Looney Tunes.

[Mr Flintstone]

OK, I am aware that Warner and Turner have problems and that Turner isn't allowed to air post 48 Looney Tunes. But why isn't Looney Tunes on ANY channel, that I know of, in America? Why don't stations like WGN, Nick Toons or the WB, I repeat, the WB network carry LT? They have to know that there still is a big fanbase for it.

I must be missing something. Tell me what I don't know.

[Blackstar]

OK, I am aware that Warner and Turner have problems and that Turner isn't allowed to air post 48 Looney Tunes. But why isn't Looney Tunes on ANY channel, that I know of, in America? Why don't stations like WGN, Nick Toons or the WB, I repeat, the WB network carry LT? They have to know that there still is a big fanbase for it.

I must be missing something. Tell me what I don't know.

The reason why Looney Tunes no longer airs on Nickelodeon or any other channel is because they no longer own the broadcasting rights to them. Nick is owned by Viacom, who only had the rights to the post 1948 LT/MM shorts, but they lost those rights years ago. Independent stations such WGN haven't been able to air LT shorts since they were bought up by the big cable moguls. You don't see the shorts on the WB network anymore because the WB network no longer exists.

Just because Turner isn't airing the pre 1948 LT/MM shorts doesn't mean that they no longer own them. Turner would sooner sit on those shorts and let them collect dust in the vaults than to sell them to a competing network who could potentially make lots of moolah off of them.

However, the Looney Tunes shorts can be seen in Canada and other countries outside of the U.S. because their broadcasting laws are different than ours. Since LT/MM were made in the U.S., they're considered acquisitions to those nations.

[ZumbidoMetal]

I think Warner Bros. feel that the Looney Tunes package is worth more than any network see in return on it.

[dth1971]

The WB and Kids WB envolved into CW and CW 4 Kids - so no Looney Tunes allowed on these channels!

Couldn't Disney Channel get the rights to post 1948 Looney Tunes?

[EJLD4Ever]

Couldn't Disney Channel get the rights to post 1948 Looney Tunes?

Not gonna happen! Legal issues prevented Mickey and Bugs from ever being together (until Roger Rabbit) and I don't think Disney and WB will let Mickey and Bugs share a channel together.

However, I am glad to see the Looney Tunes on DVD---without all the dust, scratches, stains, faded audio and gags cut out for whatever reason. Watching the cartoons before then was like watching them through a dirty window, and when restored that "window" is now clean. If we bring LT's back to TV, that "window" is just going to get dirty again!

[J. B. Warner]

However, I am glad to see the Looney Tunes on DVD---without all the dust, scratches, stains, faded audio and gags cut out for whatever reason. Watching the cartoons before then was like watching them through a dirty window, and when restored that "window" is now clean. If we bring LT's back to TV, that "window" is just going to get dirty again!

Not necessarily - perhaps the restored versions of the cartoons would begin making the TV rounds. I know there were some efforts to restore some of the Looney Tunes for television about ten to thirteen years ago (cartoons like "Hare Trimmed" and "Rabbit Rampage" frequently aired on Cartoon Network in digitally remastered form), and I don't see why a new TV package couldn't include the pristine DVD versions. Classic film and cartoon preservation is a big concern in Hollywood these days, so I doubt they'd let these films get scratched up again.

[Blackstar]

Couldn't Disney Channel get the rights to post 1948 Looney Tunes?

That's about as likely to happen as Disney and Warner Brothers merging into 1 giant studio, which is to say, very unlikely.

[rainstorm46]

OK, I am aware that Warner and Turner have problems and that Turner isn't allowed to air post 48 Looney Tunes. But why isn't Looney Tunes on ANY channel, that I know of, in America? Why don't stations like WGN, Nick Toons or the WB, I repeat, the WB network carry LT? They have to know that there still is a big fanbase for it.

I must be missing something. Tell me what I don't know.

Well I guess for some reason TV channels just dont want to air the Looney Tunes. The good news though is that you can buy almost all (if not all) on DVD. They have released alot of golden collections(dont know how many).
I like the looney tunes but am not a huge fan and only have one spotlight collection DVD. Dont know how many spotlight collections there are though.

[DarthGonzo]

Well I guess for some reason TV channels just dont want to air the Looney Tunes. The good news though is that you can buy almost all (if not all) on DVD. They have released alot of golden collections(dont know how many).


