What Really Killed Saturday Morning Cartoons - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 01-02-2011, 10:46 PM

Was it the internet, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, The FCC, Lack of Originality? What in your opinion was the real reason behind the demise of Saturday morning cartoons?

Marvo301 · 01-02-2011, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Was it the internet, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, The FCC, Lack of Originality? What in your opinion was the real reason behind the demise of Saturday morning cartoons?

I think both specialty cable channels (Disney,Nick) and the internet are major contributors to the demise of Saturday morning cartoons. When I was a kid Saturday A.M. was the only time their was programming on TV especially for children. I used to wait all week long for Saturday so I could watch my favorite cartoons. With cable channels like Disney and Nick airing programs for children 7 days a week and the internet making such programming available whenever you want it Saturday A.M. is not the special time for children that it used to be.

MrCleveland · 01-03-2011, 12:11 AM

In 1992...It was The Networks, NBC Discontinued their SatAM cartoons and replaced it with the NBC Today News!
In 1993...Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon started having cartoons.
In 1996...The FCC Stepped-in and said there has to be E/I Programming...PBS wasn't enough I guess!
In 1997...The Disney Channel would be available to the masses with cable/satelite.
In 2000...Boomerang Network came.
In 2006...YouTube came.

And let's not forget The VHS, where you can watch SatAM cartoons on Tuesday Afternoon! Then came DVD's where you can do the same thing...in better quality!

TV Knowledge Fan · 01-03-2011, 01:19 AM

....by the late '90s, the broadcast networks gained control of virtually everything they schedule in prime-time and late night (either they own the shows they schedule outright, or co-own and produce them with others). With all that attention to those schedules (with the exception of Disney/ABC), the broadcast networks decided to "get out" of the Saturday morning cartoon business and lease that time to "others", like Qubo and Cookie Jar TV, allowing them to fill those hours with their own "in-house" series and split the profits with them on ad time sold during those shows. Yet, the "E/I" rule is still in effect, and naturally, those shows have to "teach" something....and that's why those Saturday schedules, for the most part, suck these days.

DSfan · 01-03-2011, 01:49 AM

I just read Dustin Diamond's memoir last week and he states that the emergence of the teen high-school type of sitcoms starting with Saved by the Bell and then all those other TNBC sitcoms is what killed Saturday morning cartoons - which he says were his favorite and would go into an executive at NBC's office just to watch tapes that were available of cartoons.

I agree with his statement because then came Lizzie McGuire, That's So Raven and Hannah Montana. The list goes on and on as the quality of the Saturday morning cartoons went down and down.

Marvo301 · 01-03-2011, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSfan

I just read Dustin Diamond's memoir last week and he states that the emergence of the teen high-school type of sitcoms starting with Saved by the Bell and then all those other TNBC sitcoms is what killed Saturday morning cartoons - which he says were his favorite and would go into an executive at NBC's office just to watch tapes that were available of cartoons.

I agree with his statement because then came Lizzie McGuire, That's So Raven and Hannah Montana. The list goes on and on as the quality of the Saturday morning cartoons went down and down.

Live action shows have been airing on Saturday mornings since at least the early 1970's when Sid and Marty Kroftt introduced shows like Land of the Lost, Far Out Space Nuts, and The Lost Saucer to Saturday mornings. Then there were the live action Shazzam and Isis shows as well. None of these shows killed Saturday morning cartoons so I don't tghink Dustin Diamonds theory is correct.

Mr. Television · 01-03-2011, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Live action shows have been airing on Saturday mornings since at least the early 1970's when Sid and Marty Kroftt introduced shows like Land of the Lost, Far Out Space Nuts, and The Lost Saucer to Saturday mornings. Then there were the live action Shazzam and Isis shows as well. None of these shows killed Saturday morning cartoons so I don't tghink Dustin Diamonds theory is correct.

Yea. I even remember watching a drama called Run Joe Run about a fugitive dog in the early 1970's. Live action shows have always been a part of Saturday morning.

robyrob · 01-03-2011, 09:20 AM

the FCC and that stupid E/I initiative

DSfan · 01-03-2011, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

Yea. I even remember watching a drama called Run Joe Run about a fugitive dog in the early 1970's. Live action shows have always been a part of Saturday morning.

