The CN UK 'empire'-Good or bad?

[HellCat]

Very little talk of the network's UK counterpart goes on here so I thought I'd ask fellow UK viewers "Do you think CN UK and it's 'siblings' (Cartoon Network+, Boomerang and Toonami) are handled well or not? What would you keep or change?'

I'll add my thoughts later.

[Mugen]

Since I'm from America, I can't give a good response, but from what I heard from other people I talked to, CNUK sucks bad. Since Toonami left and went to CNX, it went downhill. Now with the Toonami Channel coming in October, I have hope it'll do well and shows will be made/acquired more frequently(maybe you can get Adult Swim ;) ). As for CNUK, I heard Looney Tunes airs alot over there. If that's the case, then people over at Termite Terrace would be happy.

[HellCat]

I don't have high hopes for the Toonami channel that starts on Monday. None of the shows that are coming (Ultimate Muscle and Blue Water's Dragon Ball) look all that great. The network is largely going to be repeats. Maybe if they said "Screw bad merchandise sales!" and got more Gundam and added an Adult Swim block it'd be good. I also wouldn't mind some interaction with the viewers, like the US Toonami.

Boomerang....I don't really watch it. It's pretty much just Scooby Doo and the Smurfs.

As for the channel that started it all...I think it may be on the road to going down. All they really do now are buy KidsWB shows and run them to death. At least Ozzy & Drix is still in production. What they did with Time Squad is ridiculous. If they're going to feature it in adverts, they should run it. I'd also like the Cramp Twins taken off. I know it's popular but there doesn't seem to be any new eps coming, so they should give it a rest.

[Billy]

You might as well call CNUK the 'Cartoon Cartoons and Kids WB Channel' nowadays, as that's all they have shown since all classic cartoons were elbowed over to Boomerang last year. And the channel being 24 hours is a waste of time, seeing as they show non-stop 'Gadget Boy' (The 1990s answer to Inspector Gadget) through the night. That said, Boomerang did get Garfield and Friends recently so they aren't so bad.

[HellCat]

You might as well call CNUK the 'Cartoon Cartoons and Kids WB Channel' nowadays, as that's all they have shown since all classic cartoons were elbowed over to Boomerang last year. And the channel being 24 hours is a waste of time, seeing as they show non-stop 'Gadget Boy' (The 1990s answer to Inspector Gadget) through the night. That said, Boomerang did get Garfield and Friends recently so they aren't so bad.

Yeah, that's annoying. Before that it was Magic Roundabout and then Fly Tales.. Granted, very few people are likely to be up then but if they must be 24 hours they could use that time to show something decent. I'd also like to see Skatoony get the boot. It's just not funny. The writers of it seem to have a running joke of hinting at a Chud/Earl pairing. I remember when 'Chud' was on the Pepsi Chart. They had to keep him from saying anything that would connect him to any bands:

*Dr Fox* "So, Chud, do you like Eminem?

*Chud* "Oh yeah! Especially the peanut ones"

[Mugen]

I don't have high hopes for the Toonami channel that starts on Monday. None of the shows that are coming (Ultimate Muscle and Blue Water's Dragon Ball) look all that great. The network is largely going to be repeats. Maybe if they said "Screw bad merchandise sales!" and got more Gundam and added an Adult Swim block it'd be good. I also wouldn't mind some interaction with the viewers, like the US Toonami.



So, what are the new shows coming to the Toonami Channel?

[HellCat]

So, what are the new shows coming to the Toonami Channel?

As I said, Dragon Ball and Ultimate Muscle. I'm suprised they haven't moved Beyblade to it.

[lostrune]

The Toonami channel in the UK is different from what the Toonami block is in the USA.
Kinda like how KidsWB once upon a time co-opted the name Toonami for its own block running Pokemon, Jackie Chan, etc. Toonami in name only.

[HellCat]

The Toonami channel in the UK is different from what the Toonami block is in the USA.
Kinda like how KidsWB once upon a time co-opted the name Toonami for its own block running Pokemon, Jackie Chan, etc. Toonami in name only.

Yeah. It's pretty much just any action show CN have their/get their hands on repeated over and over. They haven't gone out of their way to make it interesting.

Whatever happened to that guy that worked for CNX and used to post here? He pretty much just made "There are more great shows coming" posts. He hasn't been seen around here for ages.

