The Lookback : Children's programming : NBC Saturday Mornings part III

NBC Children's programming   The Lookback 

    We did a part II so III comes after  as we delve back into our comfort zone in the lookback at  Saturday Morning network TV before it was killed by murder.
    Most of the shows in this lookback are from the 80's ,though there are a couple 70's in here (just like the real 80's).  So let's dive in.

1. Casper and the Angles
    Casper  the friendly ghost is a  guardian  angle for woman police motorcycle cops  in the year 2179.  (What?)   That's a description of this cartoon that came out in 1979 , produced by Hanna and Barbera .  There also was another ghost named Hairy Scary (who apparently lost his real name upon death) who liked to scare bad guys.  (Uh Judge, the cops used a ghost on me and I want my ticket canceled)

                                
                              I have a question , no wait make that a few/ copyright Turner
   Each episode had 2 segments and the series ran 13 episodes (lucky) From September to December 1979.   Though makes you wonder how much fun or worrying  Law and Order or other cop shows would be if they had ghosts helping them.
     

   2. Shirt Tales
      A magic shirt  goes on magic adventures  (psst , no  that's not the show) , oops  oh  A Tiger, A Panda, A Mole, a Raccoon , and an Orangutan  live together in Oak tree park  and wear shirts that flash words of their thoughts on them (why?). They bother a Janitor and also fight crime. (What?, ummm can we talk about Casper , please)
   Hallmark had a card line called Shirt Tales  which featured animals with words on their shirts.  Since the cards sold well, the natural thing was to made it a children's cartoon. ( Sounds logical) Hanna and Barbera decided to work with them and create the cartoon for NBC.  Since  TV shows have plots (well some of them do)  it seems the crime fighting thing was added on.   It started in 1982  and each episode had 2 half segments.  The first thirteen episodes did well so NBC renewed the show (yes? it did well)  for a 10 episode season 2. They added a Kangaroo (for some reason)  They also seemed to demote the Raccoon from leader to giving the Tiger that role (no comment) and episodes just didn't have him.   The Series ended in 1984 , after two seasons and 23 episodes.

                                 
                                     No comment / but it is on DVD now /  Copyright Warner
Also a fun note : the Voice of Bart Simpson , Nancy Cartwright voiced  the kangaroo.

3. Wish Kid
    We lied, there is one show from the 90's and from the last season of NBC doing kids shows before Teening it up. (that's a thing)
 Wish Kid staring  Macaulay Culkin (the actual  title of the cartoon)  came out in 1991 and is about named Nicholas /or Nick McClary  owned a magic baseball glove.  How was it magic ? It was struck by miniature shooting star. ( This show makes more sense than anything else)  It could grant wishes , though it had a limit (like a prepaid phone in the 2000's)  it could only be used once a week (meta ,aren't you show?) and each wish didn't last long.
             

                                 
                              I guess one temporary wish a week is better than none/ Copyright Dic.
  The series ran  13 episodes (today's number)  in 1991, as we said this was NBC's last year of doing general Children's programming.

4. Godzilla (also see #5 after 4)
      Ok , Godzilla , yeah let's get on right that.  Hanna and Barbera made the series for NBC it started in 1978.  The idea was  a cartoon version of  Godzilla.  The show was something Barbera wanted to do for awhile.  Now , also included  Godzooky, to have a father son thing going on. (Ummm)  Since this is network TV in the 1970's  the powers that be didn't want Godzilla to shoot flames , step on cars and buildings. (Or in other words , don't have a giant monster be a giant monster) We also have a team of scientists who call on Godzilla to help  when they are in peril.  Also predating E/I it PBS'd and gave you an educational segment in the middle of the show about something scientific.   The series ran from 1978-79 for 2 seasons of 13 episodes.
                           
   NOW see #5 it's kind of related.

