>Confused No More | What Cartoon Network SHOULD Do

#1 - Bring Back Classic Animation To Cartoon Network

Of all the changes that I could think of, this is probably the one that makes the most sense. Cartoon Network has forgotten that the classic theatrical shorts from Warner Bros., MGM, and Paramount as well as the classic shows and shorts from Hanna-Barbera were the backbone of what the network was all about. They already had a strong following, and quite frankly, they made the network a draw for many cable operators. I'm not saying that Boomerang should be shut down or anything. I'm just suggesting that Cartoon Network remembers the shows and shorts that made the whole network possible in the first place. They could get rid of the almost all action primetime lineup that currently airs on the network and, maybe replace some of those shows with the Flintstones or a similarly classic animation series and a Looney Tunes/MGM shorts hour-long program in prime-time. That's just a measily 90 minutes.

Also, if it isn't a burden, we, the fans, would like to see the restored Looney Tunes somewhere in prime-time in the immediate future.

And no, as good as Duck Dodgers and Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries are, they should not be a substitute for the original shorts in the lineup, but their presence are more than welcome (with that said, where the heck is Taz Mania?). The less said about Baby Looney Tunes, the better.

#2 - End The Overreliance of Scooby-Doo

The 2000 election was a joke (don't blame me, I voted for Moltar!). The whole silly belief that Scooby-Doo was the "president" of Cartoon Network should have been just a publicity thing and by all accounts, the network took it as gospel truth that Scooby-Doo was the most popular show on the network. It's not. It probably will never be again because Cartoon Network has played the over and over again. In fact, one particular incarnation has been repeated so much, it's gradually showing its age with every airing. It's even being overplayed on Boomerang and Kids' WB.

I'm talking about the not-so-New Scooby-Doo Movies that are a permanent fixture on the daily lineup, airing every day. I think that Cartoon Network needs to retire those episodes.

As for the 90s Scooby series A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, they could keep it on the network in small increments. Afterall, there weren't a lot of episodes in the first place. Weekends would be pretty ideal for that series.

#3 - Rebrand SVES as Toonami

It comes down to this. There has to be one action block on Cartoon Network. One block that should be the marquee name of everything action on the network (unless it's Adult Swim Action . . . they're cool). SVES needs to be a footnote in the history of Cartoon Network, and they need to focus more on the Toonami brand for action-animation on the network on weekdays AND Saturday nights.

#4 - Make Sunday Prime-Time (7 - 10 PM EST) Animation Heritage Night

TV Land has made Sunday nights Television Nostalgia Night with their documentaries and spotlight shows. Headlined by Toonheads, a combined Chuck Jones/Tex Avery/Bob Clampett series called Termite Terrace, plus airings of shows like The Flintstones, Rocky and Bullwinkle, and Top Cat, as well as a series filled with international animation (think O Canada gone global) and you have Sunday night as the Animation Heritage Night, three hours of the finest animation ever made, something a channel called Cartoon Network deserves to have.

#5 - Focus Strongly on the Adult Swim Brand

This is probably a no-brainer, but I'd tell Cartoon Network to ignore the critics of the placement of adult-oriented programming on Cartoon Network because these critics are the guys who still have the mentality that animation should only be for kids. Afterall, Adult Swim is the only thing working for Cartoon Network right now. I'd like to see a day where Adult Swim begins at 10 PM EST/PST with the "lighter" stuff beginning the night and the darker stuff ending the night. I'd like to see Adult Swim actually air comedic anime as well as American-made action series with mature themes alongside the American comedies and action anime.

Cartoon Network has so much potential. They have truckloads of talent who actually care about gets seen on the network as well as a true affirmation for the medium. However, those in power need to recognize that they have a lot of raw materials, great brands, and unlimited possibilities with Cartoon Network. The fact that in the nearly 11 years they have been on the air that they've done a whole lot more than their competitors (afterall, when's the last time you heard anybody talk about Toon Disney or Nicktoons TV?) and they actually know how to treat those shows. Cartoon Network knows what it's doing when it comes to programming, but now, they need to learn to do a little bit more to ensure that viewers will keep watching.