SB-03: Cartoon Network 1.0 | Step 3: Bring Toonami Porgramming To Weeknights

Originally Posted by Jeff Harris

Disclaimer (or The CNX Clause): All original ideas and concepts presented within the site are TM and © Jeff Harris. Any use or presentation of the materials found here without the expressed written consent and permission of the author is strictly prohibited.

Remember Toonami?

Cartoon Network's premiere action cartoon block? C'mon, you know it. It used to be hosted by a helmeted robot and cranked out action hits one after the other. It used to be a two-hour daily block with an hour-long midnight block, then it became a three-hour block, then it became two hours, then it became a four-hour weekly block, and now it's a two-hour weekly block hosted by a robot that looks like a humanoid Thomas the Tank Engine.

You know how you felt when Toonami initially moved to Saturday nights heralding a more mature environment? Well, with Cartoon Network management no longer under managing its time slot, Toonami finally could become the block the fans have always wanted.

Under 100% control of Williams Street Productions, Toonami is now poised to become the premiere block it was destined to be. No longer bearing the corner logo of the main network, Toonami on Mondays through Thursdays and Saturday nights. Toonami is the first two hours of Williams Street's allotted time slots on weekdays and five hours on Saturday nights.

What this means is that Toonami is the action brand of Williams Street. Action-oriented shows like Naruto, One Piece, Dragon Ball Z, Bleach, Venture Brothers, and others are exclusive to the Toonami brand. That doesn't mean that Toonami will be the home of ALL Japanese animation acquisitions made by Williams Street. Comedic and dramatic shows with minimum action/adventure elements wouldn't fit.

This would not only give action shows a place on the weeknight primetime lineup, but it would also help restrengthen Toonami's brand and reputation in the US.

Now that I have spent time talking about the primetime offerings of Checkerboard, powered by Williams Street, let be rebuild the rest of the lineup.