The All-New Popeye Hour - Thoughts?

[Marty26]

So, what are everybody's thoughts on this "modernized" (read: 1978) revival of the Popeye series? Is it actually worthwhile, or is it just another piece of trash from H-B's 70's/80's cartoon dump?

I remember regularly seeing it on The Family Channel back in 1991-1992. I suppose it deserves credit for at least attempting to keep in the spirit of the classic Popeye cartoons. Unfortunately, there were many problems with it. As is the case for many "classic cartoon revivals", it suffers from faulty characterization. Bluto IIRC was basically made into a humorless villain who essentially tormented Popeye for no real reason (at least, in the older cartoons, he was motivated by something like his love for Olive Oyl). And the modernization really detracted from the cartoon's nostalgia. I have to admit, though, that those Olive And Goon Join The Army segments were pretty funny. And there were a few memorable cartoons in the main Popeye series (such as Around The World In 80 Hours).

Overall, there were worse at the time (the late-70's and early-80's were basically the pits for Saturday Morning cartoons - even though, ironically, they were probably at their most popular during that time period). But I'd say the series was probably average at best.

[MF TOON]

stinko.

[tristar]

Eeeeeeeyuuuchh!

Just another terrible PC bastardization of one of my favourite cartoons.

Please don't ever mention it again. :sailor:

[larriva9/11]

(the late-70's and early-80's were basically the pits for Saturday Morning cartoons - even though, ironically, they were probably at their most popular during that time period).

Really? Maybe when it came to something like the Smurfs re "most popular"; but I suspect the Saturday Morning popularity tailspin was already in the works by the late 70s, with the hitmaking machinery behind the Archies a faded memory, with the Krofft empire collapsing under its own dead weight, with the gradual "trickle down" of hitherto adult-style (or at least non-Saturday-Morning-style; cf. the Muppet Show) entertainment to the kiddies, etc.

[Marty26]

Yeah, I probably should've also mentioned that the cartoon's violence was toned down due to the networks complaining about there being far too much violence on television.

Actually, watching a few cartoons, I'd like to change my vote to "it was terrible" (Matt, Jon, any moderator - could you please do this?). The cartoon, contrary to my memory of it as a kid, is almost NOTHING like the classic Popeye cartoons. Even the Famous Studios ones of the 50's were better than this. I already pointed out how Bluto is basically made into a schoolyard bully, picking on Popeye for no real reason. But there's also too much dialogue, Olive is way too ditzy (especially in those "Private Olive Oyl" shorts - which, sadly, were probably the funniest segments on this show), those Public Service Announcements at the end of each cartoon were unnecessary, the animation was boring, the music was bad. There are a ton of problems with that series.

I swear, thank God for Fairy Tale Theater. Otherwise, kid shows might still have been nothing but low-budget corporate schlock when I was watching them in the late-80's/early-90's.

[Marty26]

BTW, for those of you who've (fortunately) never seen it, here are a few episodes to calm your curiosity:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRRRK21igA8 - The show's intro.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twENfL1tI1w&feature=related - Bronto Beach.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUrORq61VQw&feature=related - Muscle Beach
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-EhCo5vAbo&feature=PlayList&p=A11F59BE4B9FF36D&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=19 -Goon Native.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYg7ULL7VoU&feature=related -The obligatory "safety message."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe0945Kus20&feature=related -The ending credits.

[nickramer]

I hate to be a party pooper, but are you trying to make The Termite Terrace Trading Post into another Jump the Shark fourm or The Termite Terrace Trading Polls. Either way, I'm getting weary on both.

[Marty26]

I hate to be a party pooper, but are you trying to make The Termite Terrace Trading Post into another Jump the Shark fourm or The Termite Terrace Trading Polls. Either way, I'm getting weary on both.

Isn't that usually what you do on message boards, though? Particularly when there's nothing noteworthy going on with its respective subject matter?

[jonmayo15]

Isn't that usually what you do on message boards, though? Particularly when there's nothing noteworthy going on with its respective subject matter?
Yeah, but this is from the 70's and thus OT...

[Der Captain]

Is this the one where Popeye wasn't allowed to hit anybody, Wimpy was forced to talk like W.C. Fields, and the educational segments featured a talking wolf named Mr. No-No?

