KaBLaM!

[Mr. Semaj]

Nickelodeon's first Nicktoon anthology series, though it wasn't really considered a Nicktoon program until about a year later. It featured at least four regular segments, each showcasing different animation techniques, hosted by Henry & June (in Flash). Also featured were occasional msicellaneous cartoons, some of which were probably failed pilots (Louie & Louie was one example.)

I'd have to say the best segment were the Prometheus and Bob ones. There was something terribly funny about the alien trying to teach a caveman different things and failing, even the basics. The monkey didn't always help either.

Another old favorite was Sniz & Fondue. A lot of the trouble they got in were pretty funny.

[Brandon Panther]

When were "The Offbeats" ever referred to as "The Misfits"?

[looneytooney]

Loved, loved Action League Now! more than the others.

"And Meltman...with the power to...melt!"

Loved that show from my youth. :D

[nickramer]

Although this wasn't shown very and actully made it's debut as a series of two or three minute network filler segments (the first three are on a Rugrats tape I have), I like the Off-Beats which was Mo William's variation of Peanuts, a comic strip he's fond of.

Always like the gag when The Populars, a group of stuff up kids, keep throwing out a member after he says something stupid.

I also like "Loopy" and "Snizz and Fondue", thought most of the segment were pretty good.

[cbrubaker]

I loved "Sniz and Fondue". Probably the best of the bunch. Should've had its own show.

In fact, it was originally developed as such. Initially the main characters were actually Sniz and Fondue's two other roommates, Snuppa and Bionca and were the stars in the pilot John Dilworth directed, "Psyched for Snuppa". I guess when it became part of Kablam, they decided to make these two the stars.

[Leviathan]

I loved "Sniz and Fondue". Probably the best of the bunch. Should've had its own show.


Wow! I can't believe I'm not the only person who thinks that way.

Kablam! was one of my favorite Nicktoons. The format was inventive, and unlike other animated variety shows like "Animaniacs", virtually all of the segments were worth watching in one way or another.

[wiley207]

"The Off-Beats" is definitely my favorite. I've always been a big fan of Mo Willems's work. It's got his distinctive style to it, with stylized UPA/Hanna-Barbera -esque animation, groovy jazz scores and some funny running gags (such as the Populars always pretending to be nice when a grownup comes near, or Tommy's sudden verbal outbursts that even startle himself!)

One thing I noticed about "KaBLaM!" was the different sorts of music used. The "Henry & June" skits tended to use a mix of their own original music and the Associated Production Music library; "Prometheus and Bob" had no background music; the first season of "Sniz and Fondue" used the APM music library while the later seasons had its own original music cue library; "Life with Loopy" had its own original music cues; "Action League Now" mostly used the APM music library (to great extent, I must add!); each segment of "The Off-Beats" had an original jazz score (sort of a throwback to the old theatrical shorts here!); and the others varied.

Another note, on "Action League Now:" those segments were so darn funny! I think the best lines came from the Flesh (the naked Conan the Adventurer-like figure). The Chuckimation techniques used making those skits, I have also "borrowed" for some videos my friend and I make with our cartoon character stuffed animals...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNbeaXYZ9pY

[Marty26]

Action League Now. It was probably the most original of those segments, and it was refreshing to finally see Superfriends (one of the worst Saturday Morning cartoons ever made IMO) get a much-needed parody.

I also enjoyed The Off-Beats, for basically the same reasons everybody else here listed. I think my favorite episode was probably the one where they search for Betty-Anne's glasses, which of course were stolen by The Populars. It was funny seeing their dog dress like The President to get her glasses back.

This show came out around the time Hey Arnold! premiered (late-1996). By then, I was starting to move away from Nickelodeon. I remember they had several new shows at that time, and that Larissa Oleynik (of The Secret World Of Alex Mack fame) was their spokesperson during that fiscal year. In late-1997, it became Lori Beth Denberg from All That. I don't know who their spokespeople thereafter were, since I more or less stopped watching Nickelodeon by around mid-1998 except for Garfield And Friends. And by very late-1998, I abandoned the network altogether. Partially because I became too old for it, partially because I got too wrapped up with High School, and partially because they didn't seem to be airing anything interesting anymore.

[J. B. Warner]

I was quite fond of "Action League Now", to the point that when Burger King did a Nickelodeon-themed Kids' Meal promotion in 1998 that included real honest-to-goodness actual Flesh, Thundergirl, Stinky Diver, and Meltman toys, I made it a point to eat there every week until I got them. I succeeded!

I also really liked the animation style of "Sniz and Fondue", to the point that I also kinda wished they had their own series. I was a fan of "The Offbeats" from way back, when they were shown as interstitial segments on SNICK back before "Kablam" even existed.

I didn't really care for "Life With Loopy", though. The stories were inventive, yes, and the stop-motion animation was great, but what bugged me about it was that they kept inserting live actors into it. "Patch Head" took the concept even further by only utilizing live actors against an animated background, which led me to think "This technically isn't a cartoon."

[Marty26]

Patch Head was probably after I quit watching Nick, since I don't really remember it.

