Thoughtnami Classics | Where's The Outrage?

Originally Posted 11/02/05 by Jeff Harris

Cartoon Network is planning an MTV-level disaster at their network starting a week from Sunday by airing a series of live-action films, including Small Soldiers, The Goonies, and Honey, I Shrunk The Kids and a bigtime movie coming to Toonami very soon.

But wait, there's more.

Cartoon Network, in a move that should surprise everyone, is planning on creating new live-action series plots like sitcoms and action projects networkwide, not just the Krofft Brothers homage being worked on at Adult Swim. They're doing this because they claim that kids aren't interested in cartoons anymore and drawn towards Disney Channel and Nickelodeon live-action fare.

According to some higher ups at the network, the word "cartoon" is not limited to cel, stop-motion, or computer-animated productions, but is rather a state of mind.

Now, my question is not aimed towards the executive minds of Cartoon Network but rather the animation media writers who cover the industry from all angles and animation historians who watch the network.

WHERE THE HELL IS THE OUTRAGE?!?

Seriously, I'm pissed that Cartoon Network has basically given up their original mission so easily. The powers that be that wanted to make Cartoon Network to be more like Nickelodeon and less like Cartoon Network has won. Mission A-fricking-ccomplished. Great job. They destroyed and killed in four years what it took Ted, Betty, Linda, Dea, Fred, Genndy, and Craig nine years to build.

And for what? Because you're upset that Nickelodeon's live-action programs are doing better than Cartoon Network? Well, technically, that's not true. The live-action programming is doing alright, but Cartoon Network cartoons are getting their asses kicked by . . .

Nickelodeon's popular Nicktoons. Particularly Nicktoons reruns. Seriously, after Monday Night Raw and NFL Sunday Night, the bulk of the highest-rated shows on cable are reruns of Spongebob Squarepants and The Fairly Oddparents. And Nickelodeon, who are obviously laughing at this submission by Cartoon Network, are proud that their Nicktoons Network digital channel is on four times as many homes as Boomerang (Nicktoons has 32 million subscribers while Boomerang is in only eight million homes). And they're actually growing in popularity while Cartoon Network still has no frelling idea what to do with Boomerang (My suggestion? Give total control of Boomerang to Turner Classic Movies since they actually know how to treat classic entertainment).

Seriously, where's the outrage on all of this?