New Weekday Block: "Funny For Your Face"

[D Dubbs]

Saw a promo for it during the Ben 10 movie. It starts this Monday and goes from 4-7 p.m.

It doesn't look like there'll be any special shows or anything. Here's what's listed to air:

4:00 - Foster's
4:30 - Billy and Mandy
5:00 - Camp Lazlo
5:30 - Courage
6:00 - Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?
6:30 - What's New, Scooby-Doo?

[Mugen]

The good thing about this is CN isn't giving up putting a block on weekday afternoons. The problem is, it's nothing that doesn't air on other times during CN. If this doesn't do well, then maybe they'll think about Toonami again? Probably not.:sad:

[Antiyonder]

Can't they actually just communicate with their audience online to see if they prefer excessive reruns or more shows?

[John Dorian]

I guess the "Funny For Your Face" fad had sadly came back.

[The CN WB Kid]

Saw a promo for it during the Ben 10 movie. It starts this Monday and goes from 4-7 p.m.

It doesn't look like there'll be any special shows or anything. Here's what's listed to air:

5:30 - Courage
6:00 - Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?
6:30 - What's New, Scooby Doo?
The first half is meh (Camp lazlo isn't that great) but this Second Half ROCKS! Gawd, I love the original Scooby.

[Dr.Pepper]

At least they are playing some decent shows but "Funny for Your Face" phrase makes me ill.

[Blackstar]

Honestly, an animated programming block in which the shows air ONLY during said block would be better, IMHO. But I suppose we should just be glad that CN is giving us a block of all animated programming at all.

[DarthGonzo]

I can't believe Courage is still getting this much play.

[GaryPotter]

Care to take any bets on how long this will last?

Why can't they just put back Toonami. It's ratings couldn't be any worse than these neverending repeats.

[Sketch]

You'd be surprised.

It really depends on what they want to get out of that time slot. If they wanted 9-14 boys then Toonami would lock that down easily but they want both more girls and more 6-11 and they believe their comedies will get them those viewers better than Toonami could. And sad thing is, that's probably true but I'd like to see them try Toonami (or at least Toonami-like shows) 5-7PM again to see what results that yields from their current audience.

And I doubt this "block" will even have packaging. It's just a group of shows they decided to advertise together.

[Don_East]

Hey Network,

"Funny For Your Face"? More like "Funny Like Your Face".

[Djm912]

That last hour makes me angry. Otherwise, the block, while generic, looks decent enough.

[Master Toon]

Honestly, an animated programming block in which the shows air ONLY during said block would be better, IMHO. But I suppose we should just be glad that CN is giving us a block of all animated programming at all.

But you make a good point. What's the point of a block if these are the regularly scheduled programs? It's a waste of money making ads and bumps for it.

[Djm912]

But you make a good point. What's the point of a block if these are the regularly scheduled programs? It's a waste of money making ads and bumps for it.
Well, maybe it's just a filler block for the ads that will be playing during the timeslot, which we all know is prime.

Because, for some reason, people will always flock to that damn dog and his stupid friends.

[Narf]

Ugh. 'Funny for Your Face'. And I thought Miguzi sounded stupid.
Doesn't look like anything special, but I'm glad they're showing Courage. And the old Scooby Doo is a nice asset as well.

[Mugen]

The name of the block reminds me of something that would be used for TBS. I wouldn't mind this block so much if it aired some shows that haven't aired in a while, like PPG.

[Light Lucario]

Saw a promo for it during the Ben 10 movie. It starts this Monday and goes from 4-7 p.m.

It doesn't look like there'll be any special shows or anything. Here's what's listed to air:

4:00 - Foster's
4:30 - Billy and Mandy
5:00 - Camp Lazlo
5:30 - Courage
6:00 - Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?
6:30 - What's New, Scooby-Doo?

I think that's what CN has aired since they took off Master Control. While it is nice that CN is still having an afternoon block, it would work much better they had some shows that only aired on that block or doesn't have that many repeats during the channel's daily lineup. For me, aside from Courage and some of the original Scooby-Doo for nostaglic reasons, there isn't anything that I would really want to watch. It seems too genertic. It could be until they think of getting some kind of better block, unless "Funny For Your Face" actually does well enough to make all of the people at CN happy. After how Master Control ending up failing big time, it will be interesting to see if this lineup does any better.

[yoshirider13]

So basically its the later version of Master control where all you could vote for was comedy shows... But without the voting... great....

[Master Moron]

Hey Network,

"Funny For Your Face"? More like "Funny Like Your Face".

More like, "Punch Us In the Face". This schedule sucks. I'm not going to watch any of that crap. Now, I realize that I'm outside of Cartoon Network's target demographic by about ten years, but why do they almost never air action shows anymore? There's barely any action cartoons on TV anymore.