5.  Jana of the Jungle.
      NBC ran Godzilla under the name "GodZilla Power Hour"  for a month, Godzilla was a half hour cartooon, so  what did NBC do the 2nd part ?  A new cartoon called "Jana of the Jungle"  Later on that  was called Godzilla Super 90 , but forget that for now.
   Jana of the Jungle was made by H&B (why not?) Jana was  lives in the Jungle because she got lost there. She is on the search for her father who vanished on the boating trip she was stranded on as a child. There are other humans there, to also help on the search for her father , though sadly she never does.  The series ran 13 (ugggh)  episodes  in 1978
 she also skinned one of her friends... / Copyright Warner

  That's our look back .. at  NBC Saturday Morning shows part III, tune in next time when NBC had  a show about a girl  who lived in the jungle , solves mysteries with her magic talking shirt and glove in the year 2179.

Upfront 2017: The CW

TVLOOKFALL2017   The CW  Upfronts  Primetime 

             
             The CW has released their fall schedule  which involves a  few changes. The CW has moved "Jane the Virgin" to Fridays pairing it with "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" ,which moved to Friday last season. Arrow makes it's move to Thursdays after "Supernatural".  "Riverdale" moves to Wednesdays. The CW has two new series for the fall , "Valor" which will air Mondays , and a re-boot of  "Dynasty".

   For the mid season  "i Zombie" , "The 100"  , and "The Originals" return and two new series "Black Lightning" and "Life Sentence"

 Here's the fall schedule
all times ET /PT
new series highlighted in blue



MONDAY
8 pm Supergirl
9 pm  Valor (New Series) 

TUESDAY
8 pm The Flash
9 pm DC’s Legends of Tomorrow

WEDNESDAY
8 pm Riverdale (new time slot)
9 pm Dynasty (New Series)

THURSDAY
8 pm Supernatural
9 pm Arrow (new time slot)

FRIDAY
8 pm Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (new time slot)
9 pm Jane the Virgin (new time slot)

Press release after the Jump

Upfront 2017 : CBS

CBS  Upfronts2017  TVLOOKFALL2017

     
                  CBS has released their fall schedule and CBS likes to be consistent so really not much change to their schedule repeating  but replacing canceled shows with new ones.  Since CBS still has the Thursday Night Football simulcast they will start their Thursday comedies on Monday, as they have done in past seasons.  "Young  Sheldon" gets a slot after it's parent show "The Big Bang Theory" for a preview on September 25th , then another new series , 9JKL will get the post BBT slot starting in October.  "Young Sheldon" will get the post  BBT slot when starts on Thursdays after football.  "Elementary", "Man with A Plan" , "Code Black", and "The Amazing Race" will return in the mid season.  

 Here's the Fall Schedule
all times ET/PT
new shows highlighted in blue

Monday
8PM   The Big Bang Theory
8:30PM  Young Sheldon  (Special One  Time Preview Sept.25th)
8:30PM  9JKL (Starting October 2nd) (New Series)
9PM     Kevin Can Wait
9:30pm  Me, Myself & I (New Series)
10pm     Scorpion

  After Thursday Night Football on CBS ends
 line up starting October 30th
8PM      Kevin Can Wait
8:30PM  9JKL
9PM       Me, Myself, &I
9:30PM  Superior Donuts
10PM     Scorpion

Tuesday
8PM    NCIS
9PM   Bull
10PM  NCIS: New Orleans

Wednesday
8PM  Survivor
9PM   Seal Team (new series)
10PM  Criminal Minds

Thursday
  Thursday Night Football  (Starting September 28th)

Starting November 2nd
8PM  The Big Bang Theory
8:30  Young Sheldon (New Series)
9PM    Mom
9:30PM  Life In Pieces
10PM      S.W.A.T (new series)

Friday
8PM  MacGyver
9PM   Hawaii Five-o
10PM  Blue Bloods

Saturday
8PM    Crimetime Saturday
9PM    Crimetime Saturday
10PM   48 Hours

Sunday
7PM  60 Minutes
8PM  Wisdom of the Crowd (New Series)
9PM   NCIS : Los Angeles
10PM Madam Secretary


Press release after the Jump

Upfront 2017: ABC

ABC  Upfronts2017  TVLOOKFALL2017

     