There have been 6 Golden Collections released. The line itself has been discontinued but we've been promised that more sets under a different banner will be released starting next year.

But less than half of the Looney Tunes output have been released on DVD. There are literally hundreds of cartoons that aren't on DVD, and a doubt we'll ever get them all.

[rainstorm46]

There have been 6 Golden Collections released. The line itself has been discontinued but we've been promised that more sets under a different banner will be released starting next year.

But less than half of the Looney Tunes output have been released on DVD. There are literally hundreds of cartoons that aren't on DVD, and a doubt we'll ever get them all.

How many looney tunes cartoons were made.

[DarthGonzo]

How many looney tunes cartoons were made.

Take a look for yourself:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looney_Tunes_and_Merrie_Melodies_filmography

[rainstorm46]

Take a look for yourself:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looney_Tunes_and_Merrie_Melodies_filmography

Thank you for the link and that information.

[Mickialla]

If I understand Master Moltar correctly, Looney Tunes is returning to Cartoon Network (for one day or permanently, I'm not sure) on New Year's Eve. This isn't confirmed yet, I might have misunderstood him, but that's supposedly what he was leading on. If so, it will be a very happy way to start off the New Year.

[EJLD4Ever]

Not necessarily - perhaps the restored versions of the cartoons would begin making the TV rounds. I know there were some efforts to restore some of the Looney Tunes for television about ten to thirteen years ago (cartoons like "Hare Trimmed" and "Rabbit Rampage" frequently aired on Cartoon Network in digitally remastered form), and I don't see why a new TV package couldn't include the pristine DVD versions. Classic film and cartoon preservation is a big concern in Hollywood these days, so I doubt they'd let these films get scratched up again.

Okay--restored yes, but you still have to consider the fact that the networks are just going to once again cut out any gag or scene deemed too racist or violent, and although it doesn't bother me at all, I'll be able to notice the edits clearly after seeing the cartoons uncut and uncensored on DVD.

[Mr Flintstone]

How many looney tunes cartoons were made.

I started watching Looney Tunes in the late 70's/early 80's and I still catch a short that I've never seen before.

[rainstorm46]

If I understand Master Moltar correctly, Looney Tunes is returning to Cartoon Network (for one day or permanently, I'm not sure) on New Year's Eve. This isn't confirmed yet, I might have misunderstood him, but that's supposedly what he was leading on. If so, it will be a very happy way to start off the New Year.

I really doubt that Cartoon Network would air the Looney Tunes in rotation again after not airing it for so long. But who knows it could happen I guess.

[chdr]

If they can air Mucha Lucha and Courage again, then they could definitely show LT.

[Racattack!Force]

If I understand Master Moltar correctly, Looney Tunes is returning to Cartoon Network (for one day or permanently, I'm not sure) on New Year's Eve. This isn't confirmed yet, I might have misunderstood him, but that's supposedly what he was leading on. If so, it will be a very happy way to start off the New Year.He was definitely hinting that they are airing that they.

[Eric B]

Take a look for yourself:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looney_Tunes_and_Merrie_Melodies_filmography
Here they are in a single page, numbered format:

http://www.erictb.info/ltmm.html

[rainstorm46]

Here they are in a single page, numbered format:

http://www.erictb.info/ltmm.html

Never knew that looney tunes had over 1,000 cartoons. That is probably as much or more than tom and jerry and scooby doo episodes combined.

[Eric B]

Never knew that looney tunes had over 1,000 cartoons. That is probably as much or more than tom and jerry and scooby doo episodes combined.
And what's most interesting of all is that the initial run was exactly 1000!

[Mandouga]

All things considered, I didn't feel this warranted its own thread, but I need to ask.

Is there any proof of the distribution problem between WB and Turner (such as a trade paper article or something)? I never heard anything about this (not even from Toon Zone, AFAIK). All I know is that the shorts just went off the air suddenly, but was it really because of a distribution dispute? How do we know it wasn't because of...you know, a PC problem (and by "PC", I don't mean "personal computer"...)?

[chdr]

All things considered, I didn't feel this warranted its own thread, but I need to ask.

Is there any proof of the distribution problem between WB and Turner (such as a trade paper article or something)? I never heard anything about this (not even from Toon Zone, AFAIK). All I know is that the shorts just went off the air suddenly, but was it really because of a distribution dispute? How do we know it wasn't because of...you know, a PC problem (and by "PC", I don't mean "personal computer"...)?

