How much freedom did the OT writers have from Playmates toy promotion?

*CyberCubed* · 12-25-2012, 01:02 PM

Throughout the old show there are some episodes that feature very blatant TMNT toy advertisements, mostly in terms of vehicles like the item Don makes that flings garbage, the flush-o-matic, and those sewer tube things they used to float in the sewers.

Yet despite all this, we know most of those Playmates created mutants didn't even appear in the original toon, so it seems like the OT writers had the freedom not to use them if they didn't want to.

Is it just me, or did the writers of the show not really like the Playmates created characters? They used the Mirage oriented characters like Baxter, Rat King and Leatherhead...as well as ones they created themselves like General Traag, Krang, Bebop/Rocksteady, Slash and new characters like Tempsestra, Shreeka, etc.

The only few times I can remember them using a Playmates created character is for Mona Lisa, Mutagen Man, Muckman Joe/eyeball, and Wingnut/Screwloose. They even just barely gave Ace Duck a cameo, a sign they didn't even want to use him. All who were just one-shot characters. I'm not sure where Mondo Gecko and Merdude were created for first.

It actually seems like they didn't have to do what Playmates wanted, or else most of those characters probably would have appeared.

*Andrew NDB* · 12-25-2012, 01:37 PM

Oh, I'm fairly certain there were no "creative" summits at Fred Wolf without there being a Playmates executive in the room.

*pannoni1* · 12-26-2012, 08:17 AM

I'd say it varied based upon the number of episodes produced per season along with the importance of selling a certain toy. The Technodrome, Turtle Blimp, Turtle Van, Channel 6 Van, and the Lair became big staples of the series that it encourage high demand and ended up being the "flagship" releases for several years of the toy line. As a result, those were priced higher and supply was often low (except for the News Van which by that point the fad was starting to die down). Lesser vehicles such as the Knucklehead, Cheapskate, Retrocatapult, Turtle Paratrooper, and Flushomatic were created simply to expand the toy line, so just an appearance or two was necessary. Of course, commercials were placed which would pitch non-TMNT fans during other shows in order to draw them in.

As for the individual figures, the first year was obviously the essentials, as every character was a regular meaning that not only it set the standard for the first wave, but in future releases with all of the various themes released. The 1989 figures were more for recurring characters (except for Krang) that appeared at some point, though most appeared a few times, so it was necessary for those characters to be included in the series.

Then there were also figures in which the popularity of the show by the OT writers actually led to Playmates releasing some figures well after the episodes air, likely due to popularity in reruns (Metallic Rocksteady/Bebop, Mona Lisa).

Season 1 was likely well balanced between David Wise and Playmates since it set the tone, plus there was lots of adlibbing, fighting, and a nice continuous plot. The same could be said for the first half of Season 2, up to Enter: The Fly, with a mix of continuity and characters used to make toys (especially Enter: The Fly with the Paratrooper, Baxter the Fly, and the Knucklehead). For the rest of the first 65 episodes, it was more a consequence of typical writing at the time, with mainly episodic plots designed for random reruns with a few characters/vehicles used to pitch Playmates.

Season 4 and onwards was more at CBS's decision for the OT writers, seeking for less violence than the syndicated episodes. Thus when CBS switched to their "Action Zone" branding in 1994, it allowed David Wise/Jeffrey Scott to create a darker, more continous plot again, with only the Cyber Turtles being the Playmates toy from that era produced.

*CyberCubed* · 12-26-2012, 10:25 PM

It seemed to me like the writers wanted to create their own villains, rather than use Playmates toy characters.

Tempestra, Shreeka, Big Louie, Captain Coolick, etc.

After rewatching the show extensively, I notice most episodes don't actually introduce any new characters at all. Most were just Shredder/Bebop/Rocksteady with maybe some random robot character thrown in, or a random mad scientist or a gangster.

Even human characters, like Howie, Doctor Goodfellow, Buffy, etc. all were just short lived throw away characters in an episode.

*Original TMNT Cartoon Fan* · 12-27-2012, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

It seemed to me like the writers wanted to create their own villains, rather than use Playmates toy characters.

Tempestra, Shreeka, Big Louie, Captain Coolick, etc.

After rewatching the show extensively, I notice most episodes don't actually introduce any new characters at all. Most were just Shredder/Bebop/Rocksteady with maybe some random robot character thrown in, or a random mad scientist or a gangster.

Even human characters, like Howie, Doctor Goodfellow, Buffy, etc. all were just short lived throw away characters in an episode.

It seems that they got more freedom as the years progressed. From season 4, I would say they were pretty independent from Playmate Toys.

*Coola Yagami* · 12-27-2012, 03:16 PM

Slash and Mondo Gecko were Playmates figures first. I remember being excited to see them in the Archie comics because I already owned those figures (Mondo anyway, Slash was always so hard to find). When Slash and Mondo FINALLY appeared on the show I was surprised that it took them so long since the figures were out for a while already. I do remember Mutagen Man and Muckman were on the show around the time their figures were released, and there was a Napoleon BonaFrog episode around the time they finally made the Napoleon figure.

*CyberCubed* · 12-27-2012, 06:47 PM

Yeah, Mondo Gecko should have debuted back in Season 3...not all the way in Season 5. I also think along with Mutagen Man, Muckman...Season 5 also should have debuted Pizzaface and Wyrm/Antrax/Scumbug.

I honestly wonder if Season 5 was as long as Seasons 3-4 were, that we might have seen more characters debut. I think its the shortness of Season 5 that they didn't get to do as much as they would have.