If so - :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::(:ma d::eek::confused::eek::eek::mad:!!!!!!

:sailor:: I'm sick to the finich. I just tossed me spinach!

[Marty26]

YES!!!

One of those "Mr. No-No" segments did, however, address marijuana smoking. Which must've been pretty risky for a kid's cartoon at the time.

[CueBallCat79]

Marty, what's with your fascination with crap?

[Geezil]

Ah, yes, Alice the Goon in the Army. Nightmares supreme for all ages are made of this. Guess how I voted? :shame:

(aw, no, you peeked!)

[kaseykockroach]

Marty, what's with your fascination with crap?
Ditto. :befuddled And this is coming from a huge fan of B-monster movies, and I'm not even that obsessed with badness!

[CueBallCat79]

Ditto. :befuddled And this is coming from a huge fan of B-monster movies, and I'm not even that obsessed with badness!

I didn't know you liked B-movie monster films. What kinds?

[Bradskey]

Ah, the one featured in that ill-advised Popeye and Friends DVD. I actually think the character designs are nice. Better than old white-suit and white-eyes of the 40s/50s IMO. And this was some of Jack Mercer's last voice work as the sailor, gotta give 'em a little credit for that. They could have gone with any old jerk for the voices probably. The DVD release was terrible. Even if its not a good cartoon, it shouldn't look like you're watching it through a very dirty window.

The even worse Popeye and Son was to be on a Volume 2 DVD. I had added it to my Amazon wishlist last year just to keep track and when the release was mercifully canceled then for a long time the saved entry in my wishlist simply stated something like "This item has been removed and is unavailable". Now just recently scrolling through cleaning up my list I find it is pointing to something again, though certainly not imminently available:

http://www.amazon.com/POPEYE-FRIENDS-TWO-DVD-MOVIE/dp/B001B23ECW/

[Marty26]

Marty, what's with your fascination with crap?

It's a little thing called nostalgia:

Daffy and Speedy - Grew up with the series, because it frequently aired on Nickelodeon's Looney Tunes block (as far as I know, Nick was the only network interested in airing the series - probably because it was one of the few WB cartoon series that wasn't already taken by another network).

The New Yogi Bear Show - Grew up with it, because Nickelodeon aired those "new" Yogi cartoons on their Nickelodeon's Most Wanted: Yogi Bear block in the early-90's.

The All New Popeye Hour - Grew up with it, because The Family Channel used to regularly air it during their after-school block in the early-90's. I actually thought it was a "new series", but then about 15 years later I did the research and saw that it was actually a forgotten Saturday Morning cartoon series that (almost a decade after cancellation) was syndicated along with other low-budget schlock like The Super Mario Brothers Super Show.

The Daffy/Speedy series I didn't really like much as a kid (except for a few cartoons). But I really enjoyed the "new" Yogi and Popeye cartoons. However, since I was "young and naive", I was willing to watch pretty much any animated show on television as long as my parents approved of it. Now that I have an older and more discerning mind, I'm more able to see how lame those series really were. But back then, they succeeded in at least keeping me entertained.

[Mark McNeil]

I really enjoyed Popeye's 1978-83 Saturday morning show.

"Popeye And Son", however, not so much the case.

[ThePeterNetwork]

To be quite honest, I don't remember details of the new Popeye cartoons. I just knew they existed. I gathered that they were so horrible, that my mind must have blocked it from my memory. I vaguely even remember Popeye & Son (except for the idea that the son hated spinach, never mind it gave him his dad's strength). But yeah, I probably wouldn't want to watch it or be reminded of its existence.

[kaseykockroach]

I didn't know you liked B-movie monster films. What kinds?
Aw, just watching anything where people are getting eaten by usually unconvincing-looking monsters has been a ongoing practice for yours truly. :tweety:

[Bobby Bickert]

One of those "Mr. No-No" segments did, however, address marijuana smoking. Which must've been pretty risky for a kid's cartoon at the time.

"Hey kids! Want some DRUGS?" *"Mr. No-No" has bad flashback*

[Glowworm]

*sigh* Yes, I remember this show sadly-I think I just basically watched ANYTHING as a kid. I didn't even like the original Popeye to begin with-so this probably didn't help. I really just have some vague memories of the stuff-things like Olive being a terrible driver, Popeye attempting to capture a donkey in a female donkey costume only to get caught himself, Popeye and Bluto arguing over who should nail a picture to Olive's wall (Um I think) and something on Popeye having to dress for a costume party and Bluto even dressing up as Popeye at one point.

Don't get me started on the "Olive and Goon join the Army" stuff-that lady sargent was absolutely grating. I also remember the public service announcements at the end-particularly one concerning Wimpy... Also, wasn't this the show responsible for claiming that Popeye only used his pipe to make the "toot toot noise" and not actually smoke it? Come on-at least let him smoke!

[CueBallCat79]

It's a little thing called nostalgia:

But the only thing you consistently seem nostalgic about is...well...crap. And you keep talking about crap despite the fact that all the members here keep dropping you none-to-subtle hints that they want you to stop.

[J Lee]

The first episode to air on the series had Bluto as "Mr. Disco" in the wake of the success of Saturday Night Fever and had the potential to be an updated 70s version of the Fleischer/Famous shorts like "The Dance Contest" or "Kickin' the Conga'Round". Instead, it devolved into a lame piece of crap, redeemed only slightly by having Jack Mercer's voice back in action.

And then it was downhill after that. Definite miss, unless you're comparing it to Hanna-Barbera's other attempt at trying to update a Paramount theatrical character, with "Casper and the Teen Angels". Then it's a masterpiece.

[Matthew Hunter]

I remember seeing it as a kid, and it bored me. Watching those clips now, it still bores me! The voices are good, the design is good, and the opening with all the characters walking out onto the dock is fun.

...But nobody does anything except talk. It's not the most horrible classic cartoon updating I've ever seen, it's just a colossal bore!

[Tim Lones]

Maybe its out of Nostalgia the way I voted-Solid but Unspectacular..I watched the older Popeyes(Fleischer/Famous and King) as a kid. I think I WANTED this to be so much better than it was..And it could have been..I think the "Olive in the Army" was sort of a takeoff on "Private Benjamin"..That series (Olive in the Army)was not necessary..I dont even remember the PSA's at the end..

"Popeye and Son" I remember being run on USA Network Sunday Mornings at 10AM ET after "The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo"..At The time, I taped over half ofthe Magoo Shows in that time period..

[Marty26]

Don't get me started on the "Olive and Goon join the Army" stuff-that lady sargent was absolutely grating.

Actually, I thought Sgt. Blast (yes, that was her actual name :rolleyes: ) was the best character on the show. But I agree that, despite being funny, those segments were totally unnecessarily. Mainly because the concept was so ridiculous. I mean, here you have two females, Olive Oyl and Alice The Goon, as ditzy soldiers in the army. Does anybody see the logic in this? :confused: It's like H-B has the idea for a Sgt. Benjamin spoof floating around but never materializing. And then, finally, somebody decided it was time to make use of it by sticking Olive Oyl and Alice The Goon into the spoof.

[Marty26]

But the only thing you consistently seem nostalgic about is...well...crap. And you keep talking about crap despite the fact that all the members here keep dropping you none-to-subtle hints that they want you to stop.

Okay, here's the deal: Crap is IMO more fun to discuss than quality. It's a lot more fun to criticize and pick apart an entertainment piece than it is to rave about it. Kind of like how reviews for bad video games are usually more entertaining than reviews for good video games.

[nickramer]

Okay, here's the deal: Crap is IMO more fun to discuss than quality. It's a lot more fun to criticize and pick apart an entertainment piece than it is to rave about it. Kind of like how reviews for bad video games are usually more entertaining than reviews for good video games.
Yeah, but sometimes, in a few months, the topics can wear out their welcome. And this is one of those times.

[samtheq]

Yeah, but sometimes, in a few months, the topics can wear out their welcome. And this is one of those times.


Now, now, now, let's put this in perspective. I was five years old when I watched it, loved it, and it solidified my status as a Popeye fan, and encouraged me to discover the Fleischer toons and seek them out. The Famous and KFS toons ran endlessly a couple of years later, and that helped too. Plus, you had the great Jack Mercer.

Come to think of it, that's how i became a Godzilla fan too, also from a 1978 show that wasn't quite as good as the series it represented! So there you have it.

brant

[nickramer]

Now, now, now, let's put this in perspective. I was five years old when I watched it, loved it, and it solidified my status as a Popeye fan, and encouraged me to discover the Fleischer toons and seek them out. The Famous and KFS toons ran endlessly a couple of years later, and that helped too. Plus, you had the great Jack Mercer.

Come to think of it, that's how i became a Godzilla fan too, also from a 1978 show that wasn't quite as good as the series it represented! So there you have it.

brant
I wasn't refering to the whole Popeye topic here, I was refering to the whole inferior animation topics. I already had enough with the Daffy and Speedy films.

As for the series, I do admit they got the designs right and I did read a transcript of an episode that I thought was good. I know that Mark Eviner wrote some of the episodes.

However, it would of been better if we didn't have those lousy animation codes formed by over-protected parents.
Plus, they shouldn't made the Caveman cartoons as a series. While this novelty is good for a couple of cartoons (I'm surprised that there wasn't a complete set-up like this in any of the theatrical shorts), it just doesn't as a whole series. It's the same reason witl Olive and Alice the Goon in the army, which unfortuantly, H-B didn't seem to learn their lesson when they re-pitch the idea a few years later, this time having Lavern and Shierly in the two former's places. And that was a whole series!

[Marty26]

Wait, H-B made a cartoon series out of LaVerne and Shirley? Geez, I'm amazed there was never a Jeffersons cartoon series. Or how about a Full House cartoon series? Hey, let's do a Beverly Hills 90210 cartoon series! The only live action series that ever worked as a cartoon series is Dennis The Menace. And that's due mostly to the fact that the live action series was already based on a comic strip.

Anyway, as Nic pointed out, it is important to understand that many of us were exposed to series like Yogi Bear and Popeye largely through those "inferior remakes" of the 70's and 80's. And typically, when you're a kid, you don't really have a discerning enough mind to judge such series. You're just happy to see cartoons!

And Nic, on a personal note (just answer the question - no discussion), didn't you once say that you had mixed feelings towards the Daffy/Speedy series (ie. felt it was neither a "hit" nor a "miss")?

[Mr. Semaj]

Anyway, as Nic pointed out, it is important to understand that many of us were exposed to series like Yogi Bear and Popeye largely through those "inferior remakes" of the 70's and 80's. And typically, when you're a kid, you don't really have a discerning enough mind to judge such series. You're just happy to see cartoons!

Not always. Even as a kid, I always preferred classic Tom & Jerry over Tom & Jerry Kids, and I was never too enthusiastic about most of Disney's TV toons. On the other hand, I liked both the 60's and 80's Jetsons equally, though the 80's series had its share of problems.

As for this Popeye series, I only have a very faint memory of it. I was thankfully weaned off the Fleischer/Famous cartoons, so I paid very little attention to this version anyways. Still, how Hanna-Barbera got a hold of Popeye (and Casper) I'll never know.

[nickramer]

And Nic, on a personal note (just answer the question - no discussion), didn't you once say that you had mixed feelings towards the Daffy/Speedy series (ie. felt it was neither a "hit" nor a "miss")?
Well, yeah, but you keep driving that topic in the ground so much, that I rather not talk about my complete opinion of the series.

[Marty26]

I'll admit it: It's sometimes fun to bring up the :daffy::speedy: topic just to see all the negative reactions it usually gets. ;)

Not always. Even as a kid, I always preferred classic Tom & Jerry over Tom & Jerry Kids, and I was never too enthusiastic about most of Disney's TV toons. On the other hand, I liked both the 60's and 80's Jetsons equally, though the 80's series had its share of problems.

As for this Popeye series, I only have a very faint memory of it. I was thankfully weaned off the Fleischer/Famous cartoons, so I paid very little attention to this version anyways. Still, how Hanna-Barbera got a hold of Popeye (and Casper) I'll never know.

Similarly, I liked the 60's and 80's Yogi Bear cartoons equally as a kid. I just saw the 80's Yogi Bear as a "modern" update to the 60's (and late-50's) Yogi. Unfortunately, the series I think tried to be a little "too modern." Referencing just about every 80's cliche from Rambo to Top Gun. And, watching a couple of those "new" Yogi Bear cartoons about a year ago (for the first time since probably 1993 - I was only 10/11 years old at the time), I think I can see now why so many people hate them.

As for Tom and Jerry, I honestly don't think I've ever seen an episode of Tom And Jerry Kids in my entire life. I only remember seeing the show's intro and theme music a few times.

I, too, often wonder how H-B managed to get a hold of the Popeye license. Then again, to make something like The Brady Kids, they must've had some pretty interesting means of negotiating with other television production companies.

[CueBallCat79]

I'll admit it: It's sometimes fun to bring up the :daffy::speedy: topic just to see all the negative reactions it usually gets. ;)

Yeah, that's trolling.

We're sick of it.

Stop.

[nickramer]

I, too, often wonder how H-B managed to get a hold of the Popeye license. Then again, to make something like The Brady Kids, they must've had some pretty interesting means of negotiating with other television production companies.
Filmation did The Brady Kids, not H-B.

[Matthew Hunter]

I'll admit it: It's sometimes fun to bring up the :daffy::speedy: topic just to see all the negative reactions it usually gets. ;).

Which is precisely why you should stop doing it. Nobody likes a person who seeks NEGATIVE attention. I don't think there's really any more to say about the Daffy/Speedy series than hasn't been said here time and again. We've all discussed it at length, and I really don't see why you insist on turning every topic into a discussion about it.

http://www.masonicinfo.com/images/BeatDeadHorse.gif

[Brandon Panther]

I've never seen this Popeye series before, and judging from the sounds of things, the comments from the posters here are funnier than anything that the show ever put out.

:sailor:: I'm sick to the finich. I just tossed me spinach!

[Bobby Bickert]

Wait, H-B made a cartoon series out of LaVerne and Shirley?

Yes, "Laverne and Shirley in the Army". Their commanding officer was a talking pig named Sergeant Squealy, who was voiced by the guy who played Horshak on Welcome Back Kotter.

H-B also made "Fonz and the Happy Days Gang" around the same time. This had the Fonz, Richie and Ralph travelling in a time machine with a female alien named Cupcake who had magic powers that usually didn't work right. The cartoon also gave the Fonz a talking dog named Mr. Cool.

And thirdly, H-B made a Saturday morning cartoon version of Mork and Mindy. The network wouldn't allow Mork and Mindy to live together like they did in the original series, so the cartoon made them teenagers who attended high school together. They also gave Mork an alien pet named Doing. (I only ever saw one episode of this cartoon since by then I had joined a Saturday morning bowling league.)

[Matt the Y]

Most laughably of all, Hanna-Barbera made a TV cartoon based off Pac-Man!!!!!!!!!! Pac-Man isn't a cartoon character, he's a non-descript video game character with NO personality to speak of whatsoever! All he does is just go through level after level after level eating dots and ghosts to win points and levels and that is the utter extent of everything he does! So why the HELL would they even want to make a TV series out of something so utterly materialless?

Oh, but wait, they GAVE him a personality and such by giving him a family to live with and support and the voice of forgotten comedian Marty Ingels. Yeah. :rolleyes: Just because you have the chance to do it doesn't mean you should.....

[Marty26]

Alright, fine. I'm sorry.

Anyway, the openings for those shows are on Youtube:

Laverne And Shirley Join The Army - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZGA47K0MZU That pig has one of the UGLIEST designs I've ever seen.

Fonz And The Happy Days Gang - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtW6wS3z97Q&feature=related I could swear that announcer was voiced by the same guy who did the announcing in the Dreamcast/Arcade game Crazy Taxi.

Unfortunately, I can't find the intro for the Mork & Mindy cartoon on Youtube. So here's the best (worst?) of all three worlds: Laverne and Shirley, Fonz And The Happy Days Gang, and Mork & Mindy rolled into one single intro (the three cartoons, around 1982, were combined into one hour long series):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiKN6uRsTM0

The network wouldn't allow Mork and Mindy to live together like they did in the original series, so the cartoon made them teenagers who attended high school together. They also gave Mork an alien pet named Doing.

...................................

[Marty26]

Most laughably of all, Hanna-Barbera made a TV cartoon based off Pac-Man!!!!!!!!!! Pac-Man isn't a cartoon character, he's a non-descript video game character with NO personality to speak of whatsoever! All he does is just go through level after level after level eating dots and ghosts to win points and levels and that is the utter extent of everything he does! So why the HELL would they even want to make a TV series out of something so utterly materialless?

Oh, but wait, they GAVE him a personality and such by giving him a family to live with and support and the voice of forgotten comedian Marty Ingels. Yeah. :rolleyes: Just because you have the chance to do it doesn't mean you should.....

OMG! I actually SAW Christmas Comes To Pacland about three years ago when it was posted on the internet. Forget A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Raindeer, The Night Before Christmas, A Garfield Christmas, or even Mickey's Christmas Carol: THIS is the greatest Christmas special ever made!!!!!!

::Suddenly, the world turns right side up again::

Errrrrrrrrrrrrrr, wait a minute.

[ThePeterNetwork]

Most laughably of all, Hanna-Barbera made a TV cartoon based off Pac-Man!!!!!!!!!! Pac-Man isn't a cartoon character, he's a non-descript video game character with NO personality to speak of whatsoever! All he does is just go through level after level after level eating dots and ghosts to win points and levels and that is the utter extent of everything he does! So why the HELL would they even want to make a TV series out of something so utterly materialless?

Oh, but wait, they GAVE him a personality and such by giving him a family to live with and support and the voice of forgotten comedian Marty Ingels. Yeah. :rolleyes: Just because you have the chance to do it doesn't mean you should.....
Hey, don't go knocking Pac-Man. That was a great character to base an animated series off of. Sure, it was silly at times, often pointless, but hey! It's Pac-Man! Gaze in awe of the Great Yellow Wonder! Behold his superiority over power pellets and blue ghosts, and all sorts of fun stuff like that there!

http://www.thepeternetwork.com/images/coolpics/HBPac-Man.jpg
SPLENDID GOOD PAC-MAN IS BE!

[kaseykockroach]

OMG! I actually SAW Christmas Comes To Pacland about three years ago when it was posted on the internet. Forget A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Raindeer, The Night Before Christmas, A Garfield Christmas, or even Mickey's Christmas Carol: THIS is the greatest Christmas special ever made!!!!!!

::Suddenly, the world turns right side up again::

Errrrrrrrrrrrrrr, wait a minute.
Sorry, Marty. I'm afraid Star Wars still holds that honor, not Pac-Man.
Oh, and A Robot for All Seasons gets second place. :daffy:

[larriva9/11]

And thirdly, H-B made a Saturday morning cartoon version of Mork and Mindy. The network wouldn't allow Mork and Mindy to live together like they did in the original series, so the cartoon made them teenagers who attended high school together. They also gave Mork an alien pet named Doing. (I only ever saw one episode of this cartoon since by then I had joined a Saturday morning bowling league.)

Is "Doing" pronounced like "Boing", or is it "Do-ing", like a dog relieving itself?;)

Anyway, I reiterate: by the late 70s, we were easing into an era (maybe with an assist from lenient parenting) where non-Saturday morning entertainment, even that which wasn't specifically kid-oriented, was upstaging Saturday mornings even among the kids. That's why they remember Mork & Mindy better than they remember the cartoon Mork & Mindy...

[Matt the Y]

OMG! I actually SAW Christmas Comes To Pacland about three years ago when it was posted on the internet. Forget A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Raindeer, The Night Before Christmas, A Garfield Christmas, or even Mickey's Christmas Carol: THIS is the greatest Christmas special ever made!!!!!!

::Suddenly, the world turns right side up again::

Errrrrrrrrrrrrrr, wait a minute.

Hey, a You Can't Do That on Television reference! Awesome! :D;):)

[Geezil]

With benefit of hindsight and fairness, it becomes obvious that the ABC network had some sort of deep-seated problem with Mork and Mindy from the get-go in 1978! This despite the fact that the original live-action sitcom was a monster hit for ABC throughout its first season (thankfully, we now have an uncut Season 1 DVD set to remind the world of why that was so).

Witness the wholesale changes forced upon "M&M" when Season 2 went into production (and throughout the rest of the original show's run), and it shouldn't be hard to agree that turning the key characters into animated high-schoolers was quite mild by comparison with what went before.

Last and least, whoever actually green-lighted the "Gotta Run" three-part eternal cliffhanger (co-featuring "Kalnik of Neptune") that ended the original "M&M" in spring 1982 certainly deserved to suffer an extended attack of TV Programmer's Conscience, whatever that is.

Or, as Jonathan Winters' Mearth was heard to mutter several times in that story arc (while displaying a very noticeable grimace): "Oh Mommy." :rolleyes:

End of trivia(l) rant.

[Marty26]

What was actually wrong with Seasons 2-4 of Mork and Mindy anyway? I thought they were just fine when I watched them all those years ago on Nickelodeon.

[nickramer]

Alright, fine. I'm sorry.

Anyway, the openings for those shows are on Youtube:

Laverne And Shirley Join The Army - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZGA47K0MZU That pig has one of the UGLIEST designs I've ever seen.

Fonz And The Happy Days Gang - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtW6wS3z97Q&feature=related I could swear that announcer was voiced by the same guy who did the announcing in the Dreamcast/Arcade game Crazy Taxi.

Unfortunately, I can't find the intro for the Mork & Mindy cartoon on Youtube. So here's the best (worst?) of all three worlds: Laverne and Shirley, Fonz And The Happy Days Gang, and Mork & Mindy rolled into one single intro (the three cartoons, around 1982, were combined into one hour long series):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiKN6uRsTM0



...................................

I had to open my big browser mouth. Marty, will please stop doing this?

[Matthew Hunter]

Again, too damned much fixing of what had never been broken, that's what. C'est la vie.

I remember "Mork and Mindy" from Nickelodeon reruns when I was a kid. Wonder why it was controversial and subject to meddling? Guess Robin Williams running around in bad suspenders acting like a space alien was too much for some people.

[Geezil]

What was actually wrong with Seasons 2-4 of Mork and Mindy anyway? I thought they were just fine when I watched them all those years ago on Nickelodeon.

Well, here's what I prefer to call the first "WTF? moment" of Season 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNqo07H2Rpw

[Glowworm]

I'll admit it: It's sometimes fun to bring up the :daffy::speedy: topic just to see all the negative reactions it usually gets. ;)




As for Tom and Jerry, I honestly don't think I've ever seen an episode of Tom And Jerry Kids in my entire life. I only remember seeing the show's intro and theme music a few times.


Shh-you found my weakness-Not for the actual Tom and Jerry Kids segments though-those were pretty lame now that I think of it-used to find it cute though. It's actually the Droopy and Dripple shorts that were good--because they really didn't seem entirely child friendly despite the fact that Droopy was given a son... (hint-a hot red headed chick was a reoccuring character...)

PS. I actually know where to find some online...

[Marty26]

Well, here's what I prefer to call the first "WTF? moment" of Season 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNqo07H2Rpw

Yeah, the show definitely became more of a fantasy around that time. In the first season, it was just Mork trying to learn how to survive on Planet Earth. Then, in Season 2, the series took a darker tone and became more about character development and grandiose plots. Even axing the first season's gentle theme song and replacing it with not one but I think FOUR different disco renditions of it. And they were basically randomly picked out of a hat until one was finally decided on later in the season. IIRC, the first episode (Mork In Wonderland, which you showed here) also used the same generic font for the "Mork & Mindy" title that was used in Season 1. While each episode thereafter used a more stylized font with a giant egg representing the letter O. All that trouble with the opening credits should be pretty indicative that there was a lot of inner turmoil at the time over what to do with the series.

I think Season 3 did, however, attempt to bring the series back to its roots. Mindy's father returned, the theme song was changed again to something more in tune with the first season's theme song, etc. Unfortunately, the show's ratings (I think) dropped so low by that time that nobody really cared anymore.

Season 4, on the other hand, strayed even further from the series' roots than Season 2. Which is probably why Nickelodeon seemed reluctant to air any of its episodes and often just stuck to the first three seasons.

Looking back, the entire series was pretty lame. But I must say it definitely has an interesting history.

[J Lee]

ABC's other mistake was thinking that -- after one season as a mid-week hit against weaker CBS and NBC shows -- "Mork" was one of those 800-pound gorilla shows that could go anywhere it wanted -- in this case, to Sunday night, (http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19790804&id=9ecTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tQUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7076,947278)opposite the new "All In the Family" continuation, "Archie's Place" -- and hold the same ratings or improve on them from the previous season. Which it might have, if the show hadn't junked the original format because ABC thought the characters "trended too old and not sexy enough."

