PDA

View Full Version : CN announces "Duck Dodgers" and "Teen Titans" premiere dates, programming stunts


Matthew Williams
01-07-2003, 10:40 PM
pasting in the press release, article to be up shortly:

Space-Age Duck, Teenage Superheroes Highlight 2003 for Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network, which ended 2002 as the #1 ad-supported basic cable network in prime time for Kids 2-11 for the third consecutive year, starts 2003 with a line-up crammed full of new series, special events and outrageous programming stunts. Following are highlights from Cartoon Network’s schedule through June 2003:

New series

Teen Titans premiere, August, Time/Date TBA: Teen Titans, set in a future of intergalactic strife and interplanetary battles, features five teen superheroes each with special powers, led by the Boy Wonder, Robin. This group unites to form a defensive force to protect the Earth from a new generation of villains. An eclectic group, their powers complement each other so that when they band together, they become a superb fighting force. Their personalities, on the other hand, often clash. Discovering how to control their powers, these Teen Titans must learn to work and grow as a team while dealing with the trials and tribulations of being teenagers. This half-hour animated action series, produced by Warner Bros. Animation under the guidance of Emmy Award-winner Glen Murakami, is based on the popular DC Comics comic book characters.

Duck Dodgers premiere, Saturday, June 28, time TBD: Daffy Duck is back and better than ever as he suits up to play Duck Dodgers in an all-new, half-hour action/comedy animated series for Cartoon Network. Duck Dodgers showcases classic Looney Tunes characters Daffy Duck and Porky Pig in the 24th ½ century as they attempt to protect the planet Earth from its enemies. Duck Dodgers (Daffy Duck) is a hapless soul who was accidentally frozen inside a spacecraft in the 21st century and thawed out 351 years later. Through his scheming and lies, Duck has convinced the Earth’s Defensive Protectorate that he is a hero from the 21st century and has been given a starship and crew - an adoring and eager young Space Cadet (Porky Pig). Together they form a “galactic force” that must team up against Earth’s major foe, Mars, and its Martian Commander X-2 (played by Marvin the Martian). Each episode will revolve around Duck Dodgers’ adventures, blundering successes and “day-saving” defeats. He’s an unlikely hero who somehow always manages to come out on top.


Specials and programming stunts

Cartoon Network’s NBA All-Star Slam, Sunday, Feb. 9, 12-6 p.m. (ET, PT): Top NBA stars like Shaquille O’Neal, Stephon Marbury, Latrell Sprewell and Jason Kidd give shout-outs to their favorite cartoon superstars. An all-day marathon salutes old-school favorites like Droopy Dog, Hong Kong Phooey and the Wonder Twins as well as perennial favorites Scooby-Doo and Bugs Bunny.

It’s Valentine’s Day, Johnny Bravo!, Friday, February 14, 9 p.m. (ET, PT): The humongous hunk of burning love, Johnny Bravo, returns for an all-new, 30-minute Valentine’s Day special with guest appearances by Donny Osmond, Molly Shannon, Joe McIntyre and Maureen McCormick. When Johnny’s Mama sets him up on a blind date on Valentine’s Day (which also happens to be his birthday), he meets the girl of his dreams. Too bad it turns into a night to forget.

Cartoon Network’s Greatest Musical Moments, Friday, March 7, 8 p.m. (ET, PT): Music and cartoons have been dance partners since the very beginning. This special ranks the top musical moments from Cartoon Network’s vast library, from the earliest Warner Bros. cartoons like “I Love to Singa” through the modern age, like “Lab-retto” from Dexter’s Laboratory. Also sure to be included are- “One Froggy Evening,” starring Michigan J. Frog, Tom & Jerry’s “Cat Concerto,” Bugs Bunny in “What’s Opera, Doc?,” as well as several surprises.

April Fool’s Day Monkey Marathon, Tuesday, April 1, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. (ET, PT): Critics who say that a monkey can make better decisions than a cable programming executive will be vindicated this April Fool’s Day when Cartoon Network brings in an actual chimpanzee to pick cartoons for a 15-hour marathon. When you’ve got a monkey in charge, you never know what to expect, but don’t be surprised if Grape Ape, Mojo Jojo, and Gleek from Super Friends get a lot of airtime.

