Cartoons that never made it

*Drtooth* · 05-31-2006, 12:37 PM

I thought it would be fun to tell you all a story about several cartoon shows that were being developed, but never aired on television:

Rah Rah Woozy ( also known asWoozy State)
The last cartoon pilot developed by Jay Ward of Bullwinkle fame. It featured a college football team starring various animals (I can't specifically name them now, but I intend on doing so late). Jay was a big fan of college football, so naturally he wanted to make a show about it. The pilot was developed and filmed, but never sold. In fact, a 1980 proposition called "The New Bullwinkle show" was to have had this as a feature.

Marsupilami
You may be familiar with the 1993 Disney version that was featured in Raw Toonage. However, the character had been around since the 60's, as a Belgian comic strip (much like the Smurfs). Either a Pilot or a series Bible (animation term for a book describing the characters, plots, and settings) was produced by Marvel back in 1983. (In case you're wondering, a new Marsupilami show aired in Europe in 2002, and unlike Disney's version, he wasn't the only Marsupilami in existance) This was written by the king of 1980's cartoon scripts, Jeffery Scott....

Speaking of him, he also tried to blend his job as head writer for Muppet Babies with his grandfather's legacy as Moe of the Three Stooges to combine
Wee Stoogesin 1994. As you can probably tell, baby three stooges. he actually tried to revive new stooge projects for a while, and the only one that was developed was a Las Vegas stage show. Actually, this guy wrote a lot of cartoons in the 80's and 90's. I have a how to write for animation book that has a filmography. A lot of projects he developed or wrote for didn't tkae off the ground. Some were promising, like a 1983 X-men cartoon, and one based of Marvel's Secret wars, and some were thankfunnly dismissed... like a Menudo cartoon.

But let's get back to usless Muppet Babies ripoffs.
Disney Babies
Apparently they were trying to make money off of the baby fad by making Mickey et al toddlers. Though the idea surfaced as a number of products and apparel, a show was thankfully never produced.

Austin Powers was to have had his own show as well. Between The Spy who shagged me, and Goldmeber, plans for a cartoon for HBO were announced. It was to have had Mike Myers reprising his roles, and probably some of the other stars were to have joined him as well. While it's unclear if this just died, or it was a rumor to begin with, it never made it. And it's a shame, since it would have worked pretty good in animated form.

Remember a short lived game series about Bubsy the Bobcat? Bohott entertainment and Dic DID produce a pilot of this one, and it actually aired one Thanksgiving. I recall it was VERRRRRY similar to Eek the cat. Since Bubsy wasn't that popular a game anyway, the show never made it past one episode.

and finally, I close with The Adventures of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

Trust me... I am not making this up. BAck about 2001 or 2002, ABC came to Dic entertainment with the proposal of this series. While I can't think of any reason for it, I recall the pitch was reported in the paper. My recallection is fuzzy, but Dic CEO Andy Heyward said, "it would be fun to think of what the winners will do with their money and the adventures they'll have" or something to that extent. Mercifully, the actuall program's popularity died before they could develope the series any further. But, this was the same time period when Dic made Sabrina the series, Evolution the series (based of the flop film) and that Mary Kate and Ashley spy series.

Well, that's all I have for now, so if you know of anyothers you want to discuss, please post some.

*Mecha Cow* · 05-31-2006, 12:40 PM

Sounds like a good thing that none of these shows were actually produced. o_O

*Drtooth* · 05-31-2006, 12:58 PM

well... Rah Rah Woozy I hear was a great finalie for Jay Ward shows, and I'm cureous as to how MArsupilami would have been, but the others are crap

Lady Venus · 05-31-2006, 05:45 PM

Samurai Pizzas Cat was another one.

*Mecha Cow* · 05-31-2006, 06:47 PM

Err...That was made...

*BigApple3AM* · 05-31-2006, 07:26 PM

If I recall, samurai pizza cats had a ton of episodes.

I'll add one, Battletoads. I have the pilot episode, but it never made it past that. If you thought it'd be anything like Double Dragon cartoon, you'd be wrong. It was like a really awful, more surfer induced, version of the old turtle cartoon.

There's more that I'll try to add. Awesome thread!

*ZariusTwo* · 05-31-2006, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ectocooler

I'll add one, Battletoads. I have the pilot episode, but it never made it past that. If you thought it'd be anything like Double Dragon cartoon, you'd be wrong. It was like a really awful, more surfer induced, version of the old turtle cartoon.!