Which explained why Conrad Janis was basically dumped for Jay Thomas, and why the first episode of the revised show in its new time slot was a T&A festival. But if the audience wanted that, there were plenty of other places to go, and ABC then paired it up with "The Associates", which like "Taxi" came from the MTM stable of writers, directors and producers that did shows for a different demographic than what Garry Marshall was aiming for by 1979. It may have made Paramount happy to have both shows back-to-back, but the new "Mork" would have fit much better back-to-back with "Three's Company" while "The Associates" was paired with "Taxi" or "Barney Miller". And once you lose your status as a cultural phenomenon like "Mork" did after Season 1, it's almost impossible to get it back again.

[Marty26]

Wait, there was attempted sex appeal in that Incredible Shrinking Mork episode?

What I think probably also had a lot to do with the show's change in attitude was that its original premise was so shallow. Mork comes from the planet Ork to study human behavior. And, with the help of his new friend Mindy, he must learn the art of human behavior and how to mix in with society. Not a bad premise, mind you, but it's very limited. I think, at the end of Season 1, the show's creators probably figured they couldn't do much else with it. So, to keep the show going, they decided to focus more on developing Mork and Mindy as characters (this may also be part of the reason why so much of the original supporting cast was dropped).

To be honest, I thought those disco renditions of the M&M theme were cool. In fact, I liked them better than the IMO somewhat annoying version(s) in the first season.

[J Lee]

Wait, there was attempted sex appeal in that Incredible Shrinking Mork episode?

I probably should have clarified -- In the run-up to the start of Season 2, this (http://forums.superiorpics.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1508438/Re_Raquel_Welch_Mork_Mindy_Sea) is what ABC was hyping to the moon. Quite a change from her previous (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0523280/) appearances (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0644914/) on ABC sitcoms.

[Marty26]

I probably should have clarified -- In the run-up to the start of Season 2, this (http://forums.superiorpics.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1508438/Re_Raquel_Welch_Mork_Mindy_Sea) is what ABC was hyping to the moon. Quite a change from her previous (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0523280/) appearances (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0644914/) on ABC sitcoms.

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, yeah.

[Bobby Bickert]

Fonz And The Happy Days Gang - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtW6wS3z97Q&feature=related I could swear that announcer was voiced by the same guy who did the announcing in the Dreamcast/Arcade game Crazy Taxi.

Wolfman Jack?

[Marty26]

Hmmmm, guess not.

[Marty26]

Is this the one where Popeye wasn't allowed to hit anybody, Wimpy was forced to talk like W.C. Fields, and the educational segments featured a talking wolf named Mr. No-No?

If so - :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::(:ma d::eek::confused::eek::eek::mad:!!!!!!

:sailor:: I'm sick to the finich. I just tossed me spinach!

Yeah, I know this topic has worn out by now, but just a note: Those Education Segments actually could've been funny if they did these two things:

1. Use Bluto as the antagonist instead of Mr. No-No.

2. Make them more like those Mr. Know-It-All segments on Rocky And Bullwinkle, with Popeye trying to give a safety lesson and Bluto foiling him every time (or at least Popeye foiling Bluto every time).

[Mr. Semaj]

In this series, was it Bluto or "Brutus" Popeye was up against?

[Marty26]

Bluto. Which led to some God-awful lines like this:

:sailor: "I'll bet Bluto's wishin' he'd never gone fishin' says Popeye The Fisherman. ::Toot Toot::"

[Bugsy-Kun]

I watching it as the time where Popeye comes to my mind in the early-1990's and i loved it. Now i watched since a few years ago in a Digital channel and i feeling to don't know why i liked this. This having too much politically correctness that the real Popeye franchise don't. A real failure despite the Jack Mercer's return to Popeye's role.

I wishing this Digital channel aired the original cartoons from the Fleischer and Famous or even, the 1960's KFC cartoons than that. :eek:

[Marty26]

Well, like I said before, when you're a kid, you'll probably watch just about any cartoon you can get your hands on. It isn't until you get to be about 9 or 10 years old that you become more discerning.

[Marty26]

I just realized something: In the early/mid-90's, after school cartoons were typically of a higher quality than Saturday Morning cartoons. I mean, after school, we got shows like Gargoyles and Batman: The Animated Series. Saturday mornings, on the other hand, we got Yo Yogi and Free Willy: The Animated Series. :rolleyes: (Reboot was cool, though) Does anybody else find this strange?