[Mr. Semaj]

Around the show's third or fourth year, Sniz and Fondue was replaced by much less interesting segments that integrated more live-action into the animation. Patch Head and Race Rabbit were the main ones.

[dandu]

I have not seen Kablam since I was seven but I remember enjoying that show a lot since it was extremely funny and had a lot of variety. My favorite back then was Action League Now! I don't think i enjoyed the offbeats that much but I will prolly like them more now since I am more mature.

[Wings]

Action League Now. It was probably the most original of those segments, and it was refreshing to finally see Superfriends (one of the worst Saturday Morning cartoons ever made IMO) get a much-needed parody.

Marty, I know website that would probably give you few good laughs right here (http://www.seanbaby.com/super.htm).

Anyway, I do agree that Action League Now! was the best. It was the one reason I watched KabBLaM!.

I will give a few points to Prometheus and Bob for its pantomime comedy, something lacking in most animated shows for kids (although Bob was so dumb that he got annoying) , and Sniz and Fondue had a few good sketches.

[CartoonCrazy]

I can't say I can vote. I have very vague memories of this show, and all of them with the hosts and Prometheus & Bob.

[Richie]

I loved KaBlam when I was younger! I agree with a majority of people here, Sniz and Foundue rocked and I was mad when they didn't appear, same when they were replaced. EVERYONE I knew that watched the show had nothing but praise about Action League Now!, but alas, it never excited me that much. Liked it, but not a lot. Life with Loopy usually kept me amused all the way through. Prometheus and Bob, meh. The Off-Beats was my second favorite, a shame it wasn't seen more.

The Louie & Louie short was amazing. Henry and June even had segments done specifically to promote it. Such a shame it didn't lead to a mini-series.

But as weird as it sounds, my favorite part of the program were Henry and June. There was something endearing about their antics and their animation style. I always rooted for Henry, and hated June sometimes. The episode where Henry has enough of the abuse he's being going thru, and leaves to open his own Kablam-themed fast-food restaurant was my favorite.

...Revisiting it recently, however, has made me realize there was a bit of a decline in later episodes, namely starting with Season 3. It wasn't a complete shark-jumpin season, but scripts weren't as imaginative as before, out-of-character moments started to appear...

Of course there is the occasional gem here and there, but the ones who suffered the most were the hosts. They downplayed them greatly in favor of Mr. B. Foot, which is hard to find likeable when the reason why the exists is to beat the crap out of Henry while June laughs. They also portrayed them as losers, their audience not really caring for the show, etc. Thus, giving them a "We Suck" essence.

In fact, the last episode finishes the series with Henry and June fired from their job as KaBlam's hosts, turned into security guards forced to chase wacky kids from creating chaos.....When THEY used to be those wacky kids in the first place.

Still, fun to be had, huh? Didn't mean this post to sound pessimistic, nor to bore anyone by making it too long and analyzing to death. Just my thoughts. I will give it a "Yay!"

[Mr. Semaj]

The Louie & Louie short was amazing. Henry and June even had segments done specifically to promote it. Such a shame it didn't lead to a mini-series.

I think that was one of those rejected Nicktoon pilots, going by its length.

The episode where Henry has enough of the abuse he's being going thru, and leaves to open his own Kablam-themed fast-food restaurant was my favorite.Loved that one too.

...Revisiting it recently, however, has made me realize there was a bit of a decline in later episodes, namely starting with Season 3. It wasn't a complete shark-jumpin season, but scripts weren't as imaginative as before, out-of-character moments started to appear...The show definitely took a dive when Sniz & Fondue disappeared. The two live-action cartoons in its place were boring.

In fact, the last episode finishes the series with Henry and June fired from their job as KaBlam's hosts, turned into security guards forced to chase wacky kids from creating chaos.....When THEY used to be those wacky kids in the first place.I'm not familiar with that one. In fact, I'm not sure if I've seen every episode. By mid-2000, the show had moved to Saturday mornings, and I hadn't kept up with it that much.

[Richie]

I think that was one of those rejected Nicktoon pilots, going by its length.

Loved that one too.

The show definitely took a dive when Sniz & Fondue disappeared. The two live-action cartoons in its place were boring.

I'm not familiar with that one. In fact, I'm not sure if I've seen every episode. By mid-2000, the show had moved to Saturday mornings, and I hadn't kept up with it that much.

Yeah, must have been a pilot that didn't suceed beyond that. I remember it being introduced as "Nickelodeon presents".

Oh, WERE they. I also recall they put a generic superhero girl on their place...

I didn't see the last episode when the series was airing, either; I stumbled across it while doing research earlier this year. My, in some way I'm thankful I didn't see it.

Also...Enjoy, everybody! (http://www.guba.com/watch/2000904982/Kablam-23-EpisodesAll-That-I-Have189483-Kablam-2x13-Wont-Stick-To-Most-Dental-WorkJMvol4040PAR2?duration_step=0&fields=23&filter_tiny=0&pp=40&query=kablam&sb=10&set=-1&sf=0&size_step=0&o=10&sample=1254089782:7ba6bb71a946547e900c82eef5691a9f ef257e2b)