Oh wow. I really wasn't aware that so many live-action shows used to air on Saturday mornings! Well, maybe some of it just has to do with Hanna-Barbera declining over the years as they were the ones to introduce so many of the classic Saturday morning cartoons.

waichingliu81 · 01-03-2011, 09:33 PM

- the likes of filmation, hanna barbera closing down

- adult animation shows or cartoons aimed at adults have taken over and thus likes of fox have concentrated more on producing those types of progs

- lack of good characters, themes, storylines

- nickelodeon, cartoon network, disney airing unoriginal, less interesting and quality shows

Rezny@gmail.com · 01-03-2011, 11:07 PM

The 1960's was the BEST time for Saturday Morning Cartoons.Followed by the early (very early)1970's.In the 1960's,Hanna-Barbera was at its best.In the early 1970's,Filmation also had good product("The Archie Show"."Archie's Fun House","Sabrina,the Teenage Witch"(not to be confused with the one airing today,or the live-action series -this was a totally different version),"Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids"(the ORIGINAL CBS version,which,in my opinion,was the best ,with Bill Cosby(who else?).There was an NBC version ,but I never saw that).However,that all changed in the late 1970's,1980's,and today.

1960'sTVfan · 01-04-2011, 12:35 AM

I agree that the 1960's was best for Saturday morning cartoons. In the 60's, Hanna-Barbera was king with a number of good animated shows. During the early and mid 1970's, there were still some fairly decent toons being aired but the glory days of the 60's were over and the decline had begun.

comedyfreak · 01-07-2011, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSfan

I just read Dustin Diamond's memoir last week and he states that the emergence of the teen high-school type of sitcoms starting with Saved by the Bell and then all those other TNBC sitcoms is what killed Saturday morning cartoons - which he says were his favorite and would go into an executive at NBC's office just to watch tapes that were available of cartoons.

I agree with his statement because then came Lizzie McGuire, That's So Raven and Hannah Montana. The list goes on and on as the quality of the Saturday morning cartoons went down and down.

I heard almost the same, Saved By The Bell was really popular the Network wanted more programming like SBTB other teen shows popped up after Saved By The Bell.

jimpickens · 01-07-2011, 09:18 PM

It's cheaper and easier to produce a live action kids show than it is to produce a cartoon show so they are here to stay. Plus if have ever seen the quality of the cartoons that are being made it's perhaps for the better if we don't have Saturday morning cartoons.

TMC · 01-21-2011, 04:04 AM

What killed Saturday morning cartoons in a nutshell:
*The popularity of live-action high school sitcoms (which were much cheaper to produce than animated shows) like Saved by the Bell. It's really no different than the assortment of cookie-cutter tween sitcoms we normally see on Nickelodeon and Disney Channel presently.

*American animation studios like Filmation and Hanna-Barbara slowing dying/losing direction over the course of the late '80s and throughout the '90s.

*The FCC tightening their grip on children's programming with stuff like the "three hours of education" mandate. This made shows (e.g. action figure commercials like He-Man, Transformers, and G.I. Joe), way, way, way harder to be profitable.

*Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and Disney Channel (and now The Hub) becoming more available. It became kind of pointless for networks to devote a Saturday morning to original children's programming when it was readily available virtually 24/7 elsewhere.

*Media consolidation like Disney buying ABC or Viacom buying CBS. Because of this, it was highly unlikely that a network's schedule would be more diversified. For instance, during the early '90s (prior to Disney buying ABC) CBS aired The Little Mermaid. Also, networks lazily decided to place shows that originated on cable (e.g. the Disney Channel and Nick Jr.) on Saturday mornings.

*The advent of the YouTube and Tivo meant that it was easier to see an animated show (without having to get up early in the morning).

