I have good news and/or bad news.

[Ninja Tiptup]

Well this certainly is an interesting development.

As for a retooling. A recent conference call with 4kids stated their plans for Fall 2007 are to make their block the home of series that have game tie-ins. I do believe they stated that the TMNT would have more tie-ins to it's video game counterparts. The most recent game is of course the movie game.

The way the new movie is written it can pretty easily slip into the 2K3 universe. Though Shredder isn't "dead". Perhaps instead they will retell the movie in the 2K3 format? Though I didn't much care for the plot of that movie. But I think most of all they just want to get back to basics. Which leads to the question... why on earth did they ever make FF to begin with? At least the ratings are pretty good right now but they'll definently see a drop when people realize new episodes aren't coming for months.

I generally look forward to any and all TMNT developments though so I eagerly await news about the series/movies future/s after the licensing fair.

[Vegita-San]

From what I've been told through Dan, mostly thanks to the growing concern that the series was too 'violent' and serialized, if memory serves. Apparently the foreign folks where not happy with how the show was going, and they once again put treasure to change the show to a lighter format.. But the main impression that I got was overseas liscences made the show change..

[CyberCubed]

Didn't they make Fast Forward because toy sales were declining and ratings for Season 4 were low?

After all, FF was meant to be Season 6 but they skipped Season 5 to air it early in an attempt to boost ratings and toy sales.

However now we know the FF toyline sold poorly, but the movie toys sold well, so now they're trying yet another rebranding to go with what sells.

Hell, this show may go through constant re-tools and rebrandings depending on what happens in the future.

[gobo]

Originally Posted by Spitfire666xXxXx

Welcome to the Drome leave your common sense at the door.

Awesome!

[jenna]

Well, they can't keep everyone happy - whomever they pander to it will upset or offend someone else.

I think they would be very wise to visit this wonderful land of tmnt discussion - I think they would learn a lot about the fan base, rather than just guessing what the nations want.

I am reminded of the episode of the Simpsons when Homer went into space and all the equipment at NASA was for monitoring TV ratings rather than the shuttle. It's like the need for ratings completely consumes the point of the programme.

[Courk]

Well, they do need ratings. Ratings determine ad costs, which lead to profit.

[jenna]

Originally Posted by Courk

Well, they do need ratings. Ratings determine ad costs, which lead to profit.

I know, but it often leads to the detriment of quality.

If it's not profitable, it dies - that's a given, but there are ways to maintain profitabiltiy without guess work and assumptions. I just think they would learn something from everyone's comments.

[Kunoichi_Haruko]

Ratings are the scourge of the earth. Okay maybe not, but they aren't accurate in the least. I understand that there needs to be a way to guage how well a show is performing, but Nielsen ratings a worthless. There's GOT to be a better way--- increase the sampling pool or something jeez....

[Courk]

I'm not a follower of statistics. I learned enough to pass, but overall I don't really understand it. As someone totally unqualified to make a judgment, though, I agree that Nielsen ratings don't seem like they'd be the most accurate.

[Spitfire]

And this is why Laird is a bad business man. You never EVER sign the property over to a toy company that's just common sense.

And before Murphy jumps in here telling us "Oh no Laird's legal team blah blah" Okay then hire a better legal team either way it stems back to him making it his fault.

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by Spitfire666xXxXx

And this is why Laird is a bad business man. You never EVER sign the property over to a toy company that's just common sense.

And before Murphy jumps in here telling us "Oh no Laird's legal team blah blah" Okay then hire a better legal team either way it stems back to him making it his fault.

or who knows how to read a contract...and once again history repeats it's self!

[Spitfire]

Originally Posted by Putrescent

or who knows how to read a contract...and once again history repeats it's self!

Yeah I know I like signing my life's work away without reading the fine print too.

[Roseangelo]

Since when did Peter sign anything away?

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

Since when did Peter sign anything away?

Well I think Spits being a bit goofy and over dramatic but as we all know fox took a strangle hold to the 80's toon and castrated the turtles from what they once had started out as.
And as much as I enjoyed FF they did the same thing again but this time playmates and $kids.
I'm not saying he's a bad business man frankly I feel bad that it keeps happening it must be really stressfull for him and the crew at mirage to have to keep getting $hit on like this.
I can tell you right now though all of this has really put a damper on my years of love for Playmates toys.

[Spitfire]

Yeah I'm goofing around a bit but seriously f*** Playmates.

I wonder if any other shows have had this issue.

[Jester]

Did I miss something here? Is Playmates the devil that makes TMNT suck? Wha?

[ThemanthatwouldbeRaphael]

Originally Posted by Spitfire666xXxXx

Yeah I'm goofing around a bit but seriously f*** Playmates.

I wonder if any other shows have had this issue.

Ren and Stimpy had a similar situation where Nickelodeon wrestled control away from John K. and totally raped the good out of the show.

But I don't think Playmates is the problem, they just make shity toys. The problem is these network execs throwing they're power around that interfering with writters and animators and doing what they think is best. That's why there's no innovation or originality anymore.

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by Jester

Did I miss something here? Is Playmates the devil that makes TMNT suck? Wha?

Yes they and $kids are the reason the show keeps friggin flip flopping so much.

Originally Posted by ThemanthatwouldbeRaphael

Ren and Stimpy had a similar situation where Nickelodeon wrestled control away from John K. and totally raped the good out of the show.

But I don't think Playmates is the problem, they just make shity toys. The problem is these network execs throwing they're power around that interfering with writters and animators and doing what they think is best. That's why there's no innovation or originality anymore.

Yeah that was so stupid then Nick took the show and made it even more disgusting which is the thing they hated in the first place.
But I can't say I enjoyed Johns new version of Ren & Stimpy it was a bit to much...and not really funny.
& oh no man it's been stated that Playmates and $kids have allot of say in everything FF is mostly because of Playmates.

[Spitfire]

Originally Posted by ThemanthatwouldbeRaphael

Ren and Stimpy had a similar situation where Nickelodeon wrestled control away from John K. and totally raped the good out of the show.

But I don't think Playmates is the problem, they just make shity toys. The problem is these network execs throwing they're power around that interfering with writters and animators and doing what they think is best. That's why there's no innovation or originality anymore.

Oh I remember that, I was referring to toy companies ruining shows by making them into toy ads.

[Jester]

Gi Joe!!!!