[HellCat]

Here's an idea- They could bring back SuperChunk. It was a regular part of the Network when I first got it and it tended to be fairly good (it wasn't so great when they were giving us 2 or 4 hours of stuff like Tom and Jerry).

[Wolfcruiser]

The UK has it's own separte Toonami channel? Interesting.

So,do you guys get shows we get here in America's CN like Sitting Ducks,Courage,Hamtaro,e.t.c?

[Wanted]

Here's an idea- They could bring back SuperChunk. It was a regular part of the Network when I first got it and it tended to be fairly good (it wasn't so great when they were giving us 2 or 4 hours of stuff like Tom and Jerry).Don't even think about it. SuperChunk was boring in the U.S. (and didn't get very much on ratings), so they changed it to CartoonOlio, which showed Cartoon Cartoons and Scooby Doo, but then again, that didn't get ratings either, so I have no idea what happened after that. They either still air it or cancelled it altogether. SuperChunk Sucks!

[HellCat]

You don't have to be so rude. SuperChunk was pretty good when we had it, as they usually gave us 2 or 4 hour blocks of shows like 2 Stupid Dogs and Swat Kats.

[Jeff Harris]

Very little talk of the network's UK counterpart goes on here so I thought I'd ask fellow UK viewers "Do you think CN UK and it's 'siblings' (Cartoon Network+, Boomerang and Toonami) are handled well or not? What would you keep or change?'
Question from the Peanut Gallery:

What's Cartoon Network+, and what makes it so "plus?"

I'd like to know what happened to that guy from that action network from CNUK that used to post on this board myself. I'd like to know why the changeover to Toonami took place and why'd they remove all the "Adult Swim" programs from the CNX lineup.

[HellCat]

Question from the Peanut Gallery:

What's Cartoon Network+, and what makes it so "plus?"

I'd like to know what happened to that guy from that action network from CNUK that used to post on this board myself. I'd like to know why the changeover to Toonami took place and why'd they remove all the "Adult Swim" programs from the CNX lineup.

With the boom of digital TV over here, most channels have a + brother. They basically show the exact same thing as the normal channel, just 1 hour later.

The best I can think is that it was a publicity stunt and that his claims that he was sneaking on during work were false.

CNX pretty much sucked. The shows on offer were horrible and stuff like the horrible Trailer Park tried and failed to connect with the audience. At least now we don't have to drown in a glut of kung-fu movies...

All we had from AS were the comedy shows. They had them in a Comedy Hour between 8 and 9pm, hosted by Brak (with his proper voice and new animation) and they then ran the episodes a few times before deciding to take it off for more Toonami repeats :(

[Rune]

I was excited at the changeover from CNX to Toonami but as you've said its no great shakes looking at the schedule although at least we're catching up on the Samurai Jack shows and (if I caught the ad right) new Justice League and Teen Titans are 'coming soon.' It would be nice to see Home Movies, Space Ghost, Brak etc and a few more of the adult swim shows brought over, I see Outlaw star is back but no sign of Bebop as yet. As you said though at least they've done away with Trailer Park and the infernal kung fu movies another filler (at least for now) ... it looks better than it was but there's still room for improvement.

Boomerang is something I only tend to pick up if they're showing Garfield, Pink Panther (not the more recent ones) or Looney Tunes, otherwise it always seems to be the Hair Bear Bunch (beats head against wall), Jabberjaw (beats head against floor) or Grape Ape (sticks head into gas oven) whenever I turn on.

CN itself just seems to be going round in circles, it gets a new show and rams it down your throat, currently its KND I think. I wish they'd bring back some of the stuff from a few years back, Freakazoid, Swat Cats etc if only for an afternoon liek the Superchunk you mentioned. The endless repetition of new shows gets me too, Ozzy & Drix for example, I think season 1 must have been done to death by now, every time you switch on its the same episode. The night thing is strange too, Toonami has a variety of shows but CN shows Gadget Boy (winces) doesn't make sense, maybe they think they don't have to bother since the adults will watch Toonami?