The First Mom of Cartoon Network Mother’s Day Marathon, Sunday, May 11, 12-7 p.m. (ET, PT): This seven-hour marathon is dedicated to that modern Stone Age mom, Wilma. Beginning with a flashback to the first time Wilma and Fred met, the seven-hour marathon progresses through the ups-and-downs of marriage, pregnancy, and the birth of their daughter, Pebbles. It culminates with a 2-hour Cartoon Network premiere of “Holly-Rock-A-Bye Baby,” in which an adult Pebbles gives birth to twins, making Wilma, a grand mother, a grandmother.

Cartoon Network Bloopers, Saturday, June 7, time TBD: What happens when Johnny Bravo flubs a line? Or when that anvil does not fall the right way? Cartoon Network takes a look at the wacky outtakes from the animation world in this world premiere special airing Saturday, June 7.

Cartoon Network, currently seen in 82.1 million U.S. homes and 145 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s 24-hour, ad-supported cable service offering the best in animated entertainment. Drawing from the world’s largest cartoon library, Cartoon Network also showcases unique original ventures such as The Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Ed, Edd n Eddy and other Cartoon Cartoons. Since its launch in 1992, Cartoon Network has remained one of ad-supported cable’s highest-rated networks. Cartoon Network’s Web site is located at http://CartoonNetwork.com (AOL Keyword: Cartoon Network).

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., an AOL Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.

Lightwave
01-07-2003, 10:51 PM
Wow. Thats cool information right there.

I am looking forward to this new Duck Dodgers series, as well as Teen Titans. I think they've got promising futures. Alot of those specials seem cool as well.

Mynd Hed
01-07-2003, 11:40 PM
My two favorite Looney Tunes, Daffy Duck and Marvin the Martian! Yay! Should be interesting to see how closely they base it on the old shorts and how much liberty they take. I love the old shorts, but they were a tad formulaic for a series, I hope they take some liberties as long as they get good people to do the writing.

Matthew Williams
01-07-2003, 11:47 PM
Paul Dini and Tom Minton, among others, are involved. Dini did Clerks: TAS and both did Freakazoid so I'm expecting a gem.

Allen's Nickname.
01-07-2003, 11:52 PM
Originally posted by Matthew Williams
Paul Dini and Tom Minton, among others, are involved. Dini did Clerks: TAS and both did Freakazoid so I'm expecting a gem. Dini wrote the story for one episode of Clerks: TAS. Not really a massive part of the writing team.

Jack
01-08-2003, 12:05 AM
Didn't see this posted here too. I'm expecting some good writing, but am still scared about what it might look like. WB's strange love for those weird looking character designs they always use for the Looney Tunes makes me skeptical. That, and Tom Minton also produced Baby Looney Tunes and the mediochre, but nicely backgrounded, Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries, so he has a spotty record when it comes to the classic characters.

I know I sound like a real downer, but the last ten years have been a bit of a dark ages for the Warner Bros. Cartoons characters in everything from theatrical shorts to merchandise. I'm hoping this series, the new shorts, possible DVDs, and the feature will take the characters in a better, more diverse, direction that respects the past a little more in terms of design and personality. I'm hoping Baby Looney Tunes marks the end of an era with all this new stuff marking the beginning of a new one, but I'll have to wait and see.


Jack:bosko:

Arxane
01-08-2003, 12:44 AM
That April Fool's Day stint sounds cool. I wonder if they'll allow any Adult Swim shows into the selection? That would be hilarious, to see "Baby Loony Toons" one minute and then see a raunchy showing of "Mission Hill" the next. :D

Jeff Harris
01-08-2003, 01:42 AM
Teen Titans premiering May 30? I wasn't expecting this premiere until year's end, but I'm pleasantly surprised. Same with June's premiere of Duck Dodgers.

And a monkey controlling programming for April Fool's Day on Cartoon Network? And the difference is . . .? :D

15-hours, eh? At least it's more creative than what they did six years ago, which was show the same cartoon over and over again.

And Cartoon Network's finally acknowledging the Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm wedding and the birth of their twins on Mother's Day. About damned time! Maybe we'll see that Christmas episode where the Flintstones adopted a street urchin by year's end.

So far, sounds decent.