[Antiyonder]

More like, "Punch Us In the Face". This schedule sucks. I'm not going to watch any of that crap. Now, I realize that I'm outside of Cartoon Network's target demographic by about ten years, but why do they almost never air action shows anymore? There's barely any action cartoons on TV anymore.

They do, but only if it is equal or surpassing to Naruto.

[Lightning Tiger]

Courage rocks, so il watch it (the half hour Courage is on)

[D Dubbs]

More like, "Punch Us In the Face". This schedule sucks. I'm not going to watch any of that crap. Now, I realize that I'm outside of Cartoon Network's target demographic by about ten years, but why do they almost never air action shows anymore? There's barely any action cartoons on TV anymore.

I think Sketch summed it up pretty well. Comedies generally do better with CN's target age group of 6-11 year olds. That's why you see Fried Dynamite getting tons of promotion, while Dynamite Action Squad and Toonami get little or none.

[Antiyonder]

I think Sketch summed it up pretty well. Comedies generally do better with CN's target age group of 6-11 year olds. That's why you see Fried Dynamite getting tons of promotion, while Dynamite Action Squad and Toonami get little or none.

And that's why action shows don't so as well, because they don't promote them enough. But hey, better to blame the product that those who handle it.

[D Dubbs]

And that's why action shows don't so as well, because they don't promote them enough. But hey, better to blame the product that those who handle it.

I'd really rather not start this whole debate up again...

Cartoon Network DOES promote their action shows. The two new ones they obtained this year (Pokemon D&P and Storm Hawks) had plenty of promotion, but Chowder was the one that scored a freakin' 7.2 and earned CN their highest ratings of the year.

Their comedy does better and therefore they promote it more.

[Antiyonder]

I'd really rather not start this whole debate up again...

Cartoon Network DOES promote their action shows. The two new ones they obtained this year (Pokemon D&P and Storm Hawks) had plenty of promotion, but Chowder was the one that scored a freakin' 7.2 and earned CN their highest ratings of the year.

1. Do they promote them as often as their comedy shows though?

2. Just because a show is doing well doesn't mean it has to air 3-4 times a day. Would the original TMNT or Transformers cartoon have lasted as long if it aired 4 times a day?

[D Dubbs]

1. Do they promote them as often as their comedy shows though?

No and they won't. They'll promote shows based on their ratings and also if it's an original series. Don't expect equal treatment of all shows on CN because it won't happen.

2. Just because a show is doing well doesn't mean it has to air 3-4 times a day. Would the original TMNT or Transformers cartoon have lasted as long if it aired 4 times a day?I honestly don't see what this has to do with our discussion of promotion and I don't want to draw this argument out any longer so I'm stopping here.

Seriously, why do you have to turn every thread into a "This is What's Wrong With CN" thread? I get that you want more variety on CN, but I think you're overdoing it a bit here.

[Antiyonder]

No and they won't. They'll promote shows based on their ratings and also if it's an original series. Don't expect equal treatment of all shows on CN because it won't happen.

Then until they give their shows equal promotion, there is no definate proof that the demograph prefers one cartoon over another. Why don't they ask their audience what they want online for a change? List all of their available programming and the option of "Do you want this show on the network? Yes or No?"

Even then, were Ben 10 or Teen Titans actually failing? If not, they still should be on the network.

I honestly don't see what this has to do with our discussion of promotion

Because I believe that with the excessive airing, it's only a matter of time before even the most devote of their audience will tire of the excessive airing. The reason why programs like Scooby Doo, Flintstones, Tom & Jerry, TMNT, Transformers have lasted as long as they did, because they weren't aired excessively.

Seriously, why do you have to turn every thread into a "This is What's Wrong With CN" thread? I get that you want more variety on CN, but do you need to say it in every thread?

I've only brought the discussion up in three threads, so saying every thread is misleading. But I will end it for this thread.

[Sketch]

Because I believe that with the excessive airing, it's only a matter of time before even the most devote of their audience will tire of the excessive airing. The reason why programs like Scooby Doo, Flintstones, Tom & Jerry, TMNT, Transformers have lasted as long as they did, because they weren't aired excessively.


Well I can't say this for Transformers but everything else on that list was played on several networks over the years and often at the same time. TMNT wasn't excessively rerun but it was rerun plenty in syndication and then on USA's Cartoon Express while it was still showing premieres on CBS. Shoot at one point TMNT had premieres in both syndication and on CBS.

Those other shows aired on their original networks, syndication and various turner networks often enough taking up huge chunks of the schedule. Oversaturation is nothing new. But it didn't get to be THIS bad until Nick figured out they could program half (if not more) their network with Spongebob reruns daily and get killer ratings and CN tried to adapt that philosophy.