Currently out of the 3 channels the one I watch most is Toonami, it ain't great but its better than nothing

You're right on Skatooney, I wish they'd get rid of it too, its just so wincingly unfunny I can feel it pulling the enamel off my teeth

[HellCat]

I was excited at the changeover from CNX to Toonami but as you've said its no great shakes looking at the schedule although at least we're catching up on the Samurai Jack shows and (if I caught the ad right) new Justice League and Teen Titans are 'coming soon.' It would be nice to see Home Movies, Space Ghost, Brak etc and a few more of the adult swim shows brought over, I see Outlaw star is back but no sign of Bebop as yet. As you said though at least they've done away with Trailer Park and the infernal kung fu movies another filler (at least for now) ... it looks better than it was but there's still room for improvement.

I think the only thing worse then Trailer Park's attempts to be cool are Fox Kids attempts to cool. I think the "Bling bling, AI!" fad has been dead for a while.

Boomerang is something I only tend to pick up if they're showing Garfield, Pink Panther (not the more recent ones) or Looney Tunes, otherwise it always seems to be the Hair Bear Bunch (beats head against wall), Jabberjaw (beats head against floor) or Grape Ape (sticks head into gas oven) whenever I turn on.

The only 2 HB toons I can really stand are Dastardly And Muttley in Their Flying Machines and Wacky Races. Hair Bear Bunch is good, but there aren't enough eps to make constant repeats worthwhile. I haven't seen the updated Pink Panther since it was aired on TCC years ago (oddly enough, whilst that channel may be dead for a while now, the site is still up at http://www.tcc.co.uk)

CN itself just seems to be going round in circles, it gets a new show and rams it down your throat, currently its KND I think. I wish they'd bring back some of the stuff from a few years back, Freakazoid, Swat Cats etc if only for an afternoon liek the Superchunk you mentioned. The endless repetition of new shows gets me too, Ozzy & Drix for example, I think season 1 must have been done to death by now, every time you switch on its the same episode. The night thing is strange too, Toonami has a variety of shows but CN shows Gadget Boy (winces) doesn't make sense, maybe they think they don't have to bother since the adults will watch Toonami?

Freakazoid was incredibly under used. I'd love to see it back along with Swat Kats, 2 Stupid Dogs and Time Squad. At least Mucha Lucha seems to have been taken off again. If CN UK are gonna buy dead shows, they shouldn't run them into the ground. I'm looking forward to seeing new eps of O&D, but then they'll likely be run over and over and over... The only good show on the late night run is Ned's Newt, a show which was dumped by the Disney Channel and has some great jokes.

You're right on Skatooney, I wish they'd get rid of it too, its just so wincingly unfunny I can feel it pulling the enamel off my teeth

I'm wondering who exactly most of the jokes are aimed at. Are kids going to get that in Skatoony Scribble Chud is dressed like Rolf Harris (ah, for the days of Rolf's Cartoon Club)?

[Rune]

The only good show on the late night run is Ned's Newt, a show which was dumped by the Disney Channel and has some great jokes.

Yeah you're right, its got some pretty good stuff in it and has the rare quality of possessing no chars that make me want to throw things at the screen. (But darn, I know I'm going to have the theme song in my head all evening now) :p . Two Stupid Dogs should be reinstated, that deserves far more status and seems to have simply vanished into the ether.

Yep,they'll run the new Ozzy & Drix into the ground as well same as season 1 and every other new thing they get their hands on. I saw Mucha Lucha had resurfaced last week, some of those aren't too bad. I wonder what happened to Angela Anaconda, replaced by the Cramp Twins perhaps?

I forgot Dastardly & Muttley actually, Stop the Pigeon is still good stuff ^_^

I'm wondering who exactly most of the jokes are aimed at. Are kids going to get that in Skatoony Scribble Chud is dressed like Rolf Harris (ah, for the days of Rolf's Cartoon Club)?

Ahhha a fan of the long lost Rolf-a-roo huh? (showing my age here.)
Quite right though, my kids have no idea what's going on with the whole thing they just think its rubbish. As to who its aimed at, I almost get the feeling its not really aimed at anyone any more but fulfils some strange indulgence for whosoever's responsible for churning it out while the people who could put a stop to it are too scared to say anything or just turn a blind eye. I'm sure my kids'd have no idea about Earl either if it wasn't for the theme song guy from Emperor's New Groove and the fact their auntie is a Tom Jones obsessive :shrug: :D :rolleyes: :D

[HellCat]

Yeah you're right, its got some pretty good stuff in it and has the rare quality of possessing no chars that make me want to throw things at the screen. (But darn, I know I'm going to have the theme song in my head all evening now) :p . Two Stupid Dogs should be reinstated, that deserves far more status and seems to have simply vanished into the ether.