But . . . and this is where the Toonami fanatic in me comes out . . . where in the flying flip are the announcements for the future shows of Toonami? Seriously, it's like the network just doesn't acknowledge the block's existance, and yet future shows for both Adult Swim and Cartoon Network primetime have been announced, for the most part. It's almost like the show distributors care more about the block than the network does. I heard more about One Piece and hack//.SIGN from distributors than from the network. Frustrating . . . :tom:

Jack
01-08-2003, 02:45 AM
Originally posted by arxane
That April Fool's Day stint sounds cool. I wonder if they'll allow any Adult Swim shows into the selection? That would be hilarious, to see "Baby Loony Toons" one minute and then see a raunchy showing of "Mission Hill" the next. :D I'm hoping the Monkey will pick something like "Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips" or "Uncle Tom's Cabana." :D


Jack:bosko:

jeffrey 228
01-08-2003, 05:25 AM
Duck Dogers Should be a very goos one, and hope it should be good as the Sylvetser and Tweety Mysteries.

mbaker
01-08-2003, 05:44 AM
Originally posted by Jeff Harris
Teen Titans premiering May 30? I wasn't expecting this premiere until year's end, but I'm pleasantly surprised. Same with June's premiere of Duck Dodgers.

And a monkey controlling programming for April Fool's Day on Cartoon Network? And the difference is . . .? :D

15-hours, eh? At least it's more creative than what they did six years ago, which was show the same cartoon over and over again.

And Cartoon Network's finally acknowledging the Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm wedding and the birth of their twins on Mother's Day. About damned time! Maybe we'll see that Christmas episode where the Flintstones adopted a street urchin by year's end.

So far, sounds decent.

But . . . and this is where the Toonami fanatic in me comes out . . . where in the flying flip are the announcements for the future shows of Toonami? Seriously, it's like the network just doesn't acknowledge the block's existance, and yet future shows for both Adult Swim and Cartoon Network primetime have been announced, for the most part. It's almost like the show distributors care more about the block than the network does. I heard more about One Piece and hack//.SIGN from distributors than from the network. Frustrating . . . :tom:

They haven't aired "I Yabba-Dabba-Doo", and "Hollyrockaby Baby" in quite A while, not to mention that one Christmas special where Fred & Wilma adopt that street kid. Anyway. I'm really looking forward to Duck Dodgers. I'm confident that Paul Dini will deliver the goods on that series. The original short, (A true classic) and it's sequle (from 1980's "Bugs Bunny Bust'in Out All Over" special) seem predictable at best. Hope they take enough liberties necessary to make it work. I'm also looking forward to Johnny Bravo's Valentine special. The Christmas special rocked hard, and Valentines day seems like the perfect follow up holliday for the Bravo Man. As long as Van Partible is involved, this one will be another gem. I'm keeping my ear to the ground on Teen Titans. Still don't know if the're going to use Dick Grayson, or Tim Drake as Robin. Judging from the designs I've seen, it most certianly looks like Tim Drake. I hope they stick with Tim just to stay consistant with current continuity. The NBA special sounds like an interesting gimmick. However, I would've settled for Charles Barlkey over Latrell Sprewell since Barkley has A show on TNT called "Listen Up". We all know what Sprewell's been known for, don't we. Besides, Charles Barkley, and Mr. Floppy are some of the few role modles you can trust anymore. :rolleyes:

Joe Tully
01-08-2003, 09:11 AM
Originally posted by Jack
I'm hoping the Monkey will pick something like "Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips" or "Uncle Tom's Cabana." :D


Jack:bosko:

I can already see the headlines. "Cartoon Fans Foiled In Plot To Kidnap And Hypnotize Monkey" :p

Or you could just bribe him with a banana. Probably cheaper than the CN execs.

Heehee. Monkey amuses me. :D

ButteredToast
01-08-2003, 10:17 AM
I'm a tad bit hesitant on the Teen Titans series. I remember reading the comics "back in the day" :) and if they were teens, they were definitely OLDER teens... 'specially the buxom Starfire. :p Also... wasn't "Beast Boy" originally Changeling?

Anyhoo, I find these 'tween versions a little unsettling... it's going to take some getting used to. I'll certainly watch it first before I judge it...

JohnCrichton
01-08-2003, 11:39 AM
What're the chances of Static Shock joining the Teen Titan team?