     ABC has released their fall line up with some changes being made.  First, moving from it's long time Sunday slot to Fridays is "Once Upon a Time" .  "American Housewife" and "Black-ish" are swapping days  with the former going to Tuesdays.   "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" will be held until mid season.  In the mid season : ABC will be bringing  the return of "American Idol" , a junior version of "Dancing with the stars".   Shark Tank moves from it's long time Friday slot to Sundays.  A New Marvel series "Inhumans" takes Shark Tank's old pre "20/20" slot.   New comedy series, "The Mayor" gets the post "Black-ish" Tuesday slot.   Monday is still "Dancing with the Stars" night it will be followed by a new drama "The Good Doctor" while rounding out Tuesday Nights is a new drama ,"The Gospel of Kevin".  Sundays  you still get the familiar  "America's Funniest Home Videos" also the return of "To Tell the Truth", Shark  Tank and a new drama "Ten Days in the Valley". 

 Here's the schedule. 

all times ET/PT 

new series highlighted in blue 

MONDAY
8PM Dancing with the Stars
10PM The Good Doctor (new series)

TUESDAY
8 PM The Middle
8:30 PM Fresh Off the Boat (new time period)
9 PM Black-ish (new day and time period)
9:30 PM The Mayor (new series)
10 PM The Gospel of Kevin (new series)

WEDNESDAY
8 PM The Goldbergs
8:30 PM Speechless”
9 PM Modern Family”
9:30 PM American Housewife” (new day and time period)
10 PM Designated Survivor”

THURSDAY
8 PM Grey’s Anatomy
9 PM Scandal
10 PM How to Get Away with Murder

FRIDAY
8 PM Once Upon a Time (new day and time period)
9 PM Marvel's Inhumans (new series)
10 PM 20/20

SATURDAY
8 PM Saturday Night Football

SUNDAY
7 PM America’s Funniest Home Videos
8 PM To Tell the Truth (new day and time period)
9 PM Shark Tank (new day and time period)
10 PM Ten Days in the Valley (new series)

Press release after the jump 

Upfront 2017: FOX

FOX Upfronts2017 TVlookfall2017

          Fox has released their fall schedule with inclusion of their own Marvel series  , "Gifted" and a new Seth McFarline drama ,   "The Orville" .  Meanwhile, Gotham moves from Monday Nights to Thursdays.  "The Orville"  will premiere on a Sunday after an NFL double-header before it moves to it's normal night of Mondays.  Tuesday is still comedy night but the comedies move to 9PMET  while "Lethal Weapon" moves to Tuesdays at 8pmet.   "New  Girl" returns for its final season in the mid season.  "Empire" moves to 8PMET on Wednesdays before "Star".  Fridays will be "Hell's Kitchen" and "The Exorcist" (there's a theme there_ 

Sundays a new comedy gets the post- "Simpsons" slot  called "Ghosted" 

Here's the new schedule 

 all times ET/PT 

new series highlighted in  Blue  

MONDAY
8:00 LUCIFER  (new time)
9:00 THE GIFTED (new series)

TUESDAY
8:00  LETHAL WEAPON (new night, new time)
9:00 THE MICK (new time)
9:30 BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (new time)

WEDNESDAY
8:00 EMPIRE  (new time)
9:00  STAR

THURSDAY
8:00 GOTHAM (new night)
9:00 THE ORVILLE (new series)

FRIDAY
8:00 HELL’S KITCHEN
9:00 THE EXORCIST (new night)

SATURDAY
7:00-10:30 PM FOX SPORTS SATURDAY: FOX COLLEGE FOOTBALL

SUNDAY
7:00 NFL ON FOX
7:30 THE OT / BOB’S BURGERS
8:00 THE SIMPSONS
8:30  GHOSTED (new series)
9:00 FAMILY GUY
9:30 THE LAST MAN ON EARTH

Press release after the Jump

Upfront2017: NBC

NBC  Upfronts  TVlookfall2017

               NBC has announced their  fall line up.  Some interesting changes include moving their hit freshman series  "This is Us" to Thursdays.  It will also be their post  Superbowl show in 2018.  Thursdays  will be the return of the comedy  "Will and Grace" which will be paired with the comedy "Great News" and finishing up Thursday will be "Law and Order True Crime: The  Menendez  Murders"  NBC's broadcasts of  Thursday Night Football also continues this season.  Season 3 of "Superstore" and season 2 of "The Good Place" move to Tuesdays after the voice.

