Gephyrophillia | Watch This Space #108

Originally Posted on 02/27/2004 by Jeff Harris

*rubs temples*

Toonami is coming to Saturday nights starting on April 17. We've known that for a couple of days now. A couple of weeks ago, we learned that Adult Swim would begin airing a premiere action block that will have the likes of InuYasha, Wolf's Rain, and a lot of the good action stuff that we had come to enjoy on weeknights. When action fans realized that Toonami action would be followed by Adult Swim action on one night, the fans of both were ecstatic.

But Cartoon Network has taken that pleasure out of us by scratching the Adult Swim action block. Well, not scratching it entirely, just placing it on Thursday nights. When Adult Swim fans learned about that, those who are faithful to the power of that block picked up the torches dropped by the rabid Toonami fans who were upset at the network for creating the SVES block and cried out in one strained voice something loud and clear:

DEATH TO TOONAMI
TOONAMI MUST DIE!!!!!!
TOONAMI IS TEH S UCK!

*reaches for pain reliever*

One official reason the network has given for the change of heart is because the ad sales department didn't want to give up an hour to a children's block. Intantly, the Adult Swim fans pointed their crosshairs at the newly implanted Toonami block as the reason why the ASA block was scrapped. Meanwhile, Toonami fans, many of them also huge fans of Adult Swim's action offerings, are shocked and pissed off at the turn of events as well. I don't think the time constraints is the real reason why Cartoon Network changed their minds about Adult Swim Action. I also don't think the new Toonami block on Saturdays were the reason for the abrupt decision either.

One reason I could think of is because the network is a bit uneasy with putting Adult Swim on a night that kids are more likely to watch television. Have you been watching the news lately? Congress is a trigger-happy organization that's aiming to censor all programming, now trying to point their guns at the cable industry. Cartoon Network is at an awkward position and they don't want to take any chances of putting on shows that may draw the soccer mom's ire on a weekend night, especially in a decent slot like the 11 PM hour. The television and radio industry is doomed to become censored by a government of, for, and by the people. Paranoia is just plain annoying and silly. People need to grow thicker skin.

Another, more feasible reason I can think of for the abrupt decision is because Cartoon Network doesn't really want Williams Street to have that much power. Think about it. Williams Street programs Cartoon Network from 11 PM to 5 AM on Sundays through Thurdays and weekdays from 5 PM to 7 PM, and starting in April (until tonight's unfortunate turn of events) from 7 PM to 5 AM, the entire night all the way to the morning. They're responsible for bringing in the highest rated shows on Cartoon Network, and perhaps the upper management feels that perhaps Williams Street influence was exceeding theirs, and maybe they were correct in that assumption. Think about it. What's your favorite Cartoon Network show? Chances are it aired on a Williams Street-created block. CN is trying to get at least some kind of control with their network by giving them something they wanted (Toonami on Saturday nights) and taking away something they wanted (Adult Swim Action on Saturday nights).

I really, really wanted to see the one-two punch of the most powerful action lineups in Cartoon Network history, but they have denied me that pleasure. I wish the Adult Swim fans realize that the Toonami fans are on their side. Heck, up until Wednesday, the Toonami fans were feeling the same way about their block. We're all on the same side, and I certainly hope that Cartoon Network reconsider this programming change. And soon.

Or else, there could be trouble.

*end transmission*

Jeff Harris,
The X Bridge Creator/Webmaster
February 27, 2004