It's little wonder, David Wise actually wrote that episode, and the Battle Toads concept was a cash-in on TMNT also.

There's Wonder Woman and the Star Riders, an attempt at knocking off She-Ra with Wonder Woman at the helm. The show eventually became Princess Starla and the Jewel Riders.

And whoever said Samurai Pizza Cats obviously has no grasp of the fact that the show is one of the most fondly remembered 90's animes

*DrSpengler* · 06-01-2006, 05:18 PM

There was a 2002 Marsupilami cartoon!?

...so how was it?

**GK Punk** · 06-01-2006, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ectocooler

If I recall, samurai pizza cats had a ton of episodes.

I'll add one, Battletoads. I have the pilot episode, but it never made it past that. If you thought it'd be anything like Double Dragon cartoon, you'd be wrong. It was like a really awful, more surfer induced, version of the old turtle cartoon.

There's more that I'll try to add. Awesome thread!

I'd love to see that pilot! I've heard so much about it.

Gen13 is another one that didn't make it.

*BigApple3AM* · 06-02-2006, 02:49 PM

Kittie: I'll try to burn a copy if you want it. I encoded it to my computer from a vhs tape a friend gave me a long time ago. Be warned though, it's sucky.

*Spitfire* · 06-02-2006, 03:00 PM

Clerks was a cartoon that never made it. I thought it was funny but I guess the viewers didn't cause it didn't get alot of episodes. And I don't know if this is a cartoon but it had segements of cartoons, TV Funhouse...another show I thought was funny that got canned*Though I thought TV Funhouse was alot better then Clerks*

*DrSpengler* · 06-02-2006, 04:13 PM

Clerks was pretty much cancelled before it even started airring. Smith having disputes over content with ABC lawyers.

They airred 2 episodes, completely out of order (spoiling a few jokes), editted for content, at 11pm and with very little promotion before-hand.

Clerks was doomed before it began.

*Spitfire* · 06-02-2006, 04:20 PM

I never knew much about it's TV life I just saw the DVD.

*Drtooth* · 06-09-2006, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrSpengler

There was a 2002 Marsupilami cartoon!?

...so how was it?

I Honestly couldn't tell you. It aired ONLY in Europe, and I've only seen a few screen shots in Animation Magazine.

All I can remember is there are many Marsupilamis, and no Norm or Maurice, since Disney created them (as far as I can tell).

Anyway, here's another series that was never made:

Lookat the Truffle Shufle.... heh heh heh... Childhood obesity.

Now this looked like a show with LOTS of retro-potential.

05-31-2006, 12:37 PM	#1
Drtooth Foot Elite Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,439	Cartoons that never made it I thought it would be fun to tell you all a story about several cartoon shows that were being developed, but never aired on television: Rah Rah Woozy ( also known asWoozy State) The last cartoon pilot developed by Jay Ward of Bullwinkle fame. It featured a college football team starring various animals (I can't specifically name them now, but I intend on doing so late). Jay was a big fan of college football, so naturally he wanted to make a show about it. The pilot was developed and filmed, but never sold. In fact, a 1980 proposition called "The New Bullwinkle show" was to have had this as a feature. Marsupilami You may be familiar with the 1993 Disney version that was featured in Raw Toonage. However, the character had been around since the 60's, as a Belgian comic strip (much like the Smurfs). Either a Pilot or a series Bible (animation term for a book describing the characters, plots, and settings) was produced by Marvel back in 1983. (In case you're wondering, a new Marsupilami show aired in Europe in 2002, and unlike Disney's version, he wasn't the only Marsupilami in existance) This was written by the king of 1980's cartoon scripts, Jeffery Scott.... Speaking of him, he also tried to blend his job as head writer for Muppet Babies with his grandfather's legacy as Moe of the Three Stooges to combine Wee Stoogesin 1994. As you can probably tell, baby three stooges. he actually tried to revive new stooge projects for a while, and the only one that was developed was a Las Vegas stage show. Actually, this guy wrote a lot of cartoons in the 80's and 90's. I have a how to write for animation book that has a filmography. A lot of projects he developed or wrote for didn't tkae off the ground. Some were promising, like a 1983 X-men cartoon, and one based of Marvel's Secret wars, and some were thankfunnly dismissed... like a Menudo cartoon. But let's get back to usless Muppet Babies ripoffs. Disney Babies Apparently they were trying to make money off of the baby fad by making Mickey et al toddlers. Though the idea surfaced as a number of products and apparel, a show was thankfully never produced. Austin Powers was to have had his own show as well. Between The Spy who shagged me, and Goldmeber, plans for a cartoon for HBO were announced. It was to have had Mike Myers reprising his roles, and probably some of the other stars were to have joined him as well. While it's unclear if this just died, or it was a rumor to begin with, it never made it. And it's a shame, since it would have worked pretty good in animated form. Remember a short lived game series about Bubsy the Bobcat? Bohott entertainment and Dic DID produce a pilot of this one, and it actually aired one Thanksgiving. I recall it was VERRRRRY similar to Eek the cat. Since Bubsy wasn't that popular a game anyway, the show never made it past one episode. and finally, I close with The Adventures of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Trust me... I am not making this up. BAck about 2001 or 2002, ABC came to Dic entertainment with the proposal of this series. While I can't think of any reason for it, I recall the pitch was reported in the paper. My recallection is fuzzy, but Dic CEO Andy Heyward said, "it would be fun to think of what the winners will do with their money and the adventures they'll have" or something to that extent. Mercifully, the actuall program's popularity died before they could develope the series any further. But, this was the same time period when Dic made Sabrina the series, Evolution the series (based of the flop film) and that Mary Kate and Ashley spy series. Well, that's all I have for now, so if you know of anyothers you want to discuss, please post some. __________________ [Insert mildly amusing banner here]