It was over the fee to air Looney Tunes simple as that.

Who knows, we just might see LT make a return on on CN's New Year's Day schedule, if Master Moltar's sources are true...

[ZumbidoMetal]

Nothing to do with content issues. They completely stopped airing the "post-48" non-turner owned shorts at some point in 2005. I don't know if the deal expired or if WB was simply upset at their treatment. I've heard both, but it's fact CN devalued the Looney Tunes package by moving the cartoons exclusively to Boomerang, which also may have been a breech of their originally agreement when WB gave them exclusive rights. I know WB has shopped Looney Tunes around to other nets, but as of yet, obviously, no one has picked them up. TCM has aired shorts from the non-turner package since 2005 though and will be airing some coming up in March as part of a Chuck Jones tribute.

[Mandouga]

I was talking about the pre-48 (color) shorts, actually (well, partially, I guess). They were controlled by Turner when they acquired the pre-86 MGM library which included the UA catalog, which in turn included a.a.p. who had owned the syndication rights to the shorts. The post-48 shorts were always controlled by WB directly; I always knew that.

I guess what I meant to ask was is there any proof that the dispute includes the pre-48 shorts. You see, Boomerang had stopped airing Looney Toons/Merrie Melodies completely; including the pre-48 shorts.

Or does the answer extend to that as well?

[ZumbidoMetal]

I think they just choose not to air them, but I could be wrong.

[rainstorm46]

And what's most interesting of all is that the initial run was exactly 1000!

I wonder how they were able to make so many cartoons with so many different ideas.

[Eric B]

Nothing to do with content issues. They completely stopped airing the "post-48" non-turner owned shorts at some point in 2005. I don't know if the deal expired or if WB was simply upset at their treatment. I've heard both, but it's fact CN devalued the Looney Tunes package by moving the cartoons exclusively to Boomerang, which also may have been a breech of their originally agreement when WB gave them exclusive rights. I know WB has shopped Looney Tunes around to other nets, but as of yet, obviously, no one has picked them up. TCM has aired shorts from the non-turner package since 2005 though and will be airing some coming up in March as part of a Chuck Jones tribute. Never heard this spin on it before, but that's a shame, because as soon as they had the whole 1000 film library (give a few after the initial run, and take the censored ones), they should have brought back the two hour prime time Bugs & Daffy Tonight. But they were so into their new cartoons and anime blocks. The same with the Spielberg stuff receiving such poor play, and then quickly being yanked off and sent somewhere else.
I just can't figure out why they are keeping CN/BOOM as separate companies. Turner is gone; just dissolve them into WB, and then play all the LT's on the networks.

[J. B. Warner]

I wonder how they were able to make so many cartoons with so many different ideas.

They recycled a lot of 'em, frankly. Friz Freleng wasn't above reusing gags from his older cartoons - his theory was that if it got a laugh the first time, it'll get a laugh the second time. And a number of series hinged on formula, including Chuck Jones' Pepe le Pew cartoons and Robert McKimson's Hippety Hopper series, to the point where they were almost always the same story every time. Heck, some cartoons were even virtual shot-for-shot remakes of previous shorts, right down to using the same animation ("Porky in Wackyland" (1938) as "Dough for the Do-Do" (1949); "Porky's Badtime Story" (1937) as "Tick Tock Tuckered" (1944), etc.).

Theatrical cartoons were allowed to get away with this sort of monotony, though. Audiences generally only saw each short once, and not on a regular basis either. Plus, with 1000 cartoons released between 1930 and 1969, it was literally impossible for the average theatergoer to see every single Warner Bros. cartoon ever made. The formulas didn't become evident to the audience until the cartoons started receiving play on television, where numerous shorts were showcased back-to-back on a daily or weekly basis.

[EJLD4Ever]

And what's most interesting of all is that the initial run was exactly 1000!

Well, only 989 of them are qualified to air. There's an entire list of cartoons deemed too un-PC to EVER air on TV, mostly because the plot revolves around, or the main characters are, racial or ethnic stereotypes. This includes Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarves, Tin Pan Alley Cats, and Goldilocks and the Jivin' Bears, among others. They are called The Censored 11 (http://looney.goldenagecartoons.com/ltcuts/ltcuts11.html) among fans. The good news is, according to the newly-created blog of Bob Clampett's daughter Ruth, WB plans to give Coal Black a special-edition DVD treatment sometime soon (http://www.wildsvillegallery.com/catalog/index.php/blog/coal-black).

