Kids Desert Saturday-Morning TV Shows

The Internet Movie Database ^

[Drew68]

Kids Desert Saturday-Morning TV Shows

Over the past twenty years, the audience of kids for Saturday-morning network cartoon shows has plummeted from more than 20 million to fewer than two million, even while the children's population of the country has increased by 10 percent, according to the Animation World website.

Reasons include several factors ranging from the rising divorce rate, with parents deciding to spend more "quality time" with their kids on weekends, to the rising popularity of cable TV.

As a result, Animation World observed, "network cartoons are left struggling to make money, while advertisers remain befuddled without a mainstream channel to promote new toys and products to children."

[Drew68]

Anybody else remember those preview shows?

What a trip down memory lane. I had forgotten all about those preview shows till I read your post. I remember them well. I lived for those!!!

FYI, I'm pushing 35.

[Rocko]

SpongeBob's worth seeing. But he's on cable and DVD.

[Paul Atreides]

Thundarr the Barbarian was pretty good.

[rwfromkansas]

I turned 20 last month. I remember watching Saturday morning cartoons as a young kid....because they were good at that time. Then, slowly but surely, they started cutting off the good ones. I was still quite young when they began to do this. First it was Garfield and Friends. Then, they started moving around and lowering the amount of time Bugs Bunny and Friends was on.

I started looking at some other cartoons, but except for a couple, they all stunk bigtime. So, I didn't see any sense in getting up anymore as an elementary school kid if they were going to put up such crap on tv. I started sleeping in on Saturday mornings, a decision I do not regret...:)

If they actually had good cartoons, maybe today's kids would watch.

[mhking]

Well, let's see. As opposed to having to wait until Saturday morning for cartoons, the kids can get 'em 24/7, thanks to Nickelodean, Disney Channel, Toon Disney, Nick Toons, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, ABC Family and whoever else decides to show cartoons (and that's not even counting anime)...

Is there any wonder that kids are getting away from the old Saturday morning tradition?

[CyberCowboy777]

Ah GI Joe!

I bought the Movie on DVD for my young boys and have a few of the multi story runs on VHS. Good stuff.

Can't have all that 'right' and 'wrong' stuff now. Oh and the blatant pro American stance... that's a no no for sure.

[thinking]

If you want a clue as what is happening to present day cartoons/TV, I suggest one look at the credits at the end of the show...note the gender of the of the folks producing the today's shows....now for a contast; pick any "old" TV production, the classics that are entertaining, Bugs, RoadRunner etc, note the gender of the producers and the backroom people as the credits roll....

[rwfromkansas]

I was a Scooby Doo fan and also liked Bugs Bunny and TMNT.

[Dale 1]

Beep Beep! My favorite will always be the Road Runner.

[mhking]

"Batman - The Animated Series" was pretty good but fell off with Batman and Robin.

I've been pretty pleased with 'Justice League' on Cartoon Network; I like 'Samurai Jack' on there as well. Of course, 'The Simpsons' and 'South Park' rule...

[SerpentDove]

These were the greatest EVER!!!

[Paul Atreides]

I hate to say it, but you are right. SciFi Channel's president is a woman, and just look at the crappy content on that channel. The only time I watch it is when Dune is on. We need more conservative women taking their places.

[CyberCowboy777]

'The Simpsons' are a classic still running.

I have never seen a 'South Park', but I hear good things. Of course I'd have to rent as I don't have cable or Satellite.

[ffusco]

Anyone remember the Battle of the Planets circa 1976?

[Paul Atreides]

Back in the early 80s, there was an extremely politically incorrect toon on, on Saturday mornings. It was called Goldie Gold and Action Jack, all about the world's richest girl and her friend Jack. Not only was she extremely rich, but she didn't feel guilty about it.

[SarahW]

I gave up ballet for Johnny Quest! Today, I would not have the opportunity cost dilemma.

When I tell my young son about the "olden" days when we had three channels and cartoons once a week (though there was Bullwinkle on Sunday, I guess) he honestly feels sorry for me :)

[ffusco]

SBSP is about the funniest innocent humor on TV .

[husky ed]

People (ie cartoon characters) got hurt or killed and that wasn't real life. So you couldn't show that anymore. Most of what they have today is crap.
Though I do like Jimmy Neutron. And I'm 44. Go figure.

[TheBigB]

I remember those previews shows, too. I'd pore over the new TV GUIDE that had all the new toons, and make a schedule for Saturday morning. :) The best block used to be 7-8 am with ULTRAMAN followed by SPEED RACER. Followed by, in assorted years, SUPER FRIENDS, PAC-MAN, SCOOBY-DOO, JABBERJAW, FANGFACE, PLASTIC MAN, LAFF-A-LYMPICS, SPEED BUGGY, JOSIE & THE PUSSYCATS, GODZILLA, DYNOMUTT, FANTASTIC FOUR, SPIDER-MAN & HIS AMAZING FRIENDS, INCREDIBLE HULK, THE BATMAN/TARZAN/LONE RANGER ADVENTURE HOUR, LASSIE & THE RESCUE RANGERS, EMERGENCY + 4, etc. etc. etc. There were even live-action shows that were great--SHAZAM, ISIS, FAR OUT SPACE NUTS, GHOST BUSTERS, LOST SAUCER, KROFFT SUPERSHOW (with WONDERBUG, MAGIC MONGO, BIGFOOT & WILDBOY), HERO HIGH, JASON OF STAR COMMAND, MONSTER SQUAD, KIDS FROM C.A.P.E.R., etc.

Anybody remember all of those? :)

[TC Rider]

The only animation worth watching is on Wednesday at 10:00 on Comedy Central

Whatever, I watch what I like.