Are ALL Toon Channels Going Downhill?
BY BRETT FERINO
Chit Chat Columnist

OK. I had a similar column a couple weks ago.

The column I had was titled "Is Toon Disney Going Downhill"? TD is not the only all-toon channel that seems to be going downhill. I think Cartoon Network and Nick might be the same way.

Nick was launched back in 1979 and one of the first hit originals were "Pinwheel" and "You Can't Do That On Television". When CN was launched in '92, a lot of the toons they started were HB toons, which a lot of them were part of something you mighty know.

I don't know when it debuted, but until 1996, the USA Network had their "Cartoon Express". Which during it's early years, the toons on there were mainly HB toons. Also Ruby Spears and Filmation toons as well.

I mainly watched CE when thery had all the good shows from 1993 to 1996. The good shows seemed to be "GI Joe", "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", and "(Slimer And) The Real Ghostbusters".

Two of those shows have been reran within the past 6 years. TRG aired on FOX Family from 1998-1999 and GI Joe currently airs with the Sunbow 83-87 version on CN.

I just which TMNT would be on CN. Remember a rumor three years ago that it would be on there or they owned the rights?

I just which they would. Now as we talk about Nick, they have aired old cartoons over the past several years. From 1996-2000, they aired "Inspector Gadget". They aired that for a short period of time in 2001 on FOX and ABC Famiy.

And before I go, does anyone know if Nick has the rights to "The Littles"? Hopefully this spring they'll air it!

And will television be the way it used to be? If this was short column it will..

PAST COLUMNS:

Let's Get Ready To Rumble (3/11/03)
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62079

Stop! In The Name Of Law! (3/10/03)
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...&threadid=61993

I Don't Want My MTV! I Might Need My VH1! How 'bout BET? (3/8/03)
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...&threadid=61645

I Have A Neighborly Column Today (3/2/03)
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...&threadid=61099

I've Fallen! And... (2/28/03)http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...&threadid=60889

Is Toon Disney starting to go downhill? (2/26/03)
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...&threadid=60788

New Ads, Old Ads, Ads! Ads! Ads! (2/24/03)
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...&

Ah, yes, I too have good memories of USA's Cartoon Express. USA is now at the bottom of its barell, and lost all respect when the finally dumped Carol Burnett & Friends. Now, they show dumb movies and almost nothing good (aside from the occasional Star Trek or Indiana Jones movie) with no old sitcoms, and no cool toons.

As for Cartoon Network, they are like waves, moving up and down in quality. I am happy they are airing the first seasons of Pokemon that WB! doesn't show anymore. I am also glad they are picking up Jackie Chan Adventures and more episodes of Hamtaro. But, they don't show as many classic cartoons as they used to, especially annoying now that I no longer recieve Boomerang.

Nick. *sighs* Aside from Jimmy Neutron, I don't watch Nick any more (and Nick at Nite is just as bad now, but that's another story). But, boy had I wished I could tape it from two years ago. I mean, Charlie Brown and Garfield and Inspector Gadget were all great toons.

ABC Family has the awesome Tokyo Pig, which I love, but their other tunes I don't like as much.

In closing, there are lots of cartoons that I want to have aired: Sonic the Hedgehog (ABC), all Mario and Captain N, Donkey Kong Country, Histeria!, Animaniacs, Speed Racer and more. Certainly TBS could stop from airing the 20th daytime repeat of Friends or USA could stop showing an idiotic Adam Sandler movie to allow a little classic animated escapism.

Maybe I should start a petition...

This aint a newspaper!

there's something called "internet" columns..

I don't really watch any cartoon channels sides nick (which that barely too) Some of the nick shows are really dumb though ,not all, but some. And I know a lot a people think Spongebob is dumb lol...well he kinda is...but that makes it all the more funny. Hey, stupid makes me laugh. Like for ex, when someone trips...ppl usually laugh because that person was kinda being stupid (ok that was mean but ppl usually DO laugh lol)

I don't watch Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network anymore. I despise all of their cartoons. I would watch Boomerang if I got it, though.

i'd watch it too

This could be a little hopeful? Read all of it, but especially the part in bold.