01-02-2011, 10:46 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	What Really Killed Saturday Morning Cartoons Was it the internet, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, The FCC, Lack of Originality? What in your opinion was the real reason behind the demise of Saturday morning cartoons?
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01-03-2011, 12:11 AM	#3
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,226	In 1992...It was The Networks, NBC Discontinued their SatAM cartoons and replaced it with the NBC Today News! In 1993...Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon started having cartoons. In 1996...The FCC Stepped-in and said there has to be E/I Programming...PBS wasn't enough I guess! In 1997...The Disney Channel would be available to the masses with cable/satelite. In 2000...Boomerang Network came. In 2006...YouTube came. And let's not forget The VHS, where you can watch SatAM cartoons on Tuesday Afternoon! Then came DVD's where you can do the same thing...in better quality!
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01-03-2011, 01:19 AM	#4
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	You're forgetting one other factor... ....by the late '90s, the broadcast networks gained control of virtually everything they schedule in prime-time and late night (either they own the shows they schedule outright, or co-own and produce them with others). With all that attention to those schedules (with the exception of Disney/ABC), the broadcast networks decided to "get out" of the Saturday morning cartoon business and lease that time to "others", like Qubo and Cookie Jar TV, allowing them to fill those hours with their own "in-house" series and split the profits with them on ad time sold during those shows. Yet, the "E/I" rule is still in effect, and naturally, those shows have to "teach" something....and that's why those Saturday schedules, for the most part, suck these days.

01-03-2011, 09:20 AM	#8
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,194	the FCC and that stupid E/I initiative
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01-03-2011, 01:49 AM	#5
DSfan Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,204	I just read Dustin Diamond's memoir last week and he states that the emergence of the teen high-school type of sitcoms starting with Saved by the Bell and then all those other TNBC sitcoms is what killed Saturday morning cartoons - which he says were his favorite and would go into an executive at NBC's office just to watch tapes that were available of cartoons. I agree with his statement because then came Lizzie McGuire, That's So Raven and Hannah Montana. The list goes on and on as the quality of the Saturday morning cartoons went down and down.

01-03-2011, 09:33 PM	#10
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	- the likes of filmation, hanna barbera closing down - adult animation shows or cartoons aimed at adults have taken over and thus likes of fox have concentrated more on producing those types of progs - lack of good characters, themes, storylines - nickelodeon, cartoon network, disney airing unoriginal, less interesting and quality shows

01-03-2011, 11:07 PM	#11
Rezny@gmail.com Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 20, 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 2,675	The 1960's was the BEST time for Saturday Morning Cartoons.Followed by the early (very early)1970's.In the 1960's,Hanna-Barbera was at its best.In the early 1970's,Filmation also had good product("The Archie Show"."Archie's Fun House","Sabrina,the Teenage Witch"(not to be confused with the one airing today,or the live-action series -this was a totally different version),"Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids"(the ORIGINAL CBS version,which,in my opinion,was the best ,with Bill Cosby(who else?).There was an NBC version ,but I never saw that).However,that all changed in the late 1970's,1980's,and today.

01-04-2011, 12:35 AM	#12
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,105	I agree that the 1960's was best for Saturday morning cartoons. In the 60's, Hanna-Barbera was king with a number of good animated shows. During the early and mid 1970's, there were still some fairly decent toons being aired but the glory days of the 60's were over and the decline had begun.

01-07-2011, 09:18 PM	#14
jimpickens Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2007 Location: weston,wv Posts: 1,390	It's cheaper and easier to produce a live action kids show than it is to produce a cartoon show so they are here to stay. Plus if have ever seen the quality of the cartoons that are being made it's perhaps for the better if we don't have Saturday morning cartoons.

01-21-2011, 04:04 AM	#15
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,326	What killed Saturday morning cartoons in a nutshell: The popularity of live-action high school sitcoms (which were much cheaper to produce than animated shows) like Saved by the Bell. It's really no different than the assortment of cookie-cutter tween sitcoms we normally see on Nickelodeon and Disney Channel presently. American animation studios like Filmation and Hanna-Barbara slowing dying/losing direction over the course of the late '80s and throughout the '90s. The FCC tightening their grip on children's programming with stuff like the "three hours of education" mandate. This made shows (e.g. action figure commercials like He-Man, Transformers, and G.I. Joe), way, way, way harder to be profitable. Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and Disney Channel (and now The Hub) becoming more available. It became kind of pointless for networks to devote a Saturday morning to original children's programming when it was readily available virtually 24/7 elsewhere. Media consolidation like Disney buying ABC or Viacom buying CBS. Because of this, it was highly unlikely that a network's schedule would be more diversified. For instance, during the early '90s (prior to Disney buying ABC) CBS aired The Little Mermaid. Also, networks lazily decided to place shows that originated on cable (e.g. the Disney Channel and Nick Jr.) on Saturday mornings. The advent of the YouTube and Tivo meant that it was easier to see an animated show (without having to get up early in the morning).