[Eric B]

Well, more have been basically added to the list, including some mainstays of early TBS/TNT/CN airings (mainly Indian stereotype cartoons, which passed through the initial censoring, but more recently, racial sensitivities increased even further to the point that a film couldn't caricature anyone.
On the other hand, these were effectively "replaced" by new made for TV and Theatrical shorts released afterwards.

Also, Freleng even continued to reuse his plots into the Pink Panther/Ant & Aardvark and other post-WB era shorts.

[rainstorm46]

They recycled a lot of 'em, frankly. Friz Freleng wasn't above reusing gags from his older cartoons - his theory was that if it got a laugh the first time, it'll get a laugh the second time. And a number of series hinged on formula, including Chuck Jones' Pepe le Pew cartoons and Robert McKimson's Hippety Hopper series, to the point where they were almost always the same story every time. Heck, some cartoons were even virtual shot-for-shot remakes of previous shorts, right down to using the same animation ("Porky in Wackyland" (1938) as "Dough for the Do-Do" (1949); "Porky's Badtime Story" (1937) as "Tick Tock Tuckered" (1944), etc.).

Theatrical cartoons were allowed to get away with this sort of monotony, though. Audiences generally only saw each short once, and not on a regular basis either. Plus, with 1000 cartoons released between 1930 and 1969, it was literally impossible for the average theatergoer to see every single Warner Bros. cartoon ever made. The formulas didn't become evident to the audience until the cartoons started receiving play on television, where numerous shorts were showcased back-to-back on a daily or weekly basis.

Thanks for the information. Did not know that about the looney tunes. Theatrical cartoons were definitely alot of different. You could not see episodes over and over again like you do today.

[PF9]

Well, only 989 of them are qualified to air. There's an entire list of cartoons deemed too un-PC to EVER air on TV, mostly because the plot revolves around, or the main characters are, racial or ethnic stereotypes. This includes Coal Black and de Sebben Dwarves, Tin Pan Alley Cats, and Goldilocks and the Jivin' Bears, among others. They are called The Censored 11 (http://looney.goldenagecartoons.com/ltcuts/ltcuts11.html) among fans. The good news is, according to the newly-created blog of Bob Clampett's daughter Ruth, WB plans to give Coal Black a special-edition DVD treatment sometime soon (http://www.wildsvillegallery.com/catalog/index.php/blog/coal-black).

I hope this also includes the other cartoons in the Censored 11, alongside other WB cartoons pulled from circulation due to similar stereotypes (like Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips). Such release wouldn't bear the "Looney Tunes" name however, to make sure that most of the buyers are the "Adult Swim" audience.

Now for getting the WB-outright owned toons back on CN:
WB needs to realize how much the people love these cartoons. To that end, we should have some of our own (as in members of these forums) work for WB and CN, with the intent of getting these cartoons back on TV. The theme is that a huge fanbase is worth much more than mere money (in other words, we would have WB not demanding so high a fee for broadcast, if at all).

[Racattack!Force]

Just wondering: Now that Looney Tunes seems to be returning to CN, will it also air on Boomerang? :confused:

[rainstorm46]

Just wondering: Now that Looney Tunes seems to be returning to CN, will it also air on Boomerang? :confused:

Not sure. Also just wondering how do you know for sure the looney tunes are going to be on Cartoon Network. The Cartoon Network website does not have the schedule up to January yet.

[Racattack!Force]

Not sure. Also just wondering how do you know for sure the looney tunes are going to be on Cartoon Network. The Cartoon Network website does not have the schedule up to January yet.First, a member on the CN board (who has close ties to the network) hinted at it a week or two ago. Then it was confirmed on Thursday when Zap2it got up to the January 1st schedule (http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tvlistings/ZCSGrid.do?sgridType=list&fromTimeInMillis=1230786000000&stnNum=12131) and showed the 14-hour Looney Tunes marathon taking place that day.

[rainstorm46]

First, a member on the CN board (who has close ties to the network) hinted at it a week or two ago. Then it was confirmed on Thursday when Zap2it got up to the January 1st schedule (http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tvlistings/ZCSGrid.do?sgridType=list&fromTimeInMillis=1230786000000&stnNum=12131) and showed the 14-hour Looney Tunes marathon taking place that day.

Thanks for that.

