aimed commercials into the four-hour Saturday morning block. When the money left Saturday mornings, so did the cartoons.
Add in mobile streaming from Netflix, Hulu, and the like, and you'll realize that the spoiled brats we're raising today don't even need to dash to the TV in time to catch the opening credits. They can just watch whatever, whenever. Sheesh.
Still, there's something a little hollow about the notion that we woke up this morning to an America bereft of broadcast 'toons. I guess we all had to grow up sometime.
10/04/14 9:00am
Saturday morning American broadcast TV was once animation's home field. Filling a cereal bowl with artificially colored sugar pebbles and staring at the tube was every kid's weekend plan. Not any more: For the first time in 50-plus years, you won't find a block of animation on broadcast this morning. It's the end of an era.
Yes, The CW, the final holdout in Saturday morning animation, ran its last batch of Vortexx cartoons last weekend. This week, where you once saw shows like Cubix, Sonic X, Dragon Ball Z and Kai, Digimon Fusion, and Yu-Gi-Oh!, you'll instead find "One Magnificent Morning," a block of live-action educational programming.
It's the end of an era, but it's been a long time coming: NBC ditched Saturday morning cartoons in 1992, CBS followed suit not long after, and ABC lost its animated weekend mornings in 2004. The CW, a lower-tier broadcast network, was the last holdout in a game that the Big 3 left long ago.
What killed Saturday morning cartoons? Cable, streaming, and the FCC. In the 1990s, the FCC began more strictly enforcing its rule requiring broadcast networks to provide a minimum of three hours of "educational" programming every week. Networks afraid of messing with their prime-time slots found it easiest to cram this required programming in the weekend morning slot. The actual educational content of this live-action programming is sometimes debatable, but it meets the letter of the law.
But more importantly, with hundreds of cable and satellite channels to choose from that don't have to abide the FCC's guidelines, whippersnappers kids these days can get their animation fix any day of the week. With the rise of cable and satellite, advertisers no longer had to cram all their kid-aimed commercials into the four-hour Saturday morning block. When the money left Saturday mornings, so did the cartoons.
Add in mobile streaming from Netflix, Hulu, and the like, and you'll realize that the spoiled brats we're raising today don't even need to dash to the TV in time to catch the opening credits. They can just watch whatever, whenever. Sheesh.
Still, there's something a little hollow about the notion that we woke up this morning to an America bereft of broadcast 'toons. I guess we all had to grow up sometime.
10-11-14 | 11:42 AM
#3
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
The last Saturday Morning Cartoons I recall watching on OTA stations was Disney's 1 Satruday Morning on ABC in the late 90s. Even then, they were the only station of the three major ones still doing it.
CBS stopped in 1996 or so not long after they axed the original Ninja Turtles animated series.
I never really associated cartoons with NBC on Saturdays since I was too young to really remember any of their animated series. I only think of the many incarnations of Saved by the Bell on there.
CBS stopped in 1996 or so not long after they axed the original Ninja Turtles animated series.
I never really associated cartoons with NBC on Saturdays since I was too young to really remember any of their animated series. I only think of the many incarnations of Saved by the Bell on there.
10-11-14 | 12:23 PM
#4
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
The last Saturday Morning Cartoons I recall watching on OTA stations was Disney's 1 Satruday Morning on ABC in the late 90s. Even then, they were the only station of the three major ones still doing it.
CBS stopped in 1996 or so not long after they axed the original Ninja Turtles animated series.
I never really associated cartoons with NBC on Saturdays since I was too young to really remember any of their animated series. I only think of the many incarnations of Saved by the Bell on there.
CBS stopped in 1996 or so not long after they axed the original Ninja Turtles animated series.
I never really associated cartoons with NBC on Saturdays since I was too young to really remember any of their animated series. I only think of the many incarnations of Saved by the Bell on there.
I also remember the other teen shows NBC did throughout the 90s in addition to Saved by the Bell:The New Class. Peter Engel was involved with some of those shows and I think California Dreams was one of the shows he produced. There was City Guys and Hang Time which started in the 90s, but ended in 2000 or 2001.
