Ninja Turtles pulled from Cartoon Network

[Sketch]

You'd think it wouldn't be too much to ask to leave it be at it's 6AM WEEKEND SLOT. But no, CN couldn't leave well enough alone as usual.

Ninja Turtles 6AM rerun slot has been replaced by Totally Spies (which gets plenty of slots as it is).

Sure 6AM on weekends is a lowsy slot to begin with but it was all that was keeping that great show on CN and now it's gone just like so many other action shows before it. I'm counting the days before it ends up on Boomerang (if CN has a long term contract).

Darn you CN. Why must you treat the turtles like crap?

[EscaflownePilot]

Bah. Time for me to break down and start saving up for the DVDs, I guess.

I figured this was going to happen. In fact, I'm surprised the show made it as far as it did in that crappy little slot.

But hey, at least we all get to see Totally Spies! two more times a week! Sweet!

[Sketch]

The DVDs after season 2 are a waste for the most part. Waaaaay too out of order. Season 3 and 4 episodes can be found on the same disc infact and quite often. This show needs box sets.

Also trying to get the first two seasons or even the 3rd's DVDs wont be easy. They are usually not heavily supplied these days.

[William C. Maune]

You'd think it wouldn't be too much to ask to leave it be at it's 6AM WEEKEND SLOT. But no, CN couldn't leave well enough alone as usual.

Do we know why it was pulled? How long has CN had TMNT (i.e. contract length)? Also, I wonder if 4Kids would want it pulled so that they can focus attention on Fast Forward. Cartoon Network has generally been pretty good about saving those early hours for other series and thus I wouldn't be surprised if there was something specific that caused TMNT to be pulled.

[One Radical Dude]

I'm surprised that it had lasted THIS long. I guess it was time to go.

[CyberCubed]

I imagine it's also because they're gearing up for Fast Foward in the Fall.

Then again, maybe not. I really don't care anymore as long as we get Season boxsets eventually.

[Sketch]

Do we know why it was pulled? How long has CN had TMNT (i.e. contract length)? Also, I wonder if 4Kids would want it pulled so that they can focus attention on Fast Forward. Cartoon Network has generally been pretty good about saving those early hours for other series and thus I wouldn't be surprised if there was something specific that caused TMNT to be pulled.

Of course we don't know the exact reason it was pulled be it CN or 4kids fault I don't care... I have enough reason to hate both over the treatment of TMNT lately. But that's beside the point. It's gone and that's all that really bothers me in this case. Gearing up for Fast Forward isn't a good enough reason to pull it from an obscue plot. The reasonable reason would be that the contract ran out. I'd certainly buy that but it seems more likely that CN decided TMNT is just taking up space there and a TS rerun would get better early morning kids ratings.

[Rurouni Kenshin]

That's a shame, although it wasn't the greatest show, it still should have been treated a little better.

[yoshirider13]

I think CN should have treated this show, .hack, gundem seed, and yuyu hakusho better. At least have given it another timeslot so .hack and gundem seed didnt have to share a slot.

[Pomegranate]

I know 4Kids' voice acting is very horrid, but the 2003 TMNT cartoon is more decent than the majority of the crap 4Kids has ever produced in their lifetime, so why must CN pull it away from their lineup? I liked the turtles ever since I was a kid. Maybe, it will have better luck on Nickelodeon, TechTV or the Sci-Fi Channel.

[Master Moron]

Man, I really never got to see much past the second season. And I would have seen more if they played it at a half decent timeslot. I mean, I know the ratings were dipping the last time they played it, but they could give it another shot since they have more episodes available now. Oh well, at least I can take consolation in the fact that this makes one more failure for 4K!ds. One small step closer to them going bankrupt.

[Pomegranate]

They could've aired the episodes that weren't on CN before on Miguzi instead!

[Sketch]

Yes they should have done that by now. Now there's 104 episodes to run and 29 that didn't air on CN yet. And they can't give it a weekday slot? What kind of crap is that?

Add that to lousy DVD releases and you've got the scenrio that pretty much requires you to catch the premieres on 4kidsTV if you want to see all the episodes and as this year has proven... not even that may be enough.

[Nin-Nin69]

You know those 2 hour blocks of back to back EE&E, KND, and B&M? Break those up with some .Hack, Cyborg 009, YuYu Hakusho, and TMNT.

[William C. Maune]

Yes they should have done that by now. Now there's 104 episodes to run and 29 that didn't air on CN yet. And they can't give it a weekday slot? What kind of crap is that?

