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Problem #3: The Disappearing Classic Cartoons

Where have all the classic cartoons gone?

Some of them have gone to Boomerang.

What is Boomerang? On April 1, 2000, Boomerang became the first network to spinoff from Cartoon Network. Its primary focus was a rotating lineup of classic Hanna-Barbera cartoons and older WB/MGM shorts. This harkened back to the good ol' days of Cartoon Network BCC (Before Cartoon Cartoons) to many classic animation fans minds. However, none of those fans realized that the creation of Boomerang would be one of the catalysts for the imminent destruction of Cartoon Network as we know it.

Slowly but surely, classic animation began disappearing from Cartoon Network. Primetime outlets for classic animation like Bugs and Daffy and Acme Hour vanished and reappeared in overnight periods when most people are sleeping. Seriously, who's awake at 4 AM on a Sunday morning? While there are a few classic animation shows still around the lineup if you can find them, several long-standing series have completely moved over to Boomerang. Once the symbol of prime-time, The Flintstones are no longer on Cartoon Network as have their futuristic counterparts The Jetsons. Aside from Toonheads on Sunday nights, there are no classic cartoons on primetime on Cartoon Network, and aside from Tom and Jerry and reruns of Scooby-Doo, there are no classic cartoons in the daytime. In fact, if you don't count the reruns of New Scooby-Doo Movies and Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?, there are at least eight hours of classic cartoons on the weekend lineup, 90 minutes of which are solely dedicated to Looney Tunes and 30 minutes are dedicated to Popeye.

There is something seriously wrong with that.

There is a mentality that older shows won't draw young audiences around Cartoon Network. They have this strange belief that older shows don't do well and have a tendency of looking dated. Funny situation if you ask me, considering that the only show that truely looks dated is The New Scooby-Doo Movies. Seriously, it was dated when they were reran in the 80s. How many kids these days know who Phyllis Diller, Mama Cass, Davy Jones, or Tim Conway are? Heck, they barely know Sonny and Cher. The fact that this show comes on EVERY FRICKEN DAY on Cartoon Network is disturbing, especially when everything that looks old is slowly shifted to Boomerang, a network that very little people have. I'm not here to talk about Boomerang, an outlet that is seen on very few cable systems which has its own set of problems with scheduling.

There is a way to bring some kind of newness to the classic cartoons . . . restoration. Warner Bros. is currently investing funds towards restoring their older Looney Tunes to prestine conditions, fixing up the color, the soundtrack, and the vocals, not to mention restoring anything that was removed for commercial distribution. Cartoon Network could do a similar project with their library of shows and shorts. Video prints are turning yellow and scratches are everywhere. Wouldn't it be nice to see Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear, and Quick Draw McGraw as they were originally presented? Wouldn't it be nice to see an older episode of The Flintstones look as new as, say, The Simpsons? It could happen if we, the fans, tell them that we want it to happen. Also, we, the fans, would like to see the restored Looney Tunes on Cartoon Network. I've seen pictures of the new restorations at Jerry Beck's Cartoon Research, and they look awesome. Yeah, it could be pricey as, say, a new Cartoon Cartoon, but the investment will be worthwhile for Cartoon Network and future generations.

Speaking of investments, there is one block that has been a major investment by Cartoon Network, bringing in a lot more viewers in the afternoon than in prime-time. However, this year brought a virtual competitor within its network that many viewers feel is siphoning the soul from the block. In the end, Cartoon Network has to realize that two similar blocks cannot coexist and only one should remain standing.

Problem #4: Toonami or SVES: Pick One, CN - Next.