MeTV Toon In with Me/Saturday Morning Cartoons 2025

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(Valentine-themed cartoons today)

Hare Splitter (Bugs - 1948 - Freleng)

For Scent-imental Reasons (Pepé Le Pew - 1949 - Jones) - this won the 1949 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. It was the second Oscar for a Warner Bros. cartoon; the first was "Tweetie Pie" in 1947.

The Stupid Cupid (Daffy - 1944 - Tashlin)

The Grey Hounded Hare (Bugs - 1949 - McKimson) - old censorship from ABC: when Bugs tossed a stick of dynamite for the dog to fetch, ABC cut that out, making it look like the dog exploded after he hit the ground from the previous gag.

Honey's Money (1962 - Freleng) - semi-remake of "His Bitter Half" from a little over a decade before. Both featured a kid named Wentworth; in the original, it was a little duck, and in this one, it's an overgrown human voiced by Billy Booth. June Foray voices the unnamed (or possibly named "Honey") subject of Sam's affections.

Of Rice and Hen (Foghorn Leghorn - 1953 - McKimson) - one of the better and funnier entries in the Foggy series. Had some miscellaneous censorship on ABC and was banned on Cartoon Network due to the suicide attempt (Miss Prissy's attempt to jump from the barn, but is saved by Foggy).

Rabbit Romeo (Bugs - 1957 - McKimson) - also shown uncensored, when the fish shoots itself off camera. A Michael Maltese story board.

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"For the Love of Cartoons" (season 5 show 20)

The Scarlet Pumpernickel (Daffy - 1950 - Jones) - several characters (uncharacteristically) appear in this short, where Elmer Fudd's one line is voiced by Mel Blanc (he is normally voiced by Arthur Q. Bryan during this era.) In the Jerry Beck 1994 book detailing animation professionals' vote on the 50 best cartoons, this came in at #31. The original Looney Tunes print with Daffy Duck head shot exists on a 16mm print of this cartoon; the 2020 restoration is of the Blue Ribbon reissue print, which does retain the original Looney Tunes closing rings. In the Michael Maltese story, Daffy is trying to sell "J. L." on his script; the reference is to Jack L. Warner, the president of the studio at the time.

Red Riding Hoodlum (Woody - 1957 - Smith) - Toon In with Me debut

The Alley Cat (1941 - Harman) - another Toon In with Me debut

Rabbit of Seville (Bugs - 1950 - Jones) - a Jones/Maltese classic, this was also part of the 1994 Beck book on the 50 greatest cartoons, coming in at #12. According to Looney Tunes Wiki, this short has low-pitch audio problems which started on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection, and persist on the restored copy used on MeTV (others may be able to notice this, but I can't pick up on it).

Really Scent (Pepé Le Pew - 1959 - Levitow) - one of the outstanding cartoons in this series, which flips the normal Pepé script. Narrated by June Foray.

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"A Love Cruise" (season 5 show 21)

Springtime for Thomas (Tom and Jerry - 1946 - Hanna, Barbera)

Of Rice and Hen (Foghorn Leghorn - 1953 - McKimson) - one of the better Foggys, this was banned on the Turner networks due to a suicide attempt by Miss Prissy.

Plumber of Seville (1957 - Lovy)

Bride and Gloom (Popeye - 1954 - Sparber)

Captain Hareblower (Bugs - 1954 - Freleng)

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"Fairy Godmother of Dating to the Rescue" (season 5 show 22)

Rabbit Romeo (Bugs - 1957 - McKimson) - Bugs' problem is an amorous, "Slobovian" rabbit, Millicent. This probably was assigned to the Jones unit, (since it's a Maltese story board) but they were too busy with "What's Opera, Doc?". Thus, McKimson's unit took it. (Well, it could have happened that way!)

Touché and Go (Pepé Le Pew - 1957 - Jones)

Shakespearian Spinach (Popeye - 1940 - Fleischer)

The Bungling Builder (The Beary Family - 1971 - Smith)

Love Me, Love My Mouse (Tom and Jerry - 1966 - Jones, Washam)

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"Love Through the Ages" (season 5 show 23)

Real Gone Woody (1954 - Smith)

Hello How Am I (Popeye - 1939 - Fleischer) - could have been titled "Hello Who Am I?"; clever cartoon.

His Bitter Half (Daffy - 1950 - Freleng) - they don't make 'em like this anymore! Mrs. Daffy voiced by Martha Wentworth.

Who Scent You? (Pepé Le Pew - 1960 - Jones)

Tom and Chérie (Tom and Jerry - 1955 - Hanna, Barbera)

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"I'm With Toopid" (season 5 show 24)

Hare Splitter (Bugs - 1948 - Freleng) - Bugs competes with a big rabbit, Casbah, who lives in the neighboring hole, for Daisy's Lou's affections. An unmentioned bonus: she lives in a house.

Don't Look Now (1936 - Avery) - a rough look at the original titles and credits -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmpGq5S94tM

Little Beau Pepé (1952 - Jones)

Bear and the Bees (1961 - Hannah)

The Stupid Cupid (Daffy - 1944 - Tashlin)

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Foxy By Proxy (Bugs - 1952 - Freleng) - remake of "Of Fox and Hounds" from 1940, with same opening scene, but with Bugs. Not often shown on MeTV. Although there are claims on other sites that the dog cutting off Bugs' tail has been censored, it's merely off camera.

Life With Feathers (1945 - Freleng) - although unnamed until "Scaredy Cat" a few years later, this is Sylvester's first cartoon. The lovebird's contemplation of varying ways to commit suicide are or were censored on several networks. The cartoon's whole theme makes it likely it's been shelved by the Turner networks.

