Anyone remember Video Comics on Nickelodeon? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

opus · 08-12-2024, 01:39 PM

Basically, cameras panned over individual panels from stories selected from DC Comics while voiceover actors read the dialogue seen in the balloons. This would be from the early days of the Nickelodeon channel, circa 1979.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0429463/

Two examples to help jog your memory

Hawkman

Swamp Thing

opus · 08-21-2024, 01:46 PM

I'm going to take the lack of response as nobody remembers.

Which is fine. I didn't remember it either. It came up in an article I was reading about something else, so I figured I'd ask.

cd637299 · 08-21-2024, 04:27 PM

FWIW, in Miami, WCKT (now WSVN) had “Charlie Reads the Comics” which became “Sunday Funnies” after Charlie Baxter left.

It had local children in the studio reading along with the comics in the Miami Herald.

Looking back, it was such camp, that I wish I had one show on video. It ended around 1982.

The host would pick a kid to read along, as if he/she were one of the characters.

When the punchline was given, none of the kids laughed, and the host had to explain the joke. Either it wasn’t funny, or the kids weren’t paying attention.

The kids, I am sure, had fun just knowing they were on TV, and the host was assisted by “Toby the Robot,” and they had special local guests.

It was on for maybe +/- 10 years—not bad for a show that got few guffaws.

EDIT: Wanted to add, for some reason (obviously a rights issue), “Peanuts” was NEVER given the reading treatment. This, despite spending a minute or two per show, displaying drawings that kids around the viewing area submitted to the station, of their favorite comic strip character—often being Charlie Brown or Snoopy. Go figure.

cd

stevea · 08-21-2024, 04:50 PM

Local channels had a lot of fluff back in the 1980s or earlier. At around 6:15 of this video, here's old kids TV from Indianapolis.

cd637299 · 08-21-2024, 07:10 PM

Local kids’ shows (“kiddie shows”) were ubiquitous on TV from the days of Howdy Doody, I guess until the 1980s.

Animation studios, especially Hanna-Barbera, churned out lots of 5-minute shorts from around 1962-70ish for the purpose of filler during such shows.

As to Post 1, not having seen it, VERY early TV experimented with trying to bring comic strips to life, with extremely limited animation. Here is one example:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm3Q2dJSyts

cd

TMC · 08-21-2024, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Today we look at a cheap filler show where a guy reads comic books to kids, and along the way, we explore the history of the motion comic and discover Nickelodeon's mob roots. No, seriously.

Episode five of Nick Knacks has been delayed, but for a very good reason! This will only make the video better, I can't wait to show it to you guys.

08-12-2024, 01:39 PM	#1
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,747	Anyone remember Video Comics on Nickelodeon? Basically, cameras panned over individual panels from stories selected from DC Comics while voiceover actors read the dialogue seen in the balloons. This would be from the early days of the Nickelodeon channel, circa 1979. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0429463/ Two examples to help jog your memory Hawkman Swamp Thing

08-21-2024, 01:46 PM	#2
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,747	I'm going to take the lack of response as nobody remembers. Which is fine. I didn't remember it either. It came up in an article I was reading about something else, so I figured I'd ask.

08-21-2024, 04:27 PM	#3
cd637299 cd637299 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 14, 2022 Location: South Florida Posts: 854	FWIW, in Miami, WCKT (now WSVN) had “Charlie Reads the Comics” which became “Sunday Funnies” after Charlie Baxter left. It had local children in the studio reading along with the comics in the Miami Herald. Looking back, it was such camp, that I wish I had one show on video. It ended around 1982. The host would pick a kid to read along, as if he/she were one of the characters. When the punchline was given, none of the kids laughed, and the host had to explain the joke. Either it wasn’t funny, or the kids weren’t paying attention. The kids, I am sure, had fun just knowing they were on TV, and the host was assisted by “Toby the Robot,” and they had special local guests. It was on for maybe +/- 10 years—not bad for a show that got few guffaws. EDIT: Wanted to add, for some reason (obviously a rights issue), “Peanuts” was NEVER given the reading treatment. This, despite spending a minute or two per show, displaying drawings that kids around the viewing area submitted to the station, of their favorite comic strip character—often being Charlie Brown or Snoopy. Go figure. cd

08-21-2024, 04:50 PM	#4
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 45,057	Local channels had a lot of fluff back in the 1980s or earlier. At around 6:15 of this video, here's old kids TV from Indianapolis.

08-21-2024, 07:10 PM	#5
cd637299 cd637299 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 14, 2022 Location: South Florida Posts: 854	Local kids’ shows (“kiddie shows”) were ubiquitous on TV from the days of Howdy Doody, I guess until the 1980s. Animation studios, especially Hanna-Barbera, churned out lots of 5-minute shorts from around 1962-70ish for the purpose of filler during such shows. As to Post 1, not having seen it, VERY early TV experimented with trying to bring comic strips to life, with extremely limited animation. Here is one example: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm3Q2dJSyts cd