Why did the OT air some episodes out-of-order?

[Refractive Reflections]

So I noticed the Wikipedia page about the OT's airing dates (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles_%281987%29_ep isodes), and I was wondering why did they show some episodes during primetime (used for promoting something else in the franchise :-?)? Or why the episodes were aired out of order?

On the Wikipedia webpage, I could understand the episodes being broken up for CBS airing and syndication. But here are some confusing situations:

1) Why was "The Big Cuffling Caper!" (Season 4 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles_%281987%29_ep isodes#CBS_episodes)) aired on Sept. 14, 1990 in primetime? Was it used to promote something?

2) Why was Season 5 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles_%281987%29_ep isodes#Season_5_.281991.29)'s finale "Planet of the Turtleoids" aired in the beginning of the season on August 31, 1991 in primetime?:-? Then aired for a second time, in the middle of the season's airing schedule?

3) Why were the first few episodes of Season 7 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Teenage_Mutant_Ninja_Turtles_%281987%29_ep isodes#Main_Season) (the main season) aired out-of-order too?

Thanks for the input and help. :) Just curious about this...

[Candy Kappa]

laziness or they just didn't care.

At least it wasn't as bad as Firefly

[cammy85]

Yes, the Big Cufflink Caper was used to promote the upcoming start to weekly CBS episodes.

Planet of the Turtleoids aired in Primetime as a one hour special (first of its kind) though it promised another one hour special when Krang and Shredder finally freeing the Technodrome from the ice and terrorizing the city. THAT never occurred until Season 6....

Which do you mean?? It aired OK for me.

[CyberCubed]

Networks air shows out of order even in modern times.

Most of the DC superhero shows are aired out of order.

[Refractive Reflections]

Yes, the Big Cufflink Caper was used to promote the upcoming start to weekly CBS episodes.

That makes sense.


Which do you mean?? It aired OK for me.
Again, just curious why those three occurrences happened.

As for why "Night of the Dark Turtle" was shown out of order (aired as the 3rd episode despite it being the first), I'm guessing (after thinking about it for some time) that maybe it was aired on Oct. 30 to follow along with the Halloween theme of Donatello dressing up in a Batman-style costume. Just a guess...

[gobo]

As said by others, Cufflink was a promo for CBS's version of TMNT, and the Turtleoids telefilm was a primetime exclusive.
As for why "Night of the Dark Turtle" was shown out of order (aired as the 3rd episode despite it being the first), I'm guessing (after thinking about it for some time) that maybe it was aired on Oct. 30 to follow along with the Halloween theme of Donatello dressing up in a Batman-style costume. Just a guess...
Excellent deduction. :tthumbsu: