What was the reason the original cartoon was canceled in 1996?

[CyberCubed]

I know CBS canceled most of their animation at the time for education shows and live-action, but if that's the case, does that mean the original cartoon could have gone on for longer?

That would likely mean the Next Mutation would have never happened, and the original cartoon would continue the "Red Sky" seasons past Lord Dregg. Maybe even bring Shredder back.

What do you think?

[Venom]

Low ratings, waning interest.

[CyberCubed]

Low ratings, waning interest.

Yet they still tried with Next Mutation the very next year.

[sdp]

Yeah its not like it was cancelled prematurely, by that point the fad had been long over and the show was just dying a slow death. For it to continue the red sky episodes would have had to have been a successful and renewed interest and those were made as a last move to renew interest on the show, similar to how BTTS with the 2k3 show. TNM didn't kill the OT it would have been cancelled regardless, it was probably pitched as a way to bring back the popularity of the turtles with this brand new take on them which was different from what they had doneof course failed.

Even either had been a success it would have been short lived, the Pokemon fad and its copycats/anime would have mauled over any hope of a second breath of life for the TMNT during that era.

[Roseangelo]

It was because CBS canceled all of their cartoons in favor of live-action programming. Could it have kept going? Hmmm... possibly. I don't know that CBS had anything better to offer at the time.

[gobo]

I somehow doubt the producers were sadistic enough to keep beating a dead turtle... but that's probably just my idealism talking.

[Fugitoid Jones]

I'm sure it was a combination of declining audience and the move to live action/educational programming. The heads at CBS were probably like "TMNT isn't getting the ratings it used to and we're trying to move all programming to live action or educational shows. Guess TMNT has to go."

Even as a kid, I can remember after 9 seasons being kinda done with the TMNT. Course at the time I was around 11 or 12 and was starting to think that I was too grown up to like things like the TMNT, it wasn't cool at school to like them anymore, so that was it for me. It was probably like that with alot of TMNT fans. Around the 8th season, most of the original fans were probably grown up and moved on. Hence the lower ratings.

[collectormike]

I'm sure it was a combination of declining audience and the move to live action/educational programming. The heads at CBS were probably like "TMNT isn't getting the ratings it used to and we're trying to move all programming to live action or educational shows. Guess TMNT has to go."

Even as a kid, I can remember after 9 seasons being kinda done with the TMNT. Course at the time I was around 11 or 12 and was starting to think that I was too grown up to like things like the TMNT, it wasn't cool at school to like them anymore, so that was it for me. It was probably like that with alot of TMNT fans. Around the 8th season, most of the original fans were probably grown up and moved on. Hence the lower ratings.

yep. this is my story.

[CyberCubed]

It was because CBS canceled all of their cartoons in favor of live-action programming. Could it have kept going? Hmmm... possibly. I don't know that CBS had anything better to offer at the time.

Which makes me wonder if the original cartoon could have gone on 1 or 2 seasons longer.

It is obvious though once Pokemon started in 1998, that would have been the final nail in TMNT's coffin.

[Roseangelo]

It is obvious though once Pokemon started in 1998, that would have been the final nail in TMNT's coffin.

Not for a year or so. Pokemon started in afternoon syndication, so it wasn't Saturday morning ratings competition. And there were virtually no toys for the longest time. Unless you count crappy key chains.

[sdp]

TMNT was already dying a slow death for a while so even if it had continued it would have been life support hence the 8 episode seasons. On Saturday mornings Fox Kids/KidsWB pretty much dominated, yeah maybe another station would have kept the turtles on life support based on their iconicness, but once Pokemon came out it had no chance of surviving even if there was little merchandise and aired on afternoons.

[Sage Ninja]

I was done with the tuyrtles after season seven. but I gave season eight a shot. I was severaly turned off by red sky at the time and I just tuned out. And pretty much my turtles fandom went into a long dormanice until much later down the line.

[Guitar_Raph]

CBS wanted to jump on the band wagon after NBC's success of Saturday Today with the Saturday Early Show. This left ABC, Fox & Kids WB. ABC would cave in with Good Morning America in 2004, Fox stopped in 2008 while Kids WB is now CW. CW won't be the same without TMNT.

In 1996, CBS had Fudge and Secrets of The Crypt Keeper's Haunted Mansion; a kids game show. And to this day, it's still the last game show (other than Jeopardy!) where boys [under 18] competed against each other in an episode.

[Samhain]

Low ratings I would imagine.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

If they wanted to continue, I think the TMNT should age to avoid some floating timeline? How funny is Simpsons? Bart has been a child for 20 years now.

[TheCanadiandrome]

Low ratings, waning interest.

that was my initial thought as well. it's a lucky it lasted as long as it did.

i wonder if it wasn't just viewers who had waning interest or if it was also those who worked on the show as well? i mean think about it, not all of the original VA lasted all 10 seasons

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

that was my initial thought as well. it's a lucky it lasted as long as it did.

i wonder if it wasn't just viewers who had waning interest or if it was also those who worked on the show as well? i mean think about it, not all of the original VA lasted all 10 seasons

What is VA?

[Gyt Kaliba]

What is VA?

VA = Voice Actor.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Power Rangers

[TheCanadiandrome]

VA = Voice Actor.

exactly right