05-31-2006, 12:40 PM	#2
Mecha Cow Gorgeous and modest too Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 3,699	Sounds like a good thing that none of these shows were actually produced. o_O __________________

05-31-2006, 12:58 PM	#3
Drtooth Foot Elite Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 4,439	well... Rah Rah Woozy I hear was a great finalie for Jay Ward shows, and I'm cureous as to how MArsupilami would have been, but the others are crap __________________ [Insert mildly amusing banner here]

05-31-2006, 05:45 PM	#4
Lady Venus Mad Scientist Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hangin' out in the Turtles' Lair Posts: 1,268	Samurai Pizzas Cat was another one. __________________ RIP Mommy Angie! Se onr sverdar sitja hvass! (May your swords stay sharp!) - Eragon Sig made by: Joe

05-31-2006, 06:47 PM	#5
Mecha Cow Gorgeous and modest too Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 3,699	Err...That was made... __________________

05-31-2006, 07:26 PM	#6
BigApple3AM Mad Scientist Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Supermarket Aisle Posts: 1,635	If I recall, samurai pizza cats had a ton of episodes. I'll add one, Battletoads. I have the pilot episode, but it never made it past that. If you thought it'd be anything like Double Dragon cartoon, you'd be wrong. It was like a really awful, more surfer induced, version of the old turtle cartoon. There's more that I'll try to add. Awesome thread!

06-01-2006, 05:18 PM	#8
DrSpengler Foot Elite Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 4,842	There was a 2002 Marsupilami cartoon!? ...so how was it?

06-02-2006, 02:49 PM	#10
BigApple3AM Mad Scientist Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Supermarket Aisle Posts: 1,635	Kittie: I'll try to burn a copy if you want it. I encoded it to my computer from a vhs tape a friend gave me a long time ago. Be warned though, it's sucky.

06-02-2006, 03:00 PM	#11
Spitfire Writer • Director Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 12,035	Clerks was a cartoon that never made it. I thought it was funny but I guess the viewers didn't cause it didn't get alot of episodes. And I don't know if this is a cartoon but it had segements of cartoons, TV Funhouse...another show I thought was funny that got cannedThough I thought TV Funhouse was alot better then Clerks __________________ Check out my online portfolio http://www.christopherpelletier.com/

06-02-2006, 04:13 PM	#12
DrSpengler Foot Elite Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 4,842	Clerks was pretty much cancelled before it even started airring. Smith having disputes over content with ABC lawyers. They airred 2 episodes, completely out of order (spoiling a few jokes), editted for content, at 11pm and with very little promotion before-hand. Clerks was doomed before it began.

06-02-2006, 04:20 PM	#13
Spitfire Writer • Director Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 12,035	I never knew much about it's TV life I just saw the DVD. __________________ Check out my online portfolio http://www.christopherpelletier.com/