10-11-14 | 12:24 PM
#5
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
I can sorta vaguely remember seeing this when I was a little kid.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Vvx7GhLnzdQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
It's both funny and sad that Saturday morning TV went from cartoon programming for over-sugared children to news programming for over-caffeinated adults.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Vvx7GhLnzdQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
It's both funny and sad that Saturday morning TV went from cartoon programming for over-sugared children to news programming for over-caffeinated adults.
10-11-14 | 12:26 PM
#6
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
I remember when there was always a two page spread in the center of comic books on the new fall Saturday morning cartoon schedule. There was even a sneak peak preview on at least one of the stations on Friday night before the premieres the next day.
10-11-14 | 12:27 PM
#7
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
Reading about the history of them just now, I was surprised to learn that Top Cat and Mr. Magoo were originally prime time shows. I was around for the tail end of it in the late 80's through about 1996 (main broadcast ones I'd watch were Fox, UPN, WB) cable would be Nick, USA, Family Channel.
But when I tuned into Ninja Turtles around 1994 and saw that this shit was the theme, I knew it was time to bail:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_oSGPIYqlPk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
But when I tuned into Ninja Turtles around 1994 and saw that this shit was the theme, I knew it was time to bail:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_oSGPIYqlPk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
10-11-14 | 12:55 PM
#8
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
I remember trying my best to wake up extra early on Saturdays even though I didn't really like the 6am fare. The early stuff included Mr Magoo in my market iirc. And then the late morning/noon stuff wasn't much to my liking either, that included Fat Albert. But the ~ 8am to 11am bracket? That was the highlight of my week for several years there.
10-11-14 | 01:01 PM
#9
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
Reading about the history of them just now, I was surprised to learn that Top Cat and Mr. Magoo were originally prime time shows. I was around for the tail end of it in the late 80's through about 1996 (main broadcast ones I'd watch were Fox, UPN, WB) cable would be Nick, USA, Family Channel.
But when I tuned into Ninja Turtles around 1994 and saw that this shit was the theme, I knew it was time to bail:
But when I tuned into Ninja Turtles around 1994 and saw that this shit was the theme, I knew it was time to bail:
Our UPN affiliate where I grew up was broadcast on an extremely low frequency which made the channel look like a VHS tape that was 7 generations removed from the original recording. It was unwatchable until 2003 when another affiliate took over.
I don't remember any cartoons on The WB. There was better stuff on cable by that time.
The true definition of Saturday morning cartoons died sometime in the early 90s to me. After that it didn't "feel" the same.
These bumpers to me defined it:
10-11-14 | 01:33 PM
#10
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
Born in '81, I probably stopped watching Saturday morning cartoons and live action shows by '94. I still watched the after school stuff for a few more years. I think The Simpsons raised the bar for animated shows and I just became uninterested in more kiddie fare. Funny thing is that I still enjoy watching the shows I grew up with and even those that were before my time.
10-11-14 | 01:54 PM
#11
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
I remember trying my best to wake up extra early on Saturdays even though I didn't really like the 6am fare. The early stuff included Mr Magoo in my market iirc. And then the late morning/noon stuff wasn't much to my liking either, that included Fat Albert. But the ~ 8am to 11am bracket? That was the highlight of my week for several years there.
10-11-14 | 03:01 PM
#13
DVD Talk Hero
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
I guess I thought they were dead a lot longer than just recently but maybe that's just because I haven't watched them in such a long time. To me the last really good era of Saturday Morning Cartoons was probably around the late 90s or early 2000s on Fox and ABC. Although by that time I remember thinking to myself even as a younger kid that they were starting to suck, particularly the stuff on ABC, I think the only show they had that I liked was Disney's Doug which was never as good as the Nickelodeon version anyways.
10-11-14 | 04:14 PM
#15
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
When I was real young I could take or leave Saturday morning cartoons. Something to watch if nothing better to do. This was the years of Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear, Quick Draw McGraw, etc.
For two years, 1966-67/1967-68 seasons, I planned my day around them. These were the two years of Space Ghost, Birdman, Herculoids, Fantastic Four, Mighty Mitor & Moby Dick, Spider-Man, King Kong, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Fantastic Voyage, Superman, Aquaman, Shaz-zan, Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles.
Because of complaints about violence all the good stuff got yanked and replaced with dreck like Wacky Races, Archies, Banana Splits, etc.
I remember ABC would air their Saturday morning lineup on the Friday morning after thanksgiving.
Pretty sure this was local, but live action stuff like Sky King, Roy Rogers and Cisco Kid would also be on sat. mornings.
For two years, 1966-67/1967-68 seasons, I planned my day around them. These were the two years of Space Ghost, Birdman, Herculoids, Fantastic Four, Mighty Mitor & Moby Dick, Spider-Man, King Kong, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Fantastic Voyage, Superman, Aquaman, Shaz-zan, Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles.
Because of complaints about violence all the good stuff got yanked and replaced with dreck like Wacky Races, Archies, Banana Splits, etc.
I remember ABC would air their Saturday morning lineup on the Friday morning after thanksgiving.
Pretty sure this was local, but live action stuff like Sky King, Roy Rogers and Cisco Kid would also be on sat. mornings.
10-11-14 | 04:19 PM
#16
DVD Talk Hero
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
I thought Saturday morning cartoons had been dead for ten or fifteen years.
When I was a kid, that was sort of appointment television, but with the Cartoon Network and Disney Channel pumping out kids programming 24/7, Saturday morning seems to have lost its specialness.
When I was a kid, that was sort of appointment television, but with the Cartoon Network and Disney Channel pumping out kids programming 24/7, Saturday morning seems to have lost its specialness.
10-11-14 | 06:53 PM
#17
Senior Member
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
These are the bumpers that will always take me back to my era of saturday morning cartoons (specifically at 2:16):
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yuEjjmGVA98?feature=player_detailpage#t=135" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yuEjjmGVA98?feature=player_detailpage#t=135" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
10-11-14 | 07:22 PM
#18
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
I remember back in college in the 1980's, there were many college-aged people watching cartoons in the dorm tv room (or on their own tvs).
For some reason, the Transformers and GI Joe cartoons were very popular at the time. A few years later, it was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
For some reason, the Transformers and GI Joe cartoons were very popular at the time. A few years later, it was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Last edited by morriscroy; 10-11-14 at 09:55 PM.
10-11-14 | 07:33 PM
#19
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
I'm biased, but I definitely think GenX got the best of both worlds between the classics and the new hotness. Being in that era you got the best of pre-70s stuff reairing mixed in with all the hit 80s shows.
I remember getting up early in the AM (like 5:30) to watch Underdog, which might have been the first cartoon airing after the overnight 'station break.' Then you had stuff like Rocky & Bullwinkle, Popeye, Fat Albert, Hannah Barbara, Scooby Doo, Looney Tunes, Flintstones, Jetsons and the like rolling along with 80s stalwarts Superfriends, Transformers, MASK, Smurfs, Thundercats, He-Man, Muppet Babies, etc. (and in the afternoons DuckTales & Rescue Rangers). Plus during this entire time you have SchoolHouse Rock mixed in during commercial breaks
Then right on the tail end of 'am I too old for cartoons' you're rolling into TMNT, Ghostbusters, Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, Doug, Gummi Bears, TaleSpin, etc.
Lastly, the single most memorable commercial that I will forever associate with Saturday morning cartoon blocks:
Was Fat Albert on Saturdays? I remember it being on during the week before school.
I remember getting up early in the AM (like 5:30) to watch Underdog, which might have been the first cartoon airing after the overnight 'station break.' Then you had stuff like Rocky & Bullwinkle, Popeye, Fat Albert, Hannah Barbara, Scooby Doo, Looney Tunes, Flintstones, Jetsons and the like rolling along with 80s stalwarts Superfriends, Transformers, MASK, Smurfs, Thundercats, He-Man, Muppet Babies, etc. (and in the afternoons DuckTales & Rescue Rangers). Plus during this entire time you have SchoolHouse Rock mixed in during commercial breaks
Then right on the tail end of 'am I too old for cartoons' you're rolling into TMNT, Ghostbusters, Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, Doug, Gummi Bears, TaleSpin, etc.
Lastly, the single most memorable commercial that I will forever associate with Saturday morning cartoon blocks:
I remember trying my best to wake up extra early on Saturdays even though I didn't really like the 6am fare. The early stuff included Mr Magoo in my market iirc. And then the late morning/noon stuff wasn't much to my liking either, that included Fat Albert. But the ~ 8am to 11am bracket? That was the highlight of my week for several years there.
10-11-14 | 09:38 PM
#20
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
My Sat morning cartoons were the early 70's with Grape Ape and Inch High Private Eye and the like.
Besides getting up early on Sat morning I would make sure I watched the half hour preview show that aired on the Friday night either during the summer of the Friday before the first new shows of the season.
I remember the preview for Grape Ape referred to the Dog as a fast talker and was confused when he spoke in a normal speed.
Besides getting up early on Sat morning I would make sure I watched the half hour preview show that aired on the Friday night either during the summer of the Friday before the first new shows of the season.
I remember the preview for Grape Ape referred to the Dog as a fast talker and was confused when he spoke in a normal speed.
10-11-14 | 11:00 PM
#21
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
Remember when ABC had nearly 7 hours of kids stuff? The toons would start at 7:00am and then the Saturday Afternoon Special (A kid's TV movie) would get going at 12:30pm.
...Tha days.
...Tha days.
10-12-14 | 01:34 AM
#22
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
When I was a kid, that was sort of appointment television, but with the Cartoon Network and Disney Channel pumping out kids programming 24/7, Saturday morning seems to have lost its specialness.
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/A9qKMJ93QoI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
NBC was the first network to dump Saturday cartoons in favor of the Saturday Today Show. I had the foresight to tape this preview special in 1987:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/k7P6Fk5PdzI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Being on the west coast, cartoons were often cut short for sports- I never liked sports and that just gave me further reason to hate them.
One thing I've noticed is EVERY generation claims that the best cartoons were from THEIR time, and ones after that were crap. This was certainly true in the 80s as many cartoons were essentially program-length toy commercials, but now kids from that era think those were great and the cartoons being made now are crap. But as I was a Pac-Man nut, I got up early every week to see the Pac-Man cartoon.
10-12-14 | 01:51 AM
#23
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
I'm a fan of mostly anything from the 80s first and foremost, but there was a lot of junk back then that has been lost to time without any sort of home video releases.
Aside from those, cartoons like TMNT, The Real Ghostbusters, Transformers, and G.I. Joe weren't the sitcom-y like stuff that most cartoons were before that point. I've never been a huge Hanna-Barbera fan, but the 80s brought more variety with different animation studios.
And yes, everyone born in a certain generation thinks "their shows" are the best. That's just how it is. I work with people born in the 90s and although I grew up with a lot of similar shows that they do I feel they are inferior to what I enjoyed just a few years prior. Even now, the animated shows on cable really aren't the same. I'll admit I enjoy some of the ones I've seen, but overall majority are nearly unwatchable. I had to think what I'll be stuck watching in 10 years when I have kids.
10-12-14 | 06:43 AM
#24
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
Reading comprehension FTW.
I didn't claim GenX had the best shows, I said they had it made getting to experience the pre 80s variety mixed in with 80s goodness and running into early 90s greats.
I didn't claim GenX had the best shows, I said they had it made getting to experience the pre 80s variety mixed in with 80s goodness and running into early 90s greats.
10-12-14 | 08:08 AM
#25
DVD Talk Legend
Re: RIP Saturday Morning Cartoons
Why are there still situation comedies?