[fartoons]

Oh my God! Spongebob before Cartman?! Give me a break!! Spongebob sucks he doesn't deserve to be in the top 10. He doesn't even deserve to be on the list at all. Oh well, people are stupid and the list doesn't really mean anything...

[DarthGonzo]

Oh my God! Spongebob before Cartman?! Give me a break!! Spongebob sucks he doesn't deserve to be in the top 10. He doesn't even deserve to be on the list at all. Oh well, people are stupid and the list doesn't really mean anything...

That's...nice...?

South Park was really big at one time but I don't think it's anywhere near as popular as it used to be - although I do agree that Cartman deserves his place somewhere on that list. Spongebob on the other hand continues to be a phenomenon and will probably be remember as the biggest and most popular kid's cartoon of the past couple of decades or so. Even now, as the overall quality of the show slips, the ratings are still through the roof. Even Spongebob repeats from almost a decade ago conquer just about everything else aimed at kids.

I'd say Spongebob definitely deserves a spot on that list and he does not suck. And are you insinuating that Spongebob fans are stupid? I really hope not.

[Toony Loon]

According to CN and GAC, there will be plenty of post-48 Looney Tunes airing on CN along with the pre-48 ones.
I guess Turner and Warners finally reached an agreement.

[Eric B]

According to CN and GAC, there will be plenty of post-48 Looney Tunes airing on CN along with the pre-48 ones.
I guess Turner and Warners finally reached an agreement.
Great!
But something tells me that's just a one time deal for now.

[Racattack!Force]

Great!
But something tells me that's just a one time deal for now.It is. It simply a test-run to see if people would actually WATCH Looney Tunes.

[rainstorm46]

It is. It simply a test-run to see if people would actually WATCH Looney Tunes.

I think the ratings will be pretty good because it has not been on Cartoon Network for a long time.

[Pilmedium]

Unfortunately, I think the ratings would need to be more than "pretty good" for Cartoon Network, under its current management, to bring Looney Tunes back from the dead. Unless the marathon gets among CN's highest ratings ever, which is unlikely, expect these cartoons to remain hidden. Something makes me suspect that the Management is doing this in an attempt to prove that people do not want to see these cartoons, and will twist the statistics however necessary to prove its point.

[Racattack!Force]

Unfortunately, I think the ratings would need to be more than "pretty good" for Cartoon Network, under its current management, to bring Looney Tunes back from the dead. Unless the marathon gets among CN's highest ratings ever, which is unlikely, expect these cartoons to remain hidden. Something makes me suspect that the Management is doing this in an attempt to prove that people do not want to see these cartoons, and will twist the statistics however necessary to prove its point.You're just being paranoid. :shrug:

[Pilmedium]

You're just being paranoid. :shrug:

Yeah, I'm being paranoid. You're the one who is so concerned about the ratings of the marathon to have considered spreading posters to promote it! :p

Most fans of these cartoons want the marathon to get good ratings. For now, it is just a matter of 'wait and see.'

[chdr]

Yeah, I'm being paranoid. You're the one who is so concerned about the ratings of the marathon to have considered spreading posters to promote it! :p

Well, he should. CN themselves have said that this marathon's ratings will have a direct influence as to if they should put LT on the schedule.

I did my part in telling my lucky Neilsen box-owning cousins to watch the marathon.

[Racattack!Force]

Yeah, I'm being paranoid. You're the one who is so concerned about the ratings of the marathon to have considered spreading posters to promote it! :p

Most fans of these cartoons want the marathon to get good ratings. For now, it is just a matter of 'wait and see.'Then they should watch the marathon instead of their Looney Tunes DVDs that day. If I spread posters, there's a chance that more people would actually watch the marathon, meaning a better chance for Neilson box owners to watch it too. I said you're paranoid because you're saying that the CN execs want it to fail, which I doubt is the case. :shrug:

[chdr]

Yeah. If they wanted it to fail, they wouldn't advertise it, or devote almost the entire New Year's Schedule to it.

[Jave]

Pilmedium, calm down. This marathon is a test, if it does well, Looney Tunes may stay, if it doesn't, they may not. It's not rocket science.

If the current management (who hasn't done ANYTHING with the Looney Tunes before this) really wanted to prove these cartoons don't have an audience, they wouldn't ever bother airing them, specially considering they need to get the rights first. The sole fact they're bothering airing a marathon, let alone promoting it, can only mean there's somebody in there who cares.