12-25-2012, 01:02 PM	#1
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,838	How much freedom did the OT writers have from Playmates toy promotion? Throughout the old show there are some episodes that feature very blatant TMNT toy advertisements, mostly in terms of vehicles like the item Don makes that flings garbage, the flush-o-matic, and those sewer tube things they used to float in the sewers. Yet despite all this, we know most of those Playmates created mutants didn't even appear in the original toon, so it seems like the OT writers had the freedom not to use them if they didn't want to. Is it just me, or did the writers of the show not really like the Playmates created characters? They used the Mirage oriented characters like Baxter, Rat King and Leatherhead...as well as ones they created themselves like General Traag, Krang, Bebop/Rocksteady, Slash and new characters like Tempsestra, Shreeka, etc. The only few times I can remember them using a Playmates created character is for Mona Lisa, Mutagen Man, Muckman Joe/eyeball, and Wingnut/Screwloose. They even just barely gave Ace Duck a cameo, a sign they didn't even want to use him. All who were just one-shot characters. I'm not sure where Mondo Gecko and Merdude were created for first. It actually seems like they didn't have to do what Playmates wanted, or else most of those characters probably would have appeared.

12-25-2012, 01:37 PM	#2
Andrew NDB Weed Whacker Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Auburn, WA Posts: 34,506	Oh, I'm fairly certain there were no "creative" summits at Fred Wolf without there being a Playmates executive in the room. __________________ [ ODYSSEY \| ORIGIN \| THE IMAGE/VOL. 3 CONCLUSION \| THE SHELLSHOCKED PODCAST \| ON FACEBOOK ]

12-26-2012, 08:17 AM	#3
pannoni1 Foot Elite Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: USA Posts: 3,447	I'd say it varied based upon the number of episodes produced per season along with the importance of selling a certain toy. The Technodrome, Turtle Blimp, Turtle Van, Channel 6 Van, and the Lair became big staples of the series that it encourage high demand and ended up being the "flagship" releases for several years of the toy line. As a result, those were priced higher and supply was often low (except for the News Van which by that point the fad was starting to die down). Lesser vehicles such as the Knucklehead, Cheapskate, Retrocatapult, Turtle Paratrooper, and Flushomatic were created simply to expand the toy line, so just an appearance or two was necessary. Of course, commercials were placed which would pitch non-TMNT fans during other shows in order to draw them in. As for the individual figures, the first year was obviously the essentials, as every character was a regular meaning that not only it set the standard for the first wave, but in future releases with all of the various themes released. The 1989 figures were more for recurring characters (except for Krang) that appeared at some point, though most appeared a few times, so it was necessary for those characters to be included in the series. Then there were also figures in which the popularity of the show by the OT writers actually led to Playmates releasing some figures well after the episodes air, likely due to popularity in reruns (Metallic Rocksteady/Bebop, Mona Lisa). Season 1 was likely well balanced between David Wise and Playmates since it set the tone, plus there was lots of adlibbing, fighting, and a nice continuous plot. The same could be said for the first half of Season 2, up to Enter: The Fly, with a mix of continuity and characters used to make toys (especially Enter: The Fly with the Paratrooper, Baxter the Fly, and the Knucklehead). For the rest of the first 65 episodes, it was more a consequence of typical writing at the time, with mainly episodic plots designed for random reruns with a few characters/vehicles used to pitch Playmates. Season 4 and onwards was more at CBS's decision for the OT writers, seeking for less violence than the syndicated episodes. Thus when CBS switched to their "Action Zone" branding in 1994, it allowed David Wise/Jeffrey Scott to create a darker, more continous plot again, with only the Cyber Turtles being the Playmates toy from that era produced. __________________ http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/sho...d.php?t=37065- MY WANT LIST TMNT FAN CLUB LINK: http://sot.ag/gCjK/ 30 years of Turtle Power!

12-27-2012, 03:16 PM	#6
Coola Yagami Overlord Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 15,703	Slash and Mondo Gecko were Playmates figures first. I remember being excited to see them in the Archie comics because I already owned those figures (Mondo anyway, Slash was always so hard to find). When Slash and Mondo FINALLY appeared on the show I was surprised that it took them so long since the figures were out for a while already. I do remember Mutagen Man and Muckman were on the show around the time their figures were released, and there was a Napoleon BonaFrog episode around the time they finally made the Napoleon figure. __________________ "I was down with TMNT once, but then they changed what TMNT was. Now what I was down with is no longer TMNT and what TMNT now is seems weird and scary. And it'll happen to YOU." Check out my blog for Comic Reviews and other things. https://markepicblogofrandomness.blogspot.com/ I also started The AEW Crew, the All Elite Wrestling Fan Club! https://www.facebook.com/groups/637508120044168/

12-26-2012, 10:25 PM	#4
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,838	It seemed to me like the writers wanted to create their own villains, rather than use Playmates toy characters. Tempestra, Shreeka, Big Louie, Captain Coolick, etc. After rewatching the show extensively, I notice most episodes don't actually introduce any new characters at all. Most were just Shredder/Bebop/Rocksteady with maybe some random robot character thrown in, or a random mad scientist or a gangster. Even human characters, like Howie, Doctor Goodfellow, Buffy, etc. all were just short lived throw away characters in an episode.

12-27-2012, 06:47 PM	#7
CyberCubed Overlord Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 43,838	Yeah, Mondo Gecko should have debuted back in Season 3...not all the way in Season 5. I also think along with Mutagen Man, Muckman...Season 5 also should have debuted Pizzaface and Wyrm/Antrax/Scumbug. I honestly wonder if Season 5 was as long as Seasons 3-4 were, that we might have seen more characters debut. I think its the shortness of Season 5 that they didn't get to do as much as they would have.