This is a follow up question on a different angle to the question posed about images of cartoon crows.
For some reason, replying to that post got me to thinking. At one time or another we've seen the "classic" MGM, and, Warner cartoons on Cartoon Network (and/or, it's "sister" network Boomerang.) We
have also seen the Paramount Superman cartoons as well.
But I don't recall ever seeing the Walter Lantz/Universal cartoons that featured the likes of Woody Woodpecker, and, Andy Panda there. Plus, I also don't recall ever seeing there the Famous Studio/Harveytoon characters, like Casper, Herman and Katnip, or, Buzzy and Katnip. I think I might know why the Buzzy cartoons haven't seen the tv screen lately. Whoever did Buzzy's voice used a sterotypical African-American voice, similar in style to Eddie "Rochester" Anderson's own voice. And, in today's "pc" world that is unacceptable. (To the uninitiated, "Rochester" was Jack Benny's houseman on radio and TV.)
Don; gang; besides the thought I had about Buzzy's voice, does anyone know why these cartoons aren't on Cartoon Network?
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Posted by: Don Markstein
Posted on: 2008-02-29 at 10:24:38 AM
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Entirely different media mega-conglomerates, Chuck. Even before they coalesced, tho, I don't recall the Famous Studios characters (other than Popeye) on TV recently, tho I know they were there in the 1950s and '60s. Superman, of course, belongs to the same conglomerate as Cartoon Network, so it's an exception too.
Woody et al. were syndicated at least as recently as the 1980s, when I was building my videotape collection from local kidvid. So were Terrytoons, tho I understand they were licensed up in the '90s by a cable network that just sat on them.
"Whoever did Buzzy's voice" was Jackson Beck, best known for Bluto. The main reason we don't see the Buzzy cartoons nowadays is, they're tied up with the other Famous Studios characters, which are mostly owned by Harvey Comics. On the rare occasions Buzzy is seen nowadays, he's re-dubbed.
Quack, Don
Woody et al. were syndicated at least as recently as the 1980s, when I was building my videotape collection from local kidvid. So were Terrytoons, tho I understand they were licensed up in the '90s by a cable network that just sat on them.
"Whoever did Buzzy's voice" was Jackson Beck, best known for Bluto. The main reason we don't see the Buzzy cartoons nowadays is, they're tied up with the other Famous Studios characters, which are mostly owned by Harvey Comics. On the rare occasions Buzzy is seen nowadays, he's re-dubbed.
Quack, Don
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Posted by: Chuck Taine
Posted on: 2008-02-29 at 04:44:48 PM
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Okay; I should of thought of it myself. NBC now owns Universal, who I presume still owns the rights to Woody, Andy, and, company. Guess the powers that be who decided to feature Discovery networks show on Saturday mornings don't want to license Woody and the gang to TImeWarner. CBS/Viacom ended up with Terrytoons, and, it's probably the same story for Tom Terrific, Heckel and Jeckel, and, etc.
However, ClassicMedia seems to be the rights holder for Harveytoons, Underdog, and, some other well known 'toon characters. (Including the Lone Ranger!) So unless TimeWarner can't come to licensing fee agreement with them-money is always an issue, I don't see why ClassicMedia doesn't put the Harveytoons (and, other characters they control,) on Cartoon Network. After all they licensed Underdog to a Disney production house.
I've got a bunch of Warner, MGM, and, Universal on a tape. Maybe I should transfer it to disc so my 6 year niece can see something besides Nicktoons, and, Disney-Pixar. (not that they are all bad, it would just be something different.)
As for Buzzy's voice, I'm not surprised. When Cartoon Network shows the early HB/MGM Tom and Jerry cartoons, the housekeepers voice is redubbed. Sigh, our "pc" world!
However, ClassicMedia seems to be the rights holder for Harveytoons, Underdog, and, some other well known 'toon characters. (Including the Lone Ranger!) So unless TimeWarner can't come to licensing fee agreement with them-money is always an issue, I don't see why ClassicMedia doesn't put the Harveytoons (and, other characters they control,) on Cartoon Network. After all they licensed Underdog to a Disney production house.
I've got a bunch of Warner, MGM, and, Universal on a tape. Maybe I should transfer it to disc so my 6 year niece can see something besides Nicktoons, and, Disney-Pixar. (not that they are all bad, it would just be something different.)
As for Buzzy's voice, I'm not surprised. When Cartoon Network shows the early HB/MGM Tom and Jerry cartoons, the housekeepers voice is redubbed. Sigh, our "pc" world!
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Posted by: Don Markstein
Posted on: 2008-03-01 at 05:06:31 AM
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Y'know, I've never figured out why "pc" applies to "Mammy Two-Shoes" (as I've heard the "housekeeper" in the old Tom & Jerry cartoons called). She's not a servile lackey. In fact, she apparently owns the house. She doesn't look bad because of her "underclass" ways. She has strength and dignity -- making the "underclass" ways look good.
Quack, Don
Quack, Don
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Posted by: Chuck Taine
Posted on: 2008-03-01 at 12:27:28 PM
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"Mammy" is probably re-dubbed because of the way she is portrayed. To you she may be strong; the mistress of her domain. Others, especially the way she was originally voiced, see her as the stereotypical black housemaid, and, in today's "pc" world that won't do.