Naughty But Mice (Sniffles - 1939 - Jones) - Sniffles' debut. A classic cartoon with an animated shaver.

Big House Bunny (Bugs - 1950 - Freleng) - another infrequently aired cartoon. The gallows scene, along with a few other miscellaneous violent short scenes, have been censored on other networks.

You Ought to be in Pictures (Porky, Daffy - 1940 - Freleng) - Freleng's first cartoon after his brief stint at MGM.

The Heckling Hare (Bugs - 1941 - Avery)

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"Culinary Pioneers in Black History" (season 5 show 25)

Hook, Line and Stinker (Road Runner - 1958 - Jones) - I can't help wondering how much better this short would have been if it had a music score (it was released during a 1958 musician strike). It does have a cleverly animated opening, as do several of the late 50s Road Runners.

Now That Summer is Gone (1938 - Tashlin)

Who's Cookin' Who (Woody - 1946 - Culhane)

Porky's Cafe (1942 - Jones)

Gopher Broke (1958 - McKimson) - another short with canned music, due to the musician strike. There were six shorts affected. In this one the goofy gophers gaslight the barnyard dog.

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"An Archeological Dig" (season 5 show 26)

The Wacky Wabbit (Bugs - 1942 - Clampett) - one of a few cartoons from this era with so-called "fat Elmer," modeled after his voice actor, Arthur Q. Bryan. Bugs acts as an aggressor in this one; in most outings, he is provoked before acting. A public domain cartoon; the owner in 1970, United Artists, failed to renew the copyright.

Practical Yolk (Woody - 1966 - Smith)

Matinée Idol Popeye (1960 - Deitch) - one of a few Popeyes from the King Features era in the public domain, due to a Roman numeral error in the copyright date (MCMXL, 1940).

Case of the Red-Eyed Ruby (Inspector Willoughby - 1961 - Smith) - Toon In with Me debut

Kitty Foiled (Tom and Jerry - 1948 - Hanna, Brbera)

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"Bill's Book of Fables" (season 5 show 27)

Rabbit Transit (Bugs - 1947 - Freleng) - the third take on the tortoise and hare (Bugs) race, this time from Freleng/Maltese; the first two were from Avery and Clampett in the early 40s.

Grape Nutty (!949 - Lovy)

Bell Hoppy (Sylvester - 1954 - McKimson)

Little Rural Riding Hood (1949 - Avery)

The Mouse and the Lion (1953 - Smith)

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"Cabin Fever" (season 5 show 28)

Birth of a Notion (Daffy - 1947 - Clampett, McKimson)

Chilly and the Looney Gooney (Chilly Willy - 1969 - Smith) - Toon In with Me debut

Davey Cricket (The Beary Family - 1965 - Smith)

Cannery Rodent (Tom and Jerry - 1967 - Jones [co-director Maurice Noble])

Sandy Claws (Tweety, Sylvester - 1955 - Freleng)

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"Toony and Bill Dial-Up 1995" (season 5 show 29)

Beanstalk Bunny (Bugs - 1955 - Jones) - still the unrestored copy on MeTV; also, still uncensored

The Bird Who Came to Dinner (Woody - 1961 - Smith) - Woody dishes it out on "little" Reginald

The Mouse from H.U.N.G.E.R. (Tom and Jerry - 1967 - Levitow) - past censorship or bans on the Turner networks were due to the cigar store Indian and strobing; shown unedited here

Zip Zip Hooray! (Road Runner - 1965 - Jones [co-directors Noble and Ray]) - derived from the pilot, "Adventures of the Road Runner" (1962). The directors are uncredited in this edited-down short, possibly intended for theatrical release but only shown on TV.

Tree Cornered Tweety (Tweety, Sylvester - 1956 - Freleng) - uniquely, Tweety narrates this cartoon, Dragnet style. No dialog for Sylvester, either.

[mistermike]

Originally Posted by stevea

Hook, Line and Stinker (Road Runner - 1958 - Jones) - I can't help wondering how much better this short would have been if it had a music score (it was released during a 1958 musician strike). It does have a cleverly animated opening, as do several of the late 50s Road Runners

I agree; the John Seely "score" really hurts this one. I recently rewatched it and the canned music just really takes you out of it. It's just a distraction. The Capitol music also hurts -- albeit to a lesser degree -- in the Tweety short "Bird in the Bonnet," which was on METV Toons a couple of nights ago.

However, I don't think even Carl Stalling himself could've saved "Pre-Hysterical Hare."

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A Star is Bored (Bugs, Daffy - 1956 - Freleng)

Sheep Ahoy (1954 - Jones)

Of Thee I Sting (1946 - Freleng)

Baton Bunny (Bugs - 1959 - Jones, Levitow)

Well Worn Daffy (1965 - McKimson)

Merlin the Magic Mouse (1967 - Lovy)

Quick Clips - scene from a 1930s black and white cartoon

Knighty Knight Bugs (1958 - Freleng) - as Sam goes hand over hand up a rope to get in the castle, Bugs pounds him with a mallet; this was censored at least by CBS years ago. This won a 1959 Oscar for best animated short.

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Originally Posted by mistermike

I agree; the John Seely "score" really hurts this one. I recently rewatched it and the canned music just really takes you out of it. It's just a distraction. The Capitol music also hurts -- albeit to a lesser degree -- in the Tweety short "Bird in the Bonnet," which was on METV Toons a couple of nights ago.

However, I don't think even Carl Stalling himself could've saved "Pre-Hysterical Hare."

That's a universally panned cartoon, and I'm always happy to pile on. A Stalling or Franklyn score, coupled with Fudd's regular voice actor, could have raised it a letter grade.

It does have a unique story that somehow should have worked.