I doubt Cartoon Network ever picked up the rights to the 4th season.

You know those 2 hour blocks of back to back EE&E, KND, and B&M? Break those up with some .Hack, Cyborg 009, YuYu Hakusho, and TMNT.

The rights to most, if not all, or those shows have likely expired.

[Nin-Nin69]

Well then how about Megas, SJ, and Justice League. I doubt there is some lega law behind stuff they already own.

[Sketch]

Actually it seems very likely CN got the rights to at least part of season 4. As they may have the rights to Fast Forward this Fall (so says the original press release). Even when something isn't working for whatever reason they tend to buy more of it (maybe for a really good deal or something). But I suppose it's possible season 4 was never purchased by CN.

[judyindisguise]

IMO, "Totally Spies" is totally lame. I have yet to watch a complete episode of it, it's so damn obnoxious.

[The Wolverine]

IMO, "Totally Spies" is totally lame. I have yet to watch a complete episode of it, it's so damn obnoxious.
Don't take it seriously.
IMO it's a hilarious program.

But still... I hate TMNT with every inch of my life, but doubling Totally Spies to get even higher ratings is just wrong. If they want to replace TMNT, replace it with an old Cartoon Cartoon, like (and I mean preferably) PPG.

[Rabi~en~Rose]

besides Pokemon, this and Sonic X are the only 4Kids shows I wish CN would have on daily but no they just can't do that can they? :crying: I fell out of TMNT and Sonic during their second seasons and could never catch up again :(

[William C. Maune]

Actually it seems very likely CN got the rights to at least part of season 4. As they may have the rights to Fast Forward this Fall (so says the original press release). Even when something isn't working for whatever reason they tend to buy more of it (maybe for a really good deal or something). But I suppose it's possible season 4 was never purchased by CN.

I wonder if Fast Forward really was picked up by CN. That one press release definitely said so, but there has been no word from Cartoon Network themselves, not even at the Upfront. Only time will tell.

[Gary L Thompson]

You know those 2 hour blocks of back to back EE&E, KND, and B&M? Break those up with some .Hack, Cyborg 009, YuYu Hakusho, and TMNT.
Well then how about Megas, SJ, and Justice League. I doubt there is some lega law behind stuff they already own.

Here! Here!:D


I wonder if Fast Forward really was picked up by CN. That one press release definitely said so, but there has been no word from Cartoon Network themselves, not even at the Upfront. Only time will tell.

I have no clue as to what CN is doing. But from 4Kids' point of view, it's hard to imagine the rights would have run out, or CN not pick up rights to future seasons, if 4Kids has any choice about it. Unless 4Kids feel confident they can place TMNT elsewhere.

Look, nobody really makes money from producing a TV show, unless they make enough episodes to keep it perpetually in reruns. 4Kids should be in a position to do that with the Turtles, with more than 100 episodes already in the can. 4Kids needs to place all of its long-running shows on CN to help with its bottom line, if CN is blocking them, then I imagine they will seek another network like Nickelodeon to carry their shows.

[Sketch]

Well it's an aquisition Maune and you yourself said they mostly focused on home grown at this year's upfront. Also Pokemon Chronicles came out of nowhere... so chances are there are more aquisitions on the horizon which we don't have a club about yet.

[NahMan85]

I just found out. I didn't think CN would ever do this. Wait this IS CN were're talking about here. It's to be expected. Sometimes you just wonder what CN is thinking on some of these decisions they make about their shows.

Oh snap Sketch must be pissed off about this news. Don't worry man you can still watch it on Saturday mornings on 4kids tv or whatever new name it has this week. Just hope they don't make the same mistake CN did.

[William C. Maune]

Well it's an aquisition Maune and you yourself said they mostly focused on home grown at this year's upfront. Also Pokemon Chronicles came out of nowhere... so chances are there are more aquisitions on the horizon which we don't have a club about yet.

It seems they did announce all of the acquisitions they had at the time (Fantastic Four, more episodes of current Toonami shows, more Totally Spies, etc.). It's just that they didn't really go into any details about the acquisitions, unlike the home grown shows.

[Pomegranate]

I think Totally Spies is so lame it should be called "Totally Sinful" instead. It should end up on either Nickelodeon, MTV, Spike TV, TechTV, Comedy Central or the Sci-Fi Channel. Cartoon Network should return to their old ways.

Hey, look on the bright side! You can catch the turtles on 4KidsTV, which is on Fox during Sat. mornings.

[Sketch]

It seems they did announce all of the acquisitions they had at the time (Fantastic Four, more episodes of current Toonami shows, more Totally Spies, etc.). It's just that they didn't really go into any details about the acquisitions, unlike the home grown shows.

Not a single mention of Pokemon and not only is season 7 on Miguzi but they picked up Chronicles as well. TMNT Fast Forward isn't a new show it's an extention much like those. So they could very well spring it on us.

[William C. Maune]

Not a single mention of Pokemon and not only is season 7 on Miguzi but they picked up Chronicles as well. TMNT Fast Forward isn't a new show it's an extention much like those. So they could very well spring it on us.

At the time of the Cartoon Network Upfront, Kids WB hadn't dropped Pokemon from next year's line-up yet. I think it is highly likely that Cartoon Network struck deals for both Pokemon and Pokemon Chronicles after the Upfront.

[Sketch]

Okay Mr. "I'll find a way to shoot down anything you say in the attempt to defend your stance".

We'll just wait and see.

I don't have a lot of hope that they will show Fast Forward for the record but I don't want to just give up on it either even if I'm not too excited about Fast Forward in general.

[William C. Maune]

For the record, I do hope they show Fast Forward. I wasn't too keen on the idea at first, but then I heard (I think at least) that the original creator was involved with the idea.

[Sketch]

Yeah hopefully Laird can keep it good. It's still got a good staff (though not all the same). But man if the whole idea doesn't say "jump the shark" I don't know what does. But mostly I dislike FF for messing up what they had going for the majority of the viewers (at least in the US). Even if the lost season will still exist. But also the addition of kids and a change of art style and tone really doesn't sound like it will benefit the show. But if it gets better kid ratings this way then at least the turtles will stick around.

[CyberCubed]

But also the addition of kids and a change of art style and tone really doesn't sound like it will benefit the show. .

ONE kid, just Cody. Yeah, I have a horrible feeling he's going to act like an annoying, generic 10 year old, but as long as he's not shoved down our throats in every ep, it should be fine.

And as far as we know the art style hasn't changed, the TMNT just got some updated looks, that's all.

What I'm more worried about is the villains, they strike me as boring "monsters" who are just there to appeal to kids.

[Kaoru]

You'd think it wouldn't be too much to ask to leave it be at it's 6AM WEEKEND SLOT. But no, CN couldn't leave well enough alone as usual.

Ninja Turtles 6AM rerun slot has been replaced by Totally Spies (which gets plenty of slots as it is).

Sure 6AM on weekends is a lowsy slot to begin with but it was all that was keeping that great show on CN and now it's gone just like so many other action shows before it. I'm counting the days before it ends up on Boomerang (if CN has a long term contract).

Darn you CN. Why must you treat the turtles like crap? Mirage Studios are the ones treating show like crap. They absolutely ruined a great unique classic by making an uninspired ripoff of Hyperforce out of it (although I like that show).

[Conan-san]

Mirage Studios are the ones treating show like crap. They absolutely ruined a great unique classic by making an uninspired ripoff of Hyperforce out of it (although I like that show). Wasn't it 4kids who were pushing them into it?

[Sketch]

Mirage Studios are the ones treating show like crap. They absolutely ruined a great unique classic by making an uninspired ripoff of Hyperforce out of it (although I like that show).

Mirage has never wronged the turtles as Mirage is the creator of the turtles.

Playmates and 4kids are the ones to blame for Fast Forward.

Peter Laird and his Mirage team have manged to pretty much black list anything bad in TMNT history. Including the Next Mutation, the Image Comic's series and even some of the 80's toon (Laird hates a lot of the things 80's TMNT fans loved actually).

How dare you take the name of Mirage in vain. Much less say they treat TMNT like crap.

[Kaoru]

I'm just saying the new episodes suck and that they should have probably just released the whole 1987 - 96 on DVD instead of letting other studios ruin the show by changing everything good about it and making it average just so they can squeeze more money out of the idea. That sentence is my opinion.

[CyberCubed]

1. The old series is being released on DVD. Volume 5 was just announced and they're currently in the process of putting Season 3 on DVD.

2. The new show and old show are completely different animals. Despite being based on the same property, the new one isn't a rehash of the original. They're like night and day respectively.

[Sketch]

Disgrunteled 80's TMNT fan I see...

I understand the motivation behind that opinion but I must respectfully dissagree because as a long time TMNT fan I believe the new show is fantastic and even better than the 80's show. But if you have never read the Mirage comics then you probably wouldn't think so as the new show is very much like the Mirage comics just censored to be kid safe and with some different plot twists.