Turner Broadcasting System has united in holy wedlock the programming and sales staffs of CNN, TNT, TBS, Cartoon and all of its other cable networks, promoting Mark Lazarus to take charge of the restructuring.

The odd man out in the new arrangement is Brad Siegel, a 10-year veteran of Turner who has resigned as president of the Turner Entertainment Networks.

Lazarus replaces Siegel, though his new title, president of the Turner Entertainment Group, reflects the fact that advertising sales, marketing and other business functions will fall under Lazarus' bailiwick along with programming.

Succeeding Lazarus in the two jobs of president of sales and marketing for Turner Entertainment and president of Turner Sports is David Levy, who was co-president of TBS Intl. with Andy Bird. Bird now becomes sole president of TBS Intl.

CNN will also be a part of the new business model, with Jim Walton, president of the CNN News Group, adding responsibility for the networks' global-advertising-sales operation.

The reporters and editors of CNN are likely to blanch a little at what looks like a tearing down of the wall separating editorial and sales. But Walton's boss, Phil Kent, chairman and CEO of TBS Inc., said CNN has instituted "checks and balances" under Rich Davis, executive vice president of broadcast standards, to "raise flags if there's any question of journalists compromising with sales. We want to make sure that nothing crosses the line."

Kent said that, in the new initiative, TBS has created three groupings: entertainment, news and cartoon. Lazarus takes over entertainment (encompassing TNT, TBS, Turner Classic Movies, Turner South, Turner Sports and Turner Entertainment Sales and Marketing) as Walton will run CNN. Kent will name the head of Cartoon's joint programming and sales operation in the next month or so.

Turner veterans say the elevation of Lazarus, with his background in sales and sports, means the company is convinced that sales expertise will be more important than programming experience over the next year or two.

Lazarus and his staff may need all of their sales savvy as they deal with a potentially depressed advertising marketplace triggered by a war in Iraq (news - web sites), particularly if the war ignites further terrorist attacks on the U.S.

And TNT is racking up big advertising dollars from its sports properties like weekend NASCAR (news - web sites) events and an exclusive National Basketball Assn. doubleheader every Thursday night during the NBA season.

Lazarus took charge of negotiating these rights, which helped TNT push through a 10 percent increase in license fees from cable operators each year for the next six years. By mid-decade, TNT will end up making more money from cable operators than any other nationally distributed cable network except ESPN.

As future sports properties come up for renewal, TNT and TBS under Lazarus are likely to go after them aggressively, even if that means bidding against the broadcast networks and ESPN.

With the heads of sales and programming for the entertainment networks now reporting to him, Lazarus said, "You'll see a lot more collaboration between the two."

Some functions won't be restricted to an individual network but run across all of them, such as affiliate sales, legal, human resources, finance, communications, strategy and operations.

Kent sent an internal memo to the staff praising Siegel, who's leaving, for "his lasting contributions to the success" of the Turner networks.

Siegel said he's going to take some time out to plan his next industry move.

Or, maybe I just misread it? LOL. I found it interesting though. Jayman posted it on the main board, it's from Yahoo and was posted a few weeks ago.

Bommerang is actually cool. It shows all the older stuff and the stuff I grew up with. And Boomerang is commercial free!

Originally posted by theshark8777
Bommerang is actually cool. It shows all the older stuff and the stuff I grew up with. And Boomerang is commercial free!

That's exactly what I like about it - I love older cartoons and the commercials don't interrupt the shows.

I've got Boomerange a couple months ago...I like that channel (Not more than Nick GAS, but that's irrelevant here)

Also got Toon Disney. All I can say is Gargoyles. as long as they continue to air it, I'm not complaining one iota.

Finally, re: nick at nite....They started airing Perfect STrangers. If they'll air it, then there's hope for Nick and N@N to accomplish anything.

Cartoon Network is pathetic with the Adult Swim...what ever happened to nice cartoons?