Killtacular
01-08-2003, 01:42 PM
Jeff, this is somewhat of a pre-initiative initiative. They're keeping off the new show announcements until February. They simply announced airdates for Teen Titans and Duck Dodgers because those have already been announced months ago.

JonnyQuest
01-08-2003, 02:50 PM
I myself am waiting for Duck Dodgers, from what I read, it's gonna be great !....

At least I hope so...

JonnyQuest

Samurai Rocko
01-08-2003, 06:13 PM
This is good, though I'm surprise they're not doing another Fancy Anvils. I can't wait to February when we see the new Cartoon Cartoons and stuff for Toonami and Adult Swim.

Brainatra
01-08-2003, 07:55 PM
Re: Teen Titans: is this show set in the future? And who's the member lineup of the team?

Re: Duck Dodgers: sounds cool...if I had cable, I'd be sure to tune into it :-)

-B.

Jack
01-08-2003, 10:14 PM
Originally posted by Joe Tully
I can already see the headlines. "Cartoon Fans Foiled In Plot To Kidnap And Hypnotize Monkey" :p

Or you could just bribe him with a banana. Probably cheaper than the CN execs.

Heehee. Monkey amuses me. :D CN would have the perfect defence if something "racist" got played, it's not like a monkey would know better :p

Too bad they can't show some of the more politically incorrect cartoons for the musical moments marathon. "Coal Black and De Sebben Dwarves," "Tin Pan Alley Cats," and "Goldilocks and the Jivin' Bears" are all excellent musical cartoons. It could work if put in proper context, but it would probably be stopped by someone at CN or WB.


Jack:bosko:

wrenchien
01-09-2003, 09:02 PM
i think next year in 2004, it'd be so funny if people woke up , saw on cn a spongebob marathon, and saw on nick a courage the cowardly dog marathon instead of normal programming.... and people would go 'WHAT?' all over the world.

and they would digitally remove from all episodes shown for each the correct corporate logos, and replace it with the opposite ones just for the marathon .

call it the 'atlanternative universe' marathon.

yeah, something like that would never be seen coming.

but wouldn't it be funky? :D

wrenchien
01-09-2003, 09:06 PM
hrm, maybe they'll make someday a 'flinstones : the next generation" where pebbles and bamm bamm break up, and remarry, and both families in their middle ages are rivals for the 1st 12 episodes, and only reconcile at the end when they go right to pebbles and bamm bamm's golden years, at a kind of end of the world thing for the stone age.

or a lot of other things that wouldn't be so cool..

but right now this future is wild thing got me jazzed, take it as you will.

joshualane
01-09-2003, 10:05 PM
The Teen Titans premiere has been moved to sometime in August...time and date TBD.

Pilmedium
01-10-2003, 07:34 AM
I thought "Duck Dodgers" was not coming out until 2004. Hopefully, they are not rushing it.

Brainatra
01-10-2003, 01:55 PM
Originally posted by wrenchien
hrm, maybe they'll make someday a 'flinstones : the next generation" where pebbles and bamm bamm break up, and remarry, and both families in their middle ages are rivals for the 1st 12 episodes, and only reconcile at the end when they go right to pebbles and bamm bamm's golden years, at a kind of end of the world thing for the stone age.

or a lot of other things that wouldn't be so cool..

but right now this future is wild thing got me jazzed, take it as you will.

Uh-huh... but who gets custody of their two kids (Chip and Roxy)?

Presumably, in this setting, Fred and Co. are already late-middle-aged at least (Pebs and Bamm-Bamm looked to be in their mid-20's or so to me in those two TV movies)...

-B.

Pilmedium
01-10-2003, 08:35 PM
Originally posted by wrenchien
i think next year in 2004, it'd be so funny if people woke up , saw on cn a spongebob marathon, and saw on nick a courage the cowardly dog marathon instead of normal programming.... and people would go 'WHAT?' all over the world.

That would be crazy. It could make a great April Fools' joke, but the networks would never agree on it.

Daniel P
01-10-2003, 08:51 PM
Originally posted by wrenchien
i think next year in 2004, it'd be so funny if people woke up , saw on cn a spongebob marathon, and saw on nick a courage the cowardly dog marathon instead of normal programming.... and people would go 'WHAT?' all over the world.That would be great, but the networks would never agree on pulling a stunt like that.