The real problem here is CN doesn't know what they want anymore. Some say live-action is around to get back those 9-14+ viewers they lost due to lack of interest in those viewers. Some say their current programing is all in efforts to get more 6-11. But really it's quite clear that they just don't know what they want out of their own network anymore.

Though I agree it shouldn't kill them to play some more action shows and no not everything HAS to stack up to Naruto it just has to keep a strong audience and most of their action additions haven't. Some, because they weren't good cartoons. Others seemed to be victims of circustance. But mostly I think it's that CN wants to be even more like Nick and what do you know they only make a few action shows.

But hey it's not like they don't have Saturday's, Santo, Transformers and the Ben 10 spin-off lined up for next year. Which is a lot more then you could say for this last year which only had 2 action cartoon premieres (Pokemon D&P and Storm Hawks). 2 completely originals and 1 co-pro vs 1 unrelated acquisition and 1 semi-related one.

Unfortunately action cartoons are becoming slim pickings these days. Especially "GOOD" ones.

Action has always been great for CN weekday afternoons. They really ought to get back to that. But I guess if it doesn't work then it doesn't work.

[Antiyonder]

Well I can't say this for Transformers but everything else on that list was played on several networks over the years and often at the same time. TMNT wasn't excessively rerun but it was rerun plenty in syndication and then on USA's Cartoon Express while it was still showing premieres on CBS. Shoot at one point TMNT had premieres in both syndication and on CBS.

Retracting my oath for this post. Being on the schedule for a longtime isn't what I meant by over airing. Your comment about Nick airing Spongebob for half a day is. The occasional double airing isn't that bad, especially if the episode number justifies it. Airing a show or particular title 4-6 times a day is.

The real problem here is CN doesn't know what they want anymore. Some say live-action is around to get back those 9-14+ viewers they lost due to lack of interest in those viewers. Some say their current programing is all in efforts to get more 6-11. But really it's quite clear that they just don't know what they want out of their own network anymore.

It's simply because as Jeff Harris has stated that the ones running it don't have a passion for their work. Older execs while they've made some mistakes here and there, you get the feeling they enjoyed running a network for cartoons as they used a good portion of their library.

The current crop of execs strike me as the kind of people who'd be better off running something like CW, Spike, MTV or some jobs without creativity like an selling home office supplies or car parts.

Though I agree it shouldn't kill them to play some more action shows and no not everything HAS to stack up to Naruto it just has to keep a strong audience and most of their action additions haven't. Some, because they weren't good cartoons. Others seemed to be victims of circustance. But mostly I think it's that CN wants to be even more like Nick and what do you know they only make a few action shows.

Exactly. What they're doing now is equal to say a cafeteria only having a small selection of food, because they think the people eating prefer the same old thin every time.

And they could have at least experimented with a more diverse schedule on their anniversary week by at least dedicating a week to all of the shows that aired on Cartoon Network. It's like they're conscious sure that younger viewers can't handle a schedule consisting of more than 11-15 shows.

Unfortunately action cartoons are becoming slim pickings these days. Especially "GOOD" ones.

Action has always been great for CN weekday afternoons. They really ought to get back to that. But I guess if it doesn't work then it doesn't work.

As I told Dubb, until they're willing to give all action shows (aside from Naruto) equal promotion then to say that comedies are the viewer favorite is more of an assumption.

Now I understand that the target demo enjoys the marathons of their favorite shows, but that doesn't definatively mean they would object to a more diverse schedule. But I believe if they were given a direct choice of having more shows (about say 30-44) VS having the same 11 shows airing 4 times, they'd go with the former.

[DBZNarutoWarrior]

I love seing this "BRAND NEW" schedule compiled of the "finest" animation in television. You know what, I think that all of these shows are already on CN and/or have been reran 10+ times.... MOST INTERESTING..... hmmmmmm....


I love how Toonami viewrs have to wait about 150 hours to see their shows (except Naruto LOL... but that's still on every 24+ hours since they seem to skip it quite often.) , and viewers of CN are LIKELY to see the same show and/or episode within 12 hours :p .

[D Dubbs]

And I doubt this "block" will even have packaging. It's just a group of shows they decided to advertise together.

Well, there is packaging.

Although, whether it's good packaging or not...now that's a different matter...

[oldcbsfan]

:confused: :confused: :confused:

[Sketch]

Well, there is packaging.

Although, whether it's good packaging or not...now that's a different matter...

Way to waste even more of the budget CN. No wonder Toonami hasn't gotten a new animation in over half a year. :shrug:

[Master Toon]

Way to waste even more of the budget CN. No wonder Toonami hasn't gotten a new animation in over half a year. :shrug:

Who needs need new animation when we can get some funny for our faces?