CN UK used to love 2 Stupid Dogs. I remember all the Super Chunks it got and the Stupid Sentence competition to celebrate season 2.

Yep,they'll run the new Ozzy & Drix into the ground as well same as season 1 and every other new thing they get their hands on. I saw Mucha Lucha had resurfaced last week, some of those aren't too bad. I wonder what happened to Angela Anaconda, replaced by the Cramp Twins perhaps?

Since I've heard the Cramp Twins was fairly popular here, I wonder why CN UK never ordered new episodes. Do CN UK exclusives only get 1 season contracts?


Ahhha a fan of the long lost Rolf-a-roo huh? (showing my age here.)
Quite right though, my kids have no idea what's going on with the whole thing they just think its rubbish. As to who its aimed at, I almost get the feeling its not really aimed at anyone any more but fulfils some strange indulgence for whosoever's responsible for churning it out while the people who could put a stop to it are too scared to say anything or just turn a blind eye. I'm sure my kids'd have no idea about Earl either if it wasn't for the theme song guy from Emperor's New Groove and the fact their auntie is a Tom Jones obsessive :shrug: :D :rolleyes: :D

It did provide some laughs when Chud actually spoke to the people who phoned in. One time he asked this boy if there was anyone he'd like to say hi to, meaning family or friends. The boy, who sounded young but not too young, replied "Any DragonBall Z characters there?". There was a short pause from 'Chud' before a reply of "Uh, nope" came. Similar things happened with the live sections of Johnny Bravo's Toon FM.

[Rune]

Since I've heard the Cramp Twins was fairly popular here, I wonder why CN UK never ordered new episodes. Do CN UK exclusives only get 1 season contracts?
Kind of makes you wonder doesn't it? I'm sure I saw an ad for it on ITV or BBC, I can't recall which so maybe CN's contract wasn't that exclusive. Who knows anyway, CN moves in mysterious ways.


It did provide some laughs when Chud actually spoke to the people who phoned in. One time he asked this boy if there was anyone he'd like to say hi to, meaning family or friends. The boy, who sounded young but not too young, replied "Any DragonBall Z characters there?". There was a short pause from 'Chud' before a reply of "Uh, nope" came. Similar things happened with the live sections of Johnny Bravo's Toon FM.

I used to laugh at the Johnny B thing, not just at the fairly awful Johnny impersonation (rivalled only by the fairly awful Shaggy impersonation) but like you said some of the stuff the kids would come out with was priceless, half of them sounded scared to death and there were always a few that would tell 'Johnny' that their mum really liked him only to go completely silent when asked if she was cute/sexy/hot or wanted to date him (little kids don't think of their mums in that way, I speak from experience!) :p :D It did make me want to slap the producers all the same just for being so off the kid's wavelength

[HellCat]

Kind of makes you wonder doesn't it? I'm sure I saw an ad for it on ITV or BBC, I can't recall which so maybe CN's contract wasn't that exclusive. Who knows anyway, CN moves in mysterious ways.

Yeah, CN have sold off most of the CCs. I've seen Cramp Twins on BBC, Dexter's Lab and Cow & Chicken on ITV, Johnny Bravo on Channel 4 and PowerPuff Girls on Channel 5 (which is why that promo they have saying CN is the only place you see PPG doesn't really make sense.

I used to laugh at the Johnny B thing, not just at the fairly awful Johnny impersonation (rivalled only by the fairly awful Shaggy impersonation) but like you said some of the stuff the kids would come out with was priceless, half of them sounded scared to death and there were always a few that would tell 'Johnny' that their mum really liked him only to go completely silent when asked if she was cute/sexy/hot or wanted to date him (little kids don't think of their mums in that way, I speak from experience!) :p :D It did make me want to slap the producers all the same just for being so off the kid's wavelength

Most of his impersonations are fairly bad. I think the funniest use of Shaggy by CN UK was advertising some Scooby event. They make out it's going to be the singer Shaggy, the lights go on "HEY, who booked the wrong Shaggy?" *ghost* "Wasn't me!".