Stop going into "Execs hate everything" mode. Geez.

[Pilmedium]

If the current management (who hasn't done ANYTHING with the Looney Tunes before this)
The fact that they waited this long is, in itself, a cause for suspicion.

really wanted to prove these cartoons don't have an audience, they wouldn't ever bother airing them, specially considering they need to get the rights first.
Actually, they can't prove anything without airing them. It is the only way to prove that they don't (or do) have an audience.

The sole fact they're bothering airing a marathon, let alone promoting it, can only mean there's somebody in there who cares.
Yes, but those who care clearly seem to be outnumbered.

I was just being picky in a previous post, as nothing here is in any way upsetting to me. Most of us can agree that we want the marathon to do well; let's just leave it at that.

[chdr]

The fact that they waited this long is, in itself, a cause for suspicion.

The older management probably had no interest of bringing LT back with or without TW's fees, but CN has since gotten completely different management, which is why CN is slowly changing its focus from "generic kids channel" to "cartoon channel for all ages". They've only been in power for a year or so, and negotiating legal stuff with TimeWarner can take time.


Actually, they can't prove anything without airing them. It is the only way to prove that they don't (or do) have an audience.

Sure they can. They could easily point out the failure of Loonatics Unleashed or Back In Action and say that the Looney Tunes franchise doesn't appeal to kids (and honestly, the only ratings CN is looking for for this event is the kids, to see that this LT appeals with this generation as well)


Yes, but those who care clearly seem to be outnumbered.

If the people who care are outnumbered, CN wouldn't be doing this at all, period. CN does care, but they are making sure that airing LT won't blow up in their face, ratings-wise. Instead of complaining about the new management about LT, we should be thanking them. The old management sure wasn't going to air them. This is a sensible and fair test to see if people will watch LT, nothing more. If a highly advertised full-day marathon of LT on New Year's Day doesn't perform well, then that's Looney Tunes' fault and Looney Tunes' fault alone.

[Jave]

The fact that they waited this long is, in itself, a cause for suspicion.By "this long" you mean "a few months"? CN got a new management just recently.

Actually, they can't prove anything without airing them. It is the only way to prove that they don't (or do) have an audience.You missed the point. If CN is so confident that these cartoons don't have an audience as you're implying, why even bother airing them?

"Hey, there's this cartoon we know nobody wants to watch, so let's air it all day long during the one day of the year everybody is at home!"

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

Yes, but those who care clearly seem to be outnumbered.And your evidence for this is...

As Cheddar said, if those who don't care outnumbered those who do care, CN wouldn't by any mean be airing this. It's a test, sure, but there's absolutely no way to prove that CN is mean-intended with it.

[DarthGonzo]

It's a test, sure, but there's absolutely no way to prove that CN is mean-intended with it.

This entire "TV execs are big meanies and hate everyone I like" mentality is just silly in the first place. Every time something happens that people here don't like the first response is always, "The people running these stations are big, nasty men who hate the cartoons I like and purposely screw around with the shows and scheduling because they hate cartoons and they hate me!"

It's such a juvenile point of view and one that those who know better have a hard time countering because it's so silly in the first place. As they say, save the drama for your mama.

[sun]

because it is..

..The cartoon network evolved from the selling of the pre 48 toons. I recall Warner's selling them for one billion dollars It was sometime in the late 70s, or perhaps the early 80s
Well, those got into the public domain somewhere, somehow..I am not sure. Or they got out there for very low cost. Turner bought them. They were out there everywhere, and stations could get them much cheaper than any other toons. .So many many stations played them, and they brought in terrific profits.

..Now in the middle 80s, I got a VCR and started recording them as a local station went thru all, yes all, of the pre 48 toons..I got about 500-800 of them on tape..some from the early 30s..black and whites too.
..You don't see them because someone wants to make a huge profit, or someone wants to prevent someone from making a huge profit..

It is all about greed, and nothing else.
.Warners still is ok. by me. Why? If they were as selfish as Disney or others..Warners wouldn't allow any of their great toons on You Tube. Go there, right now, and you can see Duck Amuck or many others greats.
Sure Warner Bros has issues, but they are much better than Disney.
.
.