    Update : 5/30/2017  NBC has decided not to move "This is Us" to Thursdays so instead they moved it back to Tuesdays,  So "Superstore" and "The Good Place" move back to Thursday at 8/7c moving the planned series for the 8PMET to 9PMET. Also they flipped the days for "Chicago Fire" and  "Law and Order: True Crime".

Here's a full look at the  fall line up
new series in blue
all times ET

Monday

8 PM    The Voice
10 PM.    The Brave

Tuesday
8 PM     The Voice
9PM     This is Us
9 PM.    Superstore (new night)  
9:30 PM  The Good Place  (new night)
10 PM  Chicago Fire
10PM     Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders 

Wednesday
8 PM  The Blacklist   (new night)
9 PM.  Law & Order: SVU
10 PM    Chicago P.D.

Thursday
8 PM  Will & Grace
8PM    Superstore
8:30 PM .  Great News (new night)
8:30PM  Will and Grace
9 PM     This Is Us   (new night)
9:30PM    Great News (New Night )
10 PM     Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders 
10PM    Chicago Fire

Friday
8 PM  Blindspot
9 PM  Taken
10 PM  Dateline NBC

Saturday
8-10 PM Dateline Saturday Night Mystery
10-11 PM  Saturday Night Live (encores)

Sunday
7 PM Football Night in America
8:20 PM  NBC Sunday Night Football

press release after the Jump

It's A Lookback, Charlie Brown: It's and Adventure ,Charlie Brown

Peanuts  The Flashback 

     As we tap into our next Peanuts lookback, we realize that not all the specials have a singular plot. Some plots from the comic strip are not long enough to fill in a whole 24 minutes (minus commercials) special.     But  what about one special that has to fill  about 48 minutes (again, minus the commercials in a 60 minute slot)?  That's what we are taking a look at this time. (If we did this in video form  this would be easier)

   "It's an Adventure , Charlie Brown" aired on CBS in May of 1983  it's considered the inspiration of the Charlie Brown and Snoopy show, which took  the vignette format and used it to it's episodes instead of doing two eleven minute segments. Since , this is a vignette format we are going to look at each one separately.  So let's get started.

Sack 

   

  Yes , Charlie Brown has hit the sack/ Copyright Peanuts 

           So the sun rises  and sun looks like a baseball and this makes Charlie Browns seek therapy with  Lucy, but since it's Lucy It doesn't go anywhere. Then he sees the moon and it also looks like a baseball. (he's addicted to baseball, there solved)   When Sally gets him an ice cream cone guess what? (It looks like Mr.s Butterworth?) So Linus suggests  Charlie go see a real doctor.   He's also wearing a sack over his head. (That gives the title some sense)  The doctor says he should go to camp to get his head off it.  (Back when drugs weren't always the answer)  

    "Kamp out" hmmm  turn around , Charlie Brown it's a trap!/Copyright Peanuts 

        Charlie Brown continues to wear the sack on his head because , why not?  There's a meeting at the camp to pick a new camp president. (That's a thing?)  After the voting , Charlie Brown becomes the new camp president. With the nick name , Sack. 

The face of leadership/ Copyright Peanuts 

         Apparently , things go well for Charlie "Sack" Brown  or would that be  Charlie Brown "Sack"?   He passes wise advice ,fixes the food, stops a fight. He has made the camp a great place.  Charlie Brown though contemplates if he should remove the sack . One morning, he decides to check the sun on the Fourth of July (random)  to see if the sun is the sun or a baseball.  (makes sense in context)    

                                                              What does he see ?

                                                           a)  Sun 

                                                           b)   Baseball 

                                                           c)  nothing he falls asleep 

                                                            d) Trick Question 

     If you answered D , then you are wise, because he sees  Alfred E. Neuman from Mad Magazine. 

Two worlds collide./ copyright Peanuts 

   That's "Sack" , the moral of the story:  Wear a paper bag on your head and you will go places and be a great leader. 

  Caddies 

      Peppermint Patty applies to be a caddie  and takes Marcie with her at a country club. (Quite, I'm sure)  They find two women golfers to caddie for.  Mrs. Nelson  and Mrs. Bartley. Two women agure over strokes.  (Ahh Golfers)  This one is not as plot driven as the first one , it's a lot of gags with Marcie.  We do find out that Snoopy is a golfer at the county club. (Well of course he uis)  The two ladies fight again which happens periodically.  By the fourth hole  Marcie quits and demands that she get a dollar for the 4 wholes. (It worked!)  The Caddy master wants half of their mone, but Marcie and Peppermint don't accept that and he only gets ten percent. 

  That was caddies.   Moral of the story: sometimes it's good to get fed up and don't give in easy while give up anyway or something. 

Kite

     

        Back to Charlie Brown... and his old arch enemy (Mr.Burns?)  - The  Kite eating tree.  (I was close) 

      The K.T.E ate his kite . (Living up to its name)  Charlie Brown tells the tree he hates it.  Then it eats his next kite. Charlie Brown bit into the tree. (what am I watching?) 

Charlie Brown bit into a tree that is something I'd never thought I'd write/ Copyright Peanuts

             Charlie Brown gets a letter from the E.P.A  and they are after him for biting the tree. (Darn government getting in the way of people's rights)  He decides the only thing to do is run away. (it's logical)   We also see the Goose eggs (Ruby and  Austin ) in this special what a nice surprise.  They accidentally with a baseball.  They are looking for an older person to be a coach for their team.   The other goose eggs : Leland and Milo meet him as well. Charlie Brown teaches the team how to do baseball.  As Charlie Brown sleeps in a box each night because  life is hard when the E.P.A is after you.  

From sack to box /copyright Peanuts 

              Ruby decides to name their team the Goose Eggs , after Charlie Brown tells her it means that you haven't scored any runs. (I like her optimism)  They have a competing teaming  which happens to be Charlie Brown's old team.   Linus informs him that kite eating tree fell over in a storm  and the E.P.A has no evidence.  (yes, "fell over" )  and Milo says he wants to be just like Charlie Brown. 

awwww/ copyright Peanuts 

  

             Fun note : This was directly based on a storyline in the strips from 1977. It starts on February 21st and runs into March check it out : http://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1977/02/21

Moral of the story:  The EPA has too much time on their hands.  

      Song 

 

     

Time  for some Schroeder.  After the jump. 

But First These Messages: Cars Cars Trucks and Vans (probably not that last one )

But First These Messages 

       Cars are probably the most advertised things besides insurance... (which you will need for your car....oh)   and yet we really haven't featured the things here because well that's how we roll. (boo)

   But First these messages...

         Lee Iacocca  became the head of Chrysler right went Chrysler needed a hero , but just make you knew he was there he showed up in commercials.



 I do wanna say he randomly started with Ford and it's not because he used to work there but, maybe.

The Town and Country? Where have I heard that name before , Chrysler? 

He also  says at the the end  if you find a better car, buy it!  Not saying Chrysler is the best or if you find a better car than that convertible  we will give you a discount or something no , just if you find a better car buy it.   Also better is subjective. 

        

This was his idea at Ford.... /image:  Wikipedia 

         That commercial was fine an everything , but  it doesn't look 80's we need some eighties in our eighties commercials. 

          
                                         Oh  well that's more 80's than I thought

On the next episode of "Knight Rider".... 

         For like the first  51 seconds there's no car in this car ad, or even a mention of a car.  Then... 

 I think Dodge took over the world and became a dictator somehow... darn self driving cars. 

  I forgot is this a Dodge commercial or is a remake of "Christine"?   He was also inside the car the whole time.... what the heck? 

      Ok Chrysler ... we don't want to look so Chrysler biased so how about some  Ford? 

               
 
           

It's refreshing to see an not have the words saying "Don't Try this" because well duh.  

       I wonder if the truck did it's own stunts though.  

   More trucks ...  after the jump