[Eric B]

Then they should watch the marathon instead of their Looney Tunes DVDs that day. If I spread posters, there's a chance that more people would actually watch the marathon, meaning a better chance for Neilson box owners to watch it too. I wonder why they even still use Neilsen boxes. (which I have never seen anyone with anywhere, so it was like a sort of ghost populace to me, and I was always suspicious of how accurate the statistics based on them were). With the cable boxes, they could tell what every single box is set on, and use those for almost 100% accurate ratings (which will go up to 100% soon when all TV's must be connected to some sort of box to work at all).

[Jave]

I wonder why they even still use Neilsen boxes. (which I have never seen anyone with anywhere, so it was like a sort of ghost populace to me, and I was always suspicious of how accurate the statistics based on them were). With the cable boxes, they could tell what every single box is set on, and use those for almost 100% accurate ratings (which will go up to 100% soon when all TV's must be connected to some sort of box to work at all).The problem is that, cable companies can't just use the cable boxes to see what people are watching, because it constitutes an invasion of privacy. In order for them to be able to do so, they'll have to include a policy in their contracts that denotes "We deserve the right to retrieve information from the programs and channels you watch and use it as we see fit", and God only knows how many people would refuse getting cable from that company if they did that. Heck, Nielsen users actually get paid to get their boxes installed.

The Nielsen system, is really the only viable system. Innacurate, sure, but it's the system.

[Eric B]

They could probably collect the data without it telling who it is that is watching whatever. In other words, each box being on a channel will tally one viewer, which will be sent to the database with all the others, and they'll all generate the complete rating without anyone knowing what any individual person was watching. The information is probably being registered somewhere anyway; just not used, because they can control the box from the office, if need be (like when fixing a signal problem).

[Zen Man]

Maybe I'm too optimistic here but if this thing is a success, and I'm praying, I can see this kickstarting the return of more classic cartoons on Cartoon Network. It would be nice to see Looney Tunes, Classic Hanna-Barbera, MGM and others which were once so prominent on the channel being introduced to todays viewers. What made the old CN so fun was its near perfect blend of old and new programming and I think its possible that they could accomplish that again- if the execs are serious.

[rainstorm46]

Maybe I'm too optimistic here but if this thing is a success, and I'm praying, I can see this kickstarting the return of more classic cartoons on Cartoon Network. It would be nice to see Looney Tunes, Classic Hanna-Barbera, MGM and others which were once so prominent on the channel being introduced to todays viewers. What made the old CN so fun was its near perfect blend of old and new programming and I think its possible that they could accomplish that again- if the execs are serious.

It could happen. But it probably won't happen because all the classic cartoons of the MGM and Hanna Barbera are now on Boomerang.

[Racattack!Force]

Maybe I'm too optimistic here but if this thing is a success, and I'm praying, I can see this kickstarting the return of more classic cartoons on Cartoon Network. It would be nice to see Looney Tunes, Classic Hanna-Barbera, MGM and others which were once so prominent on the channel being introduced to todays viewers. What made the old CN so fun was its near perfect blend of old and new programming and I think its possible that they could accomplish that again- if the execs are serious.That would be nice, but the execs would likely keep most of the focus on new series.

[Eric B]

Happy New Year all!
I tuned in beginning 8-something (Buckaroo Bugs), and while they're using post-48's as clips, and themes (the giant LT character statues in the park; didn't they use those before?); it seems to be nothing but pre-48's, so far.
Still; it's been so long since I've seen even these, that I'm laughing as if I had seen them for the first time.

(Drunk Durante stork still cut out of Baby bottleneck. 1995 Turner credits on the cards, etc. Seems we're just picking up where they left off before. Some of the prints seem to be the new remastered ones, though).

[Eric B]

Update.
Around 10, they began the post-48's. The "transition" was with a nice colorized print of Porky Pig's Feat. Fit in the the pre-48's before, yet as an original B&W, it was apart of the post-48 library that followed, beginning with the first Roadrunner.

Edit: didn' t realize the whole schedule was known and already posted beforehand)!:o

[Mandouga]

Well, I'm back from my December internet hiatus.

After seeing the Looney Tunes marathon, it's now become clear to me that it really is/was a distribution dispute.

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that Time Warner is claiming ownership to the pre-48 color shorts (TW directly controls the B/W catalog) based on the fact that they own the original film elements, while Turner disagrees with that claim putting the airing of any shorts to a standstill.

Does this sound right? In any case, I of course would love for Looney Tunes to return to Boomerang (at least). I truly hope that it won't be a one-time thing.